THE LIBRARY f OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA PRESENTED BY PROF. CHARLES A. KOEOID AND MRS. PRUDENCE W. KOFOID Barr’s Bszon. BuffOH’s Natural History. CONTAINING ' A THEORY OF THE EARTH, A GENERAL HIS TOR Y OF MAN; OF THE BRUTE CREATION, AND OF VEGETABLES, MINERALS, 85c. 85c. FROM THE FRENCH. WI'TH NOTES BY THE TRANSLATOR. IN TEN VOLUMES. VOL. IX. autumn : PRINTED FOR THE PROPRIETOR, AND SOLD BY H. D. SYMONDS, PATERNOSTER-BOW. ‘ 1807. T. Gillet, Crown-court, Fleet-street. A f. iv 3 Page The 1Vomencla Ture of apes. .- - 107 The Orang-Outang, or the Pongo and the Joe/c0 - - - - 149 The Pithecos, or Pigmy - - 177 The Gibon, or Long-tailed Ape - 185 The fll'agot, or Barbary Ape - 188 The Papion, or Baboon, properly so called - - - - 192 The flfandrz'll - - - - 197 The Ouanderou, and the Louando 199' The .IVaz'mon - '- - ‘ - 202 The filacaqzle, and the Egret - 205 The Patas - - - - ' 208 The flfltlbronch, and the Bonnet Chinois 210 The fifangabey - - - - - 216 The fifonw - - - - - 218 ' The Calhtrz'x, or Green Alon/{cg - 221 The flloustac - - - - 224 The Taz’apoin -‘ - . - 225 The Douc - - - 227 The Sapajous and the Sagoz'ns - 231 The Claim, and the Aloua.’e - , - 2349 The (butt, and the Exquima - - 240 The Sajou - - - - 247 The Saz' - - - 219 "The Saimz‘r‘z’ - . - - 251 The Sahi - - - , 252 The 'l‘anzarin- - - 254: The Ozcz'stit-i ~ - - (2552‘ . ‘ Page The .Ma'rihini - - - 958 The Pinch - - - I 259 The M ico ‘ - - ' - ' 961 Account of some Ahimals not expressiy _ treated of in this Work ' ~ 261! The White Bear - - - 265 The Tartarian Cow - - 272 The T olai - - 27:5 The Zizel - - ‘ 276 The Zemni - ' - 277 The Pouch - - 27:9 The Perouasca - ~ 279 The Souslih - - 2810 The Golden-coloured .Mole - 282 The White W'ater-Rat - - 283 The Guinea-Hog . - - 28% The Wild Boar of Cape Verd - 2&5 The Mexican ”7to - - 293 The Alco - :- - 295 The T ayra, or Galeri _ - - 299 The Philander of Surinam . - 300 The Ahouehi - - 302 The Tucan. ' f- - 304 The Field-filouse of Brasil - -' 305~ The Aperea - - - 306 The Tapeti , - ~ _ -. 307 Supp lemme? [vi] Page Supplement to the Quadrupeds . - 309 T be Crab-eater _ - 309 Anonymous Animal ” - - 312 Rat of flIadagascar - 314: Degeneration of Animals .- 315 AH. Jun/1,. 1.2M / Am. //,,// ///. BUFFON’S ‘ . NATURAL HISTORY. _ 0F CARNIVORO US ANIMALS. THE LORISa -__'—_-._—-'__.. THE Loris (fig. 17 6.) is a small animal found in Ceylon, very remarkable for. the elegance of its figure, and for the singularity of its conformation: it has, perhaps, of all animals, the longest body in proportion to its bulk, having nine vertebrae in the loins, whereas otherquadrupeds have only five, six, or seven.~ The length of the body is the'na- tural effect of this struCture, and it appears the longer for having no tail; in other reSpécts, it resembles the maki kind, as well in the hands and feet as in the quality of the hair, the - VOL. 1x. , ' B number f2 BUFFON’S number of teeth, and the sharpness of its muzzle. Independently of these singularities, which separates this animal from the makis, he has other particular attributes. His head is entirely round; his eyes are excessively large, and very close to each other; his ears are large, round, and, in their insides, have three auricles in the shape of small shells 3. but What is still more singular, and perhaps un-s matched in the whole tribe of animals, is that the female discharges her urine through the clitoris, which is perforated like the sexual organ of the male, and who in these two parts perfectly resemble each other. Linnmus has given a short description of this animal, which appears to be exactly conform-- ahleito-Naturc. . It- is also very correctly deli.” heatedby'Scba; and evidently appears to he- tho-sa'rneas that which Thevenot speaks of iii the following terms :, “ I saw, (says he). in the, Mogul country, monkeys. which had been brought from Ceylon ; ,they were greatly va~ lued tin-account; of their size, being not bigger than aman’s fist.- They were different from: the common monkey, having a: flat forehead, eyes round and large, and of abright yellow " colour, like those of some cats :.;tlieir muzzle is. ' very; pointed :. the insidesof therears is, yellow, and; NATURAL HISTORY. 3 and they have ‘no tail. 'When I "examined them they sat erect on their hind feet,- folded 't'lle"o’th'ers across, and looked round at the spectators without the least-signs of fear.” THE JAVELIN BAT. All/ION G the numbers of the bat species, which were neither named nor known, we in- dicated some by names derived from foreign languages, and others by denominations drawn from their most striking characters. We have calledone the Horse-shoe Bat, from the exact resemblance the fore-part of its face bears to a horse-shoe, and the animal in question we have called the Javelin-Bat, (jig. 1’77.) from a sort of membrane on its nose which perfectiy resembles the head of an ancient javelin, or spear. Though this character Valene“ is suffi- cient to distinguish it from-another bats, yet we may add, that it has scarcely any tail, that its hair and size are nearly like the common hat, but that instead of having six incisive teeth in the lower jaw, it has only four. This species 4 BUFFON’S species of bat is very common in America, but is never found in Europe. There is another bat in Senegal, which has also a membrane upon its nose, not in the form ' of a horse-shoe, or javelin, as in the two bats we have just mentioned, but in the shape of an oval leaf. These three bats, being of different climates, are not simple varieties but distinct and separate species. M. Daubenton has given the description of the Senegal bat, under the name of the leaf bat, in the Memoirs of the Royal Academy of Sciences, 1759, p. 374. Bats which have great affinities to birds, by the power of flying, and the strength of their pectoral muscles, seem to resemble them still more in these membranes, or crests, which they have on their faces. These redundant parts, which, at first sight, seem only to be superfluous deformities, are real characters which fill up the visible shades between these flying quadrupcds and birds; for most of the latter have crests, or membranes, about their beaks and headsxwhich seem in every respect as superfluous as those of the bats, SUP? G?! ‘. NATURAL HISTORY. W SUPP'LEMENT. WE have rcceivxl from M. Pallas the figures and descriptions of. two bats hitherto unknown to naturalists; the first he calls the cep/mlote, or . large-headed bat, (fig. 17 8.) from its head being so very large in proportion to its body, This bat M. Pallas says is found in the Ma- lacca islands; and from his finding but one foetus in a female, which was sent to him to Amsterdam, and which he dissected, he con- cludes they have but one young at a time : this species differs also from all others in the teeth, 'which in some measure resemble those of the mouse or hedge-hog ; it has a short tail, situated between the thighs, a large nose and a broad muzzle ; its breast is very similar to that of a. bird; it is very near four inches long, and its ‘ wings extend above a foot, The second he calls the oespertz'lio soricz'nus, or shrew bat (jig. 179.) ; this one has no tail, and carries a peculiar'me‘mbrane on its nose ; it is the smallest that is met with without a tail, being not more than twoinches in length. This ' speciti (5 . BUFFON’S species is very common in the warm climates of America, the Carribbee Islands, and Surinamx. At the same time M. Pallas sent us the ac- count of these animals he remarked that we were in an error. in our former description of the javelin bat, by confounding it with the American bat, mentioned by Seba, he, from a Careful examination, being convinced of their being different species ; and we feel ourselves indebted to this gentleman for the pains he has taken to rectify our mistake. THE SERVALu THIS animal, which was kept alive several years in the royal menagerie, by name of the tiger-cat, seems to be the same with that described by the gentlemen of the Academy, under the denomination of chat-part] ,- and we should have still remained ignorant of its true name if the Marquis de Montmirail had not discovered it in an Italian book of travels which he has translated, and sent the follow- ing extract: “ The maraputé, which the Por- tugueze NATURAL HISTORY. 9 THE OCELOT. m OCELOT is an abbreviation oftla'llocetotl, the name of this animal in Mexico, its native - country. It is feroCious and carnivorous, and may be ranked with the jaguar and cougar, for it is very nearly the same size, and resembles them in figure and dispositions. A male and female were shewn at the fair of St. Ovide, in September 1764. They came from the neigha bourhood of Carthagena, and had been taken from their mother in the month of October, 1763. They became so strong and cruel at the age of three months as to kill and cat the bitch which had nursed them. When we saw them, at a year old, they were about two feet long, and they had then, probably, not attain- edmore than one half, or two-thirds, of their growth. These animals were shewn by [the name of the tiger-cat, but we have rejected this denomination as precarious and confused, especially as the jaguar, serval, and" the . marga-y, or. Cayenne cat, were sent to 'us VOL. IX. C under 1‘0 Uprox’s under the same denomination, although those three animals are very different from each other, as well as from the one we are at present treat- ing of. The first author who mentions this animal in a distinct manner is Fabri. He caused Rec- chi’s designs of it to be engraven, and com- posed his description from them. He gives also a kind of history of him from the writings and information of Gregoire de Bolivar. I made these observations with a view to throw light on. the circumstance which had led all the naturalists into an error, and by which I acknowledge I was also deceived. This cir- cumstance is to know whether the two animals designed by Recchi, the first by the name of llatlaerlzquiecelotl and the second by that of {[acoozlotl, llalecelotl, and afterwards described by F ahri as different species, are not the same animal. They were considered as distinct animals, notwithstanding the resemblance of their figures, because their names, and even descriptions, were different. I then supposed the first might be the same as the jaguar, and therefore gave him the Mexican name of (Zatlaulzquz'ocelotl, which I am now convinced does not belong to him ; and since I hav ° v seen both the male and female, I am per- snarled, NATURAL HISTORY. ll Su'ade'd, that the two described by Fabri, are only-the same animal, of which thefirst is the male, «and the second the female. This error could Only have been discovered by such a chance as'we had of examining both the male and the female together. Of all animals whose skins are spotted, the robe of the male Ocelot (fig. 180) is certainly the most beautiful, and most elegantly varied. Even the skin of the leopard does not come near it for the live- liness of its colours, and the regularity of its marks; and far less those of the jaguar, panther, and ounce. The colours of the female ocelot are much weaker, and the design less regular ; and this apparent ditference it n as that deeeisied Recchi, F abri, and others, and was the occasion of their considering them as di‘fl'erent species. When the Ocelot has arrived at its full growth, he is, according to Bolivar, two feet, and a half high, and about four feet long. The tail, though of a good length, does not touch the ground when hanging down, and consequently is not more than two feet long. This animal is very voracious, but. at the same time exCeedingly timid. He seldom attacks the human species, and is terrified at the sight of a dog. When pursued, he flies to the forests, and climbs up a tree for safety, where he also sleeps 12 BUFFon's sleeps and watches for small animals,‘ on which he springs when he sees them within his reach. He prefers blood to flesh, and for this reason he destroys a great number of animals; for ins.- stead of satisfying his hunger by devouring their. flesh, he only quenches his thirst by sucking their blood. , In a state ofcaptiviiy he preserves his savage nature: nothing can soften his ferocious disc position, nor calm his restless motion, which makes it necessary to confine him constantly in a cage. “ After these young animals (says M. de l’Escot) had devoured their nurse, I confined them in a cage, and had them fed with fresh meat, of which they eat from seven to eight pounds a day. , The male had a sin- gular superiority over the female, for however hungry the latter might be, she never touched any of the food until he was satisfied, or such pieces as he gave her, having previously re. jected them. I several times gave them alive cat, whose blood they sucked until the animal died, but they never eat any of their flesh. I put tno live kids on board the vessel for their subsistence, for they neither eat, nor touched boiled nor salted meat.” From the testimony of Gregoire de Bolivar, these animals commonly prod uce but two young ones NATURAL’HISTORY. 13 ones ata birth, 'whieh M. de ‘l’Eseot seems to confirm, by saying,'he had‘kill‘ed the mother before the two oeelots we haVe been Speaking of, were taken away T1113 MARGAY, 7 -—-——.'__——-. THE Margay is much smaller "than the ocelot. He resembles the wild “cat in the size and shape of his body, only his head is more square, his snout and tail longer, and his ears more rounded; his hair also is shorter than that of the wildcat, and he has black streaks and spots on a yellow ground. 'He Wassent us from Cayenne Lby the name of the fig er-‘c‘at, and, in fact, he partakcs of the nature of the cat, jaguar, and Ocelot, animals to which the name of tigei has been affixed in the New Continent. According ‘to Fernandes, when this animal ‘has arrival at its full growth, it is not quite so'big as the‘Civet ; and, ’aCCOl‘Cl-r ing to Marcgrave, whose comparison seems more just, lie is about the s’iZe of a Wild cat, which he also resembles In ’his‘na’tural habits, living upon fowls and sma‘ll animals. 11¢ is Very 142 Burma’s very difficult to tame, and never completely loses his natural ferocity. He varies greatly in his colours, though they are commonly such as we have described. This animal is very common in Guinea, Brasil, and all the other provinces of South America. It is probable that the pic/mu of Louisiana is the same ani- mal, but the species is less common in tempe- rate than in hot climates. ‘ If we recapitulate those cruel animals, whose robes are so beautiful, and whose natures are so malign, we shall find the tiger, panther, leopard, ounce, and serval, inhabit the Old I Continent; and thejaguar,ocelot,and margay, natives of the New. These three last appear to be miniatures of the former, and which, having neither their size nor strength, are as timid and cowardly in proportion as the others are bold and intrepid. There is another animal of this class which the furriers call Gzcepard. We have seen many , of their skins, and they have a resemblance to the lynx in the length of the hair; but the ears not being terminated by a-brush of hair, the guepard cannot be a lynx. Neither is he a panther nor a leopard; for his hair is not so short as that of those animals, and he difl'ers .. from all of them by a kind of mane, about four or. NATURAL HISTORY. 15 or five inches longpn his neck, and between his shoulders. The hair on his belly is alsothree or four inches long,- and his tail much shorter in proportion than that of the leopard, panther, 01‘ ounce. He is nearly of'the size of the last animal, not being above three feet and a half long. He is of .a very pale yellow colour, sprinkled with black spots like the leopard, but closer to each other, andmuch smaller. I thought this animal might be the same as that which Kolbe mentions by the name of the tiger-wolf. He is common in the countries bordering on the Cape of Good Hope. He remains all the day in the clefts of the rocks, or in holes which he digs in the ground. In the night he seeks for prey, but-as , he howls when in search of game, he warns men and animals of his approach; so that it is very easy to avoid, or to kill him. , The namegue- pawl, is apparently derived from the word lepard; themede in which the German and Dutch spell leopard. ~VV e have also observed there are many varieties in this species, both in respect to the ground colour, and that; of the spots ;‘ butevery guepardhas the common character of long hairs on the belly, and a mane on the neck. SUP- 16 - Borron’s ' SUPPLEMENT.‘ M. de la BORDE, in treating» of the tiger: eat of Cayenne, says, he has a skin spotted very much like that of the ounce; that he is smaller than the fox, but whom he much resema blesin habits and disposition ; that he generally resides in the woods, and lives chiefly on the game which he destroys; as he climbs trees with great facility, he seizes their young in their nests, and upon the branches of trees he lies in wait for his prey; he rather leaps than walks, and yet does not proceed very fast; that at Cayenne they keep these animals chain- ed in their houses ; and the utmost degree they seem to- be tamed, is to suffer themselves to be stroked on the back ; they are there fed with fish or flesh, and will not take any other kind of food ; and that they bring forth as well in the winter as summer, and generally two at a time. M. Colinson mentions another species of tiger-cat as a native of Carolina, and of whom he has given me the following description: j‘ The size of the male was nineteen inches from NATURAL HlsronY. 17 from the nose to the tail; the latter of which. was four inches long, and was encircled with eight white rings; his principal colour was a light brown mixed with grey,with black stripes along his sides; his belly was inclined to white sprinkled with black spots, as were also his legs, which were very slight; his ears were very‘open and covered with hair; under his ‘ eyes were two large black spots, and beneath _ them a‘tuft of stiff black hairs. The female was of a less make , she was more inclined to red, and had no black spots, except a single one on the belly.” THE JACKAL, AND THE ADIL. WE are not certain whether these two names denote animals of different species;_we only know that the jackal (fig. 181 .) is larger, more ferocious, and morediflicult to be tamed, than the adil ; but in other respects they bear a perfect resemblance. The adil, therefore, may pessibly be the jackal become smaller, weaker, and more gentle, than the wild race, VOL. IX. D from 18 BUFFON’S from being tamed and rendered domestic; for the adil is nearly the same, with respect to the jackal, as the lap-dog, or the little water spa- niel, is to the shepherd’s dog. However, as this fact is only eXemplified in a few particular instances ; as thejackal is not, in general, do- mestic like the dog, and, as such great differ: ences are seldom found in a free species, we are inclined to believe that the jackal and the adil are really two distinct species. The wolf,- the fox, the jackal, and the dog, though they approach very nigh each other, form four dis- tinct species. The varieties. in the dog spe. cies are very numerous ; the greatest part of which seems to proceed from their domestic state, to which they have been so long sub- jected. Man has multiplied the race in this species by mixing the great with the small, the handsome with the ugly, the long haired with the short, 8:0. But there are many varieties in the dog species, independently of those races produced by the care of man, which seem to derive their origin from the climate. The Eng- lish bull-dog, the Danish dog, the spaniel, the Turkish dog, the Siberian dog, and others, de- rive their names from the countries of which they are natives ; and there seems to be greater differences between them than between the ' ' jackal NATURAL HISTORY. 19 jackal and the adil. The jackals, therefore, may have undergone several changes from the influence of different climates; and which supposition corresponds with the facts we have . collected. From the writings of travellers it l appears, that there are different sized jackals in all parts, that in Armenia, Silesia, Persia, and in all that part of Asia, called the Levant, where this species is very numerous, trouble- A some, and very hurtful; they are generally abOut the size of our foxes ; but their legs are shorter, and the colour of their hair is of a glos- sy and bright yellow; and this is the reason. why they have been called theyellozo, or gold- en waif. This species seem to have under- gone many varieties in Barbary, theEast Ini- dies, the Cape of Good Hope, and in’ other provinces of- Africa and Asia. In these hot Countries they are large, and their hair is ra- ther of a reddish brown than of a beautiful yellow ; and some of them are of different co- 10urs. The species of the jackal is spread all over Asia, from Armenia .to Malabar; andis found also. in Arabia, Barbary, Mauritania, Guinea, and at the Cape of Good Hope. It seems to supply the place of the wolf, which is wanting, or at least, is very Scarce in all these hot countries. ' However 20 BUFFON’S However, as both the jackal and the adil are found in the same countries; as the species can« not have been altered by a long continuance in a‘domestic state, and as there is always a con- siderable difference in the size, and even in the dispositions of these animals, we shall look on them as distinct species, until it be proved that they intermix and produce together. Our pre- sumption on the difference of these two species is the better founded, as it seems to agree with the opinion of the ancients. Aristotle, after having spoken of the wolf, the fox, and the hy- iazna, gives some obscure intimations of two other animals of the same genus, one by the name of the panther, and the other by that of the thos. The translators of Aristotle have in- terpreted panther by lupus canan’us, and thos by lupus cervarius ; that is, the dog-wolf and the stag-wolf. This interpretation sufficiently indicates, that they considered the panther and thos to belong to the same species. ButI 013- served, under the article. (yum, that the lupus cervarius of the Latins is not the thos of the Greeks. This lupus cervarius is the same as the chaus of Pliny, which, is our lynx, and which .has not a single character that agrees with the thos. Homer, when painting the valour of Ajax, who singly rushes among a band NATURAL HISTORY. 21 hand of Trojans, in the midst of whom Ulys- Ses, Wounded, was engaged; compares him to a lion that suddenly springs on a troop of the thos, surrounding "a stag at bay, disperses and drives them away as mean and contemptible animals. This word, thos, the commentator of Homer interprets by that of panther, which he says is a kind of weak, and timid wolf: thus, the thos and panther have been considered as the same animal by some of the ancient Greeks. But Aristotle seems to make a distinction be- tween them, without, however, giving them any distinct characters. “ The thos (says he) - have their internal parts like those of the‘wolf; they copulate like dogs, and bring forth two, three, or four young ones at a_ time, which are born with their eyes shut. ' The body and tail of the thos are longer than thoSe of the dog ; _ his legs are shorter, but that does not prevent him from being as swift, and he can spring much further. The lion and the thos are ene- mies, because they both live upon flesh, and Seek their food from the samesource; hence disputes arise between them. Thethos never attacks, and is but little afraid of the human species. . He fights. with the dog and the lion, whence the lion and the thos are never seen in the same places. The smallest thos is esteemed ' the ‘22 . BUFFON’S the best. There are two species of them, and some authors even make three.*” This is all Aristotle says concerning the thos, and he Speaks still less about the panther 3 for he men. tions it but in one single passage in the 35th chapter of the sixth book of his History of Animals, and there says, “ the panther pro- duces four young ones at a time, which are bom with their eyes shut like young wolves.” By comparing these passages with that ofHo‘ mer, and other Greek authors, it seems almost certain, that the thos of Aristotle is the great; jackal, and that the panther is the little jackal, or‘the adil. We find, that he admits the ex- istence of two species of thos, and that he speaks of the panther but once, and that when treating of the thos. It is therefore yery pro- bable, that this panther is the small thos; and this probability seems to become almost a cer- . tainty by the testimony of Oppian, who places the panther among the number of small ani- mals, such as the cat and dormice. Thus, then, the thos is the jackal, and the panther the adil, and whether they make two different- species, or but one, it is certain that every thing which the ancients have said of the thos, or panther, applies to the jackal " Arist. Hist. Anim. NATURAL HISTORY. 23 jackal and the adil, and to no other ani- mal. If, therefore, the true signification of these names have not been known till now, ’ or, if they have been misinterpreted, it is be- cause the translators were unacquainted with these animals, and that our modern natura- lists were not better informed. Though the species of the wolf approaches very near to that of the dog, yet the jackal‘ finds a place between them both.. The jacket, " or adil, as 'Belon remarks, is an animal between the wolf and the dog. \Vith the ferocity of the Wolf he joins a little of the familiarity of the dog; his voice is a kind of howl mixed with barking andgroaning. He is more noisy than the dOg, and more voracious than the wolf. He never stirs out alone, but alwaysin flocks of twenty, thirty, or forty. They collect to-. gether every day to go in search of their prey. They live principally on small animals, and make themselves formidable to, the most pow- erful by their number._ They attack every kind of cattle or poultry almost in the presence, of men. They boldly enter stables, sheep-folds, and cow-houses, without any signs offear, and when they cannot meet with any thing better, theyewi‘ll‘ devour boots, shoes, harnesses, 85c. a—ndr'what they have. not time to consume they take away with them. When they cannot ' ‘meet 24 BUFFON’S . meet with any live prey they dig up the ear: casses of men and animals. The inhabitants are obliged to cover the graves of the dead with large thorns, to prevent these animals ' from scratching and digging up the bodies, for their being buried very deep in the earth is not sufficient to prevent them from accom- plishing their purpose. Numbers of them work together in this, and they accompany their labour with a doleful cry ; when they are once accustOmed to human bodies they search out burial places, follow armies, and keep close to the caravans. They may be stiled the ravens among quadrupeds, for they will eat the most infectious flesh. Their appetite is so constant, and so vehement, that the driest leather, skins, flesh, excrements, or the most putrified animal, is alike welcome to them. The hyaena has the same taste for putrid flesh, and also digs bodies out of their graves, on which account, though very different from each other, they have often been con-. founded. The hyama is a solitary, silent, savage animal, which, though stronger and more powerful than the jackal, is not so ob- noxious, and is contented with devouring the- dead, without troubling the living, while all- travellers complain of the cries, thefts, and. gluttony of the jackal, who unitesthe im- pudence NATURAL HISTORY. 25 pridence of the dog with: the cowardice oti the wolf, and participating of the nature of each, seems to be an. odiousanima-l composed. of allg the bad qualities of both? ‘1 TII-E IS‘ATIS. IF a number: of general resemblances, and, 'a perfect conformity of internal parts, were sufficient to constitute unity of species, the, wolf, the fox, and the dog, would form but one, for the resemblances are more. numerous than their differences, and their internal pttrts are entirely similar. Thesethrce animals, how- ever, form three species, not only distinct but sulliciently distant to admit intermediate ones. .,'.l.‘ he jackal is an intermediate species between the dog and the wolf; and the isatis finds room between the fox and the dog. This animal has till now been regarded as a variety in the fox species, but the description given by- ,Gmeiin clearly proves them to be two (lif- ferent species. VOL. IX. E . , The n is There is one remarkable circumstance respecting the skin of the jackal, which Btiffon h‘as omitted; it 'is a great spot of a dark grey colour, formed like a lancet, the point of which is turned towards the taili'of the animal ; this spot is of‘a darker brown when the jackal is young. Sparman saw , the foetus of a jackal which was of a beautiful colour; but the spot on the back was of a deep brown]. 26 BUFFON’S The isatis is very common in all the north: ern countries adjacent to the frozen sea, and but rarely found on this side the 69th degree of latitude. He perfectly resembles the fox in ‘ the form of his body, and the length’of his tail; but his head is more like that of a dog, His hair is softer than that of the common fox, and is sometimes white, and sometimes of a bluish ash. His head is short in proportion to his body; it is broad towards the neck, and terminates in a sharp.pointed snout. His ears are almost round. He has five toes and five claws on the fore—feet, and only four on the hind ones. The penis of the male is scarcely thicker than a quill; the testicles are as big as almonds, and so thickly covered with hair that it is difficult to perceive them. The hair on every part of the body is about two inches long, smooth and soft as wool. The nostrils, and under lip, have no hair on them, and the skin is black. ' The stomach, intestines, viscera, and sper- matic vessels of both male and female, are like those of the dog, and the whole skeleton €119 tirel y resembles that of a fox. . The voice of the isatis partakes of the bark-,- ing of a dog and the yelping of a fox. Those who deal in furs distinguish two animals of this fiArUnAL HISTORY. '2’}; this kind, the one white, and the other of a“ bluish ashécolour; the last are the most valua- ‘ble. This difference in the Colour is not suffi- -cient to constitute two different species, for ex- ' perien‘ced hunters assured. M. Gmelin that they have found in the same litter some of the young _ *ones white and others ash coloured. The isatis inhabits the northern 'climates, -.and prefers those countries which border on the frozen sea and the banks of the rivers -which fall into it. They are found in the coldest, most mountainous,- and ‘most barren parts of Norway, Lapland, Siberia, and even . Iceland; These animals cepulatc in the month .of March, and being formed like the dog L-they do not separate for some time.- The fe- males continue in heat from fifteen days to‘ three weeks, and after that time they retire' :into the holes, or burrows, which they have . previously prepared. They make several pas- ' sages to these burrows, which they keep very clean, and furnish with moss for their greater convenience. \The time of gestation, like ‘ that of the bitch, is aboutmine weeks. They litter about the latter end of May, 0r beginning -of June, and commonly produce from six to ~eight at a time. Those which are yellow when first littered become white as they grow up, ' and ~28 - BUFFON’S and those which are blackish change to an ash. . When young their hair is very short. The .mother suckles them five or six weeks, after a which time she drives them outof the burrow, -and teaches them‘ to seek for their own nutri- ment.- By September their hair attains the length of half an inch, and it ;is thencntirelgyr white, excepting alongitudinal brown streak upon the back, and another across the shoul- .ders 3 it isthen called eulpz's crucigzcra,:orzthe , crostfoa: ,- but this brown cross disappears be- fore the winter, when the whole body-of the animal is white, and the hair about two inches long. In May their hair begins to fall oil“, and continues . to do so until July, by which time they- have entirely shed their coats, :so that their fur is only valuable in winter. The isalis lives upon rats, hares, and birds, ‘ which he catches with as much subtlety asthe fox. He plunges in the water, and traverses the lakes in search of water-fowl 'and their ' eggs : and the only enemy he has to dread in «the desert and cold countries, is the glutton. As the .wolf, the ’fox,'the glutton, and other '-'animals which inhabit "the northern parts ;of ‘ Europe and Asia, havepassed from oneedonti- -.nent' to the other, and are'to be foundEin Ame- rica; we must therefore conclude-the isatisjs t0 NATURAL HISTORY. '29 :to'be met within the New Continent, and-I am inclined to believe that the grey fox of North America, which Qatesby has given the figure «of, may possibly be the sisatis, instead of a 4 ‘sirnplevariety in the species of the fox. THE ’ GLpTTpN’. ' " A: 1m ’ THE body of the Glutton (f g 819.) is thick, and 1115‘1egs short 11:6 issomew hat of rthe formiof a badger, butnearlyasthick again. .His head is short, his. eyes small, histceth yen)r rsharp and strong, his tail rathershort, and. co,- Wered with hairs to its extremity. Hens blacl; ‘along the back, and of a ,reddish brown on ,the '_.,sides and flanks. ,His fur is exceedingly beau.- rtiful, and much valued. This animal isvery common in Lapland, and in allneighhouring ,coulnt-ries of the Northern Seas,,~both- in Europe and Asia. He is called carcajouinqCanada, sandinéthe ~:northernmost parts of America. it is also highly probable that the animal liof Hudson’s Bay, «which Edwards has called the quick hatch, or =olver2'n, is the same as the carcajou of Canada, or the (rluiton of the northern 3t) BUFFON’S northern part of Europe. That also which Fernandes has mentioned, by the name of tea peytzcuitlz', or the mountain dog, is, probably,- of the glutton species, and which may 1308- sibly be dispersed as far as the desart mouri- tains of New Spain. Olaus Magnus seems to be the first who has mentioned this animal. He says, that it is of the size of a large dog, that his ears- and face are like" those of the cat; the feet and claws very strong; the hair brown, long,» ‘and tough ; and the tail bushy, like that of a fox, but'much shorter. According to Schefl'er“, the head is round ; the teeth strong and - sharp, like those of the wolf; the hair black, the body very broad, and the feet short like those of the otter. La Hontain, who is the first that speaks of the carcajou of North Arne- r‘ica, says, “ Figure to yourself an animal of double the size and thickness of a badger, and you have a perfect resemblance of this animal.” According to Sarrazin, who possibly only saw a young carcajou, its body is only two feet long, and its tail eight. inches. “ It has (says he) a very short and very thick head; its eyes are small; its jaws very strong and furnished with thirty-two sharp teeth.” The young bear,~or young wolf, of Edwards,which seems to; NATURAL HISTORY. , 3’1. te‘ be the same animal, was, according to him, as thick again as a fox; its back was crooked; ., its legs short ; its belly almost trailing on the ground; and its tail of a middling length tufted towards the end. All agree that this animal is a native of the most northern parts of Europe, Asia, and America. Gmelin is the. only one who affirms, that it travels even into» hot countries. But this assertion appears very ‘ dubious, if not absolutely false. Gmelin, like many other naturalists, has perhaps a con. founded the hymna of the South, with the. glutton of the North, which bear some resem— blance in their natural habits, especially that of veracity; but in every other respect they . are entirely different. , The legs of the glutton are not formed for 1 running; he cannot even walk except slowly , but cunning supplies the deficiency of swift- ness. He conceals himself to watch for his prey; and to seize it with greater security he Climbs up trees, from which he darts even on the elk and rein-deer, and fastens himself so strongly with his claws and. teeth on their. backs that all their elforts cannot remove him. The poor animal thus attacked, in vain flies with its utmost speed, in vain rubs himself against trees, to obtain deliverance from this ‘ cruel .‘32 norron's cruel enemy; all is useless; fastened On his back or loins the glutton persists in digging into his flesh, and sucking his blood, till the animal, fainting with loss of blood, sin‘ksa victim to his tormentor, when the glutton de- v0u'rs his flesh with the utmost avidity and: cruelty; and several authors atfirm, that it is almost inconceivable the length of time he. will continue eating, or the quantity of flesh he will devour. The accounts of travellers are doubtless exaggerated 5 but if we even retrench a great part of their recitals, there will' still remain sufficient to convince us that the glutfon is- much more voracious than any other beast of prey; and from this cireuvmstance he has, not unjustly been denominated the quadru- ped vulture. He‘is more insatiable, and com-— mits greater depredations than the wolf; and would destroy every animal, is he had sufli- c'ient agility, but he is reduced to drag himself heavily along; and the only animal he is ca- pable of overtaking is the beaver, whom he easily destroys. He even attacks that ani- mal in his hole and devours both him and his young, unless they get to the water, in which- ease the beaver escapes his enemyby swimming, ' fer the glutton stops his pursuit to feed on the fish NATURAL HISTORY. 33 fish he can find. \V hen deprived of living food, he goes in search of carcases, scratches up the graves, and devours the flesh of dead bodies. Although this animal is subtle and uses every art to conquer others, he does not‘seem to have the least instinct for his own preservation. This indiiference, which seems to SllCW im- becility, is perhaps occasioned by a different cause; for it is certain the glutton is not a stupid animal, since he readily finds means to satisfy his perpetual appetite ; he does not want: for‘courage, since he attacks every animal in- differently that comes in his way, and does not fly at. the sight of man, nor even shew the least mark of fear. But this negligence for his own safety does not arise from an indiffer- ence: for his preservation, but from a habit; of security. He is almost a stranger to men, for being a native and resident of desart coun- ' tries where they seldom come, when he does meet them, he has no reason to take them for enemies gbesides, in every contest with other animals he is, certain of conquest ; and therefore he moves with cenfidenee, and has not the least idea of fear, which supposes some fore- proved misfortune, or some experience of weakness and inability. We have an example VOL. IX. F . of 34: BUFFON’S of this intrepidity in the lion, who never turns his back on man, at least till he has tried his strength ; so the glutton traverses the snow, in his own desart climate, in perfect security. In those regions hereigns supreme, as does the lion in the forests and burning sands; and if not like him, from superior prowess, he is no less so from the weakness and timidity of those with whom he has to contend. The isatis'is not so strong, but much swifter than the glutton ; he serves the latter as a pur- veyor, for the glutton follows him in his pur- suit of animals, and often deprives him of his prey; for as soon as he approaches, the isatis, to avoid his own destruction, takes to flight, and leaves to his pursuer what he has not had time to devour. Both these animals burrow under ground ; but in every other habit they differ. The isatis will associate and often go in company ; while the glutton always moves alone, or at most only with his female; indeed the male and female are frequently found to- gether in their burrows. The most fierce dogs are averse from attacking the glutton, as he defends himself with his teeth and feet, and of- ' ten mortally wounds them ; but as he cannot escape by flight, when once beset it is ‘not‘long ”before he is subdued . T-h'a NATURAL HISTORY. 35 ’ The flesh .of the glutton, like that of every. other voracious animal, is very bad food. He is only hunted .for his skin, which makes beauti- ful fur, not inferior to the sable and black fox; Some of them, when well-dressed, has a-more beautiful. gloss than any other skin, and is by no means inferior in appearance to a rich damask. THE STINKARDS. THESE animals are found in every part of South America ; but they have been very indis— tinctly described by travellers ,and not only con- founded with each other, but also placed with. animals of a very distinct species. Hernandes has very clearly indiCated three of these animals ; the first he calls by its Mexican name ysquie— patl, and which-is thesame animal that Seba has given a figure of in his works, and is called squash in New Spain. The second Hernandes also .denominates by the same name, (ysquie- pat!) and Which in South America is called theskz'azlc. The third he styles conepate, and which has been mentioned by Catesby, under - the 36 BUFFON’S the appellation of the American pole-cat, and by M. Brisson, by that Ofthe stripedpolc-cat. Besides those mentioned by Hernandes, there is a fourth kind of these animals called zorille, in Peru, and in some parts of the Spanish settlements in India. VVe are indebted to M. Aubry for theknow- ledge of the squash, the skinlr, and the gorilla; the two last may be regarded as originals, as we do not meet with their figures in any other author. ._ The first of these animals came to M. Aubry under the name ofpelcan, the Devil’s child, or the wild eat of Virginia. I perceived it was not the real pekan, but the same animal that Hernandes has described by- the name of ysquz’epatl, and which has been indicated by travellers by the name of squash, or patch: (fig. 185.) It is about sixteen inches long ;-- its legs are short, its muzzle rather pointed, i~ts ears small, its hair ofa d rep brown, and its claws black and sharp. It chiefly dwells in thehollovrs and clefts of rocks, where it brings forth its young. It; lives upon small animals, birds, ”'8. and a ten steals into a farm yard, v. here it kills the poultry, but. eats only their brains. When it is pursued or attended, it calls up the most (liaimlical scents to its den fence, (.6 NATURAL HISTORY. 7 fence, and sends forth such a horrid stench, that: it is dangerous for men or dogs to approach it. Its urine is apparently infected with this nau- seous vagonr, but which does not seem habitual to it. “ I had one ofthese animals sent me from'Surinam, (says Seba) which I kept alive in my garden during the summer; ‘I fastened it‘with a small chain; it. never attempted to injure any person; and when properly fed it might be. managed. like a little dog. It bur- rowed in the earth with its snout, assisted by its two fore-paws, the claws of which were long, and turned backwards: in the day-time , it concealed itself in the hole it had dug; at; night it came out, and after having cleaned it- self it continued constantly running back- _.wards and forwards, as far as its chain would permit. ' It only eat .as much food as would satisfy its-hunger; ‘it never touched flesh nor bread, but seemed principally fond of cater- pillars, spiders, worms, 850. One morning, towardstlreend of autumn, it was found dead, , unquestionably from not being able to endure the cold. - The hair along its-back was ofa deep chesnu‘t; its ears ivere short, the foreo' part of its head round, and ot' a lighter colour than that on. the back; on the belly it was yellow. Its tail was of .a middling length, CQVered With a brown and short hair, annulat'ed with 38 BUFFON’S with small rings.” Although the description and figure given by Seba agrees with that of Hernandes, we must, however, doubt their both being the same animal, since Seba does not make any mention ofits detestable scent; and it is dillicult to conceive it possible for him to have kept such a stinking animal a whOle summer in his garden, without speak- ing of the inconvenience that would arise frOm such a circumstance; and we might suppose that the animal described by Seba was a differ- ent one from that mentioned by Hernandes ; this suspicion, which at first sight seems to be well founded, must be entirely obviated, when it is known that this animal only sends forth this infectious scent when pursued or offended ; and it has likewise been caught and tamed by many people in America. ‘ Among the above four kinds of Min/cards, which we distinguish by the names of the V squash, or potot, conepate, chinclz, or skin/c, and gorilla: thetwo last belong to the warmest parts of South America, and may possibly be no more than two varieties, and not different species. The two first are oflthe temperate climate of New Spain, Louisiana, Carolina, Ste. and seem to be distinct and different spe- cies from the others; particularly the squash, which has the peculiar character. of having only NATURAL HISTORY. 39 only four claws on the fore-feet, whereas all the rest. have five. But in other respects these animals are all nearly alike, they have the same instinct, the same offensive scent, and only differ in size, and in the colour and length of the hair. The squash is of a pretty uniform brow-n colour, and its tail. is not tufted like the rest. The conepate (fig. 187) has five white stripes on a black ground, running longitudi- nally from the head to the tail. The skink, . or chinch, (fig. 186) is white on the back, and black on the sides, but .quite black on the head, excepting a White streak from the - nape of the. neck to the forehead ; its tail is tufted and cloathed with very long‘white hairs, mix— ed with some of a black colour. - i The zorille, (fig. 168) which is also called- mauripita, is still smaller, and has a beautiful- tail, as bushy as that of therchinch, from which he differs however in the'dispositionpf the co- lours on his coat. He has several long white streaks, which run longitudinally from the head ‘to the middle of the back, on a. black" ground, and others which pass transverselyr over the loins, the crupper, and «the insertion of the tail, one half of which is black and the otherwhite, whereas the. back of the chinch is nearly all the same colour. ' 'Kahn, speaking of this animal, says, “ one of 3:1) BUFFOIx’S of them came near the farm where I lived. It was in winter, and during the night ; the dogs that were upon the watch pursued him Until he discharged his urine against them. Although I was in bed, and he at that time had got to some distance, I thought I should have been suffocated, and the cows and oxen, by theirlowings, shcwed how much they were aflécted by the stench. About the end of the same year another of these animals crept into our cellar, but did not. exhalethe smallestscent. A foolish woman, however, perceiving him one night by the shining of his eyes, disturbed and killed him; from that moment the stench began to splead, the whole cellar w as instantly filled with 1t to such a degree that the woman kept her bed for several days, and all the meat, bread, and other provisions in the place, were . so infected that they were obliged to be thrown out of doors.’ ' These animals are somewhat like the Euro- pean pole-cats; theyalso resemble themin their natural habits, and the physical results of their generation are the same. The pole-cat is the most offensive animal for its scent in this con- tinent ; it is only stronger in the stinkards, whose species are very numerous in America, whereas there is only one of the pole-cat race in all the old continent; for I do not believe, with 1' l G. If” /.(/hn/I.IH 4’//»/ NATURAL HISTORY. 41*" with Kolbe, that‘theanimal he calls the stink— I ing otter, and which seems to be a real stink- ard,’ exists as a native at the Cape of Good Hope; and possibly Kolbe, who is not Ve1y ' etact, has borrow ed his description from P. Zuchel, whom he has quoted as having~ seen ‘ that animal in B1asil The animal of New I Spain,c called by F ern'mdes the onto/ma, seems to be the same animal as the Peruvian zoriIIe, ° I and the tepemartk, mentioned by the same author, may probably be the conapaIC, which is found in New Spain, as well as in Louisiana I and Carolina. ~ THE PEKAN, AND THE VISON. THE fur merchants of Canada have Iong’ I been acquainted with the Iname of pelcan. without any knowledge of the animal to which it belongs. Natu1ahsts have not even men. .. tioned its name; and traVeIIels IiaVe employed it to denote diffiérent animals, 'part1cula11y stinkards, so that it was impossible to delive any precise knowledge of it from their erroneous VOL. 1x. G remarks. 42' .. BUFFON’S remarks. The origin of the name of the eison is no less diflicult to be traced than that of the ' pekan, and it is only said that they belong to twodifferent-animals of America. M, Aubry, in his cabinet, has two animals under this den nomination, and , from which, by his indul- » gence, we have been enabled to give a sketch of their figures, and the following description : The pekan (fig. 189) so strongly resembles the marten, and the vison (jig. 190) the pole- cat, that we are inclined to consider them‘as varieties of those two species. They are of the ‘ same make and proportion, have the same _ length of tail, quality of hair, and number of teeth and claws ; from which facts there is certainly. sufficient reason - to conclude "that ' they are merely varieties, or at least as species approaching so near each other, that it is diffi- cult to point out any real difference, except that the hair of the. pekan-and the vison is more soft, brown, and glossy, than that of the marten and pole-cat; but this difference is common to them as well as to the beaver, otter, and other animals of North America, whose fur is more beautiful than those of the same kind of animals in the north of Eumpe. NATURAL HISTORY. 43 . M ' ~ ’ 4 i r n E s A B L E. ALMOST every naturalist has treated of this animal without knowing any thing more of it than its skin. M. Gmelin "is the first whohas given its figure and description,- from having Seen two living ones at the Governor’s of Tobolski. “ The sable (says he) resembles the marten in his shape and habit of bodygand r the weasel in the number of his teeth: he has ‘six long incisive. teeth, a little‘ turned back, two long canine teeth in the lower jaw, and very sharp small teeth in the upper ; he .has very large whiskers about the mouth; and his feet are broad, and armed with five claws. These characters were common to these two sables, but one of them was of a dark brown, ex. . cepting the ears and throat, where the hair was rather yellow; the other, which was smaller was of a more yellowish tincture, its ears and throat being‘ also much paler. These are the colours they both have in winter, and which ‘ they change in the spring, the former be- ‘ coming of a yellowish brown, the other of a. pale yellow. I have often admired, continues M. Gmelin, the agility of these animals. Whenever 44 _ horror: ’5 Whenever they perceived a cat they fixed themselves in an erect posture on their hind legs, as if they were preparing for an attack. Their inquietude in the nightaié was also re- markable, that being the natural time for seek- ing their prey, whereas in the day, especially after feeding ,they generally slept an hour ata time, during which they might be taken up, rolled about, (11 carried to any distance without the smalléSt hazard of d1sturb1n0‘ the: 11.’ These animals inhabit the banks of rivers _in shad y plaees, and 3156111.} thickest woods. they leap With great ease from tree to tree, and are 'said to be afraid of the sun; the rays of which "tarniSh the lustre Of their robes 111 a very short time. It has also, though erroneously, been “asserted, that they conceal themselves 1n holes, "and remain torpid during the winter, whereas 11121115 the chief time for hunting them, as their ~Skins are then in the greatest perfection. ‘They live 011 rats, fiSh, and wild fruit. They have the same disagreeable odour common to animals of this kind, and which 1s strongest during their tutting Season. They are most numerous in Siberia, being very few 1n Russia, and still less in Lapland and other nOrthern countries. ”This inquictude and motion during the night is not peculiar to tables: the same thing may be observed in er- mines. NATURAL HISTORY. 45 countries. The blackest furs are the most esteemed} ' The difference of this skin and , which so particularly distinguishes it from all . others, consists in the fur having no grain, but . “rubbed any way, is equally smooth and irre- sisting'; whereas the furs of all other animals, rubbed against the grain, give a sensation of .; roughness from their resistance. ‘ VThe sable is chiefly hunted by condemned criminals, who. aresent to Russia into these ,. dreary and extensive forests; or by soldiers . who . are 'sent there onpurpose. These un- ~ fortunate-wretchesremain there many years, , and are obliged to furnish a certain, number of 2 skins annually ; they only employ a single ball to kill this animal that they may damage the fur as little as possible; sometimes instead of .fire-arms, they make use of the cross-bow and very small pointed arrows. As the success of this hunting requires address and great assi- duity, the officers are permitted to encourage the criminals, by allowing them to share among themselves the surplus of the number they are obliged to procure; ‘and this in a few years, . frequently amounts to a considerable sum. 7 7 ;. Some naturalists have imagined the sable to be the satherius ofAristotle', and their cons jectures fl Sonnini says thattherc ispa variety of the sable,1'entirdy whitent 1‘s very’ra’re'. Another variety is equally rate, which has a white or yellow spot under the neck. ' 46 '7 BUFFON’S jecturese'em's to be well’f'ou'nded. ' The fine- ness of the s'able’s fur indicates that he often goes into the water; and some travellers assert, that the greatestnumbers are found in small ~ islands; Aristotle calls the sathcrz’usfia water ani- mal, and joins it to the beaver and the otter. ‘ We must also presume, that when Athens-was in its height ofl‘magn‘ificence, these beautiful ' skins‘wer'e not unknown to the Athenians, and — that the animal which supplied them had some name affixed to him, and we know of no one that can be applied to the sable 'with ‘greater pro priety‘ than that of Sutherz’us. 'If it be true :that the sableeats’ fish, and often dwells in the water, he 'must‘alsoihave'a place among the number of ‘ amphibians animals. ‘2 ‘. .t‘ V ,.-- . . . V.. .,-,. u~ ' ' - -M§ THE LEMING. —_————— OLAUS MAGNUS is the first and has taken notice of the Leming ; and all that Gets: ner, Scaliger, Ziegler, Jehnston, and other: have said respecting him ,is extracted from that author. But Wormius, who made very strict researches, speaks more particularly. ".‘ The , lemiug I" NATURAL HISTORY. 47 leming (says he) is of the shape oft aimouse, but has a shorter tail: his body 1s about five" inches long, and 18 covered with fine hair of va1ious colours. The extremity. of the upper part of the head, the neck and shoulders :are ' black, and the rest of the bod y, is reddish, inter— :. mixed with small black spots of various figures excepting the tail, whicliisibroWn, and '~ not above half an inch long. Some of them have red hairs aboutthe mouth ,resemblmg w hiskers, six of which are considerably longer than the rest. The mouth 18 small, and the upper lip divided like the squirrel. Two sharp, incisive, and crooked teeth shoot from the upper jaw, the roots of which penetrate to the orbit of the eyes: in the lower Jaw they have teeth con- ' formableto the upper; a little distance from '1 these on each “side are, placed. three grinders.. The tongue is pretty large, and extends to the ' extremity of the incisive teeth.» The remains of thefood found in the throat-of - this animal, induces .us to‘ imagine. he ruminatese ‘ 'The " eyes are little and black; the ears round and inclining towards the neck; the legs before ' are shorter than those behind; the feet are ' cloathed w1th hem, and armed with five ve1 y sharp and crooked claws , the middle claw is the longest and the fifthis like the spin of a“ - cock, ' 48 BUFFON’s cock, sometimes placed very high up the leg. ' The hair on the belly 1s whitish, bordering a. little on yellow, &c.’ Thisanimal, though its legs are very short, and its body thick, runs very swiftly. ‘ They . generally inhabit the mountains of Norway and Lapland , from whence they sometimes de- ’ scend in such numbers, that. the inhabitants ’ look on their arrival -as‘ a terrible scourge," which there is no possibility of "preventing._' They move, for the most part, in the night, and remain stillduring day. His in vain; that attempts are made to stop their pro. gress, for though thousands. are destroyed, myriads seem..to succeed. , They generally move in lines about three feet from each other, and exactly parallel; and their march is al- ways directed from the north-west to the southo‘ west. ,VVherever their motions are idirecté ‘ ed nothing can turn them aside; if a lake, or -' river, interrupts their progress, they all take to . the water and swim over it; even a fire, for a well, does .not turn fthem out of their litre of. direction ; . they boldly plunge into the flames, or leap down the well,-.andl are sometimes seen -' climbing up on the other side; If they are inr terrupted bya boat, while they are swimming across the river,theymountdirectlyupitssi‘des, - and the boatmen, who know how vain resist-. 31106 NATURAL HISTORY. - 49 since would ‘be, calmly suffer'the living torrent topa‘ss over, which it does without further daé marge; and if they meet with a. stack of hay, or cern, they gnaw theirway through. Hap‘ pily, however, they never enter an house to destroy the provisions, but consume every root and vegetable that they meet, and lay waste every garden, meadow, or field of corn that. comes in their way. If a man ventures to attack one of them, the little animal is no‘ way intimidated by the disparity of strength, but furiously flies up at his opponent, and wherever he fastens, it is not easy to make him quit his hold; and when thus attacked they have a kind of bark somewhat like that of little dogs. i An enemy so nnmcrous and destructive, wotlld soon render» the countries where they appear utterly uninhabitable, did it not fortu- ' nately happen, that the same rapacity that" animates them to destroy the labours of man- kind, at least impels them to destroy each. other. "After committing incredible devaStao tions, they at last. separate into. two armies, opposed with deadly hatred, along the coasts or the larger lakes and rivers. T he Laplanders, who observe them thus drawn up, instead of considering their mutualanimosities as a_ happy - VOL. 1x. .11 riddance 50 BUFFQN’s " riddance cf the most dreadful pest, form omia nous prognostics from the manner of their en-r gagements: they consider their combats as a presage of war, and expect an invasion from the Russians or Swedes. The two divisions, however, continue their engagements, and ' from that time they begin to disappear, nor is it Well known what becomes of either the con- querors or the conquered. Some suppose that they rush into the sea, others that they kill themselves, as some are found hanging on the forked branches of trees ; and others that they are destroyed by the young spring herbage. But it is most probable, that having consumed the vegetable productions of the country, they then fall upon and devour each other. How-.- ever this may be, they die in such numbers, that their carcasses have been known to infect the air, and to produce malignant disorders. They seem also to infect the plants which they gnaw, as the cattle often die that feed in the places where they passed. In fine weather, they go in droves into the water, but no sooner does the wind rise, than they are all drowned. As the inhabitants know not from whence the y. come, it is a vulgar Opinion that they fall from the clouds with the rainf“ . The. ' Scheffer’s Hist. Lapland, Phil. Trans. 8m. NATURAL HISTORY. 51 - The male is generally larger, and its spots bigger than those of the female. The flesh of the lemings‘ is horrid food, and their skins, though covered with a very beautiful fur, 19 of too little consistence to be serviceable. THE SEA ' OTTER. THEVET sajfs, cc the Saricov‘ié'nne, or sea“ Otter,- is fotmd bythe‘ sides of the river Plata ;‘ it is an amphibious animal, and lives as much in the water as upon land; it is full as large as treat, its skin is aver)? dark grey, nearly black, and is extremely soft ; its feet are webbed like thoseof water fowls ; and its flesh is very good, and even delicate.” Naturalists do not seem to have been ac- quainted with this animal, nor to have‘kno'wn that the cart‘gae'isz‘u‘ of Brasil‘, which is cer- thinl y the same, ha’d' membranes" betWee'n th‘e’ t'oe's=,='fo‘rMaregra-ve, ivh‘o has giVen‘ a d‘es'Cri‘p- ti'on ofit, totally omits this essential character”. Pam also of opinion that the guach’i‘, mentioned by Gumil'la, vvhi'ch is a sp'e‘cies of otter in South 52- BUFFON’S South America, is the same as the saricovienne. Marcgrave and Desmarchais describe it to be as big as a middling sized dog‘: that the top of its head is round, and its nose long ; that its teeth and whiskers resemble those of the cat; that it has small black eyes, round ears, five toes on each foot, with a kind of thumb shorter than the others, and all armed with browa claws ;' that its hair, which is short and soft, is black on the body, and has a white spot I underI the chin ; that its voice is somewhat like that of a youngdogr; and notwithstanding . it lives principally on crabs and fish, its flesh is very good, and its-skin. makes an excellent fur. THE CANADIAN OTTER. THIS Otter, (fig. lQl) which is larger than ours, and which must be a native of the north of Europe, as well as of Canada, occasioned, me to enquire whether it was not the same animal as that called by Aristotle the latax, which, he says, is much larger andstronger \ than the common otter. But his observations do NATURAL HISTORY. 53 do 'not'entirel y agree with the animal in ques- tion, and therefore as it perfectly resembles the common otter in other respects, Ijndged that: it. was not a particular species, but only a. simple variety ; and as the tGreeks,-especiall y Aristotle, have taken great care not to give different names, except to distinct species, we are therefore convinced that'the latter is another animal. Besides, as the otters, like the bea- vers, are commonly larger, and their hair finer, and of a more beautiful black in America than in Europe; this Canadian otter ought, in fact, to be larger and blacker‘than our otter. But in attempting to discover what the latex of Aristotle might be, I conjectured that it was the same animal as Belon calls the marine wolf. Aristotle mentions six'amphibious animals, of which only three are known to us, namely, the seal, the beaver, and the otter; the three others, the tartar, the sat/xenon, and the mtg- rz'on, still remain unknown, because their names are only mentioned without any description of them. In this case, as in all those where we cannot draw any direct induction from a. knowledge of the object, we must have recourse to the mode of exclusion: butwe cannot make use of that mode with any success, unless we are 54 BUFFON’S are nearly acquainted with every thing; when that is the case, we can conclude .a negative from the positive, and this negative hence be- comes a positive fact. For example, I believe that by long study, I? have attained a know- ledge of almost every quadruped. I know that Aristotle could not have had any know- ledge of those peculiar tothe continent of Ame- rica. I also know those which aream pliibious, and among these I separate those that belong to America, as the tapir, the cabiai, the on‘da- tra, 850. and then there remains only the am- p‘hibious animals of our own continent, name- ly, the hippopotamus, the walrus, or sea-cow, the sea-wolf of Belon, the beaver, the otter,- the sable,'the water-rat, the Muscovy musk- rat, the water shrew-mouse, and we may include the ichneumOn, which some have lookedzupou as an amphibious animal, and styled it the Egyptian otter. \ I retrench from this number the walrus, or sea-cow, the seal, or sea-cow,- which being only met'with in the nor-them seas, was not known to Aristotle; I also; re.- trench the hippopotamus, the water-rat,a'nd; the: ichneumon, because he speaks of them in another part ofhis work by their proper names; and I likewise retrench- the seal, the beaver, am} the ott'er,‘ which are well known, and the _ water NATURAL HISTORY. 55 water shrew-mouse, because it is too much like the land one to haVe received a different name. There then remains the sea-wolf of Helen, the sable, and the Muscovy musk-rat, for the latax, the satlzerz’on, and the satgriom Of these three animals, the sea-wolf of Belon is the only one that is larger than the otter, therefore it alone can represent the latax ; con- seq uently the sable and the Muscovy musk-rat, . must represent the satherz‘on and the satyrz'on. It must, however, be perceived that these con- jectures, which I believe to be well feunded, ‘are not among the number which time can elu. cidate, unless some Greek manuscripts shall be discovered which are unknown at present, where these names are made use of, and ex. plained by new indications. L 'THE SEAL, THE VVALRUS, AND THE MANATI. SEAL, Walrus, and Manati, are rather generic denominations“ than specific names. Under that of the Seal, we shall comprehend, first, the plzoca of the ancients, which is proba« 1le the. same animal as the seal; ‘2. T he com; [1101] 56 ' nugmn’s mon seal, which we call the sea-MU; 3. The great. seal, of which Mr. Parsons has given a figure and description in the Philosophical — Transactions, No. 496; and 4. The very large seal, which is called the sea-lion, the figure and description of which is given in Anson’s Voyages. ' By the walrus we understand those animals commonly called sea-cores, or sea-horses. ‘Ve know oftwo species of this animal, one found only in the northern seas, and the other only in the southern, which is called dug-ml or In- dian walrus. And lastly, under thatot'mmzati, we comprehend those called lamzmtans, or sea-0x622, in St. Domingo, and other parts of South America, as well as that. of Senegal, and other parts of the coast. ofAt‘rica, and which seem to be only varieties of the Ame- rican species. The seal and the walrus approach nearer to quadrupeds than to cetaceous animals, because they have a kind of feet. But the manatis, which have only two before, are more of the retaceons tribes than the quadrupeds. But they diffi'rfrom every other animal by the following "striking character. They are the only animals that can equally live in air and water, and consequently the only ones we can properly term \ .\\ 15H 'Ium'l; [III/17m NATU'RAL HISTORY. 57’ temi amphibivus’pi .z‘In. man, and the-other ter‘ restriial vivi-paronsanimals, theforainen o’rvale , of’tiie jheart, whieh "permits‘the ’foetus to live With'outri'espiratian; is shut at-thenioment of its birth-and remains closed duriugflife.” 2111 these, en‘the contrary, it is alWays.0pen‘,inot-n withstanding the females bringfortll their young (in .land;' and'their i'eSpiration begins and ope; rates immediately after birth ,as it deesin every other ~7animal. By ameans Of this. perpetual aperture ’in the septum; subsisting and permit- inthhe eommunieatioh-of the blood from the . fiend. cm to the aorta, these animals have the . advantage of breathing or not at pleasures? Th‘is'sihgular pioperty' is Common toall three 5 but mch’has peculiar faeulties, which We shall notice as far as possible, In the history of the different species. I - . - an.- ’.' I' . ' . L ‘ . . ' .' _...:‘ 4'7 THE SEALS -' “THE Sea-l (fig 192. )in general has a roiled“ . Head, like the human "species; a broad inuZzle like the otter , eyes large and elevated ; little ¢¢¢¢¢ vice-1x. I passages 58 . Benson’s ; pa‘ssagés on the sides of the head; .W hiskers about its mouth; teeth somewhat: resembling those. of the wolf;;;the tongue forkedx at the point ;. the bed y, hands, and feet, covered with a short: and hristlyhair‘; no armstbuttwo membranes, like: hands, with five lingers:terminated bytes; many~:claWs ;' no legs'butftwo feet exactly like the;;hian’ds, except being larger and turned, backwards, as if designed-to unite with a very: short tail, which'they accompany on each side; the-body} is thickest at thewbreast from whence. it tapers down to the tail- like 'afish, He. is so. . strange an animal thathe appears'fictitious,and_ hasserved as a model for the. poets to form their .tritons, syrens, and other sea deities," whom they feigned to havethe head of a man, . thebody‘ofsa quadruped, and the tail ofaaz fish. In fact, he seems to reign superioriin; the mute empire of the sea, by his voice, figure, and intelligence, which he possesses ‘ equally with any land- animal; he is sofa-r above the order of fishes, that he seems not only to belong to a different order of beings, but to a different World. Hence though of g a nature very distant frdir‘i"that of our do- mestic animals, yet he seems susceptible of. a kind of- education. He is reared by putting him often inwater ; heistaughtto give, a salute with hishead and .his voice; he will come. ’ —_' when: NATURAL HISTORY. 59 when'called, and he giVes manybther-signs ‘of - intelligence and docility. . His brain is proportionably larger than in "man .. his sensations are as perfect, and hisin- I "ztelleets as active, as thoseof any quadruped ; both are strongly marked in his ‘doeility, his "seeial qualities,.his strong instinct forthe fe- ‘male, his: greatattentio’n towards his young, and by the expressive modulation of his-voice, which-is Superior to that of any other animal. 'His body is likewise firm and-large ; he, is very Strong and armed. with sharp teeth and claws. ‘He also enjoys many particular and singular .advanta ges. He can, with perfectcase, endure heat or cold ; he, feeds indillerently on igrase, ”flesh, Gr fish’; and he can equally liveon ice, 'land,‘ or in the water. .T his animal, with the walrus alone,deserves the name ofiamp'lzz'bious. ‘ ,The y alone have theforamen oeale open, con- sequently 'they are the only animals who can exist-without: respiration, the elements of air and water being equally agreeable. The otter and the beaver cannot properly be .termed amphibious, asthe air is their real element, for not having this aperture through the septum ofthe heart,-they.cannot remain any length of time under the water, but. are obligedvto quit 1t, rt' ‘ i“ _ . 60 . - BUFFoN’s- it, or'raise their heads out of it in Order-to" 're-i Spire. . " . C But these great advantages are counter- balan'ced- by imperfections still greater. ; The seal may be said to be deprived of the ‘nse’of his lir'ribs,‘-as his'arms, thighs, and legsare almost entirely shut up within his body, while nothing'appears without but his hands and feet, which are, it is true, furnished with Efive fingers or toes, but which are scarcely movea- ble, being united by astrOng membrane, so that they might. more properly be called fins. than hands and feet, being more adapted for the purpose of swimming than walking. Besides the hind feet are turned backwards, therefore . entirely useless hpon land, so that when the animal is obliged to move, he drags himself forward like a reptile, and with efforts much more painful, for as he cannOt bend himself in an arch, like the serpent, to obtain the support of different parts, and so advance by the re- action of the ground, he would remain like a lump on the earth iFit were not for his hands and tail, and with which he seizes any thing within his reach with such dexterity that he drags himself up the steepest'shores, rocks,and even shoals of ice, however steep or slippery. By NATURAL rilsronv. 61 By. this method he moves with a much greater degree of swiftncss than could be expected, aniloften, though wounded, escapes the 113111- suit of the hunters. '1 he seal is a social animal, at least great numbers generally frequent the same places. T heir naturalclimate is the north,hb,uth.th_ey .livein the temperate and even hot,countries, for they are seen on the shores of almostall the seas of Europe and even in the Mediterranean; they are found also in the southern seas of Afri- ca and America ; but they. are infinitely more -common and more numerous in the northern seas of Asia, Europe, and America. This spe- _cies varies in size, colour,.and figure, accord- ing .to the difl‘erencc of climates, 4 \Yehave seen some of these animals alive, and 1111111 y of their skins have been sent to us , out of these we have chosen two for our present subject; the first 15 the common seal of our Eulopean sea, of 11 inch there are many varieties., We have seen one, the proportions of 11 hose bod y seemed to differ from any other, its neck being shor.ler,,its body longer, and its claws larger; but these differences are not sufficient [to can: stitnte 'a distinct species. The second is, the seal ofthe Mediterranean and southern sens, which we presmne-to be the plzoea of the an- cients, and a distinct Species, for it differs from i the 62 BUFFO’N’S ' the others in the quality and colour of the hair, which is flowing, and almost black, whereas that of the common kind is grey, and of a bristly nature. _ Its teeth and ears are also dif-. ferent, for it has a very small external car, which the other has not; itsincisive teeth are likewise terminated with two points,while the teeth of the other are smooth and sharp, like those of the (log, wolf, and other quadrupeds. Its arms, or fins, are also situated lower, that is to say, more backward. Nevertheless, these discrepancies are, perhaps, only varieties de- pending on the climate, and not specific differ- ences; especially as in places where the seals abound, there are numbers of them found lar- ger and smaller, thicker and thinner, and of different colours according to their sex and age. \ From a similarity, which appeared at first ‘sightbut trivial, and by some fugitive acco‘u nts, we were induced to suppose this second seal, or '- small seal, was the pfwca ofthe ancients. We were informed that the one We had was brought from India, and very probably it came-from the Levant. It was an adult, as it had all its teeth. It was about a fifth less than the full- grown seals of our ocean, and abouttwo-thirds less than those of the Frozen Sea, for it was not above two feet five inches in length, while lllitt NATURAL, HISTORY. 63 that described byMr. Parsonswas seven feet and a half long, though not arrived at itsfull growth, as-it wanted severalteeth. , Nowthe characters given by the ancients of theirphoca doino't denote so large an animal, but'agree with the small seal, which theyoftengcompare to the otter and beaver. . There is another circumstance mentioned by. the. ancients as belonging to the phnca,.Whi‘eh‘,, though ”false, could ne ver have been, intimated as? belonging to our seals, or those of 1he northern; seas. They saythat the phoca’s hairwaveslike, , the sea, and by a natural sympathy follows its... motions, lying backward ‘when it flows and, . forward when it ebbs,,and that this remarkable ei‘fect remains longafter the skin ishseparated; from the animal. Now this could never be, attributed to our seals, norto those of the: nerthem seas, since the hair of both is short and stiff; while, on the contrary, .it rather: agrees with that of the small. seal, which is longer, and of a more supple nature than the; hair of the common ,kind. Besides, Cardan , positively asserts, thatthis property, which had been regarded as fabulous, is found tobe a fact inlndia. . Without placing more de-' pendance on this assertion of Cardan’s than it' deserves,-we must allow it indicates that this site umstance‘belongs to the Indian seal, though . ‘ possibly, (34 BUFFON’S fioS’siny it is nothing more than an electric phenomenon; the effects of which the ancients being ignorant might ascribe it to :the flowing ' and” ebbfing'of the Sea. Howeverth is may be,- the above reasons are a sufficient foundation to presume, that the small seal is the phoca of the ancients ; and there-is also great reason to' conclude, that it is the same as that M. Rom deletius-calls the filedilerranean phoca, the’ body of which, according to him, is much? longer and, smaller, in proportion, than our Seal. The great seal, described by Mr. Par“ . Sons, and which, probably, came from the northern seas, seems: to be a different species" from the other two, for, notwithstanding it had- sharcvly any teeth, itwas as big'again, in all its dim’ensions,'as the common kind. NILPfll’SOfiS, as Mr, Klein judiciously remarks, speaks a” great dealon the subject of this animal in 'a' few Words, and has given the following oh-v serrations in the Philosophical Transactions, No; 469-, p. 383, 386. “ A sea-calf was "ishewn at Charing‘cross, London, in the monthof February, 1742-3; The figures given by Aldrovandus, Johnston, and others, being designed in profile, lead us ; into two. errors. lst. They inake the legs apparent, thOugh they are notvvisible external- 1y in anyposition the animal is placed ; and, secondly, NATURAL HISTORY. ‘65 'se eon'dly‘, the hind feet are represented like two fins, whereasthey are two real feet,vwebbed like these of a water-fowl, each having five toes, composed of three articulations, and end- ing With darkish-coloured claws. The claws on the foresfeet are very large and broad, nearly like those of a mole, andiseem to be designed for the purposes of crawling, and partly for swimming, as between each toe there is a narrow membrane; but the membranes of the hind feet are much larger, and only serve to row the animal along when' in the wate1 ( It was a' female, and died in the morning of‘the 16th of February, 1742-3. The hairs that were about its month were of a horny and transparent substance , its stomach ,intestines, bladder, kidneys, ureters, diaphragm, lungs, great blood-vessels, and the parts of genera- tion, were like those of a cow: the spleen was two feet long, four inches broad, and exceed- ingly thin; the liver Was composed of six lobes, each of which was long and thin, like the spleen ; the gall bladder was very small; the heart long, and of a soft texture, havinga large foramen Ovale, and the fleshy parts very considerable.- In the lower stomach were about . four pounds weight of sharp and angular pieces of flint, which seems as if the animal had VOL. 1x. K swallowed 66 , Burma’s swallowed them for the purpose of grinding its food. This animal is viviparous, and suckles its young by’ the mamilla, like quadrupeds, and its flesh is firm and muscular. Although it had attained seven feet and a half in length, yet it was but young, as it had scarcely any teeth; .and it had four small holes regularly placed about the navel, which were the pre; ceding signs of four teats to appear hereafter.” Thus it appears there are three kinds of seals, differing from each other. The small black seal of India and the Levant; the common seal of our seas; and the great seal of the northern ocean. , To the first of these, therefore, We must refer all that the ancients have written about the phoca. Aristotle was acquainted with this animal, for he has de- scribed it, of an ambiguous nature, an inter: mediate creature between aquatic and terrestrial animals; that is, an imperfect quadruped, having no external teats forsuckling its young, and only very apparent auditory passages ; that its tongue is forked, and has a small tail rc~ se mhling that of a stag. This entirely agrees with the seal; but he is deceived in affirming that its has no gall-bladder.- -Mr. Parsons, indeed says, that the gall-bladder of the great seal which he describes, was very small; but ' M. Daubenton NATUnAL HISTORY, 67 M. Dauhenton found a gallphladder in the seal which he dissected proportionable to the size; of the liver; and the gentlemen of the Acas ' demy of Sciences,‘ who also met with a" gall— . bladder in the seal which they dissected, do not speak of its being remarkably small. ‘ Aristotle could not have had any [line wledge of the great seal of I the Frozen Sea, since in the time'he lived all the north of Europe and of Asia was unknown, The Romans 'con'a sidered Gaul and Germany as their north , and the Greeks knew still less— of the animals be, longing to this part of the world ; it is, there-.- fore, very probable, that when Aristotle speaks of the phoca as a very common animalihe‘ only means the Mediterranean sea-l. - These three species have many properties in common with each other; the females bring forth in winter, and place their young upon some sand-bank, rock, or small island. When they suckle' their young they sit upon their hind legs, and continue to nourish them-in this manner for twelve orfifteen days, after‘which she brings them to the water, accuStomS-fllem to swim, and to search for their food; she ear- ries them on her back when they are fatigued, As each litter does not consist of above two or three,- her cares are not much divided, and the education of her little ones is soon completed». . In 68 BUFFON’S In fact, these animals are very sagacious and docile; they understand and naturally assist each other in dangers. The young ones distinguish their mother among. a nume- rous troop; and are perfectly obedient to her call. We are unacqnainted with their time of gestation ; but if we judge of it from that of their growth, the length of their lives, and the size .of the animal, it must be many months; the time from their birth till they attain their full growth being many years, the length of their lives must be proportion- ably long. I am even inclined to believe that these animals live upwards of a hundred \years, for We know that cetaceous animals, in general, live much longer than quadrupeds ; and as the seal is the link between both. it, ought to participate of the nature of the first, and consequently live much longer than the last. ' - ' The voice of the seal may be compared to the barking of an angry dog. When young, they have a shrill note, somewhat like the mewing of a cat. Those that are taken early from thei‘rrdams mew continually, and often die of hunger sooner than take the food that is' offered them. They bark at and endeavour to bite'those who injure them, and are more of a courageous than timid nature. Instead of being terrified NATURAL HISTORY. 69 terrified at thunder and lightning, it seems to delight them ; they generallycome on shore iii 'tempests and storms, and even quit their icy abodes to avoid the shock of the waves ;- at, such times they sport in great numbers along the shore: the tremendous conflict seems to divert, and the heavy rains that fall, to enliven them. They have naturally a disagreeable scent, and which is smelt at a great distance, when there are great numbers together. When pursued they -- often drop their excrements, which are of a yellow colour, and of a very abominable scent. They have a prodigious quantity of blood, and being also loaded with fat, they are, consequently, very dull and heavy. They usually sleep a great deal, and very sound, and are fond of taking their re- pose in the sun on flakes of ice, or sides of rocks, and they, may be approached very nigh without being disturbed, which is the usual method of taking them. They are very seldom secured with fire-arms, for they do not imme- diately die, even if shot in the head, but plunge into the sea, and are entirely lost to the hunter ; therefore the general method. is to’ surprise‘them when asleep, or ata distance from the sea, and knock them on the head. with clubs. “ They are not easily killed, and are along time dying (says an eye-witness), for ~ although 7O .-- Burma’s although mortally wounded, their blood nearly exhausted, and even stripped of their skins, yet they still continue alive; and indeed it is a shocking sight to see them in this condition wallowing and rolling about in their blood. These remarks were 'made on an animal we killed, about eight feet long ; after it was skinned, and deprived of the greater part of its fat, yet it attempted to bite, notwithstand- ing they. had given him many powerful blows over the head and nose.‘ It even seized a cut-a lass with as much vigour as if it had not been ' wounded ; after which we pierced it. through the heart and liver, from whence as much blood flowed as is contained in a young ox*.” 'l‘he hunting, or perhaps, to speak more properly, the fishing of these animals is not very difficult, and is attended with great profit, the flesh being good food, and the skin er coedii'ngly serviceable. The Americans fill them with air, and make a kind of rafts, or small boats of them their fat yields a clear and much sweeter oil than that drawn from the porpoise, or other cctaceous animals. To these three kinds of seals already men- tinned we may, perhaps, add a fourth, described in'Anson’s voyages by the name of the seqslz'on. These are found in great numbers on the Magellanic. ' Recucil des Voyages du Nord. tom. ii. p. 117, the, NATURAL HISTORY. 7i Magellanic» coasts, and at the island of Juan Fernandes, in the South Sea. The sea-lion resembles our seal, which is very common in I the same latitudes, but it is much larger, being from eleven to eighteen feet long, and from eight to eleven in circumference, when it has acquired its full growth. They are so- fat that when the skin is taken off, the blubber is 'about a foot thick all round the body, and from a single animal more than ninety gallons of oil may be drawn. They are, at the. same time, very full of labor], and which, when deeply wounded, springs out with amazing .force'. Upon the throat of one of these animals being out, two hogsheads of blood were taken out, besides what then remained in its body. Their skins are covered with a short hair of a. brownish colour, but blackish on the tail-and feet. Their toes are united by a membrane, which does not reach to their extremity, and each of them are terminated by a. claw. The sea-lion differs from the common seal not. only in its size and bulk, but also by other cha- racters. The male has a 'kind or" thick crest, 0r trunk, hanging from the end- of its upper . jaw, about five or six inches long. This aha- racter is not seen in the females, and forms 3. tier): striking distinction. between them. The strong 72 BUFFON’S strong males collect together a flock of fe‘« males, and permit no other male to approach them. These animals are truly amphibious; they remain all the summer in the sea, and go upon land in the winter ; at which season the females bring forth, but never produce above one or two at a litter, which they suckle. The sea-lions, while they are on land, feed on the herbage which grows by the sides of the sea. They are of a very heavy and drowsy nature, and delight to sleep in the mire. Though very indolent and difficult to waken, yet at those times they commonly fix some as centinels near the place where they sleep ; and it is said, that these centinels give loud warnings when any danger is near. Their voices are very loud and of various tones ; sometimes grunting like hogs, and sometimes neighing like horses. The males often fight about the females and wound one another des- perately with their~ teeth. The flesh of these animals is not disagreeable to eat; particularly the tongue, which is as good as that of the ox. They are very easily killed, as they cannot defend themselves, nor fly from their enemies : they are so exceedingly heavy, that they move. with great difficulty, and turn themselves with still greater. Those that hunt them have only to _ NATURAL HISTORY. , ’73 to guard against coming too near their teeth, which are very strong, and with which they. inflict deadly wounds. ' By comparing other observations and ma counts, and from the conclusions which may be drawn from them, the sea-lion of South America, appears to be nearly the same animal as that found on the northern coasts of the same continent. The large seal of Canada, spoken of by Denis, by the name of the se'a- wolf, and which he distinguishes from the common seals, may possibly be of the same species as these sea-lions. “ Their young, says this author, .are bigger and longer at their birth than our largest hogs.” Now it is certain that our seals are never of that size, even when full-grown. The Mediterranean seal, or the phoca of the , ancients, is still less; therefore there only re- mains the seal Mr. Parsons has described, which agrees with that intentioned by Denis. Mr. Parsons does not say whence this great seal was brought: but‘Whether it came from the north of Europe, or from America, it might be the Same as the sea-wolf of Denis, or the seaelion of Anson, for. it appears to be of-the same size, since though not nearly full-grown it measured seven feet in length. ‘ Besides the size, there is the most apparent difi‘erence be- VOL. IX. ' L tween 74: BUFFON’S’ tween the sea-lion and the seal, inamely, the male of the first has a large crest on its upper jaw. Now Mr. Parsons did not see the male ; he only described the female, which had no crest, and which perfectly resembled the female sea-lion, mentioned by AnSon-. To these si- milarities Parsons adds another’still more pre- cise; he says, that the great seal which he saw had a stomach and intestines like those‘of a cow; and the sea-lion also mentioned in Ana son’s Voyages, is described as an animal which ‘ feeds on grass during the whole summer. Hence it isvery probable that these two ani- mals are formed alike, or rather they are the same animals, and very different. from other seals, who have but one stomach, and which live entirely upon fish. ‘ Rogers had spoken of this animal nearly in the same manner as is done in Anson’s Voy- ages. “ The sea-lion (says he) is a very strange creature, and of a prodigious bulk; I have seen some above twenty feet long, which could not Weigh less than four thousand pounds. Many of them were sixteen feet long and must weigh two thousand pounds; not- withstanding which, I was surprised at the great quantity of oil drawn'from these animals. Its shape is nearly like the sea-calf; but its skin ‘ is NATUIt‘AL HISTORY. 75 ’isas thick'as that of an ox ; t‘he‘hair is short and bristly ;’ the head disproportionally large; the mouth very wide; the eyes of a, monstrous size, and the nose, which resembles that of the lion, has terrible whiskers, formed'of such ex- ceedin gly stiff and bristly hair, that theymight be used for tooth-picks. Towards the latter end of J une, these animals go upon the island of Juan Fernandes to bring forth their young; which they do at about a gun-shot distance . from the edge of the sea- , there they remain till the end of‘Septem’ber, without moving out of the plaCe, and without taking any nourish- ment :. at least, we did not see them eat. I ‘ observed some which remained eightdays in the same spot, and which would not have stir- red then had they not been frightened by the report of a pistol. At the island of Lobos in the South Sea, we likewise saw several sea-lions, but a much greater number of seals:’-’ ' These observations of Woods and Rogers, which agree with what is said 1n Ansbn’ s Voy- ages, seem to be further proofsof these animals living Upon grass when they are on land; for the1e1s but little probability that they should exist three months without any food, and espe- cull y during the time they suckletheir young. We find in the Collection of Voyages to the South ’16 BUFFON’S South Seas, many remarks respecting these animals ; but-neither the descriptions nor cir- cumstances appear to be exact: for example, it is said, that in the Straits of Magellan, there are sea-wolves of such an enormous size, that their skins, when stretched out, were six and thirty feet wide-,- which is evidently an exag-v geration. It is also said, that on the two islands of Port Desire, those animals resemble lions in the anterior part of their body, having a very long mane on their heads, necks, and shoulders. This is a still greater exaggera. tion; for the sea-lions have only a little more hair on the neck than on the rest of the body, but which is not above an inch in length. It is likewise said that there are some of these animals above eighteen feet long, many about fourteen, but most commonly not above five. This might induce us to imagine, that there are two species, the one much larger than the other, because the author does not say whether this difference proceeded from the difference in their ages, which, however, was necessary in order to prevent error. “ These animals (says Corcal) keep their mouths always open. It is with great difficulty that two men ean kill one of these animals even with a strong lance, which is the best weapon that can be made use NATURAL HISTORY. 77' use of for that. purpose. One female suckles four or five young ones, and beats away any other young that comes towards her; from which circumstance I conclude they bring forth four or five young ones at a litter.” This preSumption seems Well founded; for the great seal, described by Mr. Parsons, had four teats, situate in such a manner as to form a square about the navel. I thought it necessary to collect every circumstance relative to these animals, which are but little known ; and it is much to be wished that some skilful traveller would give 'us a proper description of them, and particularly of their internal parts, as the stomach, intestines, &c. for, if we could rely on the testimonies of travellers, weshould be- lieve that the sea-lions belong to the class of ruminating animals ; that they have several stomachs, and that, consequently, they are of a far distant species from the‘seal, or sea-calf, which certainly has but one stomach, and must be placed among the carnivorous animals. VT n 3‘: 78 ~ BUFFON’S THE WALRUS, MORSE, OR SEA-COW. THE name of sea-cow, by which the-walrus (fig. 193.) is most generally known, has been very wrongly appliedft since the animal it. denotes has not the least resemblance toaeow: the denomination of seayelephant, which others have given it is much better imagined, as it is founded on a singular and very apparent elm-- meter. The walrus, like the elephant, has two large ivory tusks which shoot from the upper jaw , and its head woold entirely resemble that of the elephant if it had a trunk , the x1 alrus, however, not onlywants that instrument, which serves the elephant as an arm and hand, but it is deprived of the use of its arms and legs; those membels being, Like those of the seal, shut up within the skin, so that nothing appears outwardly but its hands and feet. Its body is long and tapering, thickest towards the neck, decreasing by degrees, and is entirely covered with ashort hair. The fingers, or toes, of the hands and feet, are covered with a membrane, and ’5 Perhaps this name, as well as that of :ca-mif, has been giv en because the one and the other have a cry which very :11 ichresembles the lowing of a cow and of a c 2.11f 1/2521: (says Pl‘im, speaking of the sca- cult) in 50771129 Mania”, and: ”021m. vim/i. NATURAL nIsTeRY. *2’9 and terminated by short and sharp-pointed claws. On each » side of the month are large bristles in the form of whiskers; the tongue is hollowed, and the concha of the ears are want- ing, so that, excepting the two great tasks, and the want of the cutting teeth both above and- below, the walrus perfectly resembles the seal,- only being much larger and stronger ;- the wal- ’ ms is commonly from twelve to sixteen feet in“ length, and eight or nine in eireumferen-ee ;~ Whereas the largest seals are not more than seven- or eight feet. The former generally frequent; the same places as the seals are known to red side in, and they are almost always found to- gether. ' They have the same habitudes, 'in every respect: butthere are fewer varietiesof ' the walrus than of the seal; and they are more. attached to one particular climate, being rare- ly found except in the northern seas, so that the seal might be known to the ancients,.but the walrus could not. _ Most travellers who have visited the north- . ern seas of Asia, Europe,-and America, have mentioned this animal; but Z orgd ra ger seems to have spoken most clearly on this subject, for which reason I- shall snbjoin a translation of his remarks, which were communicated to_ me by the Marquis de Montmirail. “ There was formerly great plenty of the ' ' " .. walrus: SO BUFFON’S walrus and seals in the bays of Horisont and Klock, but at present there are very few. Both of them quit the water inthe summer, and resort to the neighbouring plains, where they are sometimes seen in troops of from eighty to two hundred, particularly the walrus, who will remain there several days together, till hunger obliges them to return to the sea. This animal externally resembles the seal, but he is strOnger and much largerfiE Like the seals they have five toes to each paw, but their claws are shorter, and their head shorter and rounder. The skin of the walrus is an inch thick, wrinkled, and covered with very short hair of different colours. His upper jaw is armed with two tusks, about half an ell, or an ell in length, which are hollOw at the root, and become larger as the animal grows in years. Some of them are found to have but one tusk, the other being torn out in fight- ing with each other, or falling out through age. This ivory generally sells for a greater price than that of the elephant, as it is of a more compact and harder substance. His mouth is like that of the ox, and furnished with hairs which are hollow, pointed, and about the thickness of a straw. Above the“ mouth ‘16 This must be understood only of the common seal, for the large species of. this animal is considerably greater in its- dunensrons than the walrus. , - NATURAL HISTORY. 81 mouth are two nostrils, through: which these \ animals spout water like .a whale, without however making much noise. Their ‘eyes are red, sparking and inflamed during the? summer, at which season the water making too powerful" a11"-impression on -them,l‘they stay more willingly on shore than at-any‘otheri time.- They are in great numbers alioutSpitz- bergcn. ' ‘ They are :killed with lances,'and'the profit derived from their teeth and fat-'fully repays the tr0'ublef;¥'f0r; their oil is almOst' as much valued as that of- the whale. Their two teeth are Worth as much as all the oil they pro- duce, and are preferred even to ivory. An' ordinary sized tOOth Wlll._Wc1gl1 three pounds, and in which case the tWo will sell foreighteen florins‘, abOut the value of half a ton of Oil, which is commonly drawn from one of them , , so that the animal may be Said to be worth six and thirty florius. Formerly great numbers of these animals were seen upon land”; but the vessels which every year resort to those 50113 for « the whale fishery, have so frightened them, that they are now retired to more sequestered places; and thOSe that remain no longer go on shore in troOps, but either centinue in the Water, or disperse'themselves on different parts of the ice. When the hunter comes near a walrus, _ Whether in the water, or on the ice, he, darts :1. VOL. 11:. M - very 82 . BUF‘FON’S very" strong- h’arpoon at him, which,tthglr- made express] y for the purpose, often slips overhis hard and "thickskin ; but if it pene—‘ tra‘te, they haul the-animal with the ropegand nexedtowards the'boat, kill, him with a very; sharp: and-strong lance, and- afterWards- tow himgto, _the,.;nearest_- shore or. flat piece of ice ;‘-' there’flay— him, and throw his skin away, as it is of‘no manner ofuset’fi. ’ They then separate the teethwit-h a'hatch'et, or.sor‘netimes ,fcutotf; the head andfiboil it to prevent the teeth from- receiving any injury; the blubber r-being'acu-b into long slices, is barrel-led up'and carried on board the vessels. j-T‘hewalru-s is generally heavier than the ox,- and as diflicult to‘ pursue as. thewhale; the skin of the latter is also more easily pierced, for a strong and sharp lanee is often darted ,sc veraltimes at the walrus without penetrating his thick skin. . For this reason they always endeavour to wound him in those parts were the skin appears tight,- and even take aim at his eyes ;- thc animal, obliged by this motion to turn his head, exposes his breast or throat to the hunter, who immediately strikes- ' ' in * Apparently, Zorgdrager‘ was ignorant that a very good hide is made of the skin of this animal. I have seen coach- harnesses made of them which were very firm and tough. Hist. of Greénland ; and even at present the skins of the waf- rus form an important part of the exportation from the beast of Labrador. NATURAL HISTORY. 83 iu'ithat part, and draws the lance out again as quick as possible,for fear the animal should seize it'with his teeth and'wound those that attack him either With his teethor the lance, which sometimeshappemp HoweVe1°,‘an attack sel- dom lasts long on the ice,‘ for the walrus, whe- ther wounded or not, soon plunges into the sea; consequently the hunters rather attacks-him up- on land. These animals are now rarely} found but in the least frequented countries, as the isle of Mullen, at the-hack of VVorland, in the neighbourhood of I'lor-isont and Klee-h bays, and other secluded and‘mere distant places; they also take the precaution to sleep on ‘banks of sand, Where ships dare not approach them; Those that are met with, instructed by the persecutions they have so often experienced, are so much on their guard, that they always keep pretty near to the water, and immediate- ly plunge in on being approached. I expe- rienced this fact myself, having met with a troop of thirty or forty on the great sand bank at the back of VVorland, Some of which were quite close to the water, and others at no great distance from it; We waited some hours be? fore we went ashore, in hopes they would ad.- vanee «further en-the plain, but as this strata.- gem did not succeed according to our wishes, ' we 84:, . BUFFON’S we went on board our boats, and landed 10 the right and left ofthem ; but We had no sooner set foot on shore, than they all plunged into the water, and dived to thebottom, therefore the most we were able to accomplish was the wounding of a few. Before these animals were so greatly persecuted, they advanced a good way upon the land, so that when it was high' tide, they were at a great distance from ,thesea ; and at low water being at a still greater, they were easily attacked. The hunters would then land, and march up in their front to cutofl‘ their retreat to the sea, and which. they permitted with indifference ; when thus assailed, each hunter generally killed one before they could regain the water; and after they had killed several, they made a kind of barrier of their dead bodies, leaving some of the men in ambush to slay those that remained ; and in this man- ner three or four hundred were often killed. The prodigious quantity of bones spread over the shores, sufficiently prove how numerous these animals were in former times. W’hen wounded they become extremely furious. They sometimes seize the lances, and break them in pieces with their teeth 5 or tear them out ofthe hands oftheir enemies, and at last, full of rage, put their head betwixt their paws, or NATURAL HISTORY. 85 or fins, and in this manner roll into the sea. When there “is a great number-Of them to- gether, they are so'bol’d as to attack the boats that pursue them, .bite the boats with their teeth, and exert alltheir strength to pierce or ' overturn them.” . . . , A By adding to these observations of Zorg- drager those which are _in the, Collection of Voyages to theNorth, and what are scattered in other aeeounts,we have a tolerabl y complete history of this animal. By these relations we find that this species was formerly much more diffused than at present ; they were found in the seas of the temperate zones, in the Gulph of Canada, on the coasts IofAcadia, &c. bu ' they are at present confined to the frozen zones, and even in those there are but few in at) y of those parts which are'frcquented. There are very few in the Frozen Seas of Europe, and still less, in those of Greenland, Davis’s Straights, and other parts of North America, the whale fishery having disturbed and dritren them away. Towards the end of the 16th cen- tury theinhabitants of St. Malo found them in great. numbers in the Ramée islands; and it is not a hundred years since the merchants of Port-Royal thought it worth sending to Cape Sable and Cape F ourch u to hunt these animals, but 86 - Burma-’3'" h‘ut'th‘ey liaireinOiv entirely fursaken those clie- mates, and are only to be found in great num- bers in the frozen sea of Asia, from the month. of the Oby to the eastern point ’of that conti- nent ;' they are seldom seen in the temperate, and those found in the torrid zone are of a (Hf-r ferent species ; theyseem ayerse from the sea- thorn seas, and therefore are not met with toe: wards the south pole, although the great and Small seals of the north are there in great plenty.- ‘th find, however, that the walrus can live, at least for Some time, in a temperate climate. Edward “"orst speaks of having seen one alive in England, which Was three months old ; that it was put in water for a short time only each day, and that it went upon the ground.- He ,(loes not say thel eat of the air incommoded it, but, on the contrary, that when it was touched it had the appearance of a robust and furious animal, and that it had a very strong respiration“ through its nostrils. This young walrus was about. the size of a calf, and very much like a seal. Its head was round, its eyes large, its nostrils flat and black, which it Opened and shut at pleasure. lthad'no external ears, but only two auditory passages. The mouth was small, and the'upper jaw was furnished with whiskers of thick, rough, and cartilaginous hairs 5 NATURAL. HISTORY. 87,-.- hairs ; the lower J'lW was triangular, the tongue! thick and short, and each side of the mouth armed on the inside with flat teeth. The feet. were broad, and the hind part of the body per—j; fectly resembled-that of a seal, ; It might be rather said tocrawl with this hind part thanto: walk g-tho fore-feet were, tornedforward, and the hind ones backward ; theyrwere‘ all divided into five toes, and covered with 'a strong meme brane. T'hevskin was thick, hard ,and covered with a short, soft, ash-coloured hair.; This ania mal granted like a boar, and sometimes }cried with a deep and strong voice.- It was brought: from Nova Zemhla, and had not any tasks, but, on the‘upper jaw there appearedtwo knobs, from whence instimc they would arise. It was fed with a sort of gruel made of barley or oat- meal. 1t followed .its master. when‘he offered; it food, but always with; a seeming reluctance, as it 'grunted all the time, and would sometimes growl at him with a degree of fury. . This account, which gives a tolerably‘ just idea of the walrus, evinces that it can live‘in a temperate climate ; hon/ever there is no a p- pearancelof its being able to endure a strong heat, n‘oriof its having ever passed fromone pole. to the other._ Several travellers have spoken of certain sea-cowsthey saw in ‘India, but , 88‘ ' BUFI’o'oN’s- - but those were of a different'species. The Walrus is easily distinguished by its-long tusks', a character which we find peculiar to that and the elephant. ' The genital member of the male has a large- bone like the whale. The female brings forth in'winter’ upon land, or on the shoals of ice, and seldom produces more than one, which when born 15 about the size of a hog of a year. old. VVe do not know how long this animal goes with young, but if 11 e judge by the time of their growth and size, we? must "suppose it to be upwards of'nine months. The Walrus cannot continue in the water- for ‘a long time together, but is obliged to come on shore to suckle its young, and for iothcr occasions. When they'are Obliged to climb up steep shores, or large pieces of ice, they make use of their teeth and hands to hold-by, and drag along the heavy masses of their bodies. They are said‘ to feed upon the shell-fish which are at the bottom of the sea, and to grub them up with their strong .tusks. Others assert that they live on a sea-herb with broad leaves, and that they eat neither flesh nor fish. But I imagine all these opinions have but a weal; foundation, it being probable that the 11 alrUS, like the seal, lives 011 piey , especially 011 henings, NATURAL HISTORY. ‘ 89 herrings, and other small fish, for he does not eat at all when upon land, and it is chiefly hunger which obliges him to return to the sea. THE BUGON. m THE' Dugon is an animal which .‘inhah‘its the A t’richn- and Indian seats. . We have only seen two heads on this subject, which resembled that of the walrus more than any other animal. Itih‘afl, like that, yeryi deep Sockets for the teeth, about the length of half a foot, which might more properly be termed cutting teeth than. tasks. . They extend not in. a direct man- . ner from: the mouth-,7 like those of the‘walrus; but—.are'niuch. sherter and thinner, besides they are‘situwted élfose to each other in the fore part of- the: jaw, whereas" the tasks of the“ walrus leave a considerable space betWeen them, and are placedzat the Sid-“e of the upper jaw. The grinders'of the d‘ugon likewise differ in num- ber, shape and position, from those of the walrus, therefore we make not the least doubt YQ'L. ix. N ~ but; 90 . BUFFON’S _,but they are animals of different species. Some travellers have confounded the. du‘gon with the sea-lionu Inigo de .Biervillas says, that a sea- lion was killed near the Cape of Good Hope, whichmeasured ten feet in length, and four in circumference. Its head was like that of a calf about a year old; it had a bristly beard ; its eyes large and frightful ; its ears short, its feet very broad, and its legs so echedingly short, that its belly dragged upon the ground: he adds, that it had two tasks about half a foot long. Thislast, however, does not. agree With the sea-lion, which has ; no tusks, but teeth nearly resembling those of the seal; and this - difference made me imagine it was notia sea- lion but the animal we call the. dugon. {:Ot‘her traVellers seem to have indicated it by the name of the sea-bear : Spilsberg and Mandelso relate, “ that there are animals on the island of St. Elizabeth, on the coast of Africa, which should rather be denominated sea-bears than" sea- wolves, as their hair, colour, and head, greatly resemble those of that animal, the snout only being more pointed ; that they also move like the bear, except dragging their hind legs after them; that these amphibious animals have a frightful appearance, and do notshew any fear at the sight of man : their teeth are» so very strong NATURAL HISTORY. 91 strong as to bite through the shaft of a javelin; and-although their hind legs appear crippled, yet they move with such swiftness that it is very diflicult to come up with them.” Le Guat Speaks of having seen a sea-cow, of a reddish ' colour, near the Cape of Greed Hope; its body was round a'ndthickl,‘ its eyes full and large, long tusks, andjit's muz'zlc was turned. a little upwards. ‘A. sailOr assured him that this animal, of whiCh he Only saw the fore part of its body, the rest being in the water, had feet. This sea-cow ‘of l'e Guat’s, the sea-bear of Spilsberg, and the sea-lion of Biervilla‘s,'seem . to be thesame animal-as the dugon, the head of which was sent (ls-“from the isle of France, and Which, consequently“, is to be met with in the southern seas, freintlie Cape bf Good Hope ' to the Philippine islands: as for the rest We cannot aflirm'that this animal, which’resemé bles'the walrus by its head and tusks, has, like that, four feet. We only presume from ana- l'ogy, and the testimony of travellers, that they have those members ; but as the anaIOgy is not very great, nor the testimonies. of ‘ travellers sufficiently precise to decide this point, we shall suspend our judgmentthereon till we are able to obtain better information, ' THE 92 nonon’a THE MANATI. . . - THIS animal is called in French lamantin, and supposed by some to have derived that name from the lamentable cries it makes, but. which is merely fabulous, as it is only a cor- ruption of the real word manatiuvhich in the Spanish indicates an animal with hands. This animal may either be called the-last of beasts or the first of fishes, for, in fact, it can- not. positively be pronounced either the one- Or the other. The manati (fig. 194) partakes. of the nature of the former, by its two fore- feet, or hands; but the hind legs, which are almost wholly- concealed in the bodies of the seal and walrus, are entirely wanting in the manati; instead of two ,short feet and a small narrow tail, which the walrus car- ries in an horizontal direction, the manati has only a large tail, which spreads out like-a fan, so that at first sight it seems as if the tail, of the first was divided into three, parts, and, that in the latter they were all united into one; but NATURAL HISTORY. 93 but from a more attentive inspection, and par- ticularly by dissection, we find that there is no such union; that there are no vestiges of the bones which form the thighs and legs,and that the tail of the manati is composed of simple isolated vertebrae, like those of cetaceous ani- mals, who have no feet. Therefore this ani- mal partakes of the cetaceous nature in the hinder parts of its body, and of a quadruped by the two fore-feet, or hands, on each side of the breast. Oviedo seems to be the first au— thor who has given any sort of history or des- cription of the manati; he says, “ This is a very clumsy and mishapen animal, havingthc head thicker than that of an OK, with small eyes, and two feet, or hands, placed near the head, which serve him for the purpose of swim-'- ming. He has no scales, but is covered with a skin or rather a thick hide: he is a peaceable animal, and feeds upon the herbage by the riversides, which he can reach without en- tirelyquitting the water. To take the manati they row themselves in a boat, or on a raft, as nearthe animal as possible, and then dart a very Strong arrow at him, to the. end of which a‘ long cord. is fastened : feeling himself Wounded heinstantly swims away, or plunges; ‘ 10’ 94 BUFFON ’s to the bottom; but the cord has a cork, or' piece of wood, fastened .to the end of it, which. serves as a buoy, and directs them which way he takes. \Vhen the animal begins to grow' weak through the loss of blood, he swims to- wards the shore ; the cord is then wound up, and the animal drawn within arm’s length of the bat, where they dispatch him with spears, 850. He is so heavy that he requires two oxen to draw him. His flesh is excellent eating, is much esteemed when fresh, but more so when out in pieces and pickled; in which state it acquires the flavour of the tummy fish._. Some of these animals measure more than fifteen feet in length by six in thickness; the body becomes narrow towards the tail,- and then spreads gradually broader towards the end. He has no external ears, but only two holes for the sense of hearing: his skin is. tough and hard, an inch thick, ofan ash colour, and hasafew scattered hairs, or bristles, on it. The female has two paps on her breast, and. generally brings forth two young ones at a. time, which she suckles.”=‘te All these facts mentioned _ . *These paps are very prominent during the time of gestation,and of suckling the young; but at other periods they are discernible only by the nipple. NATURAL HISTORY. 95 mentioned by Oviedo are true, and it is re- markable that Cieca, and many others after him, should aliirm, that the manati leaves the water very often to feed upon land. They have been led into this error, from the analogy of the walrus and seals, which have this na« tural habit ; but it is certain, that the manati nchr quits the water, and that he prefers fresh wa er to salt. Clusius saw and measured the skin of on'e of these animals, and found it sixteen feet and a half long, and seven feet and'alhalfbroad ; the two feet were very broad, and the claws short. Gomara asserts, that he has sometimes met with them twenty feet long; and adds, that these animals. frequent fresh-water rivers as well as the sea. He says, a young one was reared in a lake :in the island of St. Domingo. for twenty-six years; that he wasso docile and ' tame, that became quietly for the food which was offered to him; that he was so intelligent as to come'out of the water when called, and crawl to the house to receive his victuals ; that he seemed delighted with the human voice ; that he was fond of children, would suffer them to sit upon his back, and carry them from one end of the lake to the other, without plunging them 96 BUFFON’s them intothe water; and that he had no kind of fear. These circumstances cannot all be true ; some of them seem adapted to the fable . ofthe dolphin related by the ancients, for the manati cannot possibly crawl on the ground. Herrere says little with regard to this ani- mal, and only asserts, that although very large, the manatiswims with such facility, that his motion in the water is not heard ; and that he immediately dives to the bottom, on hearing any noise. llernandes, who has given two figures of the manati, one in profile, and the other in front, adds Very little to what, other Spanish authors had ’said of it ; he only mentions that ' there is a.- deformed beast called the mam-’2': which inhabits the Atlantic and ”1’aeifie oceans ; the i descriptions ”of which he has chiefly taken from Oviedo ; and then adds, that the hands of this, animal have five nails like those of a man ; that‘its navel and anus are wide ; that. the vulva of the female is like- that of a woman, and the sexual organ of the male like that of a horse; that the flesh and fat are like those of a hog; that the ribs and viscera are like those of a bull; that they copulate on? land, the» female. lying on her back, and that? she NATURAL HISTORY. 97 she brings forth butone young at atime, which is of a monstrous size at its birth. The copu- lation of these animals cannot be effected on land, since they are. unable to walk, but it is on the contrary performed in shallow water. Binet says, that the man-ati is as big as an‘ox, and as round as a tun; that his head Emma“, and his tail short ; ' that his skin is rough and thick like that of an elephant; that there are some of these animals so large, that one of them will yield more than six hundred weight of good eatable flesh ; that his greaSe is as sweet as butter ; that they delight to be near the mouth of rivers, where they broer upset-he isea weeds, which grow on“ the banks 3 that at some few leagues distant from Cayenne, they are found in such numbers, that a few men eX-a pert in darting the harpoon, might get suflia cient to load a-V'essel intone day. Father 'l‘ertr’e, who'd’escribes the fishery of the manati, agrees aluibst in everyr respect with the authors we have quoted; observing, however, that this animal has only four toes and four claws on each feet, or hand, and adding, that the feeds on a short; vegetable which grows on the sea, and which he eats nearly inthe same manner as the ox; that having pastures Sufliciently, he makes to the rivers and. fresh Waters, when: 3701‘, xx. .0 he 98 Burrows he moistens his food; and that his belly being full, he sleeps with his nose half way out of the water, so that he can be seen at a distance; that the female brings forth two young at a time, which follow her wherever she goes; and that when the mother is taken, they are sure of having the young, because they not only keep close to the bod y when she is dead, but even go continually round the vessel which is carrying her away. This last circumstance ”appears very suspicious, and is contradicted by other travellers, who assert, that the ma:- nati never brings forth more than one at a time; which is consistent with the nature of all other large quadruped or other cetaceous animals, so that analogy alone is sufficient to prevent our believing that the manati always brings forth two. Oxmelin remarks, that the tail of the manati is placed horizontally like that of the cetaceous animals, and not vertically like those of the scaly brood ; that he has no fore teeth, but only a callosity as hard as a bone, with which he cuts the herbage; but that he has thirty-two grinders ; that his sight is irnq perfect, on account of the smallness of his eyes, which have no iris and very little moisture; that he has an extremely small brain ; but to remed y the defect of sight, he has a very quick $31.1“ i fiArunAL HISTORY. 99 eat; that he has no tengue‘; that the parts of generation are more like" those of the human species than any other: that the milk of the" female, which he asserts- to have tasted, is Very good ; that they produce but one young at a time, which they embrace and hold with their hands; that the mother suckle's it during” a year, after which it is able to provide for its self: that this animal has fifty-two vertebrae ;~ ‘ that it feeds like the turtle, but can neither walk nor crawl upon land.‘ All these facts are very exact, and even that of the fifty-two Vertebrae ; for M. Daubenton in one he dissect-6 ed found twenty-eight vertebrae in the tail, sixteen in the back, and six, or rather seven in the neck.- This traveller is only deceived with respect to the tongue, which is not deli-e cient in the manati, but afliXed to the lower" jaw almost to the extremity;- In the Voyage to the American islands, printed at Paris, 1722, we meet with a tolera able good description of the manati, and the manner in which it is taken by the harpoon; The author perfectly agrees with all the prin-'- cipal facts we have already mentioned; but he observes,- “ that this animal is become very rare in‘ the Antilles since the coasts have been inhabited ; and that the one which-he saw and measured, was fourteen feet nine‘ inches,- from ' the‘ 1:00 BUFEON’s the muzzle to the tail: his head was very thick, with a large mouth and lips, which were’ furnished with coarse hairs; his eyes small in proportion to his head ; and he had only two holes in the sides instead "of cars; his neck was very thick and short, and but for the wrinkles occasioned by his motions, it. would be impossible to tell his head from his body. Some authors pretend (he adds) that this animal makes use of his hands, or fins, to crawl upon land :, Iparticularly endeavoured- to inform myself respecting this fact, but; could not hear of any person who had seen“ him but of water; and indeed, it is impossible~ for him to walk or‘crawl, since its fore-feet, or hands,only‘serve thefemale to hold the young while they suckle. The female has two round? breasts, which I measured; they were each seven inches in diameter, and about four in" their elevation : the nipple was about an inch thick ; the body was eight feet two inches in; ' circumference ; the tail was like a‘ large bat- tledore, about nineteen inches long, fifteen inches broad at the widest part, and about three inches thick at its extremity. The; skin on the back was about double the thiCkm ness of an ox’s hide, but much thinner on the belly; it was of a slate colour and of' very? coarser grain; the hairs, or bristles, were Of?- the NATURAL HISTORY. 101 the same colour as the skin, thinly scattered, but very thick, and long. This animal Weighed about eight hundred pounds; and with it the young one Was taken, Which was nearly three feet long. A part of its tail was toaster], the flesh of which was as good and as delicate as veal. The herb upon which these animals feed is about eight or ten inches long, narrow pointed, tender, and of a fine. green- colour. This herb is so plenty‘in many places on the coasts, that the bottom of the sea has the appearance of a verdant meadow, and upon which the turtles also feed, 8:0.” Father Magniu de Friboarg says, that the manati feeds on such grass on the shores, as it is able to reach without quitting the water; that its eyes are not bigger than a filberd nut ; that its ears are so narrow, that a needle 'can scarcely be passed into them ; that within the ears are found two small bones, which the Indians wear‘about their necks; and that itscry I'C‘t sembles the lowng .ofa cow. Gumill‘a states, that there. are immense aura? bers of manati in the Great lakes of Omnooko, “ These animals (says he) weigh from five to; seven hundred pounds each ;- they feed upon grass ; their eyes are. small, and the hples for their ears still smaller.- They pasture on ' the sea 102 BUFFON’S sea shores when the river is low. The female" always brings forth two young ones, which she carries at her paps, and grasps them so strongly with her two hands that they cannot fall ofl’, the milk of the female is very thick. Under its thick skin, four beds, or layers, are met with, two of which are of fat, and the other two of a very delicate and savoury flesh, which ,~ when roasted, has the smell of pork and the taste of veal. These animals, when a storm of rain approaches, leap out of the water to a- eonsiderable height.” Gumilla seems to be’ mistaken, as well as Tertre, in asserting that the female brings forth two young at a‘ time,- sincc it is almost a certainty, as has been already observed, that she produces no more than one. ' Upon the whole, M. de Condamine, who favoured us with a drawing, which he himself- made of the manati in the Amazon river,- speaks with greater precision than any other author on the natural habits of this animal.- “ Its flesh and fat.(Says he) have a great rea semblance to veal. Father Acnna makes its- resemblance to the ox still more complete, by giving it horns, which Nature never provided; It is not, properly speaking, am pllll)iOt]S,.SlIlCC it cannot entirely leave the water, having only two flat fins close to the head, about sixteen inches NATURAL HISTORY. 103 inches long, and which Serye the animalinstead of arms and hands. It only raises its head out of the water to feed on the herbage upon the. shore. That of which I drew the figure was a female; it was about seven feet and a half long, and its greatest breadth two feet : I have since seen some much larger. The eyes of this animal have no proportion to the size of its body ; the orifice of its cars is still less, and only seems like a hole made by a pin. The manati is not peculiar to the Amazon river, being not less common in the Oronooko. It is also found, though less frequently, in the Oyapoc, and many other rivers in the environs of Cayenne, and on the coast of Guiana, and probably in other parts.” This is nearly all the precise matter which we can collect respecting this animal; It were to be wished that the inhabitants of Cayenne, among whom there are several admirers of N a. tural History, would make same-observations on this animal, and give us a description of its internal parts, especially those of- respiration; digestion and generation. There seems, though we are not certain, to be a great bone in the genital member,- and a fo‘ramen ovale in the. heart; that its lungs are ofa singular conformation ; 104 a ,- BUFFON’S conformation ; and that it has several sto. machs, like ruminating animals. To conclude: the species of the manati is not confined to the seas and rivers of the New VVOrld, but exists also in those of Africa. M. Adanson saw them at Senegal, whence he brought one of their heads, which he presented to me, and at the same time communicated the following description of this animal, which he made on the spot, and which I haVe thought it proper wholly to transcribe. “ I saw‘ man y of these animals, the largest was not more than eight feet long, and weighed about eight hung- .dred pounds. A female, Which was five feet three inches long, weighed only one hundred and ninety-four pounds. They are of a dark ash colour, and have hairs scattered Over their bodies, very long, and like bristles. The head is conical, and of a middling si2e, with respect to the bulk of the body. The eyes are round and very small ; the iris is of a deep blue, and the pupil black. The. muzzle is almost cylin, drical ; its cheeks are nearly of an equal breadth, and the lips are fleshy and very thick. The only teeth they have either in the upper or iowerjaw are grinders. The tongue is of an avid form, and joined. almost to the end of the I lower NATURAL HISTORY. 105 lower jaw. It is remarkalfle that almost every author and traveller have described this animal wan ears. I have not been able to perceive a hole sufficient elven to admit a small probe. It has t a o arms,'or fins, placed close‘ to the head, "Which is not distinguishable from the rest of the body by any kind of neck,nor even any apparent shoulders. These arms are nearly Cylindrical, composed of three articulations, the foremost Of which is flat, and like the palm of the hand, the fingers of which are only to be distinguished by four claws of a bright brownish red colour; its tail is horizon- tal, like that of the whale, and is partly of the form of *a baker’s shovel. The female has tWo breasts, rather elliptic than round, placed near the arm-pits. The skinis thin on the belly, thick on. the back, but thickest of all on the head. The fat is white, and two or three inches thick ; the flesh is of a pale red colour, and more delicate than veal. The lolof ne- groes call this animal lereou ; it feeds on herbage, and is to be found at the mouth of the Black Sea.” - ' ‘ By this description we find that the manati of Senegal does not differ in any particular from that of Cayenne; and from a'comparison made. of the head of the Senegal manati with ’ that of a foetus of the Cayenne lamantin by . VOL.'IX. P M. Daubenton, 106 BUFFon’s M. Daubenton, he presumes that they are. of the same species. The testimony of‘trai-vellers also agrees with our opinion; Dampier in par- ticular speaks positively, and hisro‘bseryations deserve a placeglin our history, _“ It is; not only in Blewfield river, which springs between the rivers Nicaraga and .Veraga, that I, have seen the manati :. I have also seen‘the'min the Bay of Campeachy, on the coast of Bocca dcl Drago, and Bocca del Toro, in the .r_iver_.of Darlen, 'and in the small southern islands of Cuba: I have heard it said that there are axfew found on the north of-Jamaicmand many, in Surinam river, which is a very low country. I have likewise seen them at Mindanea, 0,41le the Philippine islands, and on the coast oftNew Holland. This animal is ‘fond of brackish Water, therefore he most commonly inhabits those rivers which border on the sea, This is possibly the reason why we never meet with any in the South Seas, where the coast. is gene-g rally high, and the water very deep near land, except in the Bay of Panama; bitt__.eije11...there the manati is not to be met with ;' but the West-Indies being, as it were, a great; bay composed of a number of small ones, are ge- nerally low land and shallow water, and con; sequently afford a food which is agreeable. to the manati. They are sometim‘eslseen'insalt . -~W..aters NATURAL HISTORY. 107 wa-tér,lsometimes in fresh, but seldom very far from shOrer Those”. which inhabit the sea, and places i'Wherc'there are no rivers that they can enter, Come" to the 'mouth of the nearest fresh.- water river’s which they find, once or twice in twenty-four hours; They 'feed I on a narrow herbage which grows on the sides of the shores, especially -.in'places where the tides or currents are not very strong. They never go on shore, bu-talway's' keept-"in‘a depth ef‘water where they can swim/Their flesh is sweet, and very ‘good‘ food ; ' their skin is‘ also of - great utility. The ima‘nati, and: the tortoise are commonly found in-thelsam'e parts of the'world, and feed 0n the same ‘herb'age.”*' M THE—NOMENCLATURE or APES. IN I the history of these animals we shall not follow the pedantic method of‘ schools, which I ' ‘ lays {A great number of manatisare to be found along the low and marshy coasts, and in the vast lakes of Moyacaré, the most southern part of French Guiana, aboye the Oya- pok. Small vessels from Cayenne go to the fishery of these animals, and bring'their‘ flesh salted,'a gross aliment which is kept for thenegroes.‘ This fishery, which might become an object of important commerce, should be encouraged; it . Would require a small establishment .upon the coast, and would facilitate the means of acquiring some knowledge of a country how unknown, and which, at thesame time that it opened new sources of commerce, would prove also an inexhaustible mine of wealth to Natural History. 108 Burma’s lays down arbitrary maxims as real, and fala siiies as truth; such documents are eagerly inn;- bibed by children,but are judiciously rejected by men, if not founded on solid principles. \Ve shall, therefore, to avoid such imaginary methodical distributions, which have been of no other use than to heap a multiplicity, and even distinct species, of animals into one indis- criminate mass. 1What; I call an Ape is an animal with a flat visage, and without a tail, whose teeth, fingers, nails, and hands, resemble those of the human species, and ‘who also a alks upright on its two feet. This definition, drawn from the nature ofthe animal, and its resemblance to man, will exclude every animal that has a tail, or a long snout, crooked or pointed claws, or whose na- ture obliges them to walk more willingly on four feel: than on two. After this fixed and precise rule, let us examine to what animalsthe name of Ape can properly be applied. The ancients knew only one; the pitheeos of the Greeks, and the simia of the Latins, is the real ape, and On which Aristotle, Pliny, and Galen, have instituted all their physical com- parisons, and founded all their relations of the ape to mankind. But this ape ofthe ancients, which so frreatly resembles man in its exter- nal form, and still more in its internal organi- zation, NATURAL HISTORY. .109 zation, nevertheless differs from him in an essential point, namely, magnitude. The size of the human species is generallyahove five feet, while that. of the pitlzeeos is seldom more than a fourth of that height. Therefore, if this animal had a still greater resemblance to the human species, the ancients would have had reason to regard it only as an homunculus, a dwarf, or a pigmy, capable only ofattacking small animals, while man knew how to subdue the elephant, and even to. conquer the. lion. . ‘ But since the discovery of the southern parts of Africa and India, another animal of this kind has been found, which possesses this at~ tribute of size ; an ape as tall and as strong as man, and equally as ardent after a WOman as its own females ; a species which are sagacious enough to make use of stones to attack their enemies, and sticks to defend themselves, and which resembles the human species still more than the pithecos, for, independently of its hav- ing no tail, a flat face, arms, hands, teeth, and .nails, like those of a mam-and, like him , walk- ing erect, it has a kind of Visage, with features, approaching to those of mankind: its ears are ‘ofthesame form; it has a beard onlits chin, and not more hair on its body‘than man in his na- tural state. From these resemblances the more ‘ I polished I 10 Burton’s polished 111111'111111111111‘11151 hesitated to associate it among thehuman’sp'ecies‘,”by Ihe' nanie of orang- outang,‘or wild man ofthe‘WoOds; while the Negroes, who are really as savage,a and al- most as ugly, as those animals, and who are 'not of opinion that civilization exalts our na- ture, have denominated it. pengo,‘ which sig- nifies a beast,“and has no relation to man.‘ In fact this orang-Outang is not only a brute but a very singular one, which ma :1 Cannot-look upon, without contemplatmtr h1msel1, and be- ing conv1nc "l that his external fo111’1 is not the most essential‘part'ofliis nartu e. . Here then are two animals, the pithecos and the Orang-‘outang, which must be ranked among the‘ape'kind. There is also a third, to w h ich , though :more deformed ,we canno‘tref use that appellation ';' until very lately‘this animal was scarcely" known, "it was brought from the East Indies by the name 'of gibbon {like the other two it walks erect, is withouta tail,- and has a flat face; but its arms, instead of being proportioned to its height, are of such extra- ordinary “length, that when it stands erect on its two feet," it touches the ground with its hands, without the smallest inclination of its ‘body. Next to these apes, we meet with another ‘ race NATURAL; ms'ronY. 11! race of animals, which we- shall indicate bytlle genetic nameoft-he baboon ; and todistinguish themclearlygfrom. every other-janimal of the kind,- it ismccesmryctto observeth-at the baboon has a short tail, along-face, a broad muzzle, With canine teetl'1,_larger in proportion than; that of man, and—callosities on its rump.__, By this :definition,__weexclude from thisraceall the, apes which havenotails, alllthewmonkies’ whose tails are as. long, erlopger. than their; bodies, and all the makisgloris, and other fours handed; animals, that have their lnuizles sharp end oointed. The-ancients never had as proper name for these animals ; Aristotle .- alone has pointed out. oneot‘ those baboons by. the name ofsjmz'a porcaria, butvglives a. very‘ imperfect indication of it in other respects. The i Italians first called it ; babm’zzo, _ the Germans .baeion, the Frencltbabom'n,‘ the English baboon, and every-modern outlier, who haswritten of it in Latin, papim \Ve shall thereforeiterm it baboonhto distinguish it from the otlrerfspecies since discovered intlle southern provinces of Africanndlndia. "We are acquainted with three kinglsrofrthese animals. 1.’_'I‘hegb,aboon, which is found in Arabia, 850. and whichwpro: bahly,is the sz'mz'a porcam'a ofAristotle. ‘2, The ”landfill, whichislarger than the baboon, whose face is of abluish “colorinand furrowed with 119 - ' BUFFON"S With deep and oblique wrinl;les ; this is a na- tive oquinea, and the hottest parts ofAfrica. 3. The ouandérou, Which is less than the baboon" and mantlrill; ’its head and face is surrounded with a very thick and long hair, and has a large white beard; it is seen in Ceylon, Malabar, and ”other southern parts ot‘lndia. ‘hus We have precisely defined three species of the ape, and three: of the baboon, and all ofthcm Very distinctly differing from each other. A But as Nature acts on one regular plan, con- nected and extended throughout. all her works, and as her progress is always by minute de- grees, there must be an intermediate species be- tween the ape and the baboon. This interme- diate species actually exists, and is, in fact, to be found in the magot, which fills up the chasm between the other two. It differs from the first in having a long muzzle and large canine teeth; and 'aries from the second, in ‘not hav- ing any tail, although there is a'small protu- berance of skin at that part, which has some- thing of that appearance. This animal, con- sequently, is neither an ape, nor a ba- boon, yet, at the same time, partakes of the nature of both. The magot, which is a very common animal in Upper Egypt, as well as in Barbary, was known to the ancients. The Greeks NATURAL HISTORY. 113 Greeks and Latins denominated. it cynocephaé Ids, bccause its muzzle resembles that of a (100‘. Thesc animals, then, must be ranged. in the following order': orang-outang, or pongo, is the first ape; the pit/tacos, the secOnd ; the gib- bon, the third; the cynoéephaldsfior magot, the fourth ape, or, the firstbaboon; The papio, the first baboon; the mandrz'll, the-second ; and . the ouanderbu, the third, This order is neither arbitrary nor fictitious, but strictly conformaa ble to the steps of N ature; . After the species of apes and baboons, imé mediate] y follow the guenons, or men/cites; that is, animals which resemble the two former, but which have tails as long, er longer than their bodies. The word guenon was anciently employed, sometimes to denote a small ape, and at others, the female; it has also been used‘ in the sense we now take it, to denote the apes' with long tails, and was probably derived from the word Icépos, which the Greeks made use of forthat very purpose. Of these guenons, or man/ties, we know of- nine species, which we shall distinguish by different names, to avoid confusion, and for the sake of regularity. The first of these is the macaque ; the second, the paws, or red monkey; the third, the ma!- bran-1c; the fourth, the mangabey; the fifth the _70L. IX. -, Q mone; 1M: BUFFON’s mane; the siXth, the callz’téz 1,615,115,111; wonky; the seventh, the m‘ous‘tac; the eighth, the talu- pain; and the ninth, the done, so called 111 Cochin-China, 61‘ which country it is'a native“, The a‘nciént‘s knew 0111 y 1110 of this. class, the mo'n’e and tliee’allitrix, 'whi’eh inhabit Arabia and the [layman-pans ofAfriea they had not the least idea of an3 other, for they aic‘ only to be found In the southern previ‘nces of Africa” and the East Indies, cduntries absolutely un- known in the time of Aristotle. This g1eat'; philosophéi, and the Greeks 1n general, were so careful to aifix proper names to different an- imals, that they denOminated the ape witho'tit a tail, 'p'i'the'co's, and the frienkey With a ‘ long tail, 11101130111 of which they carefully drew from the most apparent charactei of these an- 111111111111 the apes and babOOns WhiCh they knew, 111111 a ‘uniform colour; 011 the 6011‘- trar3, the monkey which we 011119110126, and the Cheeks, [(6503, has hair of (lifferent eelours, and is vulgarl‘y called the variegated monkey ; this species Was 'the most "Comm’Oii Of all those animals in the time of A‘ri’s- totle ; and from this Character it Obtained 1119111111: 0111131703, which in'G’reek Signifies ‘a- variety of colours; Thus all the animals‘o‘f theiape, haliden,an‘d monkey kind, mentionea‘ ‘1)y‘Aiistotle, may be reduced to four, the pi- ' tlzecos; 111111111111 1115101111. 115 theeosfihe cynoceplz (1lus,tl1,es_2'm io p‘orcqri a, and the Icébos; Which we think ourselves sufficiently 311stifierl to rank as the pit/woos or pigmy, the agot, the baboon, and the mane, not only be- 221111196 their particular characters perfe .tly agree with those mentioned by Aristotle, but also, because the other species must have been ab- solutely unknown to him, since they are natives of those countries into which theGreek travels lers of his time had not penetrated. Two or three ages after Aristotle, We meet with two new names in theGreel; authors, 6111,1111];er 111111 cercopitizccos, both relative to the long-tailed monkey. 1“ 12191101151911 a1 discoveries were made, in the southern regions of Africa and Asia, we meet with new animals, find other species of monk‘ies , and as most of these 111011kies likewise were not of various cot. 1101113 like the kébos, the Greeks comp 011011 the 0e11eric name of cercopitlzecos, that is , 1113 ope with a tail, to denote all the species of mentors, or ages with long tails , and 1111171115 discovered ameng them one of a. beautiful green £910,111, they called it callzllun‘, Which signifies beautiful 112111.11115 foallitoris i5 foond in the soother? Parts of Mauritanio, p11d 1111 the neighbouring count11es of Cape Verd, 116 BUFFON’S Verd, and commonly known by the name of the green ape. With respect to the other seven species of monkies,which we have indicated by the names of Macaque, Patas, Malbrouk, Mangabey, Moustac, Talapoin, and Done, they were un- known to the ancients. The macaque is a native of Congo, the patas of Senegal, the mangabey of Madagascar, the malbrouk of Bengal, the moustac of Guinea, the talapoin of Siam, and the doucof Cochin-China ; all these places were equally unknown to the an- Cients, and we have been careful to preserve the original names aflixed to them in their nan tive countries. . But as Nature always proceeds in a regular and gradual manner,never leaving any chasms, we meet with an intermediate species between the baboon and monkey, like that of the magot between the ape and the baboon. The animal which fills up this interval, greatly resembles the monkey, especially the macaque, but it has a broad muzzle, and short tai1,like the baboon . Being ignorant of its proper name, we have called it the maimon,to distinguish it from other animals of this kind. It is a native ofSumatra, and is the only animal,as well among the ba- boon as the monkey species, that has no hair 011 NATURAL HISTORY. 117 On its tail; and upon that account it has been described by the denomination of the pig-tat!- ed or rat- tailed ape. Thus we have enumerated all the animals of the old continent, to which the common name of ape has been given, though they are not only of very distant species, but even of very different genera. But what has Completed the error and confusion in the arrangement ofth'ese animalsris, that the names of ape, cynocepkalus', kébos, cércopitlzccos, which were invented by the Greeks fifteen hundred years ago, have been given to animals of the new continent, which have been discovered within these two or three centuries. They knew not that the animals ofAfrica and of the East I ndies,:. were not to be found in the southern parts of the new continent. ' "Animals have been found in America with hands and fingers, and this cha- racter alone was thought suflieient to give them the appellation of apes, without considering that for transferring a name it was requisite that the animals should be of the same genus, and to apply it justly, of the same identical 'species. I N ow the animals of America, of which we shall form two classes, by the names ‘of sapajous and sag oins, are very different from all_ the monkeys ofAsia and Africa; and in the same 118 BUFFON’S same manner as there are neither apes, mon- keys, nor baboons, to be found in the new con. tinent, so likewise there are neither the sa pajons nor sagoins to be found in theold. Though we have already mentioned these facts in gene- ral, in our dissertation concerning the animals of the two continents, we can here prove it in a more particular manner, and demonstrate, that of seventeen species, to which member we may reduce all the ape species in the old conti~ neat, and of twelve or thirteen, to which this name of ape has been transferred in the new, there is not any of them alike, or to be found inboth continents, for of the seventeen in the old we must first retrench three or four of the apes, .who .do not. exist in America, and to whom the sapajous and the sagoinshave no resemblance. Secondly, we mu st also retrench three or four of the baboons, which are much larger than the sagoins or the sapajons,and alsoof a very different form; there remains, iherefore, only nine monkeys 0f the 01d confi- ,nent with Whom any comparisoncan he made. Now this species of monkeys, as well as the apes and babQODS, have particular and general characters, whichenti-rely separate them from the sapajous and sagoins. The first of these characters ceasists in. the rump being bare, on which NATUItAL iirsronv'. Which are natural callosities peculiar to those parts. The second is the barring pouches 9" each side of the jaw, in Which the animal can store its food. The third is 111 the make of the nostrils, which are narrow, and the apertures placed in the under parts, like those of man. The sapajous and sagoin's have not one of these Characters. The partition between their nos- trils is very thiCk, and the apertures are placed on the sides of the nose, and not below it. They hate hair on their posteriors, and no Calicsi- ties; they have no pouches on each side of their jaws; and hence these animals differ net only in species but even in genus, since they have not any of‘the general characters common to the Whole tribe of monkeys ;‘ and this difl‘er- ence' in genus suppose-s still greater in the 81:0- cies, and demonstrates them to be Quite dis-'- tinct from each other. ’ _ Tire names of ape and monkey, therefore, have been very improperly applied to the sa- pajeus and the sagoins. _ We must preserve their original names, and instead of ranking . them "with the apes, We should begin by com”- paring them together, Thes‘etW‘o fa‘mili'esdi‘f-é , ter'fmm each other by a m y remarkable c1111; r.acter All the sapajous make Use of their tails like a finger to hang by, and to procure; What t 10y cannot reach with their hands. The sagoins, 120’ BUFFON’S sagoins, on the contrary, cannot make use of. their tail in that manner. Their face, ears, and hair, are also different; we may, therefore, very properly divide them into two distinct races. , . Avoiding the use of denominations; which can only be applied to the monkey, baboon, or ape, we have endeavoured to indicate the sapa- jous and the sagoins by the names they bear in their native country. We are acquainted with six or seven species of sapajous, and six of the sagoins, most of which have varieties. We have carefully searched after their names in all authors, and particularly in the writings of observant travellers who have first mention‘ . ed them, because, in general, the names which any one of them have in their native country is derived from some particular character, which alone was sufficient to distinguish it from all the rest. With respect to the va- _ Iieties, which in this class of animals are, per- haps, more numerous than the species, we have endeavoured to refer each to its respec- tive species. We have had in our possession forty of these animals alive, differing from each other in a greater or less degree, and’ from a particular and attentive examination of which, welthink the whole may be reduced to thirty species, viz. three apes, and one interme- diatc species between them and the baboons; three NATURAL HISTORY". 121 three baboons, and one intermediate species between them and the monkeys ; nine monkeys, seven sapajous, and six sagoins ; the rest, or at least the“ greatest part of them, ought to be considered only as varieties. But as we are not absolutely certain that some of these van rieties may not be distinct species, we shall endeavour to give all of them proper denomi- nations. . Here, then, let us considerterrestrial ani— mals, some of which so greatly resemble the human form, in a new point of view. The aflixiug the name of quadruped to all these animals has been done unjustly. It'the ex- ceptions were few we should not have object- ed to the application of this term. We are convinced that our definitions and names, however general, do not comprehend the whole; that there exists particular beings, which escape the most cautious definitions, and'that intermediate species are constantly discovered. VVe know that many, though to all appearance holding the middle station, have escaped enumeration, and that the g0« neral names under which they are included is incomplete; because Nature should never be considered in the aggregate, but by unities only, because man has invented general names VOL. 1):. - R only \ l \ C 1‘22 BUFFON’S only to assist his memory, and becarise he af- terwards weakly regarded "those general names as realities ; in short, because he has endea- voured to comprehend, under the same denob urinations, very different animals, and which necessarily required other appellations. I can give both example and proof, without sweer ing from the class of quadrupeds, which, of all animals, are those best known to man, and to which he was, consequently, the best enabled to give the most precise denominations. The name of quadrup'ed supposes an animal with four feet. If it be deficient in two, like the manati; if it have hands and arms like the ape; or if it have wings like the bat; it is not a quadruped : therefore this general denomi- nation is erroneous when applied to either of those animals. In order to speak with pre- cision, there should be truth in the ideas which the words represent; for instance, let us find a word to convey a perfect idea of an animal with him hands; if We had a term to denote a tire-handed animal, as, well as one with two feet, we mightthen say, that man alone is biped and bimanous, because he alone has two hands and two feet; that the manati is only bim‘ana ous; that. the bat is only a biped; and the ape a quadrimanous, or tburahanded animal. Let- ’9’. NATURAL HISTORY. ‘ 123 us now apply these new denominations to every particular being with which they agree, and we shall discover, that from the two hundred species of animals to which we have given the common name of quadrupeds, there are thirty- five sorts of apes, baboons, monkeys, snpajous, sagoins, and makis, must. be retrenched, as they are quadrimanaus, or four—handed ; and that to those thirty-five species we must add the lori, the murino, Virginian and Mexican opossums, and the jerboas, which are also quadrimanous, .like those above-mentioned , and that, conse- quently, the list ol'fi,;ur—liaiidcd animals being at least composed of forty species, the real a (number of quadrupeds, will be reduced one .fifth part. I f afterwards we take out twelve or fifteen species of bipcds, namely, the bats, whose fore-feet may ra: her be called wings than feet, and also three or four jerboas, because they can only walk on their hind feet, those before being too short; if we remove also the manati, which has no hind feet, and the dif- ferent species of thewalrus, and the seal, to -which animals they are entirely useless, the number ofquadrupeds will be found diminished a third more; and if we still subtract those , animals which make use of their fOI'Cf'fCCt like hands, as the bears, marmots, coatis, squir- rcls, 124 BUFFON’S rels, rats, and many others, the denomina- tion of quadrupeds will appear to be misap- plied to more than one half of these animals. In fact real quadru peds consist only of whole and cloven-footed animals. VVhen we descend to the digitated class, we find four-handed, or ambiguous quatlrupeds,who use :heir fore-feet in the manner ofhands, and which ought to be distinguished or separated from the rest. There are three species of whole hoofed animals, the horse, the zebra, and the ass; and, by adding the elephant; he rhinoceros, the hippopotamus, and the camel, whose feet, though terminated by mils, are solid, and only serve for’the pur- pose of walking, we shall have seven species to which the name ofquadruped perfectly applies. There is a much greater number of eleven-.- footed than whole-hoofed animals. The oxen, the sheep, the goat, the antelope, the bubalus, the lama, the paeos, the elk, the rein-deer, the stag, the firilmv~deer, the roe-buck, See. are all clovenvfooted, and compose all together full forty-species. Thus, we have already titty ani- mals, ten whole hoofed, and forty eloven- footed, to which the name of quadruped has been rightly applied. In the digitated animals, the lion, tiger, panther, leopard, lynx, eat, wolf, fox, dog, hymna, eivet, badger, weasel, ferret, NATURAL HISTORY. 125 ferret, porcupine, hedge hog, armadillo, ant- eaters,and h og,ahich last constitutes the shade between digitated and cloven-footed tribes,add more than forty other species, to which the name of quadru ped also applies—in all the rigour of its accc ptation; because, though their fore- feet are divided into four or five toes, they never use them as hands ; but all the other digitated species 'who use their fore-feet tohold and ‘carry food to their mouths, are not, in strict propriety, quadrupeds. Those species, which are also forty in number, form an intermediate class between quad rnpcds and four-handed ani- ‘mals, and . are in fact neither one nor the ~other.- Therefore, to more than a fourth of our animals, the name of'quadrnped does not apply ; and with more than one half it does .not agree in all the extent of its acceptation. The four-handed animals fill up the great chasm between the quadruped and the human “species. The two handed are in the distance between man and the cetaceous tribes. The bipeds with wings are the shade between qua- drnpezls and birds ; and the digitated species (who usetheir Fore-feet as hands, fill up all the degrees between the quadrupeds and the four- handed kinds. But this subjectis too extensive to be here pursued ; however useful it might be 126 BUFFON’S he to give a distinct knowledge of animals, it is still more so by furnishing us with a new proof, that not any of our definitions are pre- cise, nor our general terms exact, when speci- fically applied to objects, or to beings which they represent. But why are these definitions and general terms, which seem to be the master-piece of invention, so exceedingly defecdve? Is this error the defect of human understanding 2 or rather, is it not an; incapacity, or pure inabi- lity, of combining, and perceiving a number of objects at one View? Let us compare the works of nature with those of man : let us ex- amine how both operate, and then enquire whether the human mind, however active and extensive, can follow the same route, wrhout being lost either in the immensity of Space, the obscurity of tine, or in the infinite cmnbinafions of beings? Let a man direct: his mind to any object ifhe would avoid being misled, he must walk in a direct line, pass over the least space, and employ the least possible time to accomplish his end. But in this pursuit,what a number of reflections and combinations must he make to avoid those deceitful a rd fallacious. roads which at first otter themselves in such numbers, that it re- ' quires NATURAL HISTORY. 127 quires the greatest. and nicest discernment to choose the true and direct path? This path, however, is not beyond the depth of the hu- man mind; and by this Only sure and solid method he arrives at the destined point of View; but if he seeks another point, it can only be obtained by another line. The train ofour ideas is a delicate thread, which only ex- tends in length wit hout any other dimensions; while Nature, on the contrary, does fiot take a single step, without extending on all sides, and passing at once through the three dimenr- sionsof length, breadth and thickness; while man attains but one single point, she embraces all, and penetrates into every part of a solid mass. By the power of art, and length of time, our statuaries form a figure which ex- ternally resembles the object proposed; each point of this surface requires a thousand coma binations. Their genius travels over 'as many lines as there are lineaments in the , figure, and the least false step would deform it. This piece of marble, so perfectly executed that it seems to breathe, is,therefore, only a mul- titude of points to which the artist arrives by, labour andetime; for human genius being Unable to seize more than one dimension at a time, and our senses reaching no further tha: surfaces, .128 BUFFON’S surfaces, we cannot penetrate the substance ; while, Nature, on the contrary, designs and enters into the'depth of things ; she produces forms almost instantaneously ; she at once ex: pands them in all their dimensions ; as soon as her movements reach the surface, the pene- trating powers with which she is animated, operate internally. The smallest atom, when she chooses to make use of it, is obliged to obey her will. Her actions, therelOre, extend over all; she travels above, below, to the right and left, and consequently, she not only encom- passes the surface, but every particle of the mass. What difference there consequently is in the‘result? What comparison can be made between a statue and an organised body 3 But also what inequality in their powers, and howdisproportioned the instruments! Man can only make use of the power he possesses. Confined to a small quantity of motion, which he can only communicate by impul- sion, he can only exert himself upon sur- faces ; since the power of impulsion in gene- ral is only transmitted by superficial con- tact. He only sees and touches, therefore, the surfaces of bodies, and "when he attempts to proceed further, though he opens, divides, and separates, he still touches nothing more than. surfaces. NATURAL HISTORY. 129' smfac'es. To penetrate the interior parts of. bodies, he should he possessed of a portion of. that power which acts upon the mass, or of gravity, which is Nature’s chief instrument. It is, therefore, the defect of instruments which prevents the art of man from approaching that of Nature. His figures, his pictures, his dea signs, are—only surfaces, or imitations of sur- faces, because the images he receives by his senses are all superficial, and he is unable to give them the internal parts. What is true with regard to the arts is the same as to sciences, only that the latter is less confined, because the mind is the instrument, and which in the former is subordinate to the senses.. But in the sciences the mind com-'- mands the senses, as its only endeavourris to search into objects, and not to operate on them; to compare, and not imitate them. The mind, though thus cramped by the senses, though often abused .bytheir false reports, is, notwit’ha- standing, neither less pure nor less active. Man, Who [has'a natural desire to knowledge, began by rectifying, and demonstrating the" errors of the senses. He has treated them as -mechanical organs, as instruments,- the efi‘ects ofwhich must be left toexperience. Pursuing still his desire of knowledge, he has travelled vex... 1x. ' S on c230 BUFFos’s on with the balance in one hand, and the come pass in the other, and has measured both time and space. Thus, he has recognized all the- 7 exterior parts of N atu-re’s works, but not being able to penetrate her internal parts by his senses, he has drawn his conclusions and form- ed a judgment of them by analogy and com- .parison. He discovered that there exists a general force in matter, quite different from that of impulsion; a forccwhich does not come within the compass of our senses, and which, though we are unable to make use of, Nature employs as an universal agent. He has de- monstrated, that this force belongs equally to .all matter, in proportion to its mass or real V quantity ; that its action extends to immense distances, decreasing as the space augments. Afterwards ,turning his eyes 11 pon living beings, he found, that heat was another force neces- sary to their production; that light was a matter endowed with an unbounded elasticity and activity; that the formation and expan- sion of organized beings were the effects of a combination of all these forces; that the ex-— tension and growth of animal. or- vegetable bodies, follow exactly the laws of attraction, and are effected by an increase of all three- dimensions at the same time; and that a mould r NATURAL HISTORY. 131 mould, when oneeformed, must, according to these laws of' affinity, produce a successionof others exactly resembling the original. By . combining these attributes, common to animal and vegetable Nature, he discovered, that there existed in both an inexhaustible and re- versible fund of organic and living substance; a substance as real as the unformed matter ; a substance which continues always in its live as the other does in its inactive state ; asubstance universally diffused, passing from vegetables to animals by means of nutrition, returning from animals to vegetables by the process of putrefaction, and maintaining an incessant cir- reulation for the animation of beings. He also remarked, that these organic particles existed in every organized body ; that they were combined in greater or less quantities with dead matter -; that they were more abundant in animals where all is full of life, and more scarce in vegetables where the dead matter predominates, and the living seems to be ex- tinct; where the organic matter, overpowered by the rude, has neither progressive motion, sensation, heat, nor life, and is only manifest- ed by its unfolding and rte-production. Re- " fleeting on the manner each Operates, be dis- cOvered, thatevery living being is a mould that possesses the power of assimilating the‘ substances 132 Burron’s substances by which it is nourished; that growth is an effect of this assimilation, that the unfolding of a living body is not a simple augmentation of bulk, but an extension in eVery dimensiOn, and a. penetration of new matter into every part. of the whole mass ; that those parts increasing in proportion to the whole, and the whole in proportion to the parts, the form is preserved, and remains al-.- ways the same till the growth is completed ; that when the’body has acquired all its ex- tent, the same matter. heretofore employed in the augmentation, is sent back as superfluous from every part to which it had been assimie lated ; and that, by uniting in one common point, it forms a new being, perfectly like the first, and which to attain the same dimensions, requires only to be expanded by the same mode of nutrition.- He also observed that man, quadrupeds, cetaceous animals, birds, reptiles, insects, trees, plants, and herbs, were all nourished, unfolded, and reproduced by the same universal law; and that the manner of their nutrition and generation appearing so different, although dependent on one general and common cause, was because it could not operate but in a mode relative tothe form of each particular species of being. To acquire 13th grand truths, required- a succession of i * ages, NATURAL HISTORY. '1” ages,'and gradual investigatiOn,‘ but having. .obtained so much, he began to compare different objects together; and to distinguish one from the other, he gave them particular names,_a‘nd invented general denominations to reunite them under one point of View. He observed, by taking the body of man as the physical model of every living animal, and by compar- ing and exam ining every living animal in their several parts, that the form of every thing that breathes is nearly the same ; that the anatomy sofa man and an ape are similar ; that every animal has the same Organization, the same senses, the same viscera, the same bones, the same flesh, the same motion of the fluids, and the same action in the solids. . In all of them he has found a heart, veins, and arteries ; the same organs of circulation, resentition, diges- tion, nutrition, and secretion ; the same solid structure, erected with. the same materials, and put together nearly in the same manner. This plan he found to proceed uniformly from mankind to the monkey, from the monkey. to quadrnpeds, from quadrupeds t0 the cota- ceous animals, and so on to birds, fish, and reptile . This plan, I say, when well com- prehended by the human understanding, ex~ liibi‘ts a faithful picture of animated nature, find alfords the most simple and general view under 134: BUF-FON’S Under which she can possibly be considered; and when we extend it by passing from the animal to the vegetable, we shall find this plan, ' which we at first found varying only by shades, degenerate by degrees from reptiles to insects, from insects to worms, from worms to zoo») phytes, and from zoophytes to plants ; and though changed in all its exterior parts, ne- vertheless, still preserving the same character; the principal features of which are nutrition, expansion, and reproduction. These features are general and common to every organized substance, they are eternal and divine; and, far from being effaced or destroyed by time, are only renewed and rendered more plain and evident. If, from this great picture of resemblances, in which the living universe presents itself as but one family, we pass to that'of the differ:- ences, wherein each species claims a separate place, and a distinct portrait, we shall perceive, that excepting some of the larger SiTeClCS, such as the elephant, the rhinoceros, the hippopo- tamus, the tiger, and the lion, every other seems to unite with its neighbourii'ig kind, and to form grou pcs of degraded similitudes, or gene. m, which our nomenclators have represented in a. network of figures, some of which are con. B’JCiCil by the feet, and others by the teeth,‘ horns, NATURAL HISTORY. 135 . horns, hair, and others by still smaller affinities. And even the apes, whose form appears to be the most perfect, that is, approaches nearest to that of man, are represented confusedly, and require very accurate observations to distin‘ guish one from the other, because the privilege of separate species is less owing to form than size. Man himself, although a single species, and infinitely removed from that of all other animals, yet being only of a middle size, has more approximations than the larger kinds. We shallfind in the history ofthe orang-outang that if we were only to attend to the figure, we might look on that animal either as the termi- ' nation of the human species, or the commence~ ment of the ape ; because, except the intellect, he is not deficient in any one thing which We possess, and because, in his body, he differs less- from man than from the otheranimalstowhieh we have given the denomination of apes. . The mind, thought, and speech, therefore, do not. depend on the form or organization of the body. Nothing more strongly proves that they are peculiar gifts bestowed on man alone, than that the orang-outang which neither speaks nor thinks, has, nevertheless, the body, the limbs, the senses, the skull, and the tongue exactly similar to man. He can counterfeit every motion of the human species, and yet cannot 136 7 — BUFFON’S ‘ - cannot perfectly perform one single act ; which may possibly be owing to a defect of educae tion, or perhaps yet more to an error in our judgment. You unjustly compare,- it may be said, an ape, who is a native of the forests, with the man who resides in polished society. To form a proper judgment between them,a savage man and an ape should be viewed to- gether; for we have no just idea of man in a pure state of nature. he head covered with bristly hairs, or with curled wool; the face partly hid by a long heard, and Still longer hairs in the front, which surround his eyes, destroy his august character. and make them appear sunk in his head, like those of the brutes; the lips thick and projecting, the nose flat, the aspect wild or stupid; the ears,- body, and limbs are covered with hair; the’ nails long, thick, and crooked ; a callous substance like a horn'under the soles of the feet; the breasts of the female long and flab-s by, and the skin of her belly hanging down‘ to her knees; the children wallowing in filth , and crawling on their hands and feet; and the father and mother sitting on their hams,- forming a hideous appearance, rendered more so by being besmeared all over with stinking grease. This sketch, drawn from a savage Hot-~ tentot = NATURAL HISTORY. 137'.w tentdt', is still a flattering portrait, for there is as great a distan‘Ce between a man‘in a pure state of nature and a‘Hotten‘tot, as there is be? tween a Hotten‘tot and us. But if we wish to Compare the human species with that of the ape, we must add to it the affinities of orga: nizati'o‘n, the agreements of temperament, the vehement desire of male apes for wernen, the like conformatidn of the genitals in both series, the periodic emanations of the females; the‘ compulsive or voluntary intermixture of the hegresses with the-apes, the produce of which has united into both species; and then cons’i-' der, supposing them not of I the same species; ' how diflicalt it is‘ to discover the interval by which they are separated. I I aCknowledge', if we were forced to judge by external appearance alone, the ape might bé taken fo'ra variety in the human sp€Cies. The' Creator'has not formed man’s body on" a model; absolutely different from that of the mere a‘ni-‘i‘ thal; he has comprehended his figure; as Well as that of every other animal, under one general plan,- but at the same time that he has giVen him a material form, similar" to that or theiape, he infused this animal-body with a; divine spirit. If he had granted the same fad Vour, grotto the ape,- bi-tt to the meaneSt ani-é V6125. IX; T ma]; 138 . B-UFFON’S ma], whose organization seems to' us to be the" worst of all constructed beings, this animal;~ would soon have become the rival of man .1 Quickened by his spirit it would have excelled? every other animal, by having the power of thought and speech. Therefore, whatever re-' semblance there may be between the Hottentot and the ape, the interval which separates them- is immense, since the former is endowed-withi the faculties of thinking and speaking;- VVho will ever be able to tell in what the- organization of an idiot differs from that of- another man? yet the defect is certainly in the material organs, since the idiot has a soul like another person . N ow, since in mankind, where" the whole structure, is entirely conformable,- and perfectly similar, a difference so trifling as to be entirely imperceptible is suflicient to de-' stroy thought, we must not be astonished that it never appears in the ape, which has net—the! necessary principle.- The action of the soul in general is distinct- and independent ofmattcr. But as it has pleased:- the Divine Author to unite it with the body,- the exercise of its particular actions depends on the state of the material organs ; and this' dependance is not only apparent from the ex‘-= ample of idiots but from persons afflicted with: delirium, NATURAL HISTORY. 1'39 "delirium, from infants who cannot think, from healthful men when asleep, and from very old people, after the power of thinking is gone. Even the principle of education seems to con- sist not so much in instructing the mind, or "bringing its operation to perfection, as 'in mo- difying the material organs, and putting them into the most favourable conditionffor exercis- ing the thinking principle. Now there are two kinds of educations which should be care- fully distinguished, as their efi'ects are quite different; the education of the individual, which is common both to man and the other animals, and that of the species which belongs to man alone. A young animal, as well from (incitement as example, learns in a few Weeks to perform all the actions of its parents: a child requires a number of years to attain this degreerof perfection, because when born its growth and strength is incomparably less for- 4 ward than in young animals. In the first years _ the mind is a void relatively to what it becomes in future. A child, therefore, is-much slower in receiving individual education than that of the brute; but for this very reason it becomes susceptible of that of the species. The multi- plicity of aids, and the continual cares, which for a long time, the weak' state of the infant exact, entertain and increase the attachment ' ' ,of 1 40 BUFFON’S of its parents, and while they are attending to the care of the body, they cultivate the mind. The time required to strengthen the first, turns to the profit of the latter. In the generality of animals the corporeal faculties are more ad- vanced in two months than those of an infant in two years ; there is, therefore, twelve times as much time employed in its individual edu~ cation, gn ithout reckoning What is still remain- ing to acquire after this period, without con- sidering that animals quit their young as soon as they are able to provide for themselves, and 7 that soon after this separation they know each other no more, so that all attachment, and all education, ceases in them at the very moment assistance is no longer necessary. Now this time of education being so short, its effects must be very small 5 and it is even astonish- ing that animals acquire in two months What-v ever is necessary for their use during the rest of life: and if we suppose a child, in an equal space of time, should become sutficientl y form- ed and strong to leave its parents, and never to return to them for assistance, would there be anysensible difference between this child and the brute animal? However ingenious and able the parents were, could they be able to prepare and modify its organs in so short a space of time, or to establish the least communication of NATURAL HISTORY. 14:1 of thought between their'minds and his ? Could they be able to excite his memory by impres- sions sufficiently reiterated? Could they even modify or unfold theiro rgans of speech? N o, for before the child can pronounce a single word his ear must have received repeated im. pressions of the sound expressing that word ; and, before he can be able to apply or pro- nounce it preperly, the same combination of the word, and the object to ' which it belongs, must be frequently presented to him. Educa, tion, therefore, which alone can expand the powers of the mind, will be unremittingly continued for a length of time; if it should cease, not at the end of two months, as in ani- mals, but even when twelve months old, the mind of the child, which could have received no impression, would remain inactive, like that of an idiot, the defect of whose organs prevents the reception of knowledge. This reasoning would apply with double force if we suppose the child born in a pure state of na- ture, if it had only a Hottentot mother for its tutoress, andthat at the age of two months it was able to separate from her, and live with- out her care and assistance :—7W0uld not this child be worse-than an idiot, and entirely on a par with thebrutes 3 ‘ But in this state of na- ture, I42 . ' " Burr-Fox’s ture, the first education, that is, the education of necessity, exacts as much time as in the civilized state, because in both the child is equally weak, and equally slow in its growth, and consequently it has need of the care of its parents for an equal portion of time. In short, it would infallibly perish if abandoned before the age of three years. New this necessary habitude, so long continued between the mo,- ther and the child, is sufficient to communi- cate to it all that she possesses; and though we should falsely suppose, that this mother, in a state of nature, possesses not any one gift, ' not even that of speech, would not this long habitude with her child produce a language? Thus this state of pure nature, wherein we suppose man to be without thought and speech, is imaginary, and never had (Existence. This needful and long intercourse of parents with theirchildren produces society in the midst of a desart. The family understand each other by signs and sounds ;,and this first ray of intel- ligence, when cherished, cultivated, and com-- municatcd, unfolds, in the process oftime, all the buds ofthought; and as this habitual inter- course could not sustain itself so long Without producing :nutual signs and sounds, always re.- peated and gradually engraven on the memory 0f NATURAL HISTORY. 143 of the child, would consequently become con- ,stant and intelligible expressions 3 though the list of words is short, it still forms a language, which will soon become more extended as the family increases, and will always follow the steps of society in improvement. Society being formed, the education of the child is no longer individual, for then the parents communicate to it not only what they possess from Nature,- but also what they havereceive'd from their ancestors, and from the society of which they form a part. It is no longer a communication between detached individuals, confined like animals to the transmission of sirripleifaculties, but. an institution of which the whole species partakes, and whose produce Constitutes: the bond and basis of society. ' - Even among brute animals, though deprived of the thinking principle, those whose eduea-v tion is the longest are also those which seem to harm the greatest share of intelligence: the elephant, who takes the longest time in com- pleting its growth, and which requires the assistance of its mother for-the whole of the first year, is also the most intelligent animal. The Guinea-pig, which requires only three weeks to accomplish its growth, and be-‘in a ge- nerating state, islperhaps, forthis reason alone, one 1M Burma’s one of the most stupid animals in 'Naturé‘. VVith respect to the ape, with a view to ascer-i tain whose nature we have gone into this in: vestigation, whatever resemblance he may bear to man, yet his affinity to the brutes is'evident from the moment of his birth ; he is then proportionably stronger, and more completely formed than the infant, and the time ’of his growth bears no comparison ; the assistance of his mother is only necessary during a few months; his edubation is purely individual, and censequently as sterile as that of other animals. » The ape, therefore, notwithstanding his re“ semblance to the human form, isa brute, and so far from being second in- Our species, be is not even the first in the order of animals, because he is not the 'most intelligent among them;- therefOre it is only on account of the eorpOreal resemblance that prejudice has been formed in favour of the great faculties of the ap‘e; He resembles man it is said both externally and internally, and therefore he must not only imitate us, but also of his own accord, act in the same manner as we'doi We have seen that every action which we call human is relative to society : that they depencl, at first on the mind, and afterwards on ed ucation , the physical prin-‘s iciple NATURAL HISTORY. I45 ciple of Which is the necessity there is' for the long intercourse between parents and children : that this intercourse is very short with the ape ; that, like other animals, he only receives an education purely individual, and is not sus- ceptible of any other; consequently he cannot act like man, since no action of the ape has the same principle, nor the same end. With respect to imitation, which appears to be the strongest and’most striking character in the ape kind, and which the vulgar refer to him as a peculiar talent, before we decide,-we must ex- amine whether this imitation be spontaneous or forced. Does the ape imitate the human species from inclination, or from possessing an innate capacity of performing those actions without choice or exertion? I willingly appeal to all those who have observed this animal without prejudice, and I am convinced they willagree with me, that there is nothing volun- tary in their imitation. The monkey having arms and hands, makes use of them as we do, but without any idea of copying our example. ' The-similitude of his limbs and organs neces- sarily produces motions resembling ours; be- ing formed like man he must be enabled to mch like him; but this similarity of motion- by no means proves that he acts from imita- vor.. 1):. U tion. 146‘ BUFFox’s tion. Let us, for instance, construct twopen‘v dulums of the same form, and give them an- equal motion, would it not be absurd to say that these machines imitate each other? It is- the same with respect to the ape, relatively to the body of man ;‘ they are two machines, simi- larly constructed, and by the impulse of Nature move nearly in the same manner : however, parity must not be considered as imitation; the one depends on matter, and the other exists 'only in reason. Imitation supposes a design ‘of copying; the ape is incapable of forming this design, which requires a train of thought and judgment ; fer this reason, man, if he choose, can imitate the ape, but the ape can- not have an idea of imitating man. This parity is no more than the physicali part of imitation, and not so complete as the si- mili‘tude, from which, however, it proceedsas. 'an immediate effect. The ape resembles man- .more in his body and limbs than in the use he makes of them. By observing the ape atten- tively we shall perceive that all his motions are sudden, intermittent, and precipitate ; and- ' to compare them with those of man We must suppose a different model. Every action of the ape strongly partahes of his education, which is purely animal 5 and they appear to be extravagant, NATURAL HISTORY. 147 extravagant, ridiculous, and inconsequential, because we judge of them by our own, which is a. false comparison. As his nature is 'viva- cious, his temperament warm, his disposition petulant, and none of his affections have been polished by education, all his habitudes are «excésSive, and more resemble the actions Of a lunatic than those of a man, or even those of a peaceable animal: from the same reason we find him indocile, and receiving-with difficul- ty the impressions we'wish him to-imbibe. He is insensible to kindness, and only to be rené dered obedient through fear of ‘chastisement. He may be kept in captivity, but not in a do- mestic state. Always sullen, stubborn, or making grimaces, he may rather be said to be subdued than tamed; therefore none of this species has ever been domesticated in any part of the world, and consequently is more distant from man than most other animals, for decili- ty supposes some analogy betwixt the giver and the receiver-of instruction 3 a relative .qua- lity, which cannot be eXercised but who n there is a certain number of common faculties in both, which only differ from each other be— cause they are active in the master and pas- sive in the scholar. N ow the ,passive qualities of the ape havc'less relation to the active qua- lities 148 BUFFON’s lities of man than those of the dog or elephant, who only require good treatment to receive the kind and even delicate sentiments of a faithful attachment, voluntary obedience, grateful serg- vice, and an unreserved. and ready attention to the commands of their master. ' The ape is, therefore, further removed from the human species in relative qualities, than most other animals : He likewise differs greatly by temperament. The human species can dwell in every climate; he lives and multiplies in the northern as well as in the southern re- gions; but the ape lives with difficulty in tem- perate countries, and can only multiply in the hottest parts of the earth. This difference of temperament supposes others in organiza: tion, which though concealed, are no less real; it must also have a great influence on his na- tural dispositions. The excess of heat so ne- cessary to this animal renders all his affections, and all his qualities, excessive; and we need not seek for any other cause to account for his petulance, his lubricity, and his other pasq sions, which seem to be as violent as they are extravagant. Thus the ape, which philosophers, as well as the generality of people, have regarded as a being difficult to define, and the nature 'of ' ' which NATURAL HISTORY, 149 ‘ which was at least equivocal, and intermediate between that of man and the brute, is, in fact, no other than a real brute, wearing externally a human mask, but internally destitute of thought, and every other attribute which constitutes the human species : an animal in- ferior to many others in his relative faculties, and most essentially different from the human race in his nature, temperament, and also in the time necessary tohis education, gestation, growth, and duration of life ; that is, in every ,real habitude which constitutes What we call Nature in a particular being. THE ORANG-OUTANG*, on THE BONGO, AND THE JOCKO. a ”VVE shall present the Orang-outang and the J ocko together, because they, possibly, be- long to the same species. Of all the ape and inonkey kinds, these hear the greatest resem- blance to the human form, and consequently, i those * .Orang-outang is the name this animal bears in the East- Indies; pongo, its denomination at Lowando, a province of ,Congo 5 and Kukurlacko in some parts of the East-Indies. 150 Barron’s those which are most worthy particular notice. “/70 have seen the small orang-outang,or jocko (fig. 195.) alive, and have preserved its skin ; but we can only speak of the ,pongo, or great orangvoutang, from the accounts given us by travellers. If-their relations might be depend- ed on, if they were not'often obscure, faulty, . and exaggerated, we SllOuld not doubt of its being a different species from the jockio, a sva cies more perfect, and approaching still near. - er t6 the human race. Bontius, who was head physician at Batavia, and who has left some excellent observations on the \Natural History of that part of India, expressly says, that he saw with admiration, some individuals of this species walking erect on two feet, and among others a female (of which he gives a figure) who seemed to have an idea of modesty, cover- ing herself with her hand on the appearance of men with whom she was not acquainted; who sighed, cried, and did a number of other ac« tions, so like the human race, that she wanted nothing of humanity but the gift of speech. Linnaeuspipon theauthdrity of K jeep and other travellers, says, that even this faculty is not wanting in the orang-outang,but that he thinks, speaks, and expresses his meaning in a whist- ling tone. He calls him the Nocturnal .Man, and KATUR‘AL HISTORY. 151 and at the same time givessuch a description .of him, that it is impossible to decideuwhether he is a brute or human being. We must, how- ever, remark, that, according to Linnaeus, this being, whatever he may be, is not above half the height of a man ; and as Bontius makes-no .mcntion of the size of his orang-outang, we should imagine them to be the, same : but, then, this animalmof Linnaeus and Bontius would not ' be the true orang-outang, which is of the size --of a very tall man i neither canhc be what we call the. Jocko, which I have sun alive ; for although he was of the same size as that de- scribed by Linux-us, yet he differed in every other__character. I can ailirm, from having re- peatedly seen him, that he neither spake nor expressed himself by a whistling noise, and that he did not perform a single thing which a well instructed'dog could not perform: He differed: in. almost every respect from the de- scription which Linnaeus gives of the orang- outang, and agreed, much better with that of the mtg/ms of the same author. I therefore greatly-doubt the truth 'of the description of this nocturnal man ,- I even doubt his existence ; and it was probably a white. negro,'a Clzacre- Ids, ‘whom those travellers, which Linnaeus has quoted, have but superficially seen, and as blindly described, for the Chacrelas, like the ‘ nocturnal 152 \ BUFFON’S nocturnal man of thisauthor, has white, wool? 'ly, frizly hair, red eyes, a weak sight, 850. But then they are men, and do not whistle ; nor are they, pigmies of only 30 inches in height ; they think, speak and act, like other men ,- and their stature is exactly the same. Discarding,therefore, this ill-described being,- and supposing a little exaggeration in Bentius’s relation concerning the modesty of his female orang-outang, there only remains a brute ani- mal, namely, an Ape, of which we have in: formation from authors of more credit; and which is described with the greatest exactness by EdWard Tyson, a celebrated English ana- tomist. This learned gentleman says, that there are two species of this ape, and that the one he gives a description of is net so large as the other called burr-2's, or baris, by travellers, and drill by the English. This drill is, in fact, the large orang-outang of the East-In- dies, or the pongo of Guinea; and the pigmy described by Tyson is the jocko, .which we have seen alive. The philos0pher Gassendi having advanced, on the authority of a tra- veller, named St. Amand, that in the island of Java there was a creature which formed the shade between man and the lap-e, the fact was’ positively denied. To prove it, Peiresse produced a letter from M. No’e’l, a- ' physician, NATURAL HISTORY. 15.3 physician, who lived in Africa, in which it is asserted, that there is found in Guinea a large ape, called barns, which walks erect on its two feet, has an appearance of more gravity and sagacity than any ofthe other species, and has a very strong inclination for women. Dar- cos, Nieremberg, and Dapper, Speak nearly the same of the barris. Battel calls it pongo, and assures us, “that, excepting his size, be is exactly like a manin all his proportions; but he is , as tall as a giant ; ' his face is like that of a man, his eyes deep sunk in the head, and the hair on his brows extremely long; his visage is without hair, as are also his ears ‘ and hands; his body is lightly covered with hair. He scarcely differs from man, except not having any calf to his legs ; yet he always walks on his hind legs : he sleeps under trees, and builds himself a shelter against the sun and the rains. He lives only upon nuts and fruits, and is no way carnivorous: he cannot speak, and has no more understanding than any, other animal of the brute creation. NYhen the people of :the country travel in the woods. they make fires by which they sleep infhe night, and being gone, in the morning this aniq. mal comes and sits by it until it goes out, but he has :th skilsl enough .to keep the flame alive. ‘v_0L. Ix.- ' L X by" I54: BUFFON’s by feeding it with fuel. They go together 13‘ companies, and if they happen to meet with one of the human species, remote from suceour, they shew him no mercy. They even attack the elephants, whom they beat with their clubs, and oblige them to leave that part of the forest which they claim as their own. These creatures are never taken alive, for they are so strong that ten men would not be able to hold one of them. They sometimes destroy the young ones; the mother carries them, she herself being in an erect posture, and they cling to her body with their hands and knees. There are two kinds of this animal, both very much resembling the human race, the one the natives call pongo, is taller and thicker than a man ; and the other engeco, or jocko, whose size is much smaller.” It is from this passage that I derived the names pongo and joeko. Battel further observes, that when one of these animals dies the rest cover his body with leaves and branches of trees. Purchas adds, in a note, that in the conver- sations he had with Battel he learned that a negro boy was taken from him by a pongo, and carried into the woods, where he continued a whole year, and that on his return he said, that they never attempted to do him any injury; that they NATURAL HISTORY. 155 they were generally about the height of the human race, but much larger, and nearly dou- ble the bulk of a man. J obson asserts to have seen, in places frequented by these animals, a sort of habitation composed of interwoven branches, which might serve them at least as a shelter from the heat of the sun. “ The apes of Guinea, says Bosman, which are called smitten by the F lemings, are of a'yellow colour, and grow to a very large size. I have seen some above five feet high. These apes are of a very disagreeable appearance, as well as those of another species, which resemble them in _ every particular except in size, not being one fourth part so big. They are very easily taught to do almost whatever their masters please.” Sehouten says, “ That the animals w h ich the Indians call orang-outangsare nearly of the same height and figure as man, but that their back and loins are covered with hair, al- though they have none on the fore part of their bodies; that the females have .two large breasts, that their face is coarse, their nose flat, and their ears like those of men; that they are robust, active, bold, and (lefend them- selves against armed men; that they are pass sionately fond of women, who cannot pass through the woods which they inhabit, without these 156 BSU'FFON’S ' these animals immediately attacking and my Vishing them.” Dampier, F roger, and other travellers, assert, that yohng girls, abOut eight or ten years old, are taken away by these ani- mals, and carried to the taps of high trees, and that it is a very great difficult y to rescue‘thet'n. To all these testimonies we may add that of M. de la Brosse, mentioned in his voyage to Angola, in 1738, wherein he says that the bi‘ang-Outangs (which he Calls quimpeséshften attem pt to surprise the Negresses, whom, when they succeed, they detain for the purpose of -er:joying,‘feeding them very plentifully all the time. I knew (says he) a Negress at Loango 'who had lived among these animals for three years. They grow from six to seven feet high, and are of great strength. They build sheds, and make uSe of clubs for their defence. They have flat faces, broad flat noses, ears without a tip, and their skins are fairer than that of a mulatto, but they are coVered on many parts of their bodies with loh‘g and taw- try-coloured hair: their bellies are extremely tense, their heels flat, rising behind about half an inch :~ they sometimes walk upright, and sometimes upon all fours. We purchased two of these animals, a male of about fourteen menths old, and a female about twelve, &c.” Thus NATURAL HISTORY. 157 ‘ "Tlitls We have given the most precise and perfect aecount We could collect of the great Wang-outang, or pongog and as magnitude is theonl y striking character in which it differs from the jocko, Imust persist in my belief that they are of the same species; for two things are at least possible, 1. That the jocko may be a constant variety; that. is, a‘ much smaller race than that of the gauge; ‘in fact, they are both of the same climate, they live in the same manner, and consequently ought-”to resemble each other perfectly,since they equally receive, and are subject to the same influences of earth and sky. Have weno’t an eXample of I a like variety in the human species 2 The Laplander and F inlander,thou gh living under the same'climate, yet differ almost asmuch in size, and much'more in other attributes, as the'jecko differs from the greatorangmutanv. 2. The jOcko, or small orang-outang,‘which we have ‘seen alive, as well as those. ‘of Tnlpius, Tyson, and others which have been transparte‘tl into Europe, were, perhaps, only young animals which had not attained the whole of their growth. That which I saw was about "two feet and ahalf high, and the Sieur Nonfouix, to whom it belonged, assured me that it was not above two years old ; there- . fore, 158 Burrox‘s fore, it possibly might have attained to the height of five feet if it had lived, supposing its growth to be proportionate to that of the huv man species. The orang-outang described by Tyson, was still younger, as it was not above two feet high, and its teeth were not entirely formed. Thoseof Tulpius and Edwards were nearly of the same size as that which I saw, therefore it is very probable that these animals, had they been at liberty in their own climate, would have acquired the same height and di- mensions which travellers ascribe to the great orang-outang. From these circumstances we shall consider these two animals as belonging to one species, till a more precise knowledge of them shall be obtained. The orang-outang which I saw walked always upright, even when carrying heavy burthens. His air was melancholy, his de- portment grave, his movements regular, his disposition gentle, and very diflbrent from that of other apes. Unlike the baboon, or the monkey, whose motions are violent, and appe- tites Icapricious, who are fond of mischief, and only obedient through fear, a look kept him in awe. It may be urged that he had the benefit ot'instruetion; but equally so had those with whom] mean to compare him, and yet NATURAL HISTORY. I59- fyet neither the baboon, nor other apes,- could be brought to obey without blows, while a word was enough for him. I have seen this animal give his hand to shew the company to the door that came to see him, and walk about as gravely with them, as if he formed one of the company. I have seen him sit down at table, unfold his napkin,wipe his lips, make use of a spoon or a fork to carry the victuals to his mouth, pour out its drink into a glass, and touch glasses with the person who drank with him ; when invited to take tea, he would bring a cup and saucer, lay them on the table, put in sugar, pour out the tea, and leave it to cool before he drank it. All this I have seen him perform without any other instigation than the signs, orthc commands of his master, and often of his own accord. He was gentle and in- offensive; he even approached strangers with respect, and appeared rather to solicit caresses than inclined to offer injuries. .He was singu- larly fond of sweatmeats, which every body was ready to give him; and as he had a de- fluxion upon the breast, together with a cough, so much sugar contributed, no doubt, to shorten his life. He continued at Paris one summer, and died in London the following winter. He would eat almost every thing that was otfered, ' but I 60 . B UFFON’s but preferred dry and ripe fruits to all other aliments. He would drink wine, but in small quantities, and willingly left it for milk, tea, or any other sweet, or mild liquor. Frederick Henry, Prince ot‘Orange, had one ofthesc ani° mals presented to him, the figure and descrip tion of which is given by Tulpius, and who. re- lates nearly the same circumstances respecting him as we have done. But if we would know what peculiar instincts belong: to this animal, and distinguish him from the improvements he ' had received from his master ; we must compare those facts which we have witnessed, with the relations which travellers have given who have seen this animal in'a state of nature, and in captivity. M. de la Brosse, who bought two orang-outangs from anegro, and which we're but. a year old, (low not mention their having been educated; on the contrary, he asserts, that they performed many ofthe above actions by natural instinct. “ These animals, says he, sat at table like men, they eat every sort of food without. diSLinction, made use ofa knife, a fork, or a Spoon, to eat their meat and help themselves ; they drank wine- and otheriiquors. Vv'e carried them' on ship heard, and when they were at table, they made signs to the cabin-erboy expressive of their wants 5'- NATURAL HISTORY. 161 wants; and whenever the boy neglected or re- fused to give them what they wanted, they be“ Came in a passion, seized him by the arm, bit and then threw him down. The male was sea-sick, and required attendance like a' hu‘ man creature: he was even twice bled in the right arm; and every time afterwards, when he found himself indisposed, he held out his arm, as if conscious of having been relieved by that operation.” Henry Grose relates, “ that these animals are to be, met with to the north of Coromandel; that Mr. Horne, governor of Bombay,had two of them, a male and a female, sent him from a merchant of the name of Vancajee, who lived upon the sea-coast in that country, by Captain Boag, the master of a trading vessel; “who, as well as some of his people, gave the following description of them : they were scarcely two feet high, but their form was en- tirely like the human : they walked erect upon their two feet, and were of a sallow whitcmith- out any hairs on any other part than those on which mankind generally have them. Many of their actions perfectlyresembled the human, and their melancholy plainly evinced they felt the weight of their captivity. ' They made their. bed very orderly in the cage in which won. 1x. Y ‘ they 162' Burron’s they were sent on board the ship. VV hen any person looked at them they hid those parts- which modesty forbids to expose. \Vhether the sea air affected them, or they pined at their confinement, or whether the captain did not provide them proper food, the female first sickened and died, upon which the male shew- ed all the real signs of grief, and took the death of his companion so greatly to heart that he refused his food, and did not survive her more than two days.” Such was captain Boag’s account. to Go: venor Home, on his return to Bombay ; and upon being asked what he had done with their bodies, said he had thrown them overboard, not at the time thinking of preserving them. The governor was so desirous of possessing such a curiosity, that‘he sent to Vancajee, re- questing him to procure more; to which Van— cajee replied, he wasafraid that would not be in his power, as they were caught upon the skirts of a forest about seventy leagues up the country, but they were so shy and cunning, that the inhabitants were scarcely able to take them, it not happening more than once in a century. Francis Pyrard relates, “ that in the pro- vince of Sierra Leona in Africa, there is a spe- cies of apes called baris, who are strong and muscular, NATURAL HISTORY. 1613 mtiSCular, and so very industrious, that, if ptd‘ pe‘fly fed and instrdcted, they serve as very useml domestics: they usually walk upright, will pou'n'd anything in a mortar, fetch Water from the river in little pitchers, which they carry on their heads ; but if the pitchers be not . taken on“ immediately on their return they let them fall to the ground ; but When tltey'see them Broken, they begin to lament and cry for the-less.” Father J arrie says nearly the same, and almost in the same words. The testimony of Schoutten agrees With Pyrard’s, on the edu- eation of these animals. “When taken,he says, they are taught to 'walk erect on their hind feet, and to make use of those before as hands, for certain works, as rincing glasses, carrying the beer, and waiting at table, turning the Spits, and other do‘tr'restic business.” “ I saw at Java (says Gust) a very extraordinary female ape; she was very large, and often walked, efeet on her hind feet, at which time she hid with her hands the parts whiCh distinguish the sex. She had no hair on her face, except the“ eye—brows, and her face much resembled those grotesque ones of the Hottentot women Whieh’ Ih‘ave’ seen at the Cape. She made her lied every day with great n'eatness, slept with her head on a‘ pillow, and covered herself with a, ' quilt. 164: Burrows quilt. When she had the head-ache, she would bind it round with a handkerchief, and it was ‘ amusingto see her thus dressed in bed. I could relate a number of other little circumstances which‘appeared extremely singular, but I own I did not admire them so much as most people ; becausel was aware of the design of bringing her to Europe to gratify curiosity, and was therefore inclined to suspect that she had been taught a number of these tricks, which the populacelooked upon as natural to the animal. She died in our vessel about the latitude of the Cape. This ape greatly resembled thehuman species in figure, &c.” G emelli Carreri speaks of one he saw which cried‘like a child, walked erect on its hind- feet, and carried a mat under its arm, on which it laid down to sleep, “ These apes (he adds) seem in some respects to be more sagacious than men ; for when they no longer'find fruits a on the mountains, they descend to the seae shore, where they catch and feed on crabs, oysters, and other shell-fish There is a spe- cies of oyster, called taclovo, which weighs several pounds, and often lies upon the shores with its shell somewhat open; but this animal being sufficiently sagacious to suspect theymay close upon him, if he uses his paws, first puts a stone NATURAL HISTORY. 165 a‘ stone between the shells, and then eats the oyster at his pleasure.” “ On the coasts of the river Gambia (says F roger) there are apes larger and more mis- chievous than in any other part of Africa: the negroes are afraid of them, and they cannot travel alone where they frequent, without runa- ning a risk of being attacked by these animals, who make use of huge clubs. The Portu- guese say that they frequently take away young girls of seven or eight years of age, and Carry them up to the highest trees. Most of the negroes regard these animals as foreigners who are come to establish themselves in their i country, and that their not speaking arises from a fear of being obliged to work.” Ano- ther traveller remarks, that at Macacar there are apes which walk upon their hind feet like- the human species, that they go in numbers, and that an encounter with them often proves fatal. . Thus we have nearly. given every parti- cular circumstance concerning this animal which has been related by travellers who may. be the most depended upon, I_ have given their accounts entire, because every passage is important in the history of a brute which . has so great a resemblance to man; and in order 166 BUFFON’S order to determine its nature with the greater certainty, we shall now mention tho'se differ- ences and conformities which divide him from or give him an approximation to the human species. The first external difference is the flatness of the nose, the shortneSS of the fore:- head, and the defect of prominCnCein the chin. The cars are proportionabl y too large, the eyes too close to each other, and the interval be; tween the nose and the mouth too great: these are the only differences between the face of the orang-outangs and that of man. With regard to the body and limbs, the thighs are propor-‘ tionally too short, the arms t00 long; the fingers too small, the palms of the hands too narrow, and the feet rather resemble the hands than the human feet. The parts of genera-9 tiOn differ only from those of man,- by their having no fraznum to the prepuce ; but in the .. females the organs externally are nearly like those of women. ' Internally this animal difl’er’s frOm man in the number of its ribs 5 having thirteen, Where? ‘ as man has Only twelve. The vertebrae of the neck are also shorter, the bones of the pelvis narrower, the haunches more flat, and the oral hits of the eyes with deeper. There is no‘ spiny apophysis to the first vertebrae of the ' ' neck; NATURAL msronv. 167 neck ; the kidnies are rounder than in the luv- man species, and the meters haven different figure, as well as the bladder and gall-blade der, which are much longer and narrower. I :1 almost every other part, as well externally as internally, there is so perfect a resemblance to those of the human species, that we can'- not compare them without expressing our [wonder and admiration, that from such a Si.- mllar conformation and organization the same effects are not produced. For example, the tongue, and all the organs of the voice, are exactly the same as in man, and yet this ani-.- mal does not speak; the brain is absolutely of the same form and proportion, and yet. it does not think. Can there bea more convin- cing proof, that matter alone, however per- fectly organized, cannot produce either speech or thought, unless animated by a superior- principle? or, in other words, by a soul to direct its operations? Man, and the orang- outang, are the only animals which have calfs to their legs, and their posteriors formed for: walking erect. They likewise are the only ones which have a broad chest, flat shoulders, and the vertebra: conformable to each other ; and the. only animals whose brain, heart, lungs, liver, spleen, stomach, and intestines, are perfectly alike, and who have a vermicu- lar 168 BUFFON’S lar appendix. In short, the orangaoutang has a greater resemblance to man than even to baboons 0r monkeys, not only by all the parts which I have indicated, but also by the largeness of the visage, the form of the era- nium, the jaws, teeth, and other bones of the head and face; by the thickness of the fin- gers and thumb ; by the shape of the nails; by the articulations of the joints, sternum, &c. So that since we find, by comparing this animal with those which resemble it most, such as the magot, baboon, or monkey, it has a greater conformity with the human than the animal species, which have all been mentioned under the general name of apes, the Indians are excusable for having associated itwith man by the name of orang-outang, or the wild man of the woods. As some of the facts we have mentioned may appear suspicious to those who have not seen this animal, we shall support them by the authority of the two celebrated anatomists Tyson 9" and Cow/per, who dissected it * The orang—outang bears a greater resemblanceto man than to the apes or monkeys; because, 1. The hairs on his shoulders are directed downwards, and those on the arm up- wards. 2. His face is broader and flatter than that of the apes. 3. The form of his ears resembles that of man,ex- cepting the cartilaginous part being thin, like the apes. 4. His fingers are much thicker in proportion than the apes. 5. He is, in every particular, formed for walking erect, which mean“ HISTORY. . 169 it with a most scrupulous nicety, and have" given the results of the comparisons they made of all its parts with the human species. I shall only observe, that the English are not confined, like the French, to one single word to denote animals of this kind : they have, like the Greeks, two different denominations, one , ‘ for which apes are not. 6. His poste'riors are thicker than those of apes. 7. He has calfs to his legs. 8. His breast and shoulders are broader than those of any ape. 9. His heels are longer. 10. He has a cellular membrane, like man, under the skin. 11. His peritonaeum is entire. 12. His intestines are longer than those of apes. 13. The intestinal canal is of different diameters, as in man, and 'not nearly equal, as in apes. 14. His caecum has a vermicular ap- pendix, which is not the ease in any other ape, nor is the neck of the colon. so long as in the latter. 15. The insertions 'of the biliary and pancreatic ducts have but one common orifice in the orang—outang as well as in man, but in all apes and monkeys they. are two inches asunder. 16. The colon is longer than that of the apes. 17. The liver is not divided into lobes as in the apes, but entire, like that of man. 18. The biliary vessels are also the same: as are, 19. The spleen. 20: The pancreas; and 21. The number of lobes in the lungs. 22. The pericardium is attached to the diaphragm, as in man. 23. The cone of the heart is more blunt than in apes. 24. He has no pouches at the bottom of the cheeks, as other apes have. 25. His brain is larger than that of apes, and formed exactly like the human brain 26. The cranium is rounder, and double the size of that of monkeys. 27. All the sutures of the cranium are similar to those of man, which is not the casein other apes or men; keys. 28. He has the a: criériform and the were galli, which (yon. Ix. Z the 170 BUFFON’S for those without tails, which they call apes,- and the other for those with tails, which they term monkeys. Those which Tyson speaks 0'? by the word apes must be the same animals as we have called pithecos, or pigmy, and the cynocephalus, or Barbary ape. I mustalso re“ mark, that this author gives some characters of 1 resemblance the monkeys have not. 29. He has the 3:1ch equine exactly the same as in man, while the apes and monkeys have it: more prominent. 30. They have the preterm: pteregoide: like man, while the others have not. 31. The temporal , bones, and the osxa bregmatz‘: are the same as. in man, but in apes and monkeys these bones are of a different form. :32; The latter have the or zygamaz‘icu: large, whereas it is small in this animal. 33. The teeth, particularly the grinders, are more like man’s than those of the ape or monkey,as also are, , :34. The transverse apophyses of the vertebrae of the neck, . and the sixth and seventh vertebrae. 35. The vertebrae of the neck are not perforated as in apes, but entire as in man. 36. The vertebrae of the back and their apophyses, are the same as in man; and in the lower vertebraa, there are only two inferior apophyses,but in the apes there are four. 37. As in man there are only fivelumber vertebrae, but in monkeys there are six or seven. 38. The spinal apophyses of the lum- ber vertebrae are straight as in man. 39. The orsacrum is composed of five vertebrae, as in man, but in- apes or mon- keys of only three. 40. As in man, the coccix is composed ‘of four bones, and‘ not perforated, whereas in apes, it is composed of a greater number of bones, all of which are per- forated. 41. In the orang-outan g, there are only seven true ribs, and the extremities of the false ribs are all carti- .laginous and articulated with the vertebrae; but in apes and monkeys, there are eight true ribs, and the extremities of the fa 18c NATURAL HISTORY. 171 resemblance and difference which have not a sufficient foundation. I have thereforethought it necessary to make some observations on those - particulars, as we cannot too minutely examine a creature, which, though it. has the form ofa man, nevertheless belongs to the brute species. 1. Tyson false ribs are osseous, and their articulations are placed in the intestines between the vertebrae. 42. His iternum is broad like that of man, but which is narrow in monkeys. 43. The bones of the four fingers are thicker than those of apes. 44. The thigh bone is like that of man. 45. The ro- tula is round, long, and single, but double in the apes. 46. The heel tarsus and metatarm: are like those of man. 47. The middle toe is not so long as that of the apes. 48. The celiquur'itfc'rior capitir, fyrlformh, and nice/J: fimori: muscles, are like those of man,ibut which are different in the apes or monkeys. , The orang—outang dfin from the human species more than from apes and monkeys: 1.The thumb is proportion- ally smaller than that of man, but larger than that of the apes. 2. The palm of the handis'longer and narrower. 3. The toes approach those of the ape, by their length. 4. As he does by having the large toe of the foot placed at an inch distance from the next one, and which makes him ra- ther be considered as a four-handed animal than a quadru- ped. '5. His thighs are shorter than those of man 5 and 6. His arms are longer. 7 .The testicles are not pendulous. 8. The epiloon' is larger. 9. The gall-bladder is longer. 10. The kidneys are rounder, and the ureters are also different from man. i 11. The Bladder is longer. 1‘2. He has no frmium to the prepuce. 18. The bone in the orbit of the eye is sunk deeper. 14. He has not the two cavities below - the 172 . Burrows l. T yson gives, as a particular character of man and the orangsoutang, the having the hair on their shoulders inclined downward, and that on the arms upwards. It is true that most qua- drUpeds have their hair directed downwards, ,or backwards, but this is not without some exceptions. The sloth and the smallest species of ant-cater have the hair on their anterior parts inclined backward, and that on the erup- pcr and loins directed forwards ; therefore this character the tella turz‘ca. 15. The mastoid and styloid processes are extremely small. 16. The bones of the nose are flat. 17. The ‘ vertebrae of the neck are short,flat before, and their spinal apophyses are not forked. 18. He has no spinal apophyses in the first vertebrae of the neck 19. He has thirteen ribs on each side. 20. The ma ilz’d are longer, narrower, and less con- cave than in man. 21. He also wants the following muscles, which are found in man: the occipitaler,frontale:, dilitatorit: alarum nari .reu elevator“ labij :uferioris, interrpinale: 0011i glutaez' minimi extensor digitorum pedi: brevi: ct tramwrmli: fair}. 22. The following muscles are sometimes found in man, but not in the orang-outang, the pyramidal“, caro musculora gum a’rata, the long tendon and the fleshy body of the palmarix, the attolenr, and retfoliam oriculaen. 23. The elevator muscles of the claricles of the orang-outang are like those of the ape, and different from man; as are also 24. The muscles called, longu: colli,fectoruli:, latiuimu: don-i, glutxu: maximu: ct rrmlim, prod: magma- ef part-um, Hiatus, interwar, let garteranamiu: internm. And 25. He differs from man in the figure of the deltaidcx, pronator, radi tam, ct extmar pollici: firwii.—Tyson’_s Arm. of the Orang-Outang. NATURAL ms'ro RY. _ 17.3 character carries no great weight in comparing the orang-outang with man. 2. The four first differences also in the pas- sage ‘I have quoted are very slight, or.ill- founded. _ The first is the difference of size, which character is very uncertain, especially as the author himself observes that his animal was very young. The second, third, and fourth, are drawn from the form of the nose, the quantity of hair, and other trivial circum- stances. It is the same with many hthers, which may be retrenched; for example, the tWenty-first character is drawn from the nutm- ber of the teeth. It is certain that both this ani- ' mal and man have the like number of teeth, and if the one in question had only twenty- eight, it ought to be attributedto its youth, for we know that the'human race have not more in the early part of their days. . 3. The seventh difference is likewise very equivocal; the scrotum of children‘s-is in gene.- ral very tight, and this animal being young ought not to have had them pendulous. 4. The forty-eighth character of resem-v blance, and the. twenty-first, twenty-second, twentyrthird, twenty-fourth, and twenty-fifth marks-of difference, only denote the presence or shape of certain muscles, which as they vary 1H . BUFFON’S vary in most indiViduals of the human species, ought not to be considered as essential cha- racters. ' - 5. Every difference and resemblance drawn from parts to‘o minute, such as the apOphyses of the vertebrae, or that are taken from the po- sition and magnitude 0f certain parts, should be considered only as accessory characters ; so 7 that Tyson’s whole anatomical table may be reduced to the essential differences and resem§ blances which we have already mentioned. J 6. I have thought it necessary to point out other more general characters of this animal, some of which have been omitted by Tyson, and others but badly indicated. First, The orang-outang is the only one of all the apes that has no pouches within his checks on each side of the jaw, in which‘ to put the provisions before they swallow them, for the inside of his mouth is perfectly like that of man. Se- ' condly, The gibbon, the Barbary ape, and all the baboon and monkey kind, except the done, . have their posteriors flat, with cal- losities on them. The orang-outang is- the only one which has those parts plump, and Without callosities. The douc also has no .. callositics, but then his posteriors are flat and 'eoVered with hair, so that in this respect the douc NATURAL HISTORY. 175 (lone forms the shade between the orang-ou- tang and the monkeys; as the gibbon and magot form the same knot with respect to the. pouches on each side of the jaw. Thirdly, the orangqoutang is the only animal who has the ealfs of the legs, and fleshy posterio‘rs. This. character shows that it is formed much better than any other animal to walk upright; but. as its toes are very long, and its heels higher ' situated than in man, it runs with greater ease than it walks, and there would be occasion for artificial heels higher than those of our Shoes to enable it to walk easily for a long time to- gether. Fourthly, thoughthe orang-outang has thirteen ribs, and man only twelve, this difference does not approximate it nearer to the baboon or monkey than it removes it from man, because thenumber of ribs varies in most of those species, some of them having twelve, others eleven, ten, and so on. So that the only differences between the bod y, of this ani- mal and that of man are reduced to two, viz. the figure of the bones of the pelvis, and the formation of the feet; these, therefore, are the only considerable par‘tsby which the orang- outang bears a greater resemblance to the other apes than it does to the human species. From 1'76 B'TFON’S - From this examination, which I have made with all the exactness I am capable of, we mayr form a .tolerably correct judgment of this-anié mal. If there -Were‘a strap by which wevcould descend from human nature to that of . the brutes, and if the essence. of this nature con- sisted entirely in the form of the body, and de« pended on its organization, the orang-outang Would approach nearer to man than to any other animal; Seated in the second rank of beings, if it could not command in the first, it would at least make others feel its superioritya If the principle of imitation, by which he seems so closely to copy the actions of man, were a result of thought or reason, this ape would be at a still greater distance from the brute spe- cies, and nearer the human ; but, as we have observed, the interval which separates them" is not trifling, and the resemblance in form, confOrmity- of- ‘orgauization, and motions of imitation, which seem to result from those si-' militudes, neither bring it nearer the nature of -man, nor raise it. above that of the brutes. Distinctive Characters of this Species. ~ The 'orang-outang has no pouches on the ‘ sides of the jaws, no tail, ‘nor any callosities on‘ NATURAL HISTORY. 177 on' the poSteriors, which last are plump and fleshy: all his teeth are similar to those of man : his face is flat, naked, and of a swarthy colour; his hands, feet, ears, breast,'and belly, are also naked : the hair on the head descends on the sides of the temples like tresses ; on his back and loins there is but a very small quantity of haifi": he is about five or six feet high, and .~ always walks erect on his two hind feet. We have not been able to verify whether the fe- males are subject to periodical courses like women: analogy will scarcely suffer a. doubt to arise to the contrary.- THEPIIHucos, on PIGMY. 'ARISIOTLE - says, _“ there ' are animals whosenature . are ambiguous, and partake, in .. some measure-,of l. the human and 'quadruped species; such as the pitheCOS, the kebes, and I "the. cynocephali. . The kebe 1s a pithecos with ' Von. Ix. , A a a tail; ' ' According to Pennant this hair 13 of a reddish colour, . l and shaggy 178 ~ Barron’s ' a. tail; the eynocephalns is perfectly Iihethc pithecos, but larger, stronger,- and has a more pointed muzzle, approaching very near that of a bull-dog, from which it derives its name :. its manners are also'more fero‘cious, and its teeth stronger than those of the pithecos, and more resemble those of a dog.” It is clear, from thispassage, that neither the pithecos nor cy— nocephalus, mentioned by Aristotle, have any tail ; for -he‘ says, that the pitheeos with a tail, is called Icebc; and that the cynocephalus resembles the pitheeos in eVery particular, ex- cept the muzzle and teeth. Aristotle, there-- fore, speaks of two apes without tails, the pitheeos and the cynocephalns ; and of others with tails, which he calls Icebcs. Now, to compare what we at present know with what was known by Aristotle, we shall observe, that we have seen three "species of apes with- out tails, namely, the orang-outang, the gib- bon, and the mago't, not one of which is the pitheeos; for the two first were Certainly ma- known to Aristotle, being only found in the" southern parts of Africa and India, which were not discoVered till after'hi-s time: besi'éles, they have ' very different characters from those he ascribes to the pithecos. But the third species, which we- call the magot, or Barbary NATURAL HISTORY. l?!) Barbary ape, is the cynocephalus of Aristotle, for it possesses all its characters; it has .110 tail, its muzzle is like that of a bull-(log, and its canine teeth are large and long. This animal is also found in Asia Minor, and in other pro-u vinces of the itlast,-and with which the Greeks were well acquainted. The pithecos belongs to thesame country, but we have not seen it, and know it only from the relations of travel- lers, and, although during twenty years, in which we have made the research of these ani- mals our study, this species has not fiil-len ,un- der our inspection, yet we do not doubt but that it as rcall y exists as the cynocephalus. 'Gesner and Johnston have given figures of this pithee (:05. M. Brisson mentions his having seen it, and he distinguishes it from the cynoeephalus, which he also saw, and confirms Aristotle’s re- m an]; that these two animals perfectly resemble each other in every respect, excepting, the ‘ face, which is shorter in the .cynocephalns than in the pithecos. We have already-ob- served, that the .orang-outang, the pitheoOs, the gibbon, and the magot, are the only ani- mals to which we can app]. y the generic name of ape, .‘being the only animals w h ioh shame no , tail, and rather choose to walk on two legs than four. "l‘heorang-outang, and the gibbon , it It! 180 BUFFON’S are very different from the pithecos and the magot. But, as the two latter perfectly re- semble each other, except in the length of the muzzle, and size of the canine teeth, they have been often taken for each other. They . have always been mentioned by the common name of ape, even in languages which have one name for apes without tails, and another for apes which have tails. They are both called by the name of qfi‘ in German, and ape in English ; and it is only among the Greeks that we find that each of these animals has a proper name. The word cynocephalus is ra- ther an adjective than a proper substantive, for which reason we have not adopted it. It appears from the testimonies of the an- cients, that the pithecos, or pigmy, was the most gentle and docile of all the ape species that were known to them; and that it was ‘como mon in Asia, as well as in Lybia, and in the other provinces of Africa, frequented by the Greek and Roman travellers. Thereforel pre- sume that we must refer the following passages of Leo Africanus, and Marmol to the pigmy. They say, that the apes with long tails, which ' are seen in Mauritania, and are called by the Africans mones, come from the negro country; but that those without tails are found in great numbers, NATURAL HISTORY. 181 numbers, and are natives of the mountains of Mauritania, Bugie, and Constantine. “ These animals, says Marmol, have feet and hands like a man, and, if I may be allowed the ex- pression ,a human face; they have an appearance of much vivacity, and seem very malicious. They live upon} corn, herbs, and all Sorts of fruits, to obtain which they sally forth in large troops, to plunder the gardens or fields ;-' but before they venture out, on these expeditions one of the company ascends an eminence, and surveys the country round. If there be no per- son near, he makes a signal by a cry, for his companions to proceed, remaining himself, however, at his station : but as soon as he perceives any one coming, he sets up a loud cry, and the whole company scamper off with the utmost precipitation, and jumping from tree to tree, retreat to the mountains. It is a great curiosity to see these animals retreat; for the females carry four or five young ones upon their, backs, and with this heavy load, leap with great agility from branch to branch; yet great numbers of them are taken, by dif~ ferent Snares, notwithstanding ,all their cun- . ning. ‘Vhen they are angry, they bite furiously, but by coaxing, they are easily tamed . They do great damage to the gardens and fields, because they pluck, pull down, and 382 _ BUFFON’S --and tear up, every thing that. comes in their .way, whether ripe or not,‘and often destroy more than they can eat or Carry away. Those that are tamed, perform things almost incre- dible, and imitate almost every human action!” Kolbe relates nearly the same facts With rev. spect to the apes of the Cape of Good Hope : «but the descriptionand figure he givesof them, plainly prove they are baboons, havinga short tail, a long muzzle, sharp nails, 850. they are also much larger-and stronger than the apes [of Mauritania. We may therefore presume, that Kolhe only copied this passage from Marginal, and applied the natural .h-ahitudes of the Maw- a'itania pig-mics ‘t0' the baboons of'the Cape of Good Hope. . . . The pithecos, the magot, and the ‘babOOD; were known» to the ancients : these animals met-found in Asia Minor, Arabia, U pper Egypt and in all—the northern parts of Africa. ' ‘his passageof Marmol may, «therefore, be applied to all the three; 'but it sis-clear it does not agree with the baboon, for it says these apes have no tails ; and What makes me ofopinion that it is not amagot, but a pitheeos, is, that thse'former is noteasily tamed, that it common- ly produces only two young ones, and notfour or five, like that of which'Marmol speaks; and NATURAL HISTORY. 1'83 and the latter, being also less,- must produeea greater nUmber at a time. Besides the pithe- cos,- or pigmy, is more gentle and docile than the magot, or Barbary ape, which is scarcely ever thoroughly tamed. From these reasons. I am convinced, that we must not apply this: passage in the above author to the magot, but to the pithecos ; and the same remark may be made to a passage of Rubruquis, who, in. his discourse of the apes of Cathay, says, “ that they nearly resemble the human form in every“ particular; that their height is not. above a foot and a half, and their body covered all over with hair; that they live in holes ; that the na- tives take them, by putting strong and inebri- ating liquors in the places they inhabit; that a number of them come together to drink li- quors, at the same time making a cry which sounds like c/zz'nclzm, whence they have obtain- ed the appellation of clu'nclzz'ns ; and-that hav- ‘ ing intoxicated themselves they fall asleep, when thehunters easily surprise and carry them away.” These characters agree with the pi- thecos, and not at all with the Barbary ape. We have seen one of the latter aliVe, but 110‘. _ Ver heard it pronounce the word chine/72in. Besides it was above a foot and a half in height, and had a less resemblance to the bureau ' 'I ' form 184 BUFFON’S form than What this author asserts. We have" the same reasons for ap plying ProsperAlpinus’s figure and description to the pithecos, rather than to the magot. He asserts, that the small ape without a tail, which he saw in Egypt, was sooner and more easily tamed, and more sagacious, lively, and diverting, than those of any other kind. This plainly distinguishes it from the magot, which is a filthy, sullen, vici- ous, untractable animal, and is never fully tam- ed, so that the characters given by Prosper Alpinus to his ape without a tail, do not agree in any respect with the Barbary ape, and can belong to no other animal than the pithecos. Distinctive Characters of this Species} The pithecos, or pigmy, has no tail; his canine teeth are not proportionably larger than those of man ; his face is flat, as are likewise his nails,which are rounded atthe topvlike those of the human species ; he walks erect, is about a foot and a half high, and of a gentle and trac- table disposition. The antients assert that the female is subject to a periodical emanation, and analogy leaves us no reason to doubt the fact.- THE- .4' This ape is about the size of a cat, of an olive brown above, and yellowish beneath. Pmfiant. NATURAL HISTORY. 185 rue summit,ale 0R LONG-ARMED APE. m THE Gibbon (fig. 196) always keeps itself erect, even when it walks on all four feet, its arms being as long as both ins body and legs. We have seen one of these animals alive; it was but young, and not more than three feet high; we may therefore presume, that it had not attained its full size, and that when in a free state, it may grow to four feet. It has no appearance of any tail, and the character which evidently distinguishes it from all other apes, is the extraordinary length of its‘arms. It ' " Gibbon is the name by which Mr. Dupleix sent us this animal from the East Indies. I thought at first that this was an Indian word, but in looking over the nomenclature of the monkey tribe, I found in a note of Dalechamp’s upon Pliny, that Strabo has described the cephus by the word. Keipon, from which, probably, Guibozz, Gibbon, is derived. The passage of Pliny, With Dalechamp’s note, is as follows: “ Pompeii magni, primum ludi ostenderunt ex Ethiopia, quas vocant cepbos * quadem pedes pOSteriores pedibus hu— manis 8c cruribus, priores manibus fuere similes; hoc anio- mal postea Roma non vidit.” * Cepllos, Strabo, lib. xv. Keipon wotat “segue tradz't facz': sittyro .rimilem. Dal. Plin. Hist. Nat. lib. viii, cap. 19. Nota. Tl): cebus qftbc Greeks, tbc cephos of Pliny, 105121) 1': pronounced kebus and kephus', might very [Jot-dbl); take its origin from koph, or'kOphin, 10/2125 2': tin: name of an ape in #2: Hebrew and Clzal- dz'qn. 1 ' v'o L. IX. ‘ B b l85 BUFFON’S It 1) ad a circle of white hair all round the face, which gave it a very remarkable appearance : its eyes are large but sunk deep in the head ; its face is flat nearly resembling that ofa man, and. ofa tawny colour, and its ears, though well preportioned, are naked. This animal, next to the orang~outang and the pithecos, would approach the nearest to the human form, were it not deformed by the excessive length of itsarms; for man in a state ofnature would have a strange appearance; his hair and beard, if they were neglected,. would en- circle his visage not unlike that which sur-i rounds the face of the gibbon. This ape appeared to be of a gentle and tractable disposition ;- its motions were neither too rash, nor too precipitate. It was fed on bread, fruit, almonds, &c. and calmly received the food that was presented. It n as very averse to cold and wet, and did not live long after being brought into a foreign climate. It is a native of the East Indies, and particularly along the coasts of Coromandel, Malacca, and the islands of Moluccaf16 This animal is not to 4* P. le Comte says, that he saw at the Moluc‘ca islands, 9. species of ape, walking naturally on his two feet, and using his arms like a man. The face nearly resembled that of a Hottentot, but the body was covered all over with a sort of grey wool. It was eXactly like a child, and ex pr 655“; pelr- ect y NATURAL Ittsronv. 187 to be met with in the less southern provinces, and there is every reason to conclude that the ape found in the kingdom of Ganaura, on the frontiers of China, ought to be referred to the gibbon, although it is called by some travellers fefé. This species varies both in size and colour, for there are two in the royal cabinet, one of which, although adult, is much smaller than the other, and is brown on those parts of the body where the other is black ; but; as they perfectly resemble each other in every other respect, we have not the least (loubtthat they both belong to the. same species. \ Distinctive Characters of [his Species. The gibbon has no tail; there are small callosities on his posteriors; his face is flat, brown, and surrounded with a circle of white hairs; his canine teeth are larger in propor- tion than those of man ; his ears are naked ; black, and round; his hair is black brown,er sometimes grey with age; his arms excessively long; he walks erect, and is about two feet and a half, or three feet high. The female is subject toaperiodieal "emanation. Tun fectly its wants and its desires. These apes are ofa very \ mild disposition, and to shew their atfeetion to any person whom they know, they embrace them and kiss them with singular transport. One of them which P. le Comte saw was at least four feet high, and very agile. 188 ’ BUFFON’S THE MAGOT, OR BARBARY APE. m THIS animal, of all apes which have no tail, is that which can best bear with the tem- perature of our climate. We kept one-for .- many years. In the summer it remained in the open air with pleasure; and in the winter might be kept in a room without any fire. It was filthy, and ofa sullen disposition : it made use of grimace equally to shew its anger, or express its hunger: its motions were violent, its manners aukward, and its physiognomy more ugly than ridiculous. \Vliencverotfended ' it grinned and shewed its teeth. It put what- ever was given to it into the pouches of the cheeks, and commonly eat every thing that was ofl‘v ed, except raw flesh, cheese, or any thing ‘hat had undergone a kind of fermenta- tion. When inclined to sleep it Was-fond of roosting on a wooden or iron bar. It was al- ways kept chained, for, notwifhstanding its long domesticity, it was neither civilized not attached to its keepers. A i! parently it had been ' badly NATURAL HISTORY. 189 badly educated, for I have seen others of the same species who were more sagacious, more obedient, more gay, and so tractable as to be taught to dance, keeping time, and suffer themselves quietly to be clothed. This ape (fig.197) is two feet and a half, in three feet high, in its erect pestnre; but the female is not so large as the male. It prefers to Walk on all four rather than on two feet. When it sleeps it is almost always sitting; supporting itself on two very prominent callo- sities on its posteriors ; and the anus being placed higher, his body is more inclined'when sitting than that of man. It differs from the pithecos; first, in the form of its snout, which is thick and long, like that of a dog ; whereas, the pithecos has a flat visage. Secondly, in having long canine teeth. Thirdly, its nails 'are neither so flat not so round; and, fourth- ly, because it is larger, and of a more sullen and untractable disposition. ' There are also varieties to be met with in this species. We have seen some of different sizes, with various coloured hair, and more or less bushy. Even the five animals of which l’rospCr Alpinus has given us the figures and descriptions, under the name of cynoceplzali, rseern to be all magots, differing only in size, and 190 BUFFON'S and some other characters too slight to form distinct species. The magot seems to be dis- persed over every warm climate in the Old Continent, and is found in Tartary, Arabia, Ethiopia, Malabar, Barbary, Mauritania,and as far as the Cape of Good iiope. It is, probably, this species of ape which Robert Lade speaks min the following terms : “ We travelled over a large mountain in the neighbourhood of the Cape of Good Hope, where we (l iverted ourselves with hunting large apes, which are there in great plenty. I am not able to describe the various arts practised by these animals, while we were in‘pursuit of them; nor their swiftness, nor the impudence with which they returned. Sometimes they suffered us to approach so nigh, that I thought myself certain of securing them, but when I made the-attempt, the one I meant to seize would make a sudden leap, spring aoovc ten paces from me, climb 11 p a tree with the great— est agility, and then looking down upon us with perfect indifference, seem to derive plea.- sure from our astonishment. There were some so exceedinglylarge, that. item interpreter had notassured us that they were not ofa ferocious nature, our number would not have appeared sufficient to have protected us from their at, tacks, NATURAL HISTORY. 191 tacks. As it would have been useless to kill them, we made no use of our guns; but; the captain, taking aim at a'very largeone, which was seated on a tree, after having tired us with a long pursuit, he had no sooner presented his piece but the animal, probably from the re- membrance of the execution of some of his companions by the like manner, was so greatly terrified, that it fell almost motionless at our feet, and we, had not the least trouble in secur- ing it; howeverwhen it revived we had occa- sion fer all our strength and address to keep. it, defending itself l: y biting those who came near, and we were at last under the necessity of covering its head with our handkerchiefs.” Destinctz'ee Characters of this Species. The lmagot has no tail, though he has a small portion of skin, which has some appear- ance ofone. He has pouches on the sides of his jaws, and thick callosities on his posteriors; canine teeth much lenger' in proportion than those of man ; and the bottom part of the face turned up like that of a bull-dog: his visage is hairy or rather covered with a down: he is of a greenish brown on his body, and a pale yellow on the belly : he walks erect on his hind feet, but oftener on all four. He is about three 192 BUFFon’s .three feet. and a half high, and there seems to be some of them still larger. The females have a periodical emanation. THE PAPION*, on THE BABOON, PROPERLY so CALLED. —-—_————-. IN man the physiognomy may deceive, and the figure of the body does not give an idea, of the qualities of the mind; but in the brute creation we may always judge of their dis- positions by their looks, and form a just con- jecture of their internal qualities from their external form. For example, if we com pare the ape and baboon we shall at once decide, that they greatly differ in their dispositions, and that the latter are infinitely more fierce, savage, and malicious, than the former. The orang-outang, which resembles man the most of any, approaches also nearest in intelligence, gentleness of manners, and pli- ancy of disposition. The magot, which is set‘ further from the human figure, and ap- proaches that of the brutes in form of its face * This word is derived from Papz'o, which is the name of this animal in modern Latin,and which has been here adop- ted to distinguish him from the other baboons. NATURAL HISTORY. 193 face'and Canine teeth, is'wild, impetuous,‘. and disObedient; but the baboon, which only re.- sembles man in-the‘ hands, approachesstill nearer, and is, intact, of the savage tribe, hav- ing a tail, sharp nails, and a prominent muz- zle. ‘ The baboon which I saw (fig. [98.) was not so extremely ugly,yet it excited horror. It seemed exceedingly savage and ferociOus, con- tinuall y gnashing its teeth, fretting with rage and furiously restlessV It was obliged to be confined in an iron cage, the bars ofwliicli it so forcibly moved with its hands,that.the spec- tators were struck with apprehension. It was a squat animal, whose short limbs and com- pact body indicated vast strength and agility. The long hair with which it was covered seemed to add to its apparent volume ; however itis in reality so great, that it could easily overcome more than a single man, unless properly armed.* I t constant 1 yap peared excit- ed by that passion which renders the mildest animals furious, It was insolently lascivious, and seemed fond of affecting to gratifyits strong desires in public. In some ‘measure we may say that Nature seems to have provided. him VOL. 1x. Cc - for * This probably is of the same species as the animal called fré tré tré tré at Madagascar, which is (says Flaccourt) as large as a calf of two years old ,- the head is roundtwith the face of a man; the fore and hind feet like an ape; the hair frizzly, the tail short, the ears like those of man : he resem- bles the tamac/J described by Ambroise Paré; it is a solitary animal, the natives dread it very much. i 194: ' Bureau’s for‘this detestable and unecmmon kind of im'e pudence; for in all other animals these'parts are somewhat covered with" a-fVeil ; but in the baboon they are naked, and more conspicuous from the other parts of the body being covered with hair ;‘ its p‘osteriors are quite naked; .its‘. genitals are pendulous,the anus uncovered ,- and the‘tail alWays elevated; and” instead of feeling any shame it seemed to make a parade of fisher? kedness, presenting its posteriors oftener to the spectators than its head, particularly inf-the presence of Women, before whom he displayed a matchless impudence, which could pro; ceed only from the most imm‘oderate desires: The magot, and some others of the ape'sp'ecies‘, have the same strong inclinations,‘but as they are less in size, and not so petulant, theyiar‘e more easily corrected, whereas the baboon ’is quite incorrigible, and totally untracta‘ble," ' But however violent the desires of these ani- mals may be,they do not breed in temperate elig- mates. The female brings forthusuall y but one young at a time, which she carries in her arms, and clinging as it were to her breast : she is also subject to periodical emanations. These baboons though mischievious and ferocious,are not carnivorous 3 they principally feed upon fruits, roots, and corn. They generally as-, . sembletogether in companies, for the'purpose ' ' ' of? NATURAL HrsTonY. 195 ofsallying forth to; Commit their depredations Ton the neighbouring Vineyards or orchards. I » Of these animals Kolb'e: speaks in the fol- ‘Iowing terms :——-“ The baboons are’ extremely fond of grapes, apples, and ripe .fru-it; they assemble togetherin great numbers, and pro-1 CeedOn their enterprize'with previous delibe-i ration. The dogs who are set to watch do not easily conquer them, unless rendered inac- tive by excess in eating, as they are extremea ‘ly agile, and make dexterous use of their teeth : and claws. 011 these occasions a part of them enter the inclosure, while some of the compa- ny stand on the wall as'centinels ;' the rest are ”stationed without, at a small distance from each other, and thus form a line, which extends from the inclosure to their place of rendezvous, which 18 generally 1n some craggy mountain. Every thing being thus disposed the plunderers within the orchard begin their ope1at10ns, and threw the fruit of all sorts to them without as 7faSt' as they can gather it; or if the wall or hedge be veryhigh, then to those that sit ‘at the top, who, with great address, toss it to those below; and thus the fruit is pitched from one to another all along the line, till it is safely de- posited at their head- quarters. They are so dexterous and quick-sighted that they SeldOm suffer it to fall, and While the business 1s going for ward, 196 BUFFO‘N’S ferward, which they conduet with great expe- dition, a most profound silence is observed among them. The centinels during the whole time continue upon the watch, and if they perceive any personapproaching, they in- stantly set up a loud cry, and at this signal the whole company retreat with astonishing expedition. , - Distinctz't‘e Characters of this Species. The papion, or baboon, has a pouch on eaehside of his cheeks; he has callosities on his posteriors, which are naked, and of a red colour ; his tail is crooked, and about seven or eight inches long. The canine teeth are pro- ,portionally much thicker and longer than those of men. His muzzle is very thick and long, his ears naked, his body and limbs strong, thick, and short ; his genitals are naked, and of a flesh colour, his hair long, bushy, of a reddish brown,fie and pretty. uniform over the whole. body. He walks oftener on four than . Oil - * The middle of the face and forehead naked, and of a' bright vermilion colour, the tip of the nose of the‘same: the sides of the nose broadly ribbed, and of a fine violet blue; cheeks, throat, and goat-like beard, yellow ; hair on the fore- head very long‘, turned back, and. black; head, arms, and. 'legs covered with short hair, yellow and black intermixed; the breast with long whitish yellow hairs; the shoulders with long brown hair. This description is from a stuffed speci- men in Sir- Ashton Lever’s Museum—Pmnant’: Synapse. NATURAL HISTORY. 197 on two feet. When erect, he is from three to four feet high. There seem to be different sizes of this species 3’ but after the most careful comparison, We could perceive -no other dif- ferences between them than the size, which does not proceed from their age ; for the small baboon seemed to be an adult as well as the large. THE MANDRILL. THIS baboon (fig. 199.) is an ugly dis—- gusting animal;.his nose, or rather two nos- trils, are flat, from which constantly issues a thick matter, which he takes care at intervals to lick of with his tongue and swallow. His head is large, and muzzle very long. ‘ He is of a- squat, form, and his posteriors are of a. blood red, his anus is placed almost as high as his loins, his face is of a bluish colour, and. strongly seamed with wrinkles, which still increases his frightful and loathsome appear— ance. He is larger than the baboon,_hut more tame and gentle, and seemed to be more tract: able i108 BUFFON’S '- - I able and modest, although as disagreeable in every other 1espect. - This baboon is found on the Gold Coast, and 111 the other southe1 11 provinces of Afnca, Where the negroes call him boggo, and the Ell:- ropeans mandrill. This animal is the largest of. all the apes or baboons, the orang-outang ex- cepted. Smith relates, that a female mandrill was given him, which was not abbvesix months old, and had then attained the size of an adult baboon; he adds, that these animals walk ale ways erect ;- that they sigh and cry like the human spcies 3' that they have a violent pas- sion for women, which they never fail to grad tify, if theyg Get them within their reach. Distinctive Characters of this Species. The mandrill has pouches on the sides of his cheeks, and callosities on his posteriors. His tail is very short, not exceeding two or three inches ; his canine teeth are much thicker and longer than those of man. The muzzle is very thick, long, and surrounded on both Sides with deep longitudinal wrinkles. His face is flat, naked, and of a bluish colour. His ears, palms of his hands, and soles of his feet, are also naked. His hair is long, of a reddish brown over the bOdy, and giey upon the NATURAL HISTORY. 199 the breast and belly. He walks erect on two feet, but sometimes on all four; he is from four feet to four feet and "a half high when upright. The-fer'nales-are also subject to the periOdical emanations. ‘ ._——‘ ___~ 7, r THE OU-ANDEROU, AND THE LOWANDO. . THOUGH these two animals Seem to be i but one species, we have preserved the two names which theybearsin Ceylon, as they at least constitute two distinct breeds. ‘ The body iof the ouanderou (fig. 9200.\)-is covered with . brown and black hairs; he has a large long white head of hair, and a monstrous white heard. The body of the loWando, on the contrary, is covered with whitish hairs, and the hair on his head and beard is blac’lié' There is also a third race, or variety, found in the samecountry, which may, possibly, be the common'stock of the other two, because it'- is of a uniform white colour over the body, head, and beard. These animals are not apes " but baboons, of which they have all the cha. meters, as well in shape as in disposition; ' they 200 BUFFON's they are of the same savage nature, and even more feroCions. They have a long muzzle, a short tail, and are nearly of the same size as the baboon, but. their hind parts seem to be more feeble. The person to whom this animal (from which our figure was taken) belonged, told us it came from South America, and that it was called cayouvassou. I immediately re- collected that this word is a Brasilian term, which is pronounced sajououassou, and signi- fies saprgjou; consequently, that this name was misapplied, for all sapajous have long tails, whereas the animal we are treating of is a ba- boon with a very short tail. Besides, there is not a single species of baboon existing in America. Errors, with respect to climate, often happen, especially among ‘those who exhibit wild beasts, who, when they are igno- rant of the real name of the animal, and the country it is a native of, seldom fail to apply a fictitious denomination, which , whether true or false, equally answers their purpose. The onanderous, when not tamed, are so exceedingly savage and mischievous, that they are obliged to be confined in iron cages, where they are often agitated with great fury. But when taken young they are easily tamed, and even seem to be more susceptible of edu- cation .¥-.-. ,W-_,..___-_..-_..__r ~ _~_._H__*,-,- NATURAL HISTORY. 201 cation than any other baboon. The Indians take a pleasure in instructing them, and pre- tend that the rest of the ape and monkey tribes pay a great. deference to these babOons, who are possessed of more gravity and knowledge. In thei1 free state they are extremely wild, and remain constantly 1n the woods. If we: may C1edit travelle1s, those which are all‘ White'are the strongest and most mischievous. They have a violent pas:.-io'n for 'women, and are strong enough to ravish them when found alone, and even to that degree that they often kill them. i “ The white monkeys, says Forbin, are sometimes as big as the largest bull- logs, and. are more dangerous than the black. They- ' have astrong desire for women, and often, af- ter having greatly injured them, finish their“ cruelty with strangling. Sometimes they even came tothcir houses, but the natives of Ma..- caear, who are very jealous of their wives, take care to prevent the entrance of such hi— deous l'iV als into their habitations; and the females, not liking either the manners or figure of such gallants, boldly assist their husbands to oblige their ugly suitorsto retire, but which they are not able to-accomplish before they, have damaged or plundered every thing that lies in their way.” _ - . Ivor“: 1;. D d F Distinctive 902 BUFFON’S Dish/“[51 e C/zmacters of this Speezes. The ouande10ul1as pouches on each side of his cheeks, and callosities upon his posteriors. The tail is seven or eight inches long. The canine teeth are muchlaiger and longer than those of man. The‘muzzle is long and thick; his head is covered with long hair; and he has \ a gieat beard ofcoa1se hairs. His body 15 long and slender behind. There are some among of this species which vary in the colour of their hair 1; some have it black on the body, with a white beard ; and others, white on the body with a black beard. They walk more com- monly on four than on two feet, and when erect they are about three feet, or three feet and a half high. The females are subject to a periodical emanation. ' THE MAIMON. '~ THE apes, baboons, and monkeys, form three tribes, with intervals between each, the first: of which is filled by the magot, and the second by the maimon: the latter forms the -shade NATURAL HISTORY. 203 shade between the baboons and monkeys, as the magot does between the apes and baboons. The maimon resembles the baboons by his thick and large muzzle, and by his short and crooked tail; but he differs from them, and approaChes nearer the monkeys, by his gentle disposition and smallness of his size. ' Edwards has given a figure and description of this ani- mal by the denomination of the pig-tailed (1176. This particular character is sn'llieient, to dis- tinguish him, for he is the only baboon or men- key that has a naked tail, curled like thatf'o‘f a pic'. He is nearly of the same size as the magot, and so strongly resembles themacaque that he might be taken for a variety of‘that species, if his tail were not entirely different. His face is naked, and ofa tawny colour; his eyes are of a chesnut, with black eyebr‘Oivs. His ' nose is flat, his lips thin, and furnished with some rough hairs, but too short to form whiskers. His genital parts are concealed within the skin, therefore‘the maimon, though very spirited and full of fire, has none of that impudent petulance of the baboo’ns. He is gentle, tractable, and even fond. lle‘is found in Sumatra, and probabl y in some other south- ern provinces of India; of course it is with difficulty he can endure the cold-of our cli- mate. 3904: . BUFFON’S mate. That which we saw at Paris lived but a very short. time; and Edwards says, that which he describes lived only one year in Lon- don. “ The pig-tailed monkey (says that an- thor) was brought to England in 1752. It -was- extremely spirited and full of action, and was about the size of our common house-cat. It was a male, and lived under my care only one year. ‘Vhile I had mine, a female ofthe same species, but much larger, was shew'n at Bartholomew-fiiir, London. I brought the two exiles together to compare them, and the moment they came into each other’s presence they testified their mutual satisfaction, and .seemed quite transported at the interview.” Distinctive Characters of this Species. The maimon has poucheson‘ each side of his Cheeks, and callt-sit'ies on his posteriors: his tail is naked, curled up, and about five or six inches in length. The canine teeth are not longer in preportion than those of men: the muzzle-is very large 5 the orbi-‘s of the eyes are very prominent above; the face, car's, hands, and feet, are-naked, and of a flesh colour. The hair on the body is ofa dark olive, and of a reddish yellow on the belly: he sometimes walks erect, and at others upon all fours. \V hen NATURAL HISTORY. i205. '1’th erect. he is about two feet, or two feet and a hali’hig'h. The female is subject to the periodical emanation. THE MACAQUE, AND THE EGRET. ._.. OF all the guenons, or monkeys, with long tails, the macaque (fig. @092.) approaches near- est the baboon. Like them his body isshort .and compact, his head thick, his muzzle broad, his nose fiat, his cheeks wrinkled, and he is ' also larger and taller than most other monkeys. He is so extremely ugly that he might well be looked upon as a smaller kind of baboon, if his tail were not long and tufted ; whereas that of the baboon, in general, is extremely short. This species is a native ofCongo, and other southern provinces of Africa. It; is nu- merous, and subject to many varieties, with respect to its size, Colour, and disposition of the hair. The bod y of that. described by Has- selquist was more than two feet long; and those we have seen were not, above one foot and ahalf. That; which we term the Egret, (fig. 203,) because ithas on the top its head a tuft 206 _ , BUFFON’S tuft of hair, seems to be only a variety of the macaque, which it perfectly resembles, ex- cepting in this and some other slight ditfer- ences in the hair. Both ofthem are tractable and docile; hut, independently ofa disagree:- able scent which they diffuse around them, they are so dirty, so ugly, and even so hide- ous when they grimaee, that we cannot look on them without horror and disgust, These monkeys go in troops, especially to plunder orchards ot‘the fruit and plants. Bosnian re- lates, that they take a quantity of millet in each hand, the same under their arms, and some in their mouths, which they go off with, leaping on their hind feet; if pursued they first drop that from unocr their arms, then that from their hands; and this they do that they may use more speed on their four legs, but they always preserve that in their months. This traveller adds, that they examine care- fully all they pull, and what. does not please them they throw away, and tear up others: so that by this nicety they do much greaterinju- ries than by the quantities they consume or take away. Distinctive Characters of this Species. The macaque has pouches on each side of his cheeks, and callosities on his posteriors. His NATURAL HISTORY. 907 ‘ His tail is nearly as long as all the rest of the body, being about eighteen or twenty inches in length. His head is large, and his muzzle thick; his Visage naked, pale, and wrinkled ; his ears are covered with hair ; his body short and compact; and his legs short and thick." The hair on the upper part of the bodyis‘of a' greenish ash colour, and on the breast and belly of a yellowish. He has a kind of crest of hair on the top of his head. He walks 'on four and sometimes on two feet. The length of his body, including the head, is abouteighteen or I tWenty'inches. There appears to be varieties 7 in this species,'.soni'e larger and others smaller. ' The egret seems to be only a variety of the' macaque. He is about a third smaller in all his dimensions. Instead of 'a small crest of” hair, which is found en the top of the head of the macaque, this animal has it sharp- and pointed. The hair on the forehead-of this is- black, whereas that of the macaque is green- ish. The egret also has a longer tail than the macaque, in proportion to the length of its body. The females are subject to the period- ical emanation like women . THE 208 nerves-’3 THE PATAS. 7 THIS animal (fig. 205).). is-a native of the- same-countrfiona3 is nearly of the same size as! the macaque; hutthe body is. longer, thei‘acet not'so ugly,an:i thehair mech finer. He is re-.. markahle for the‘coiour-ol his hair; which is of so brilliant. .a red as to make'him appear as if he were paintedw We have seen two ofthese. animals much. varied; the first-had a line ofr black hairs-I above the eyes, extending from; ear to ear. The. second (littered from the first; only by the colour ot‘this line. which was white. hehair about the cheeks and. under the chin of both was long, .which made them large beards : but thecolour ot'the first was-yellow, and the other white. This Variety seemed to indicate others in the colour of the hair : and I am inclined to think, that the monkey spoken of by Marmol, which is saidto be of the coiour oh the wild cat, and to be a native of— At‘rica, is only a variety of the Patas. These monkeys are not so subtle as the other kinds, but. are poSsessed ofan extreme curiosity. “ I have seen them, says Brue, descend from the top of very high trees, to the extremities of the branches to View the vessels on the water ; they NATURAL HISTORY. 209 they admired them for Some time and seemed to discourse with each other about what they had seen ; and then quit their stations for their companions, who came after to have the same sight. Some even became so familiar as to throw branches at the Frenchman, who return. ed their salute by the shots of their muskets; same were killed others wounded, and the rest .Were thrown into the utmost consternation. 99:: party uttered most hideous cries, while another picked up stones to throw at their ene- mies, but perceiving at length, how unequal the battle was, they desisted, and prudently retired.” It is to be presumed, that it is‘ this species of monkey which 1e Maire speaks of. “ It is hard- I y possible to express, says this traveller, the havock these animals make in Senegal, when the rice, millet, and other grains, on. which they feed, are ripe. They assemble together in companies of forty or fifty: one of them - remains as centinel on a tree, While the rest commit their depredations. ‘As soon as the centinel perceives any'perSOn near, he utters a‘ loud cry,‘as a signalto the rest, who immedi- ately obey and scamper off with their plunder, lea ping from tree to tree with prodigious agi- lity. The females, who carry their young clinging to their breasts, retreat in the same VoL. Ix.- ' V E e ' manner QlO B'UFFoN’s manner as the rest, and leap as if they Were not incumbered with any burthen.” Distinctive Characters of this Species. The patas has pouches on each side of his cheeks, and callosities on his p'osteriors. His tail is as long as both his head and body : the crown of his head is flat. His muzzle, body, and legs, are long. He has black hair on the nose,and a narrow line of the same colour over the eyes, extending the breadth of the face. The hair onthe upper parts of his body is of a reddish colour ; and that of the lower, as the throat, breast, and belly, of a yellowish hue. There is a variety in this species, with reSpect to the colour of the line over the eyes, which is black in some, and white in others. They do not make grimaces when they are angry, like other monkeys. They walk on all fours more frequently than erect. They are from a foot and a half to two feet long, from the muzzle to the origin of the tail. The females are subject to a periodical emanation. THE MALBROUCK, AND THE BONNET CHINOIS. MALBROUCK (fig. 204.) is the .name of this animal in its native country, Bengal, and Bonnet Cfiinois (fig 207.) is a term given 110 NATURAL HISTORY. ' 211 to the long tailed monkey, which has a kind ‘oftrencher cap on the crown of the head, like the Chinese bonnets. These two monkeys seem to belong. to one species ; and this species,though somewhat dif- ferent from that of the macaque,is nevertheless, so far bordering on it, as to make us doubt whether'the macaque,the egret, the malbrouek, and the bonnet chinois,are not merely four va- rieties, or permanent races of the same species. As these animals do not propagate in our cli- mate, we have not been able to acquire any knowledge respe’ctingthe unity or diversity of :their species, and therefore are obliged to judge . only by the difference of their figures, and other external attributes. The macaque and the egret, appeared to 'us so similar, that we pre— ‘ sumed them to be of one and the same species. It is' the same with respect to the malbrouck, andthe bonnet chinois ; but, as they difl‘er in a greater degree from the two first than between themselves, we thought it best to separate them. , ' With respect to the diversity of these two species, our presumption is founded,1. On the difference of their external form ; 2. On the colour and disposition of the hair; 3. On the diffe renoe which is found in the proportion of {their skeletons 5 and 4. On the first two men,- tinned O ’ trees, which is their general abode. They 212 BUFFON’S -tioned being natives of the southern countries of Africa, and-the two that we are nowtreating of, being natives of Bengal. This last Consi- deratiOn is of as' great weight as any of the rest, for we have had sufficient proofs, that in wild animals the distance of climate is a sufficient mark of the remoteness of the species. ‘ Besides, the malbrouck and the bonnet chinois, are'niot ' the only species or breeds of monkeys which are found in Bengal. By the testimonies ; of tra- ‘vellers there seem to be feur varieties, White, black,- red and grey; they likewise tellius that ' the black kind are more easily tamed than-any of the rest. Those we saw were reddish, and appeared very docile and familiar. ' --“ These animals, according to travellers, plunder whole' fields of grain, and planta- tions of sugar-cane; and while one stands centinel on a tree, the others load them- selves with the booty . If any person appears, 'the centinel gives notice by crying houp,’ Izoup, Izoup, which the rest perfectly understand,and all at once throw down the plunder which they hold in their left hands, and scamper eff upon three legs ; if close pursued they'also throw down what they have in their‘right,‘and save themselves from their pursuers by climbing up V leap NATURAL HISTORY. ’213 leap from tree to tree, and even the females, though loaded with their youngones, leaplike the others ; but they sometimes, in their haste, .miss their aim and fall. They are very diffi- cult to render in any degree docile, and are ' never so far tamed 'as to be suffered to go un- chaiued. Even in their own country they will not produce "unless at perfeCt freedom in the woods. WVhen they cannot procure fruits they ,feed upon insects, and sometimes go to the sides of the rivers, for» the purpose of catching fish and crabs, the latter of which they take by watching theopening of its claws and then putting their tails between ; the» crab instantly . closes them, when they, with all speed, drag it ashore, and eat it at «leisure.- T-hey are fond .of cocoa-nuts, and are very expert in extract- ing the juice for drink, and afterwards getting at‘the kernel, the shell of which is generally made use. ofas a snare to catch them; azsrnall hole being made in one of them, the animal who meets with it thrilsts his paw in with ditficulty, when those who have laid the trap run and seize him before he ’cau disengage himself. ‘ They sometimes place bamboos on the tops of trees for the purpose of extracting the sari, which drops from them, and which they drink. In the provinces of India, where ' the 2M BUFFON’s the Bramins reside, and whose religious tenets do not allow them to kill any animals, the monkeys are almost numberless. They as- semble in large troops, come into the towns, and enter the houses with perfect freedom, and hesitate not to take such provisions, fruits, or herbs as they'can meet with, and which it is very difficult to preserve from them.” There are three kinds of hospitals in the town of Amadabad, which is the capital of Guzarat, for animals, and where not only the lame and. sick monkeys but also such as are well, if they ch use to live there,’are plentiful-1y supplied with provisions. It is said that the monkeys in the neighbourhood regularly assemble twice a week in the streets of the town, that they go to the tops of the houses, which have a sort of terraces or flat roofs, where they lie in the sun; and that on these days the inhabitants are careful to lay upon these terraces rice, millet, sugars canes, and other fruits in season ; for if by chance they omit to do so, these animals pull of? the tiles from the other part of the'house, and do great damage to the inside. They do not eat'a single thing without smelling at it. ' for along time, and when they have satisfied their hunger they fill the pouches on the sides of their cheeks for another occasion: they de. stroy NATURAL His'ronv. 21’5 stroy the nests of birds,- and never fail to throw the eggs on the ground when they want appe- tite or inclination to eat them.» The most formidable enemy these animals have is the serpent; no other animal of the forest being able to surprise them, as they are so exceedingly swift and subtle, that they climb up and seat themselves on the tops of the high- est trees; “ The apes,— says a traveller, have it in their power to be masters 'of the forest, - for neither tigers nor lions are able to dispute the possession with them. The only animal they have to fear is the serpent, which attacks them both night and day. There are some serpents in those forests of a prodigious size, which wind up the trees where the monkeys reside, and when they happen to surprise them sleeping, swallow them whole before they have time to make a defence.” Distinctive Characters of this Species. The malbrouck has pouches on each side of his cheeks, and callosities on his posteriors. His tail is nearly as long as both the body and head. The eyelids are of a flesh colour, and the face a cinereous grey; they eyes are large, the muzzle broad and turned upwards ; the ears are large, thin, and of a flesh colour. They have a line of grey hairs on them like i I i the Qlfi’ BUFFON’S the mane, but the other parts of their bodies are of a uniform colour, a yellowish brown on the upper and a yellowish grey on the lower. He goes on all fours, and is about a foot and a half long from the muzzle to the insertion of the tail. The bonnet chinois seems to be a variety of the malbrouck. They differ in the hair on the crown of the head, which in the latter is disposed in the shape of a cap or flat bonnet,- and in the tail which is larger. The females of both are'subject to a periodical emanation. THE MANGABEYfi‘ WE have seen two individuals of this species, both of which were .sent to us by the denomination of flfadagascar‘ apes. They are easily distinguished from all other mon- keys by a very apparent character. The mangabey (fig. 206.) has its eyelids naked,- and of a very striking whiteness. Their muzzle also is large, thick, and long; and ' they * This is a precarious name which we have given to this animal, until we know what it is called in its native country. As it is found at Madagascar in thevicinity of illalzgaéey, this name Will make it familiar’ to travellers, who will thus be led to observe it with more precision. NATURAL HISTORY. 2'1? they have a ring rOund their eyesl' 'Those‘we are speaking of varied also in colour, the hair if one being of arblackish brown on the head, neck, and upper parts of the body, and white, on the belly; and in the other it was much lighter over all the body, with a collar of white hair round the neck and cheeks. Both carry their tails turned backwards, the hair of which is' long and bushy. They arena-fives of the same country as the vari, and as they resemble that animal in the leng? h of the muzzle and tail, in the manner of carrying it, and in the varieties of colour; they seem to fill up the chasm betwixt the makis and .gucnons, or ‘long- ~tailed monkeys. ' Distinctive Characters of this Species. "The mangabey has‘ pouches on each side of 'his cheeks, and ca‘ll-ositics on his postcriors. ‘His tail is as ‘long'a‘s the head and body: he has a prominent ring of hair over his eyes, and his upptr eyelids arc particula1 1y white. 'His muzzle is thick and long; his eyebrows are rough and bristly . his ears black, and- almost naked. The hair of the upper parts of his body is brown, and‘those below are grey. There are varieties in this species,'isome being (of an uniform colour, and others having a {l’0L. 1X. ' F f ' circle 2‘18 - BUFFON’S' circle of white hair round the ‘neck and the" cheeks in the form of a beard. They walk. on four feet, and are nearly a foot and a half long, from the point of the muzzle to the- origin of the tail. The females are subject to the periodical. emanation, ‘ ' - THE M0NA.*— THIS animal (fig. 209..) is the most com- mon of the monkey tribe; welkept one of them alive for many years, which, with the magot, seems to agree .best with the tempera; ture of our climate. . This alone is sufiicient to prove the mona is not a native-bf the southern countries of Africa and India. In fact, it is met with in Barbary, Arabia, Persia, and other parts of Asia which were known to the ancients, who denoted it by the name of Icebos, cebus, and caephus, because of the variety of * Mona is the name this animal bears in the Spanish and provincial languages. The English word monkey is derived from moniclu‘, and both seem to owe their rise to mom, or m- m’ma, the primitive name of these animals. NATURAL HrsronY. 219 ofits colours. The visage of this animal is of a— brown hue, witha kind of white beard, mixed with yellow anda little black. The hair on the tap ofthej head and neck is yellow and» black intermixed; that on the back red and- black; the belly and the inncrlparts. of the thighs and legs whitish, though the external. parts- of the two latter are black, and the tail of a deep ash colour, marked with two white spots, one on each side, atits insertion. On". its forehead there are some grey hairs inthe form of a crescent; from. the eyes to the ears there is a blackstripe, as there also is from the ears to the shoulders and arms. Some, persons have called this animal name, from a corrup- tion of 7720726 or monaa; others have termed it the old man, from. the grey colour of its beard; but the denomination by which the mona is most generally known is that of the variegated monkey; and this perfectly agrees with, the name of Icebos given it by the Greeks, and the definition of Aristotle, a monkeywith a long tail, and of various colours. In general the dispoSitiOn of the mOnkeys is much more tractable than that ofthe baboons, ' and not so sullen as that of the apes.;_ They are extravagantlyspirited, but not ferocious,- for they becomedocile through fear the moment ' they 220‘ Borrox’s they find themselves subjected by restraint. The mena is particularly susceptible of educa-‘ tion, and even attached to those persons who' take care of him. That which we brought up would suffer himself to be stroaked and' handled by those he knew,?but would not perv' mit this freedom to stra‘ngers,whom he would? often bite; He was kept chained, appearing very desirous of liberty, for when he either broke his chain, or got loose, he would fly to- the fields ,1 but he would su fl’er himself to be re-‘ taken by his master. He ate every thing that was offered hiin,roasted meat, bread, and grain ;" but his favourite food was fruits ; and he would- also Search after spiders, ants, and insects. “’henever several pieces were given him toge- t‘her he put: them in the pouches on each side of his cheeks. This practice is common to all the baboon and monkey kind, Nature hav- ing furnished them with those reservoirs, where they can- store a quantity of food sufficient to support them for one or two days. Distinctive Characters of this Species.- The mona has pouches on each side of his jaws, and callosities on his posteriors. H is tail is about two feet long, which is longer by six inches than both his body and head. The 7 heat} NATURAL HISTORY. 22? head. is small and round, and the muzzle thick and short. The colour of his face is a'bright; taWney ; a stripe-of grey hairs'on the forehead, another of blaek'from the eyes to the ears, and from the ears to'the shoulders and'arms. He’ has a kind of grey beard formed by the hairs- on his throat and breast, which is longer than in anyother-LpartL His hair is of a reddish- black on the body and whitish under the belly. The outside of his legs and thighs are black, and its tail of a dark ash with two white spots- on each side of its insertion. He walks on all. fours, and his length, from the snout to the origin of his tail, is about a foot and a half. The female is subject to periodical emanations. THE CALLI'l‘RIX, OR GREEN MONKEY. m CALLITRIX is,a term made use of by Ho. mer‘ to express in general the beautiful colour of the hair of animals. ' It was not till many ages after, Homer’s time, that the Greeks ap-- plied this name 4to sOme particular kinds of monkeys, and which, from the. propriety of _ such 22E.) . ; BUFFON ’s such application ,we must suppose to be the'ania’ mal in question (fig. 205.}. The body is ofa fine green colour, the neck and belly white, and the face of a beautiful black. He is found; in Mauritania, and in Ancient; Carthage ;- so there is reason to suppose he was known to the’ Greeks and Romans; and that he was one of the long-tailed monkeys, to which they gave the name of callitrix. There is also a species of white monkeys in the adjoining provinces of Egypt, both on the side of Ethiopia and of Arabia, which the ancients have also described by the name of callitriz'. Prosper Alpinns and Pietro della Valle, speak of this white monkey, but we have never seen this species,- which, perhaps, is only a variety of the green monkey, or the mona, which is very common in those countries. The callitrix, or green monkey, appears to be known in Senegal, as well as in Mauritania and in the Cape Verd, islands. M. Adanson relates, that the woods'of Ponor, along the river Niger, are filled with green monkeys.- “ I discovered these animals, (says this author) only by their breaking off the branches of trees, and throwing them down; for they were so very quiet and nimble in their tricks, that it was scarcely possible to perceive them. I did not NATURAL HISTORY. 223' not walk far, before I killed three of them without in the..least terrifying any of the rest: 4 however, when nu mbers felt themselves wound- ed, they began to retreat; some concealing themselves behind ‘large branohes, and others descending to the ground and running away; but the greatest ndmber leaped from the top . of one tree to another. During-this bustle I kept firing at them and killed about twenty- three in lessthan an hour, without any of them uttering a single cry, although they several times assembled together, and made an, apA pear ance of attacking me.’ : 5 Dzstmctwe Characters of this Species. The .callitrix has pouches onzeach side of his cheeks, and callosities on his posteriors. The . tail is .much longer than both the head and body. The headis small, the, muzzle long, and the face and cars are black : instead of eyebrows, he'has‘ a narrow stripe of black hairs 'across the forehead. The body is of a fine greenmixed with a little yellow. He walks on four feet; and the length of his body, in— eluding the head, is about fifteen inches. The female is subject to the periodical emanation. frm: 924 BUFEON’S . THE MOUSTAC. -_ .m THE moustac (fig. 210.) seems tobe a nav tive of the same country as the macaque, be- cause its- body is, like that, shOrter and more compact than the rest of the monkey tribe. This is, probably, the same animal as those who have been to Guinea call White Nose," from its upper lips being of a white colour, and all the rest of the face Of a deep blue. It: has also two tufts of yellow hair below its ears, "which give it a very remarkable appearance, and as itis‘but small, it seems to be the most beautifui of th’e'monkey kind. * . ' Distinctive Characters of this Species. The moustac has pouches on each side of his cheeks, and callosities on his posteriors. The tail is much longer than the head and body, being sometimes nineteen or tWenty inches. His face is of a deep blue, with a large broad White mark that goes entirely across the upper lip directly under the nose, which is naked, NATURAL HISTORY. 225 naked, except a slight edging of black hairs both on the upper and under lips. His body is’sho'rt and compact. There are two tufts of hair, of a bright yellow, below the ears, and another tuft of bristly hair upon the tap of .the head. The hair on the body- isof, a greenish CaSt, and that on the breast and. belly of an ash colour. He Walks on :all "fours, and is about a foot and a- half long. The female is subject to a periodical emanation. _ m THE TALAPOIN. THIS monkey, (fig. 211.) though small,.is a beautiful animal. Its name seems to indicate that it is a native of Siam, and other eastern provinces of Asia; but though we cannot po- sitivelyassert this, it is, however, certain that it belongs to the Old Continent, and is not ' found any where in the New, becauSe it has pouches oneth side of its cheeks, and Cal- losities on its posteriors, which [characters ‘ neither belong to the sagoins nor sap’ajous, YOL. 1x, G g which 226 BUFFos’s which are the only animals of the New World that can be compared to the monkeys. What inclines me to think, independently of its name, that this monkey is more common in‘the East-Indies than in Africa, is, the tra- vellers affirming that most of“ the apes in this part of Asia have their hair of a brownish green colour. “ The monkeys of Guzarat, they say, are of a greenish brown, with long white beards and eyebrows. These animals, which the Banians sufi'er to multiply in great numbers, from a religious principle, are so. familiar that they enter the houses in such numbers that the fruiterers and confectioners have no little difficulty to preserve their mere chandize.” Edwards has given a figure and description of a monkey by the name of the middle-sized black qpe, which seems to approach nearer to the talapoin than any of the rest. \Ve have made a comparison between the two, and, ex- cepting the size and colour, they have such a resemblance to each other, that there is at least I a very great approximation between them, if they are not varieties of the same species. In this case, as we are not certain that our tala- poin is anative of the East-Indies, and as that spoken of by Mr. Edwards is described by him 33$. NATURAL HISTORY. 227 as an animal belonging to Guinea, we shall refer our talapoin to the same climate, or at least suppose that this species is common in the southern parts both of Africa and Asia. It'is also probable, that this is the same as the spe- cies- of black monkeys mentioned by Bosman under the name of baurdmannetjes, the skin of which, he informs us, makes a good fur. m ’ THE DOUC. 5 THE Douc (fig. 212.) is the last among ‘that'class of animals which we have called Apes, .Baboons, and Monkeys. This animal, without belonging to any one of these three precisely, yet partakes of them all. Of the monkeys by the length of his tail ; of "the ba- boons by his size ; and of the ape by the flat- ness of his face. By a very particular charac-_ ter he seems to form the shade between the monkey and the sapajous. These two tribes ~‘ differ from the monkeys, having naked poste- riors, and all the sapajous having them co- vered with hair; and the done is the only monkey which has'hair on the posteriors like the 228 Barron’s the sapajous. He resembles them also in the‘ flatness of the muzzle; but he is infinitely nearer to the monkey than the sapajous, from» his long tail, and other very essential charac-r ters. Besides, the interval Which separates these two families is immense, for the done, and all the monkeys, are natives of the Old Continent,whereas the sapaj‘ous are Only found ‘ in the New. \Ve might also remark, that asthe done has a long tail like the monkeys, but no callosities on his posteriors, he forms the link which connects the orang-outang and the monkeys, as the gibbon does in another respect, having no tail, like the orang-outangs, but only'callosities on the posteriors. . Inde- pendently of these general relations, the done has particular characters which render him- very remarkable, and distinguish him from the apes, baboons, monkeys, or sapajous, at first sight. His skin, which is variegated with dif- ferent colours, seems to indicate the ambiguity of his nature, and distinguishes his species in a- very evident manner. He has a purple collar about his neck, a White beard, his lips are brown, and he has a black ring round his eyes ;- his face and ears are red, the top of his head and body grey, and the breast and belly yele low. His legs are white (low-awards- and. black upwards.- NATURAL HISTORY. 229 tlpwards. ‘ His'tail is white, with a large spot of the same colour on his loins ; and his feet are black, intermixed with shades of different colours. This animal, which we were assured came from Cochin-China, seems to be likewise found at Madagascar, and is the same as that indi- cated by F la'court by the name of sifac in the following terms: “ There is,- (says he) ano« thcr kind of white monkey at Madagascar, which has a brown collar, and is often seen erect on its hind 'feet: its tail is white, with two brown spots on the flanks: it is larger than the oarz’ (maucauco) but less than the oaricossz‘ (vari) and this animal is called stfac‘ It lives upon beans. There are great numbers of them towards Andrivoura, Dambourlomb, and Ranafouleliy.” The brown collar, the“ white tail, and the spots on the flanks, are characters which clearly indicate that this safac of Madagascar is the same species with the done of Cochin-China. . Travellers inform us that the large apes of the southern parts of Asia produce bezoar‘s in their stomachs, which are superior to those of the goats and gazelles. These large apes are the ouanderou and the done; to them, there- fore, We must refer the production of the bezoar. 230 BUFFox’s bezoar. It is pretended that the heanrs of the ape are always round, whereas the other bezoars are of different figures. Distinctive Characters of this Species. The done has no callosities on his posteriors, and is cloathed all over with hair: his tail is not so long as his body and head : his face is covered with a reddish down : the ears are naked, and of the same colour as the face : the lips are brown, as are the orbits of the eyes. The colour of the hair is very bright and variegated : he has a purple coloured collar round his neck: his forehead, body, arms, and legs, are white, and on the chin is a kind of yellow beard : he is black on the top of the forehead and the upper part of the arms : the parts below the body are of an ash colour : thetail, and under parts of the loins, are white: he as often walks on two feet as on four: he is three feet and a half, or four feet, high when he is upright. I do not know whether the females in this species be subject to the pe- riodical emanation. CONCLUSION OF THE APES OF THE OLD CONTINENT. NATURAL nrsranv. 231 THE SAPAJOUS AND THE SAGOINS. WE shall now pass from one continent to the other; all the four-handed animals which we have described, and which we comprea bended under the generic names of Apes, Baa- boons, and Monkeys, belong exclusively to the Old Continent; and all those WhiCh remain to be spoken of are only to be found in the New World. ,We shall first dlStlnr guish them by the two generic names of 8a,- .pajous and Sagoins. Both these animals have their feet nearly like those of ' the apes, baboons, and monkeys; but they differ from the apes by having tails, and from the ba- boons and monkeys b y- not having a pouch in each cheek, nor callosities on their posteriors; in short, they differ from the apes, baboOns, and monkeys, by having a broad division be.- tween their nostrils, and the apertures being on the sides and not under the nose ; there- fore the sapajous and sagoins‘are not only specifically, but even generically different from the apes, monkeys, and baboons. VVben compared together they are also found to differ ' m 232 BUFFON’S in some generic char. ctcrs, for every sapajou has a long tail, which he can make use of to seize or lay hold of any object. This tail they bend, extend, and curl at pleasure, and by the extremity of which they suspend themselves from the branches of trees to reach Whatever they want : the under part of this tail is come monl y without hair, and covered with a smooth ‘skin. The tails of the sagoins, on the con— trary, are proportionably longer than those of the sapajous, and are weak, straight, and en! tirely covered with hair, so that they cannot make use of them either to lay hold of any object, or for the purpose of suspending them- selves. This difference is alone sufficient to distinguish the sapajou from the sagoin. ‘V e are acquainted with eight sapajous, which probably should be reduced to five species. The first is [the ouarz'ne, or gozrariba, of Brasil. This sapajou is as large as a fox, and only differs from that which is called alouate in its colour. The ouarine has black hair, and the alouate red ; and as they perfectly resemble each other in every other respect, I consider them as belonging to the' same species. The second is the mafia, which is black like the ouarine, but not so large: the exquima seems to be a. variety of this species. The third is the sajozz, 01' NATURAL 'ms'ro RY. 2'33 er-sapajou, properly so called. This is small, has brown hair, and commonly known by the name of the capuclzz'n monkey. ‘There is a ‘ variety in this species, which we shall call the grey sajou, and which only differs from the brown sajou by this difference of colour. The fourth is the sai, called by some travellers the . bowler; he is larger than the sajou, and his muzzle is broader: there are two kinds, which differ only by the colour of the hair, the one. being of ‘a reddish brown, and the other of a lighter colour. .. The fifth is .the samiri, com- monl y called the orange monkey. This last is the smallest and most beautiful of all the san .pajous. ' . ‘ We are acquainted with six species of sagoins. The first and largest is the said, whose tail" is covered with hair so long and sobushy that it has acquired the name of the fox-tailed monkey. There appears to be a variety in this species, for I have seen two, both of which appeared to be adult, and yet one was almost twice as big‘as the other. The second is the tamarin, which is generally black, with four yellow feet, but they vary {in colour, some ‘ being found of an olive brown, spotted. The‘third is the 'euistitz', remarkable for-large tufts of hair-round 'his face, andan annulated tail. The fourth .is VOL. 1):. H h the €234: BUFFON’S the marilcz'na, which has a kind of mane on the neck, and a bunch of hair, like the lion, at the end of the tail, whence it has been called the small lion. T he fifth is the pine/’26, whose face is of a beautiful black colour, with hairs descending from the top and sides of the head, in the form of long smooth tresses. And the sixth is the mice, which is the most beautiful animal of this kind ; its hair is of a silver co‘ lour, and its face as red as vermilion. VVe shall now give the history of each of these sa- pajous and sagoins, most of which have been little known. THE QUARINE AND THE ALOUATE, lg... THE Onarine and the Alouate are the larg‘ est four-handed animals belonging to the New Continent: they surpass the size of the largest monkey, and approach that of the baboon. They have prehensile tails and are consequent: 1y of the sapajous family, in which they hold , a very distinguished rank, not onlywith regard 2 ‘ t9 NATURAL HISTORY. _ 235 to stature, but also by voice, which resounds like a drum, and may be heard at a very great distance. Marcgrave informs us, “ that every morning and evening the ouarines assemble. in the woods ;' that one among them seats himself .011 an elevated place, makes a sign with his hand to the rest to Seat themselves round him; that as soon as he sees them all seated, he ben ’gins an oration with so quick and louda voice as to be heard at a great distance, and it might! be imagined they were all making a noise to‘- ‘ gether, but during the whole time the rest keep a profound silence ; that when he has end-a ed, 'he makes a signal to the others to reply, and-immediately they all set up a cry together, "till such 1 ime as by another sign with his hand, the orders them to be silent, and which they instantly obey ; that then the first renews his discourse,- or song, which, when finished, and the others have paid the utmost attention to it, the whole assembly break up.” These cirCum- - stances, ofwh‘ich Marcgrave says, he has‘many times been an eye-witness, may possibly be exaggerated, and seasoned a little with the marvellous. The whole, probably, is only founded on the frightful noise these animals make; they havefin- their throats a kind of bony drum, in-the cavity ofi-whiCh the sound - of 236 BUFFON’s of the voice thickens, encreases, and.“ fbr'ms‘a‘ kind of howling reverberation ; upon which account these sa pajous have been distinguished from the rest by the name of howlers. We have never seen-the ouarine, but We have the skin and the dried foetus of an alouate,in which the instrument of the loud noise he makes, that 'is to say, the bone of the threat, is very appa- rent. According to Marcgra-ve, the face of the .ouarine is- broad ,the eyes-black and sparkling, .the ears short and round, and a tail naked at the extremity, which holds firmly whatever it encircles ; the'hai—r of the body is black, long, and glossy; it is much the longest under the chin, and forms a kind of round beard ; the hair on the hands,.feet,. and a part of the tail,.is brown. The female is of the same colour- as the male, and only differs from him in being smaller.- The females carry their young on their backs, and thusloaded leap from branch .to branch and from tree to treee. The young ’ ones clasp the mother round the narrowest part of the body with the hands and arms, and thus remain firmly fastened, While she keeps in mo- tion. These animals are so wild and mischiev- ous,that they can neither be tamed nor- subdu- ed; they bite dreadfully, and although they are not among the carnivorous animals, yet- they excite- NATURAL HISTORY. 237 excite that by their frightful voice and ferocious 'air.- As they live only on fruits,.grain, and some ‘i-nsects, their flesh'is not bad eating. “ The hunters, says Oexmel’in, bring home in the evening the monkics they have .killed in the Cape Gracias-a-Dio; they roast one part of these animals and boil the other; its flesh is very good, and resembles that of the hare, but being of a sweetish flavour, a good quantity of salt must be- put to that part which is roasted ; the fat is yellow like that of a capon, and is very 'good. VVe lived .on these animals all the time we remained there, because we could procure no other food, and our hunters broilght us every day as many of them as we could eat. ‘My‘ curiosity led me to see the method of hunt- ing them, andI was surprised at their Sagacity, not only in particularly distinguishing their \ enemies, but also in the manner in which they defended and secured themselves. When we approached towards them, they assembled to- gether, set up loud and frightful cries, and threw branches at us which they broke from the trees ; some ,voided their excrements in their hands, and threw them at our heads. I also remarked, that they never forsook each other ; that they leaped from tree to tree with. an almost imperceptible nimbleness 5 and that, though “238 ' BUFFON‘S though they took the mest desperate leaps, they seldom fell to the ground ; because they never missed catching hold of the branches either with their hands or tail, which rendered it Very difficult to take them, even after they were shot, unless absolutely killed ; for if only Wounded, they remain clinging to‘ the branch,- where they often die, and do not drop off until they are putrefied. I have seen them hang in this manner for fonror five days aft-er death,and it is not uncommon to shoot fifteen or‘sixteen without being able to get more than two or three. Whatappeared still more singular, the moment one of them was wounded, the rest assembled round, and clapt their fingers into the wound,as if they were desirous of sounding its depth ; and if the blood flow in any quans tit y, some of them keep it shut up, while others get leaves, which they chew and thrust into the orifice. I have seen this circumstance" several times with admiration.- The females bring forth only one at a time, which they carry on their backs in the same manner as the Negresses do their children. When: they suckle their young, they take them in their paws, and present the breast to them likea' woman. There is no other way of taking the young than by shooting its mother, for she’ neVer' 0 NATURAL HISTORY. 9.29 never forsakes it; but when sheis killed, it tumbles to the ground, and then it is easily taken.” Dampiel confirms most of these circum- stances; but asserts, that these animals com- . monly bring forth two at a time, and that the mother carries one under her arm and the other upon her back. The smallest species of sapa- jous do not bring forth many, and it is there- fore very probable that the largest produce not morefithan one or two at a time. Distinctive Characters of this Species. The ouarine has. the apertures of the nostrils ‘ placed on the sides, and not under the nose ; the partition which divides the nostrils is very thick. He has neither pouches on the sides of his jaws, nor callosities.‘ on his posteriors,those parts-being covered with hair like the rest of the body. His tail is long and prehensile. His hair is long and black, and in his throat isa ‘ thick concave bone. He 1s about the size of a- greyhound. The long hair under his neck formsa kind of round heard, and he generally walks on all fetus. The alouate has the same character as the ouarine, and seems to differ fiom him only in having a larger beard, and a reddish- coloured hail. $240 BUFFON"S hair. I do not know whether the females of this species are subject to a periodical emana- tion ; but from analogy, I should presume the contrary, for I have generally observed, that the apes, baboons, and monkeys, with naked postcriors, alone are subject to this emanation. THE .COAITA, AND THE EXQUIMA. NEXT to the ouarine and the alouate, the coaita (fig. 213.) is the largest of the sapajons. I saw one alive at the Duke of Bouillon’s, where, by its familiarity and forward caresses, it deserved and obtained the afiection of those who had it under their care; but notwithstand- log all the good treatment and attention paid to it, it could not resist the cold of the winter I764. It died regretted by its master, who- was so kind as to send it to me to place it in the Royal Cabinet. I saw another at the Marquis de Montmirail’s, the latter was a male, and the former a female, and both were equally tractable and well tamed. This sapajou, by its gentle and docile dis- \ position, NATURAL HISTORY; 941 firesition, differs greatly from the ouarine and the alouate, which are extremely wild and um- rtameable. It also differs from them in not having a bony pouch in the throat. Like the ‘ouarine, its hair is black, but v-rough. The coaita also differs from them, in having but 'four fingers and no thumb to the fore paws : by this character and its prehensile tail it is easily distinguished from the monkeys, Who have all five fingers and aflaccid tail. The animal which Marcgrave calls exquima is very similar to the mafia, and, perhaps, is only a variety of that species. This author seems to have been deceived when he‘said that V the exquima was a native of Guinea and Con. go. The figure he' has given of it, is alone Sufficient to demonstrate his error; for the ani- mal is there represented with a tail curled at the extremity, a character which belongs sole- ‘ly to the sapajOus; consequently, the exquima 'of Marcgrave is not, as he tells us, a monkey "of Guinea, but a sapajou with a prehensile tail, which, wit’hOut doubt, had been transport— ‘ed there from Brasi'l. The word exquima', or 'quz'ma, expunging the, article ex, ought to be pronounced quaima, and then it is not very distant from quoaz'ta, which is written coa'z'ta :b y many authors. Every circumstance, there- WOL. ax. I ,i fore, 942 nurron’s fore, concurs to prove, that this exquima of Marcgrave was a sapajou of Brasil, and only a variety of the coaita, which it resembles in nature, size, colour, and the prehensile tail. The only material difference consists in the ex:- quima having a whitish hair on the belly, and a white beard under the chin, about two inches long. Our coaitas have neither this white hair nor the beard : but what makes me still presume that this difference is not sufficient to constitute two distinct species isthe testimo- nies of travellers, who tell us, that there are both black and white coaitas, and that some of them have beards, and others are without. “ There are (says Dampier) in the isthmus of America, great numbers of monkeys, some of which are white, but the most of them black 5 some have beards, others none _: they are of a middling size, and in dry weather when the fruits are in season they are very fat 3 their flesh is then extremely good, and we ate great num: bers of them, which example was after a time followed by the Indians, who were shy of eat-g ing them at first. In the rainy seasons these animals have a quantity of worms in their bowels, and'I have seen some of them several feet long—These monkeys are very droll, and played a thousand grotesque tricks as we tras. " veracd Minn. ntsronv; 243‘? versed the woods; leaping from branch ta branch with their young upon their backs, making faces, chattering, and even seeking Opportunities to make Water upon our heads; When they are unable to leap from one tree' to another, on account of the distance, their dexterity is very surprising; they form a kind of chain, hanging down by each other’s tails; one of them holding the branch above, the rest swing to and fro like a pendulum, until the undermost is enabled to catch hold of the), branches of the other tree, when the first lets go his hold and thus co'mes undermost in his” turn; and then,- by degrees, they all get upon‘ the branches of the tree Without ever coming » to the ground.” All these particulars perfectly _ agree with our coaitas; M. Danbenton, in his dissection of these animals, found a great quana‘ tity of worms in their entrails, some of which Were from twelve to thirteen inches long. We cannot, therefore, haVe any doubt but that the exquima of Marcgrave is a sa‘pajou of the same, or at least of a very proximate species to that of the coaita. ' We must likewise observe, that if the anie . ma! indicated by Linnaus, under the name of diam,- be, in fact,- as he says, the qum'ma of Hare‘grave, he has omitted the prohensile tail, ‘ which 2M - BUFFON’s which is the most essential character, and which alone will decide whether this diana belong to" the sapajou or monkey genus, and of course, whether it be found in the Old or New Con- tinent. Independently of this variety, the characters of which are very apparent, there are other Varieties, though .less striking, in the species of- the‘coaita. That described by Brisson had whitish hair on all the lower parts‘ of the body,- while those which we have seen were entirely black, and had but very little hair on those parts, the skin being plainly seen, which was also of a black colour. One of the two coaitas spoken of by Mr. Edwards was black,-and the other brow-n : they are termed, says he, spider monkeys, on account of their tail and ‘limbs being so very long and slender. . Some years ago a coaita was presented to me by thename of chameck, which I was informed came from the coast of Peru.— I had it measured, and made a description of it, in order to com- pare it with thatwhich M. Daubenton had given . of the. coaita, and immediately discovered that this chameck of Peru, a few varieties except- ed, is the same animal as the coaita of Guiana». The sapajous are very sagacious and idexe terous: they go in companies, and mutually warn: a NATURAL HISTORY. 245: team and assist each other. Their tail serves them exactly like a fifth hand ; and they seem even to em pl oy that more than either their hands or feet. Nature by this addition seems to have , recompensed them for the Want of a thumb. It is asserted that they catch fish with this long‘ tail, and which does not appear incredible, for we have seen one of our coai-ta’s lay hold of a squirrel, which had been put into the same apartment, with his tail, and drag him out. Russel, in his History of Jamaica, speaking of this animal, says, “ this creature has no more than four fingers to eachof its fore paws : but the top of the tail is smooth underneath, and on this it depends for its chief actions, for the creature holds every thing by it, and flings it- self with the—greatest ease from every tree and branch by its means. 'It is a native of the main continent, and a part of the food of the Indians.” They have the address to break the shell of the oysters, in order to eat them ; and it is certain that many of them suspend them- selves to the tail of each other, either to pass over a brook, or to swing from one tree to another. The females bring forth only one or two young ones at a time, which they always carry on their backs- They feed upon fish, worms, and insects, but fruit is their common feed, 2'46 nvsr'on’s food, and they grow fat when it is ripe, Whefi,‘ it is said, their flesh is good and exquisite eatin or. 4 ' Distinctive Characters of this Species. The coaita has neither pouches on the sides of his jaws, nor callosities on the posteriors :‘ he has a very long preh'ensile tail; The par-f tition of the nostrils is very thick, and the apertures are placed on the side; and not under the nose. He has only four fingers on his hands or fore-feet: his hair and skin are black 5 his face is naked and tawny: his ears are also naked, and of the same form as the human race. He is about a foot and a half long, and his tail is longer than the head and body to-", gether ;' he walks on all fours; The ex'quima is nearly of the same size as the c'oaita, and ,- like that animal, has a" prehena“ sile tail; his hair, however, is not bl‘ackybut , variegated. There are some which are black and brown on the back and white on the belly; with a very remarkable heard .~ These differ-r ' ences, however, are not sufficient to constitute two different species, especially as there are‘ coaitas not entirely black, but which have a:- whitish hair on the throat and belly.- THE‘ NATURAL HISTORY. ' 247 m ‘THE 54.10133“ W WE are acquainted with two varieties in this species, the Brown Sajou, (fig. 214.) com. monly called the ,capuchz'n monkey; and the Grey Sajou, which differs from the other only in the colour of its hair.‘ They are of the same size, the same shape, and the same diss- position : both are lively, active, and very amusing, by their tricks and nimbleness. We have had them alive ; and of all the sapajous they appeared to be those with which the temperature. of our climate seemed least to dis- agree. They live here for many years with.- put much trouble, provided they are kept in a ‘ warm room during winter. We can even give examples of » their producing in this country; Two were brought forth at Madame de Porn, padour’s, at Versailles, one at M. de' Reamur’s, at Paris, and another at Madame de Ponrsel’s, in GatinOis; "but these-were only single pro, ductions, whereas in their own climate they often bring forth two. These sajous are very . V _ ' fantastical.f * This word is abridged from cayouauoy pr .sajommw; the I W by which these animals are called. at magma, 948 . B-UEFON’S fantastical in their tastes and afi‘ections: they are extremely fond of some persons, and have as great an aversion for others. We observed a singularity in these animals, which causes the: females to be often taken for ,the males. The clitoris is prominent outward- l y, and is as much seen as the sexual organ of the male. Distinctive Characters of this Species. The sajous have neither pouches on the sides .of their jaws, nor callosities .on their posteriors. ,Their face and ears are of a flesh colour, with a little down on them. . The partition .of the nostrils is thick, and their apertures are placed pretty close to each other. Their tail is pre- hensile, naked underneath at the extremity, and very bushy over every other part. Some have black and brown hair, as well about the face as' on all the upper parts of the body. Others are ‘ grey about the face, and of a light brown on the body. Their hands are always black and naked. They are but a foot long from the extremity of the muzzle to the insertion of the tail. They walk on all fours. 9* i "‘ In a description of M. Vosmaer, printed at Amsterdam in 17 70, there 15 an account of a. singular species qftbcflying Amn'mn ape, 8m. which, however, appears to be the same animal as our brown sajou. NATURAL HISTORY. 249 THE 8111. 3 OF the Sai (fig. 215.) we have seen two which seem to make a variety in the species. The hair of the first was a deep- brown, and that of the second, which we have called the W kiteétlzroated Sai, has white. hair on the breast, neck, and round the ears, and cheeks ; and it differs also from the first, in its face being less hairy; but 'in other respects they 'perfectly resemble each other; being of the . same disposition, size, and shape. Travellers have described these animalsby the name of weepers, frOm their plaintive moan. Others have called them musk monkeys, because like the mahcauco they haVe a‘musky odour. They have likewise been termed macaque, borrowed from theanimals so called in Guinea; but the macaque is a monkeyxwith a flaccid tail; while the animals we are speaking of belong to the - sapajous, their tails being prehensile. - The fe-'- males have only two teats, and bring forth but. one or two at a time. They are gentle, docile, Von. 1x. K k - and 2‘50 BUFFON’S’ and so timid, that their common cry, which‘rea“ sembles that of a rat, becomes a kind of groan- ing when they are threatened with danger} Their food in this climate is principally snails: and beetles, which they prefer to any other ;- but in their native country of Brasil, they chiefly live upon grain and wild fruits which they pluck from the trees, from whence they seldom descend till they have stripped their habitation of its treasure.- Distinctive C/zardcters‘of this Species. . The sai has neither pouches on the sides of his jaws, nor callositieson his posteriors. The partition of the nostrils is very thick, and the apertures are placed on- the side, and not be- neath the nose. The face is- round and flat, and the ears almost naked. The tail is preh-en-- sile and naked towards the extremity. The hair on the upper part of the body is a- deep brovm, and on the lower parts, of a yellowish grey. These animals are not above fourteen inches long, and their tails are longerthan the head and body together. They walk always on four feet. The females are not subject to the periodical emanation.- ’g’nz,‘ .. ‘ *1? :. V -.‘5 . . NATURAL msronv. 251 -'»THE SAIM'IRI. ’The Saimiri is commonly known by the . iname of the Aurora, the Orange, or Yellow Sapajou. It is very common at Guiana, for- which reason many travellers have styled it the Cayenne Sapajou. From the gracefulness of its motions, the smallness of its size, the bril~ liant colour of its coat, the fullness and bright: ness of its eyes, and its small round visage, ' the saimiri has ever taken the lead of every— Other sapajou, and it is, in fact, the most beau- tiful and pleasing of this tribe; but it is also the most delicate and the most diflicult to. transport and preserve. From these cha- racters, and particularly from that of the tail, which may be said to be but half prehensile, for though it makes use of it to climb up trees, yet it can neither strongly hold, nor firmly fix itself by it, it seems to form the shade be..- gtvveen the sapajous and the sagoins. {Distinctire 952 - BUFFON’S Distinctive Characters of this Species. _ . .The saimiri has neither pouches on each side the cheeks, nor callosities on the posteriors. The partition which divides the nostrils is ‘ thick, and the apertures are placed on the side and not under the nose. He may be said to have no forehead. His hair is of a bright yellow colour; and he has two flesh-coloured rings round the eyes. His nose is elevated at the root, and flat towards the nostrils. The mouth is small, the face flat and naked, and the ears are garnished with hair and a little pointed. The tail is half-prehensile and longer than the body. He is scarcely more than ten or eleven inches in length. He stands on his hind feet with great ease, but he commonly walks on all fours. 1:}:— “w i w THE SAKI. THE Saki, (fig. 216,) commonly called the Fora-tailed Monkey, from its tail being. cloath- ed with very long hair, is the largest of the ‘ sagoins, being above seventeen inches long when full grown, whereas the largest of the ' other NATURAL HISTORY. 253 other five species is not above nine or ten. The saki has very long hair on its body, and still longer on its tail: its face is red, and co- vered with a whitish down: it; is easy to be known and distinguished from every other sagoin, sapajou, or monkey, by the following characters . Dzslz’nctzve Characters of this Species. ' The saki has neither pouches on the sides of his jaws, nor callosities on his posteriors. His tail is not prehensile but flaccid, and half as long again as his head and body. The apei‘... tures- of the nostrils are placed on the side of ‘ the nose, and the partition is very thick. The face is brown, and covered with a fine short, Whitish down, The hair on the upper parts of the body is of a deep brown, and those ofthe lower of a reddish white. The hair is very long on the body, and still longer on the. tail, extending near two inches beyond the point; this ‘hair on the tail is generally of a deep brown colour. There seems to be a variety in this species with respect to colour, as there are sakis to be met with whose hair is of a reddish yellow colour. This animal goes on all fOurs, and is about a foot and an half long, from the tip of the nose to the insertion cf the tail. The females of this species have not the pub: dical emanation. ‘ THEE €54 B-UFFON’S THE TAMARIN. THIS is the-name which the animal bears in Cayenne: it is called the little black monkey by some, and the great-cared monkey by others. It is Inuch smaller than that which we have just described, and ditl'ers from it in many characters, particularly in the tail, which is cloathed only with short hair, whereas that of the saki is furnished with very long. The tamarin has .also large ears and yellow feet. It is a pretty and lively animal, and very easily tamed, but so exceedingly delicate as to be unable long to resist the intemperance of our climate. I ' Dislilzctit‘e Characters of this Species, The tamarin has neither pouches on the sides of his jaws, nor callosities on his poste- riors. His tail is flaccid, and as long again as his head and body. The partitions between the nostrils are very thick, and the apertures are on the sides, and not under the nose. T he face is of a dark flesh colour. The ears are square, large, naked, and of the same colour, and NATURAL HISTORY. 255 and the eyes are of a chesnut. The upper lip ' is slit, nearly like that of the hare. The body,- head, and tail, are covered with a dark brown hair, and the hands and feet with a short hair of an orange colour. The body and legs are well proportioned. He walks on all fours, and measures not above seven or eight inches in length, his head included. ‘ THE OUIST'ITIJ“ THIS animal (fig. 217.) is smaller than the tamarin, being not above six inches long, in- cluding the head ; his tail is more than double that length, and annulated with black and white rings, like that of the maucauco, yet at the same time it is more bushy than that ani- mal’s. The face of the ouistiti is naked, and ofa-a flesh colour. He has two very singular tufts ‘of long white hair on the fore part of the. ears, which entirely, conceals them ’when we look at the animal full in the face. ' Mr. Par--~ sons has given a good description of this ani- mal in the Philosophical Transactions; and ‘ ' Mr. * So called from ;a noise made by this animal which has that sound. 256 BUFFON’S Mr. Edwards has given a very good figure of: it : . he speaks of having seen several of them, and says that the largest did not weigh above six ounces, and the smallest only four and a- half: he very judiciously observes, that the supposition of the small Ethiopian monkey, which Ludolph speaks of by the name of fan/res, or guereza, being the same animal as- the ouistiti, has no foundation. It is very cer‘ tain that neither the ouistiti, nor any other sagoin, is to be met with in Ethiopia; and it is very probable that the fonlces, or guereza, of Ludol ph , is either the maucauco, or the law's, which are common in the southern parts of the Old Continent. Edwards farthersays, that when the ouistiti (sanglin) is in good health he has a great deal of hair, and very bushy; that one of those which he saw, and which was health y,- fed upon several things, as biscuits, fruits, herbs, insects, and snails ; that being one day unchained, he darted at a little gold fish in ,a glass globe, which he killed, and devoured with the greatest avidity ; thatafterwards some small eels were presented him, which frightened him at first, by twisting about his neck, but that he soon conquered and ate them. Mr. Ed- wards adds a fact which proves that these little animals might be multiplied in the southern parts NATURAL HISTORY. 257 parts of Europe. He‘ says that they produced young in Portugal, where the Climate is fa- vourable to them. At first they have an ugly appearance, having scarcely any hair on their bodies; and they cling close to the feats of their dam. When they grow a little older they fix themselves on her back or shoulders, and when she is weary of carrying she releases herself by rubbing them off against the wall, ‘ which being done, the father, if he is by, will allow them to get upon his back. Distinctive Characters of t/zis'Specz‘es. The ouistiti has neither pouches on the sides of his jatvs nor callosities on his postcriors. His tail is flaccid, very bushy, with alternate Vannulated bars of black and white, or rather brown and grey, and is as long again as the headand body. The partition of the nostrils is very thick, and the apertures are placed at: the side. The head is round, and cloathed with black hair above the forehead, and above the nose'is a white spot without hair. His. face is almost all naked, and 'of ,a deep flesh colour. He has a tuft. of long white hair on each side of the head before the ears. His ears are round, flat, thin, and naked. His eyes are Of a chesnut colour. His body is covered with a soft, grey, VOL. IX. 'Ll ash- 258 BUFFON’S ash-coloured hair; his throat, breast, and bel- ly, of a light grey, with a slight tincture of yellow. He walks on all fours, and is often not above six inches long. The females are not subject to the periodical emanation. I THE MARIKINA. g. THE Jilarz'lcina (fig. 218.) is commonly known by the name of the little Lion Ape. We reject this compound denomination, be- cause the marik'ina is not an ape but a sagoin, and no more resembles the. lion than a lark‘ re- sembles an ostrich, there being no affinity be- tween them, except in the IOng- hairs that sur-g round the face of the marikina, and a tuft of hair at the end of his tail ‘ His hair is long, soft, and glossy. His head is round, facebrown, eyes red, ears round, and naked, and Concealed under the long hairs which surround his face. These hairs are of a bright red, and those on the body and tail of a very pale yellow, ap- proaching a white. This animal has the same manners,'the same vivaeity, and the same in- clinations as the other ‘sagOins. He seems to ’ ‘ ' be NATURAL HISTORY. .259 be of a more robust temperament, for we have seen one which lived five or six years in Paris, without any other particular care than keep- ing it duringvthe winter in a chamber, where- .in there was a fire every day. Distinctiz‘e Characters of this Species. The marikina has neither pouches on the sides of his cheeks, nor callosities on his pos- teriors. His tail. is flaccid, and nearly as long again as both his head and body. . The apern turcs of the nostrils are on each side of the nose, and the partition which divides them very thick. His, ears are round and naked. ,The hair is long, ofa yellowish red colour about the face*, and bright yellow hairs, nearly of :an equal length, over every other part of the . body; his tail .is'terminated with a consider- able tuft of hair. He walks on all fours, and is not above eight or nine inches long. THE PINCH. THIS animal, though very small, is still larger than either the ouistiti, or the ta- marin. Including the head and bod y, he, is about 9* The face is flat, and of a dull purple colour. Pennant. 260 ' . BUFFON’S about nine inches long, and his tail is full eight- tecn. He is. remarkable for a kind of white smooth hair upon the top and sidesof the head, more especially as this colour is wonderfully contrasted with' that of the face, which is black, shaded by a small grey down. His eyes are black; his tail is of a bright red from its insertion to near the middle, where it oh angles to a deep brown, and continues so to the end. The hair on the upper parts of the body is of a yellowish brown colour ; that on the breast, belly, hands, and feet, is white. The skin is black, even where covered with white hair. His throat is naked and black like his face. This animal, though of a very singular figure, is nevertheless very handsome. His voice is soft, and resembles more the chauntiugiof a. little bird, thanthe cry ofa Quadruped. He is very delicate, and cannot be transported from America to Europe, without the greatest. precaution. ‘ Distinctive Chara-elem loft/12's Species. The pinch has neither pouches on the sides. of his cheeks, nor callosities on his posteriors. His tail is flaccid, and as long again as his head and body together. The partition of the nos~ trils is thick, and the apertures are placed at ' the NATURAL HISTORY. 261 the side, and not under the nose. The face, throat, and ears are black. The hair on the head is white ; the muzzle broad, and the face rotthd. The hair on the body long, and of a reddish colour, until it approaches "the tail, and then it becomes of an orange ;- [it is white 5and shorter on the breast, belly, hands, and feet. The tail is of a bright red. at its iu-w Sertion, darker as it. proceeds towards the mid- dle, and entirely black at its extremity. He ‘walks on four‘feet, and is not above nine in- . ches long. THE MICO. WE are indebted for the knowledge of this animal (fig 219.) to M. de la Condamine, ‘ and shall therefore give his account of it in his Voyage up the river Amazon. ' ~“ The mon- key, of which the governor of Paramade me a . present, was the only one of its kind that had been seen in the country. The hair on its body was of the most beautiful silvery white colour : and that on its tail was of a glossy chesnut approaching» 262 BUFFON’S approaching to black. Its cars, cheeks, and ~muzzle, were tinctured with so bright a ver- million, as to have the appearance of being the work of art. I kept it a year, and it was alive at the time I was writing this account, almost within sight of the French coast; but, not- withstanding. the continual precautions that I took to preserve it fromthe cold, yet the ri- gour of the season killed it. before my arrival. I preserved it in aqua vitae, which will prove lily-description is not exaggerated.” By this recital of M. de la Condamine, it is obvious that his description will apply to no other, animal than the mice; and that it is a differ- ent, and probably, scarce species, since no au- thor or traveller before him has made any mention of it, th0ugh it is remarkable for the bright red which animates its face, and for the beauty of its hair. Distinctive Characters of this Species. The mico has neither pouches on the side of his cheeks, nor callosities on his posteriors. He has a flaccid tail, which is about half as long again as the head and body. The partition of the nostrils is not so thick as in other sagoins, but their apertures are at their sides. His face and ears NATURAL HISTORY. 263 ears are naked, and of a vermilion colour. The muzzle is short, the eyes are distant from each other; the ears are large; his hair is of a beautiful silver white eolou r, and of a glossy brown on the tail. He walks on all fours, and is about seven or eight inches long. The females are not subject to the periodical, emanation. 264:. BUFFON'S ACCOUNT OF SOME ANIMALS NOT EXPRESSLY TREATED or IN THIS WORK. WE have now finished, to the utmost of our ability, the History of Quadrupeds, but in order to render it still moreicomplete, we shall not pass over in silence those of which we have not been able to obtain an exact knowledge. They are but few, and of those few, many must be looked upon as varieties of those species we have before mentioned; yet feeling it as a duty to state all we knew, or could gain a knowledge of, in the animal kingdom, we determined; to add the follow- ing, and in which we have been as particular as possible. THE NATURAL HISTORY. 265 1. THE WHITE BEAR. -__--.-_--—__---__=-_--. ‘ THIS is a noted animal in our most north- ern climates. . Martin and some other travellers mention it, but none of them give a sufficient ' description of it to enable us positively to pro- ‘ nouncc, whether it be a different species from the common bear; Supposing every thing they have written to be fact, then that must be the case: but as we know that the species of the bear varies greatly according to the difference of climate; that there are brown, black,- white, and others variegated, the colour becomes a nugatory character in constituting different Species; and, consequently, the denomination of white bear is insufficient to prove'the species ' different. p I have seen two smallbears that were brought from Russia entirely white ; nCVer- theless, they were most certainly of the same species as our bears of the Alps. These ani- mals also vary greatly with respect to size '; as they live a long time, and become larger and fatter in those parts of the world where they ’VOL. .Ix. M m find 266 BUFF’ON'S’ find ample provision, and are not disturbed,- 'the character drawn from the size is. still more equivocal; therefore, we have not a sufficient foundation to assert, that the bear of the north-- ern seas is a particular species, merely because it is white and larger than our common bear. T he difference of habits does not seem to be more decisive than that of colour' and size. The bear of thenorthern seas lives upon fish ;' he never quits the sea coasts, and even often inhabits the floating islands of ice.. But'if We consider that the bear in general is an ani- mal which feeds indifi’erently on- every thing, and that when pressed with hunger, he has no particular choice, and that he has not the least dread of water, these habits will not ap-~ pear sufficiently different to conclude that the species is not the same. The fish which the bears of the northern seas feed upon, may rather be termed flesh, as it chiefly consists of the carcasses of whales, seals, 83c. and‘that too in a climate which produces no other ani- mals, nor even grain nor fruits 3- and where, consequently, the bear is under the necessity of subsisting on the productions of the sea. Is it not probable, therefore, if the bears of Savoy were transported to the mountains of Spitzberg-en, not finding any nutriment on land , NATURAL HISTORY. 267 Stand, they would plunge into the sea to seek for subsistence 3 . Colour, size, and method of living, being therefore insulficient, there remains only those essential characters which may be derived from their figure. Now, all that travellers have said of the sea-bear is simply, that his head, body, and hair, are longer than in our bears, and his head much harder. If these difl’erences be real and striking, they would suffice to con- stitute a different species : but I am doubtful whether Martin examined them with accuracy, and whether the others, who copied from him, have not exaggerated. “ These white bears (says he) are shaped quite otherwise than those in. our country ,3 they have a long head like that of a dog, and the neck is also long ; they bark almost like dogs that are hoarse ; they are not so clumsy, and more nimble than our bears; they are nearly of the same size; their hair is long, and softer than wool; It is said, that common bears have a very tender head, but it is quite contrary with the white bear, for though we gave one several blows over the head, he was not in the least stunned, although they were sufficient to have knocked down an .ox.‘*‘” We may remark from this description, , first, that the author does not speak of these ' ' bears 3* Martin’s Voyage to Spitzbergen, 268 BUFFON’S bears as being larger than ours, and that, con- sequently we ought to suspect the testimony of those who have affirmed, that the sea-bears 'were thirteen feet long. Secondly, that the hair being as soft as wool does not constitute a. specific character, since an animal’s going fre- quently in the water is a sufficient cause for the hair becoming softer, and even more bushy, as is seen by the land and water beaver: those that ‘live upon land, rather than in the water, having a rougher and thinner hair ; and what makes me suspect that the other differences are not real, nor even so apparent as Martin speaks of, is that Dithmar Blefklein, in his description of Iceland, speaks of these white bears, and asserts having seen one of them killed in Greenland, which reared itself on his hind feet like other bears; but in this recital, he does not say a Word which indicates that the white Green- land bear is not entirely like ours. Besides, when these animals find prey upon land, they do not seek for food in the sea : they devour rein-deer, and any other beast they can seize; they even attack men, and dig up dead bodies. But when almost famished, as they often find themselves in those desart and barren lands, they are obliged to frequent the water, in quest of seals, young walruses, and small whales. They NATURAL HISTORY. 269 They 'get upon the islands of ice, where they wait for their prey; and as long as they find abundance of subsistence, they never quit their post ; so that when the ice begins to float in spring, they ' suffer themselves to be carried aWay with it, and as they cannot regain the land, nor even quit the ice on which they are embarked for a long time, they frequently pe- rish in the open sea. Those which arrive on I the coasts of NorWay or Iceland with these floats of ice, are so nearly famished, that they devour, with the greatest voracity, every thing they meet; and this may have occasioned the prejudice that these sea bears are more fierce and voracious than the common kind. Some authors have been persuaded that the sea-bears were amphibious, like the-seals, and that they can remain as long as they please under water; but the contrary _is evident, from the manner in which they are hunted. ‘ They can swim but a short time together, nor can they go above the space of a'league : they are followed by a small boat, and are soon Weary. If they could dispense with respiration they would plunge to the bottom, in order to rest them- selves; but when they dive it is only for a short time, being obliged to rise to the surface of the water for fear of drowning, and then the hunters kill them. - The £270 BUFFON’S The common prey of these white bears is seals, but the walrui‘es, from whom they some— times take away their yOung, wound them with their tusks and oblige them to retreat. The whales also drive them from the places they frequent by their weight and magnitude, but they sometimes devour the young whales. All bears are naturally very fat, and the white bears, which feed only on animals loaded with grease, are much more so than the rest. Their fat is also nearly like that of the whale. The flesh of these bears is said not to be bad eat- ing, and their skin makes a very warm and durable fur. SUPPLEMENT. m: I HAVE since received a drawing of a White Beari“, from Mr. Collinson, and if that be perfect, the land and sea-bears are certainly distinct species, the difference in the length of their heads being sufficient to constitute them ' such. By this drawing it also appears that the feet of the Sea-bear are formed like those of dogs, and other carnivorous animals, whereas those of ate For which see vol. vi. page 270, of this Edition. NATURAL HISTORY. 271' of the land-bear are shaped like the human hand. From the assertion of several travellers wegalso understand, that the former of these bears are much larger than the latter ; Gerard (1e Veira says, that the skin of one which he killed measured twenty—three. feet in length, which is three times the length of a common bear. In the collection of Voyages to the North it is‘stated that these bears are larger and more ferocious than those of our parts 3 but in the same work it is said, that although they are of a different shape,'thelr heads and necks being much longer, and their bodies more slender, yet they are nearly of the same size with the others. . It is generally admitted by travellers that the heads of these sea-bears are so hard that a blow which would fell an ox does not stun them, and that their-voice is more like the barking of a dog than that of a common bear. 'Ro- hert Lade says, that he killed two seaabears near the river Rupper of a prodigious size, which were so ferocious that they attacked the hunters, wounded two Englishmen, and killed several savages. It is mentioned in the third Dutch Voyage to the North, that a sea- hear was killed by the sailors on the coast of Nova Zem‘bla, whose skin was thirteen fer-t ' long, 272 BUFFON’S long. From all which I am inclined to believe that. this animal, which has been so frequently distinguished for its ferocity, is a much larger species than the common bear. 2. THE TARTARIAN cow. M. GMELIN, in the New Memoirs of the Academy at Petersburgh, has given a descrip- tion of this animal, which seems, at first sight,- to be quite different from all those which we have spoken of underthe article buffalo. “ This cow (says he) which 1 saw alive, and of which I had a drawing made in Siberia, came from Calmuck. It was about the length of two Russian ells and a half; by this standard we may judge of its other dimensions, the pr0por~ tion ofwhich the designer has well executed. The bodyr resembles that of a common cow : the horns bent inward; the hair on the body and head is black, except on the forehead and spine of the back, where it is white. The neck is covered with a mane, and the rest of the body with very long hair, which descends . to (3 NATURAL HISTORY. 27.) to the knees, so that the legs appear very. short; the back is raised iin.the form of a hunch; the tail resembles that of a horse, is white, and very bushy; the fore legs are black, the hind ones white, and resemble those of the ox ; there are two tufts of long hair upon the hind feet, one before and the other behind, but on the fore-feet there is but one, which is placed on the hind part. The excrements are more solid than those of the common cow; and in discharging its water the animal bends its body backward.- It does not low likcan OK, but grunts like a hog. It is wild, and even ferocious, for, excepting the man who gives it food, it strikes with its head all those that come near it. It dislikes the company ofdomestic cows, and when it sees one ofthem it grunts, which it seldom does on any other occasion.” To this description M. Gmelin adds, “ that it is the same animal spoken of by Rubruquis in his Travels 'into Tartary : that‘there are two species of these animals'in that country ;, the first called sarlulc, which is the same as he describes ; the second clzaiamlr, which differs from the other in the largeness of the head and horns, and also by the tail, which resembles that of the horse towards its TOL. 1x, N n- , insertion, 274: BUFIPON'S insertion, and terminates like that of a cow: but that they both have the same. dispositions.” There is but a single character in all this description which indicates that the Calmuck ' Cows are of a particular species, which is their grunting instead of lowing, for as to all the rest, they so strongly resemble the bisons, that I do not doubt they are of the same species, or rather the same race. Besides, though the author says that these cows do not low but grunt, yet he acknowledges they do that only very seldom ; and this was, perhaps, aparti- 'cular affection of the individual he saw, for Rubruquis, and others whom he quotes, do not speak of this grunting; perhaps the bisons, \ when they are irritated, have also an angry grunt; even our bulls, especially in the rutting season, have a hollow interrupted voice, which much more resembles grunting than lowing. I am, therefore, persuaded that this grunting cow (vacca grunnicus) of M. Gmellin is no other. than a bison, and does not constitute a particular species. {In}: NM‘URAL HISTORY. 275 3. THE TOLA I. THIS animal, which is very Common in. the country which borders on the Lake Baikal, in ’ Tartary, is a little larger than a rabbit, which it resembles in figure, celonr of the hair, taste of the flesh, and in the habit of burrowing in the earth. to conceal itself. Their internal structure is also the same, and they ditiirr only in the tail, which is considerably longer than that of the rabbit; it, therefore, seems very probable that it does not really constitute a different. species, but is only a variety in that; of the rabbit. Rubruquis, speaking of the- animals of Tartary, Says,“ There are rabbits . with long tails, which have black and white hairs at the end. ”There are no stags, few hares, many gazelles, _&e.’7 This passage. seems to indicate that our short-tailed rabbit; is not to be met within Tartary, or rather that it has undergone some Variations in that climate, and especially in the length of the tail; for as the talai resembles theirabbit in ' ' ' every. ~76 . BUFFON’S everyother respect, Ido not think it necessary toconsidermthem as a distinct and separate species. 4.5111111 ZISEL. 'S‘OME:a11tl1O1is,j‘a11d among the rest, Lina mans, have doubted, whether the zisel, 01" :ies'el, (Citillus) were a different animal from the hamster* (cr icelus’). It IS true they resem- ble each other 1n many respects, and inhabit nearly the same country , but they differ by a; sufficient number et' characters to convince us they are really different species. The zisel 18 smaller than the hamster; its body is long and slender like the weasel ; I whereas that of the hamster is thick like‘the rat. It has no ex- ternal ears, but only auditory passages con- cealed under the hair. The hamster has short ears, but they are very broad and apparent. The zisel is of a uniform cinereous grey colour, but the hamster is marked with three large ‘ white 1' The liamrter is" found in Misnia,Thuringia, and Haa never. The zirel is found in Hungary, Austria, and Poland, where it is called sum. 1 NATURAL HISTORY. 977. Write spotson each side of the breast. These differences, joined to that of their not mixing- together, though natives of the same country, are sufficient to decide the fact of their being two differentspecies, though they resemble each other in the shortness of their tails. and 7 legs, in their teeth, being like those of the ‘ rat, and have the same natural habits, such as burrowing in the earth, laying up magazines ”of provisions, destroying grain, &e. Besides, to leave no doubt on this subject, we shall- obserVe, that Agricola, an exact and judicious author, in his little Treatise ofSubterraneous Animals, gives a description of both, and so, clearly distinguishes them, that it is im— _ possible to confound them ; therefore, we may certain! y atlirm that the hamster and the ~~ ziscl are two different species ; and, perhaps, as distinct from each other as the weasel and, the rat. 5. THE ZEMNI. —*————————~ THERE is another animal in Poland and Russia, called ziemni, or zemnj, which is of the same genus as the $236!, but larger, stronger, and 278 - BUFFON ’s and more mischievous. It is somewhat smaller’ than the domestic cat. Its head is large, its body slender, and its ears short and round . It has four large incisive teeth which project out - of the mouth, the two in the lower jaw being thrice as long as the two in the Upper. The feet are very short, and covered with hair; they arcdivided into five toes, and armed with crooked claws. The hair is soft, short, and of a mouse colour. The tail-moderately large. The eyes small and hidden like those of the mole. Rzaczynski has called this animal the: small subterrmzemz dog. This author seems’ to be the only one who has Spoken ofthc zem- n’i, though it is very common in some pro-' vinccs ot‘thc North. Its natural disposition and habits are nearly the Same as those of the hamster and zisc1. It bites dangerously, eats greedily, and plunders orchards and gardens. It burrows an habitation in the earth, and lives upon grain, fruits, and pot-herbs, which it stores in magazines for its winter suRport. i THE NATURAL HISTORY. 279 6. THE I POUCH._ ’ 2m THE same author, Rzaczynski, mentions “another animal, called by the Russians pouch : it is larger than the domestic rat; its muzzle is long, it burrows, and commits deprcdations in the gardens, 850. There were such numbers near Suraz and Volhinia, that the inhabitants were obliged to abandon the culture of their gardens. This pouch is possibly the same as I What Seba calls the Norwegian rat, of which he gives a'figure and description. 7. THE PEROUASCA. =2: THERE is also in Russia and Poland, espe- cially in Volhinia, an animal which the Rus- sians call perewz’azka, and przea'z'aslca by the Polanders, a name we may translate the girdled 980 ‘ BUFFON’S girdled weasel. This animal is not so big as the pole-cat ; it is covered withar-whitishhai‘r, muzsversally striped with a yellowish red, which appears like so many girdles. It lives in the woods, and burrows in the earth; its slain is sought after and makes a very beauti- ful fur. 8. THE SOUSLIK. THERE is found at Casan, and in the pro- Vince's watered by the VVolga, and even inAns- tria, a small animal called sousli/c in the Bus; sian language, which furnishes abeautifnl fur. In figure and shortness of tail, it greatly re- sembles the short-tailed-field-mouse 3 but what distinguishes it from the mouse or rat kind, is its coat, which is in every part sprinkled with small spots of a glossy and shining white ; these spots are exceedingl y small, and placed at: a little distance fro m each other; they are more apparent upon the loins, than on the shoulders and head. Mr. Pennant, an ’English gentle- man, thoroughly versed in Natural History, favoured NATURAL HISTORY. QSI favoured me with one of these sousliks, which had been sent him from Austria, as an animal naturalists were not acquainted with. I soon recognised it to be the same as that of whiehI had a'skin in my possession, and of which M. Sanchez had furnished me with the following account. “ The rats called souslz'ks, are taken in great numbers in the salt vessels in the river Kama, which descends from Solikamski, where the salt pits are, and falls into the Wolga above the towil of Casan. The VVolga from Simbuski to Somtof, is covered with these. salt Vessels, in which these animals are taken, as well as in the lands which border on those rivers. They have been named sousli/r, that is, dainty-mouthed, beCause they are very fond of salt.” SUPPLEMENT. VVE have since learnt, that these animals generally live in the desert, and burrow in the sides of the mountains where the earth is blackish ; that some of them make their holes Seven or eight"fEet long, at the end of which “VOL. 1);. O a they 28.2 BUFFox’s they form different apartments for storing up provisions for the winter, which consist of cars of corn, peas, lint, and hemp seeds: or if they be not cultivated lands, ditt‘erent kinds of herbs, all of which they keep separate in different parts of their holes, to which they have from two to five entrances, always wind- ing, and the mouths of them sometimes seven feet asunder; they also dig holes for their ha; . bitations separate from their magazines. Be- sides grain and herbs they feed upon young mice, but are unable to encounter the full- grown ones. . The females have from two to five young ones at a time, which are first: blind, and without hair; nor do they begin to see till after the hair appears. 9. THE GOLDEN-COLOURED MOLE. —__._..__._._ IT is said that. there is .in Siberia a mole, called the golden-coloured mole, and whose species may probably be different from the ore dinary'mo-le, because the Siberian has no tail, and a Very short muzzle ; the hair is mixed with red and green, and of a gold shade; only NATURAL HISTORY. 283 only. three toes on the fore-feet, and four on those behind: whereas the common mole has five toes on each foot. .VVe are ignorant of the proper name of this animal, of which Seba has given a figure. lO.-THE WHITE WATER-RAT. W THE European Water Rat is found in Canada, but its colour is different; its back is brown, the rest'of the body white, and in some few places yellow. The head, muzzle, and cXtremily of the tail, are white. The hair VSee'ms softer and more glossy than that of our water-rat : but they are perfectly alike in every other respect, and no doubt are of the same species. The whiteness of the hair is pro- duced by the coldness of the climate: and, it is highly probable, that in the northern parts of Europe, there are‘whitc water rats as well as in Canada.- ]1.~T111's 284: . BUFFON’S 11. THE GUINEA-HOG. m THOUGH this animal differs from the common hog in some characters, nevertheless I presume it to be of the same species, and that ‘ these differences are only varieties produced by the influence of the climate. Of this we have an example in the Siam hog,'whieh also ditfers from that of Europe, although it. is certainly of the same species, since they intermix and produce together. The Guinea hog is nearly of the same figure. as ours, and about the same size as the Siam hog, that is, smaller than the wild boar, or our domestic hog. It is a native of Guinea, and has been transported into Bra- zil, where it has multiplied as in its own native country. It is domestic and quite tame. Its hair is short, red, and glOssy: it has no bristles, not even on the back; but the neck and the crupper near the tail, are covered with hair somewhat longer than the rest of the body. Its head is not so big as that of our hog, from which it also differs in the shape of its cars, which are very long, pointed, and turn backwards upon the neck. I is tail is much NATURAL HISTORY. 285 much longer, almost touching the ground, and without hair. - This race of hogs, which, according to Marcgrave, originally belonged \to Guinea, is also met with in Asia, and par- ticularly in the island of Java, from whence they have been transported to the Cape of Good Hope by the Dutch}?‘6 12. THE WILD BOAR OF CAPE VERD. THERE is another hog, or wild- boar, at Cape Verd, which, by the number ofits teeth, and the enormous size of the tasks in the up:- per jaw, seems to be of a different race, if not i of a different species from every other hog, and approaches nearer the babiroussa. These tusks resemble ivory horns more than teeth; they are half a foot long, and five inches round at the base, and bent‘ nearly like the horns of a bull. This character alone would be insufficient however, to constitute a parti- cular species; but what supports this pre- sumption is, that he differs from every other ' ‘ hog '95 The hogs, says Kolbe, which have been brought from Java~ to the Cape of. Good Hope. have very short legs, are black, and without bristles ; their belly which is very big, bangs almost on the ground. The flesh, is very good to eat. 286 ~ i BUFFO’N’S ' hog-in the length of the aperture of his nostrils, the largeness and form of his jaws, and in the number and form of his grinders; nevertheless ‘ We have seen the tasks of a wild boar, taken in the forests of Burgundy, which somewhat approached those of the wild boar of Cape Verd. These tusks were about three inches and ahalf long, and four inches in circum- ference at the base ; tiny Were turned like the horns of a bull, that is, they had a double cur- vature, whereas the common tasks have only a single one. They likewise seemed to be as solid as "ivory; and it. is certain that this wild boar must have had the jaws larger than the common kind. Therefore we may presume that: this wild boar of Cape Vercl‘is a simple variety, a particular race in the wild boar species. SUPP LEMENT. ’W'E have received an engraving of this ani- mal from the celebrated M. Allamand, profes- sor of Natural History at Leytlen, and who has also written to M. Daubenton in the following terms :--—“ l conceive, Sir, that the animal represented NATURAL HISTORY. 287‘ represented in the plate which I sent yen, is the same as that which you have treated of under the name-of the wild boar of Cape Verd. The one whence it was taken is now living (May 5, 1767) in the menagerie of the Prince of Orange. I frequently visit him, and always receive pleasure from admiring the singular form of his head. It was transmitted by the Governor of the Cape of Good HOpe, to whom I have written, requesting him to send me ano- ther, butof which I have little hopes, since even at the Cape it was regarded as a monster; yet should I succeed, I will send it to France, that you and M. de Bufibn may have an.op—, portu-nity of examining it. We put a common sow to the one we have, for the purpose of try- ing whether they would copulate, but the in- stant she came near him he darted at her,.and tore her to pieces.” In another letter M. Al- l-amand remarks, that the most material diflhr- ence between thisand the common boar is in their heads, and in this boar’s having two very singular protuberances in the form of ears at the side of each eye. The aversion shewn by this animal to the sow, as well as the differ- ences, both external and internal, in the forms of their heads, tends to prove it a distinct spe- eies from our hog; yet‘as it approaches nearer ' to (a '3 , 141‘s Burton’s to that than to any other animal, and is found not only near Cape Verd butalso in the weigh-i bourlr-zod of the Cape of Good Hope, we shall call it the African boar. ' Vosma'e'r calls it the wild African boar, and very justly distinguishes it from the Guinea hog, the A mericaa pecari, and from the Indian babiroussa. This author, in his account, rec marks, that, “ M; de Butfon, speaking ofthe wild boar of Cape Verd preserved in the royal cabinet, says that it had cutting teeth ; but no such teeth appear in the oneI have. The animal came to me in a cage, but being informed he was not mischievous, I opened the door, and he came out, without shewing the least sign of rage ; he hustled about in search of food, and greedi- Iy devoured whatever was given him. I left him alone for a few moments, and on my re- turn faund him busily employed indigging up the floor, in which, although paved with small bricks, closely cemented, he had made a very- large hole, and it was not without the assistance of several men that I Could make him give over and return to his cage, for he made much resistance, and expressed his resentment by .sharp and mourn t’ul cries. He appears to have been taken in the woods of Africa ' when he was very young, for he has grown considerably since. NATURAL HISTORY. 289 since he was brought here ; he is still alive, and was not much affected last winter, though the frost was very severe. He is far more agile than our hogs. He allowshimself to be strok- ed, and appears fond of rough friction. When made angry he retires backwards, al- ways facing his assailant, and shakes his head very forcibly. After having. been confined for any length of time, on being let loose he is very sportive, leaps and pursues the deer, or other animals, and then carries his tail erect, which at other times is pendulous. He has a Very strong odour, not disagreeable, yet I do not know any other smell with which it can. be compared. He eats all sorts of grain ; While bringing him over they fed him with maize, and as much fresh herbage as they could procure; but when he had tasted our barley and wheat he preferred them to other food, excepting roots dug out of the earth. He is so fond of rye-bread that he follows any per- son who holds him a piece of it. He sinks upon the knees of his fore legs when he eats or drinks, and in which position he often rests. He hears and smells very acutely, but from the smallness and situation of his eyes his sight is very limited ; they are placed very high, and near each other, and have two large ex- ”VOL. 1x. P p ‘ crescences 290 BUFFON’s crescences underneath them, so that he cannot perceive the objects which are round him.‘ His figure is very like that of the common hog, but he appears less, from his back beinor more flat and his legs Shorter; compared with- them also, he appears very defermed. His muzzle is large, flat, 'and hard; the nose is moveable, bent. towards the base, and termi— nates obliquely ; the nostrils are large, and distant from each other ;- the upper lip is hard’ and thick, very prominent round'thetusks, and hangs pend ulous over the corners of ' the muzzle- He has no front teeth, but the gums are smooth. and hard. The tusks 'of the npper j’aw are crooked, five inches and a half in length, pointed at the ends, and an inch thick at the base; those of the 1.-nd61 Jaw are much smaller, and from a constant friction against the upper appear to be cut obliquely. Hewould not: permit us to examine his grinders- His eyes. are small, the iris of a deep brown, and the cornea white ; the upper eyelids have a brown ,. stiff, close cilia, longest in the middle, but there are no cilia on the under. The cars are pretty large, 'rather round, covered on the in- side with yellow hair, and bent backwards. Besides the protuberances under the eyes there are two more, one on. each side of the head... The. NATURAL HISTORY. 291 'The skin appears to be thick; and there are sea Weral tufts of hair dispersed over his body. The forehead is covered with brown and white hairs ; from thence is a narrow band of dark grey down to the beginning of the muzzle, Where it divides and extends on each side of the head; the bristles are the longest and closest .on the neck and anterior partof the back, they are of a brownish grey, and some of them [seven or eight inches 'long'; they are not thicker than those-v-Of the cemmon hog, and split in the same manner; they have so fewon the other part .of the back, that it has the appearance of *being naked ; there are small white bristles on the flanks, breast, belly, and sides of the head and neck. Their feet are divided into two ‘black pointed hoofs; the tail is naked, and hangs perpendicularly. The head is of a blackish colour, and the back and ’bellyof a. reddish grey. The width and flatnessof the nose, together with the length of the snout, the protuberances under the eyes, and the long tusks, give this animal a dreadful'aspect. He is about four Rhenish feet in length.” Notwithstanding all these differences which M. V'osrnae'r has described, and the aversion which M. Allemand states it to have shewn to the common sow, Istill have my doubts whether it 992 ' BUFFON’S it be any thing more than a variety of the European hog 3 for we know that this species varies greatly in Asia, Siam, and China ; and hose doubts seem to be somewhat supported, by having found about thirty years since, an enormous head of a wild boar that had been killed in our own woods, the tusks of which were nearly as large as those of the Cape boar. To this may be added the information I re- ceived from M. Comerson, who says there are" wild boars in Madagascar, whose heads arelike the common kind from the ears to the eyes, but that under the eyes they have a protube- rance, which decreasing gradually to the end of the snout, gives the animal the, appearance of having two heads, the one being, as it were partly sunk in the other; and this information also made me conclude that the animal I hate mentioned under the appellation of the Wild boat of Cape Verd is the same as what is found in Madagascar. ' TH E NATURAL HISTORY. 293 ll 13. THE MEXICAN woLF. AS the wolf is a native of cold climates, he must have passed northerly into America, since he is met with in both continents. We have spoken of the black and grey wolf of North America. It appears that this species is dis- persed as far as New Spain and Mexico ; and that in this warm climate it has undergone many varieties, without having changed either its disposition or nature, for the Mexican wolf has the same figure, appetites, and habitudes, as the European or North American wolf, and they all seem to be of the same species. The Wolf of Mexico, or rather of New Spain, where he is much oftener found than in Mexico, has five toes on his fore-feet, and four on those behind. The cars are long and strait, and the eyes sparkling, like our wolves ; but the head is larger, the neck thicker, and the tail not so bushy. Above the month there are some thick bristles, as large, but not so stiff as thoseof the hedge-hog. The’body is covered with greyish ‘ hair, 294: _ BUFFON’S hair, marked with some yellow spots. The head is of the same colour as the body, crossed with brown stripes, and the forehead adorned with sallow-coloured spots. The ears are grey, like the head and body. There is a long yellow spot on the neck, a second .ongthe breast, and a third on the belly. The flank is marked with transverse bands from the back to the belly. The tail is grey with a yellow spot in the middle. The legs are striped from top to, bottom with grey and brown. This wolf is the most beautiful of the kind, and its fur ought to be valued for its variety of colours.ale But in other respects there is not the least in- dication of its being a different species from the common wolves, which vary in colour from grey to white, and from white to black, without changing the species ; and we see, by the testimony of F ernandes, that these wolves of New Spain vary like the European wolf, Since even in that country they are not all marked agreeable to the above description, some being found of an uniform colour, and even all white. *6 It might have been suspected, from its variety of co- lours, that this Mexican wolf is a lynx, which species, as well as the wolf, is found in both continents. But it is sufficient to cast one’s eyes on the figure which Recchi has given, to discover that it resembles totally the wolf and not at all the lynx. 9.“ NATURAL HISTORY. 29 14. THE ALCO.- —.—~_——— We have already observed that there were in Peru and Mexico, before the arrival of the: Europeans,d-omesticanimals- called alco, which were of the same size, and nearly. of the same- disposition, as our small dogs 3 and which the Spaniards called Mexican or Peruvian dogs, from this 'simil-itude,and from their having the same attachment and fidelity to their masters. In fact,-the species of these animals does not seem to be essentially different from that of the dog; and besides, the term alco may probably be a generic and not a specific term. Recchi. has left us the figure of one of these alcos, which is called ytzcuinte po'rzotli in the Mexican . tongue git was. prodigiously fat, and probably degenerated from its- domestic state and too- great an-abundance of food. The head is re- presented so small, that it has not an y prewar-- tion to the. size of the body ;' its ears are hanging, which is another mark of domes- ticity. The muzzle \ resembles that of a dog ; the fore-part of the head is white, and the ears are partly yellow. The neck 18: 296 ' BUFFON’S is so short as to, leave no interval between the head and shoulders. The back is curved and covered with yellow hair. The tail is white, short and pendulous, but does not de- scend lower than the thighs. The belly is large, tense, and‘marked with black spots ; it. has six very apparent tits. The legs and feet are white, and the toes, like those of a dog, are armed with long and pointed claws: Fabri, who has given this‘description, cone eludes, aftera very long dissertation, that this animal is the same as that called alco, and I think his assertion well founded ; but we must not look upon it as conclusive, for there is still another race of dogs in America, to which it applies equally as well. “ Besides the dogs, says Fernandes,which the Spaniards have trans-: ported into America, we met with three other species, which resemble ours both in their natures and manners, and which do not essen- tially differ in figure. The first and the largest of these American dogs is called xoloizteu'intli. ‘ This is frequently three cubits long, and what is particularly remarkable, he is entirely with- out hair, and only covered with a soft, close skin, marked with yellow and blue spots. The second is cloathed with hair, and in size re- sembles our little Maltese dogs. He is marked * with NATURAL HISTORY. 297 with white, black, and yellow. ' His defermity is singular but not disagreeable. ' His back is arched, and his neck so exceedingly short, that the head seems to shoot immediately out of the shoulders ; in his'own country he is called michuacanens, from the name of his country. The third, which also resembles our little dogs, A .is called techicki, 'but his look is dull and savage. The Americans eat his flesh.” From comparing the testimonies of Fabri and Fernandes, it is clear that the second dog the last author calls michuacanens, is the same as the ytzcuz'nte portzotli, and that this Spe- cies of animal existed in America before the ar- rival of the Europeans ; and it must have been the same with the techichz'. I am therefore per-.- suaded that this word alco was a generic name, which equally applied to both, and perhaps to more races or varieties which still remain unq- known to us. But With respect to the first, F er..- . nandes seems to be deceived both with regard to the name and subject. 'No author has spoken of any naked dogs in New Spain. ' This race, commonly called Turkish dogs, comes from the Indies,:and other warm climates of 'the’ Old Continent ; and it is probable that those which F ernandes saw in America, were transported thither, especially as ‘hepexpressly mentions that v01... 1x. (211 ' ’ ‘ he 298 nusson’s he had seen this spebies in Spain, before his de- parture for America, What further proves it to be so is, that this animal had no American name, and Fernandes, in order to give it one, borrowed that of moloitzcuintli, which is the name of the Mexican wolf. Thus of three spe-é cies or varieties of American dogs, there only remain two, which are indisCriminately cal- led by'the name ofalco ; for independently of the fat alco, which served as a lap dog for the Peruvian ladies, there was a lean and melan- choly alco, used for the purpose of hunting, and it is not impossible that these animals, though very different to all appearance from that of our dogs, nevertheless spring from the same stock. The Lapland, Siberian, and Iceland "dogs,-may, like the wolves and foxes, have passed from one continent to the other, and afterwards degenerated by the influence of climate and a domestic state. The first-alco, with a short neck, approaches the Iceland dog; and the teChichLof New Spain, is . probably the same animal asthe koupara, or crab dog of Guinea, which resembles 'the ’ fort in .itsshape and the jackal inits hair. He is denOminated the crah4dog, because he principally feeds upon crabs'and other Crustaq ceous animals. I have only seen a skin of one of these Guiana animals, and I am unable to decide / NATURAL HISTORY- 299 dedide whether it be a particular species, or whether it be related to those of the dog, fox, or jackal. . 15. THE TAYRA; OR‘GALERAI- m . THIS ‘ animal, of which Mr. Brown has git/en a figure and description, is about the size of a small rabbit, and greatly resembles the weasel or marten. He burrows in the earth , and his fore-feet are very strong, but considerably shorter than those behind. His muzzle is long, a little pointed, and adorned with whiskers 3 the under jaw is much shorter than the upper. He has six incisive and two canine teeth in each jaw, without reckoning the grinders. His tongue is rough, like that of a cat. His head . is oblong, as are also the eyes, which are at an equal distance from the ears and the extre- mity of the muzzle. His ears are flat, and re- semble those of a, man. His fed are strong and made for digging , the metatarsus 1s elon- gated, and he has five toes on each foot. His tail 300 BUFFon’s tail is long and decreases gradually to a point. His body is oblong, andgreatly resembles that of a large rat. He is covered with brown hairs, some of which are pretty long, and others much shorter. This animal appears to be a small spe-' cies of marten or pole-cat. Linnaeus, with some probability, supposed, that the black weasel of Brazil, might be the galera of Mr. Brown, and in fact, the two descriptions suffi- ciently agree to give us reason to presume it. This black weasel of Brazil is also found in Guiana, where it is called tayra, and it is sup- posed that the .word galera is a corruption de. rived from tayra, the true name of this animal. 16. THE PHILANDEB. or SURINAM. 3: THIS animal belongs to the same climate, and is of a similar species to the other op- possums. Sibillas Merian, is the first who gave a figure and description of it. Seba considered that of Merian’s to be the fe- male, and gave another figure for that of the male, with a kind of description; this ani- mal, he says, has very sparkling eyes, sur- rounded NATURAL HISTORY. 30E rounded with a circle of brown hair. The body is covered with a soft hair, or rather a kind of wool of a reddish yellow colour, which is mostly red on the back, and ofa yellowish white on the snout, forehead, belly, and feet: the ears are naked and pretty hard. There are long hairs in form of whiskers on the upper jaw and above the eyes; its'teeth ,are pointed and very sharp. Upon the tail of the male, which is naked, and of a pale red, there are dark'red spots, which are not seen on the tail of the female. The feet resemble the hands of . the ape ; the fore-feet having four fingers and 'a thumb with short and obtuse nails, while o'nly the thumb, or great toe, of the hind-feet: is flat and obtuse, the rest being armed with ' small sharp claws. The young of these ani- mals grunt somewhat like pigs. The teats of the female resemble those of the murine opos- sum. Scba justly observes, that in the figure given by Marian, the feet and toes are badly represented. The females prod ucc five or six at a time. The tail is very long and prehea- sile, like that of the sapajous.‘ The young ones get on the back of their mother, and fix themselves securely by twisting theirtail round her’s. In this situation, which is familiar to :them, they carry them with much swiftness and safety. ' ' 17. THE 302 BUFFON’s 17. rue AKOUCHI. THE Akouchi is common in Guiana, and other parts of South America. It differs from the agouti by having a tail, which the latter has not. The akouchi is generally smaller than the agouti, and its hair is not red, but of an olive colour. These are the only differ- ences we are acquainted with between these two animals, which, however, seem suflicient to constitute two distinct and separate species. SUPPLEMENT. BESIDES our former remark that the akouchi was a different species from‘th‘e agouti from having a tail, the difference in size may also be added, in support of this opinion, as the former does not exceed the size of a young rabbit. NATURAL HISTORY. 303 rabbit. The akouchi confines itself solely to large forests ; he feeds upon fruits, and has the same natural habits as the agouti. He is called by the name of agouti in the islands of Grenada and St. Lucia. His flesh is very white, of a good‘ flavour, and he is reck— oned among the choicest game of South Ameu Iica ; when pursued they will suffer the dogs to take them rather than attempt their escape by taking to the water. According to M. de .la Bordev they have but one or two young at a time, but this I doubt. They are very easily tamed, and sometimes, though very seldom, make a cry somewhat like a Guinea pig. ' I have been assured by Messrs. Aublet and ‘ Oliver, that in Cayenne the hare is called agouti, and the rabbit akouchi, and that the former is the best food ; and they farther-add, that the flesh of the armadillos, except the nine-banded is still better; that the paca' is esteemed the best game next to the armadillo, and after them are ranked the agouti and akou- chi ; and these gentlemen also assert, that the inhabitants of this country eat the red cougar, and that its flesh nearly resembles veal. ' THE. 304 BUFFoN's 18. THE TUCAN. *‘ERNANDES gives the name of Tucan to an animal of New Spain, whose natural habit-s approach nearer to that of the mole than to any other animal. It appears to me to be the same animal as that described by Seba, by the name of the American red mole; at least the . descriptions given by these two authors agree sulficientl y to admit such a presumption. The tucan is perhaps a little larger than our mole ; like that it is flat and fleshy, and has such short legs, that its belly touches the ground. The tail is short, its ears small and round ; and its eyes so very small, that they are, in a manner of speaking, useless. But it differs from the mole in the colour of its hair, which is of ared- dish yellow; and by the number of toes, having only three to the fore-feet, and four to those behind, Whereas the mole has five toes on each foot. It seems still farther to differ from the mole by its flesh being good to eat; and in not ‘ having- NATURAL HISTORY. 305 having the same instinct of recovering its rc- treat when it is once come out, but each time is obliged to burrow a fresh hole: so that, in certain soils, which agree with these animals, the holes made by them are so very numerous, and so near each other, that great precaution is necessary to walk in safety. ll 19. THE FIELD-MOUSE 0F BRASIL. as! WE call this animal by this name because we are ignorant of the real one it bears in its native land, and because it resembles more the field-mouse than any other animal. It is, however, considerably larger, being about five inches long, from the extremity of the muzzle to the insertion of the tail, which is only two. inches, and, consequently, much shorter in proportion than that of the common, field- mouse. Its muzzle is pointed, and its teeth very sharp. .There are three very broad black- stripes' on a ground of brown hair, which ex- tend longitudinally from the head to the tail, below which the scrotum appears hanging be. 70L. 1);. i R 1‘ tween 306 BUFFo'N’s tween the hind legs. This animal, says Marc. grave, plays with the cats, who never appear inclined to eat them ; and this is another thing which it has in common with the European field-mice, which the cats will kill, but they never, eat them. 20. THE APEREA. ”— THIS animal, Which is found in Brasil,is neither a rabbit nor rat, yet Seems to partake of both. It is about a foot long by seven inches in circumference. It is o'f’the same colour as our hares, but white upon the-belly. It has also, like that animal, a ‘slit‘lip, large incisive teeth, and whiskers about the mouth and sides of the eyes ; but its ears are rounded like those of a rat, and very short: the fore-legs are not more than three inches long, tlese behind are a little longer. The fore-feet have four toes covered with a black skin, and furnished with small short claws : the hind fe’et hare only'tllree toes, the middlemost of which is longer than the other two. The a Jerea has no tail ; its head is a little longer than that of the bare, and NATURAL HISTORY. 307 and its flesh is like that of a rabbit, which it resembles in its manner of living. It COEICCalS itself'also in holes, yet it does not burrow like the rabbit, but retires into the cavities of rocks, where it is very easily taken. The animal spoken of by Oviedo, and after him Charlea voiX and Mozittrasier, by the name of cori, appears to. be the same as the apereas. In some part of the West Indies these animals may be reared in houses or warrens, as we do rabbits, and which may be the reason why some are red, white, black, and others of difierent co- lours. This conjecture is not without foun- dation, for Garcilasso expressly says, that there are wild and domestic rabbits at Peru which have no resemblance to those of Spain. m __ 21. THE TAPETI. THE Ta peti seems to be very similar to, and, perhaps, a variety of that of the rabbit or hare. It is found at Brasil, and other parts of America. It resembles the Eumpean rabbit in figure, and the hare by its size and Colour, being only somewhat. browner. Its ears are very long, and ofthc same shape as those of the 308 BUFFON’S the hare. Its hair is red on the forehead, and whitish on the throat; some have'a circle of White hair round the neck ; others are all white on the throat, breast, and belly. They have black eyes, and whiskers like the rabbit, but they have no tail. The tapeti resembles the hare in its manner of living, fecundity, and quality of its flesh, which is excellent food. It lives in the \fields, or woods, like the hare, and does not burrow like the rabbit. The animal of New Spain, mentioned by Fernandes by the name of citlz‘, seems to be the same as the tapctz' of Brasil ; and possibly both are only varieties of our European hares, which have passed by the north from one continent to the other. ' THERE are still some animals which might be added to those 'in our preceding account, but they are so badly indicated as to be very uncertain; and I rather chose to confine my- self to what is known with some degree of cer-- tainty, than deliver myself up to conjectures, and treat of fabulous for existing beings. N ot- withstanding this limitation it will easily be perceived, that our HISTORY OF QUA- DRUPEDS _ NATURAL HISTORY. 309 DRUPEDS is as complete as could be aspect- ed. It comprehends a great number ofani- mals not observed or described before, and. not 'any of those which were before known, have we omitted to take notice of in the course of this work. The preceding account, though com posed «of twenty one-articles, yet really contains only nine or ten distinct species, for all the restate only varieties. ' The white bear is only a variety of the common kind; the Tartary cow of the bison; the Guinea and Cape Verd hogs ofvthe common hog, &c. therefore, by add ing these ten species to about one hundred and eighty before spoken of, the whole number of qua- drupcds, whose existence is certain and well ascertained, does not amount to more than two hundred species on the surface of the known world. ' SUPPLEMENT To THE QUADRUPEDS. THE CRAB- -EATER. THIS animal has been called Crab eater, or Crab- dog, from his principally living upon crabs. Some travellers have compared him to the m: ULU, . UL‘l‘lL’J a the dog and the fox, but he has much more affinity to the opossums, than whom, howeeer, he is much larger, and the t‘esuale does'not carry her young in a pouch under her belly ;' therefore the crab-eater appears. to be a different species, from any animal heretofore described. There is a skin of one of these animals pre- served in the royal cabinet, which when trans- mitted to us was very young; it was a male, and measured from the nose to the origin of the tail seventeen inches ; the tail rather more than fifteen inches and a half, and which was of a greyish colour, scaly, and naked, gradually tapering to the point. ‘He was about six inches and a half high. He was very short, and at a distance much resembled a terrier, his head being considerably like that of a dog. His eyes were small, the edges of the eye-brows black, and above the eyes there are hairs more than an inch long: he has similar hairs near his ears, and his whiskers were an inch and a half long, and black. He had a large crook- ed canine tooth on each side the upper jaw, which reached below the under. His ears were brown, naked, and round at the ends. His hair on the body "woolly, ot'a dirty white at the bottom, and dark brown at the ends, which is intermixed with long coarse black hairs; the NATURAL HISTORY. 311 the latter inctéase in length upon the thighs and spine of the back, upon the last of which they are so long as to forma kind of mane from the middle of it to the tail. 7 On the sides and belly the hair is of a yellowish white, in- clining more to yellow on the shoulders, thighs, neck, breast and head, mixed in some places with brown ; and the legs and feet of a blackish brown. There are five toes on each foot ; they are a little bent like those of a rat, the thumb alone being straight ; the latter on the hind feet is broad, thick, and at adistanee from the toes, as in apes, but on the fore-feet it is not separate from them ; and the thumb- nails are flat, while those on the other toes are crooked, and extend beyond the points. ’ I have been assured by M. de la Borde that these animals are very common in the marshy places at Cayenne, and of whom he speaks in the following terms : “ These ani- mals are very dextcrousin clinibing trees, upon which they remain much longer than upon the ground,cspecially in day-time. They have very, fine teeth, and defend themselves from the dogs, _ Their principal food is crabs, and yet ~ they are alwaysfat. If they cannot get the crabs out of the holes with their feet, they then make use oftheir tails, as a kind of hook; but ' the 312 - BUFFON’S the crabs sometimes lay hold of it, and make the animal cry out ; his cry resembles that ot'a man, and is heard ata great distance, tho’ its common voice is like the grunting of a pig. The females bring forth in the hollows of old trees, and generally have four or five young at a time. The natives of the country eat their ticsh, which is not unlike that of the hare. They are easily tamed, and then are fed- in the houses like dogs and cats, with any kind of victuals; from which it is certain that their taste for crabs is not exclusive.” There is said to be another _species of crab-eater in Cayenne, which differs from that we have described in the shape and pro- portions of its body, in the structure of its feet and claws, and in its tail being‘entirely covered with hair; and which besides seizes the crabs with its, paws only. ANONYMOUS ANI“ AL. THIS animal, which we shall cali (many- mom, until its real name shall become known, has some similarities to the hare, and others NATURAL HISTORY. ' 313 others to the squirrel. We had the following account of it from Mr. Bruce: “ On the south side of the lake anciently called Palm Trim- m’des, in Lybia, there is a very singular ani- mal; it is from nine to ten inches in length ; its cars are nearly half as long as its body, and proportionally bread, which is the case with no other quadruped, except the long-cared bat. Its muzzle resembles that of the fox, and yet it seems to approach nearer to the squirrel. It lives on the palmetrees, and feeds upon their , fruit. It has short claws, and is a beautiful animal. Its colour is white, intermixed with a little grey and a bright yellow. Only the middle of the inside of the ears‘is naked, the other parts being garnished with large white hairs, and are covered with brown hair inter- mixed with yellow. The tip of the nose is blaCk: the tail yellow, and black at the end ; the tail is pretty long, but difi'erently formed from that of the squirrel; and all its hair, as well on the body as the tail, is very soft. VOL. 1x. S 3 THE 3M Barron’s M A‘DAG ASCAR, RAT.' WE have seen a figure of a smali animai from Madagascar, which was taken from one alive in the possession'of the'Countess of Mar- san. To me it seemed to approach nearer the species of the palm—squirrel than that ' ofgthe rat; I was assured that it frequented the palm-trees; but I have not been abie to pro- cure further information concerning this ani- mal; From its claWs not projecting we may infer that it constitutes a species different from that of the rat, and approaches nearer to that of the palm-squirrel. The Dutch voyagers mention rats on the south-west coast of Mada- gascar, which they say live in the palm-trees, and eat the dates, and describe them to have long bodies, sharp muzzles, short legs, and long spotted tails; which characters so per-r fectl5r agree with those in the animal which we are now speaking of, that we are induced to consider them as the same species. I NATURAL HISTORY. 315 ‘The one which the Countess of Marsan had, lived several years; it was extremel y brisk in its movements, and its cry was nearly similar to that of the squirrel, but weaker. Its manners» were also like the squirrel, for it carried its food to its mouth with its fore-paws, and erected its tail; but it could never be tamed ; it would bite desperately: it was fed with fruits and almonds; it only came out of its cage at night, and it felt no inconvenience from our winters, being kept in a chamber with a small fire. I ‘l or THE DEGEN’ERATION or ANIMALS, m WHEN man began to disperse himself from climate to climate, his nature underwent seve- ral alterations; in the temperate countries, which we suppose to be near where he was originally produced , these alterations were but slight; but}hey increased in proportion as the distance was greater; and after many centuries had passed away, after continents had been - A traversed, O .216 Benson’s traversed, and generations degenerated by the influence of different climates, he ventured to the extremes, and habituating himself to the scorching heats of the south, and the fro. zen regions of the north, the changes have be- come so great,~ that there is room to imagine the Negro, the Laplander, and the White, ditferent species; were it not certain that there was but one man originally created, and, that the White, the Laplander, and the Negro, can unite and propagate the great family of the human kind. Thus their colours are not original, their dissimilitude being only ex- ternal and superficial. It is the same being which is tinctured with black under the terrid zone, and rendered tawny, with con- tracted limbs, by the rigour of the cold under the polar circle. This fact is alone sufficient to demonstrate that there is more strength, ex- tent, and flexibility, in man than in any other being -; for vegetables, and almost every ani- mal, are confined to particular soils and cli- mates. This extension of our nature de- pends less on theprOperties of our bodies than those of our minds. By the last, man has been enabled to seek those things which are necessary for the delicacy of the body ; by that he has found out the means of bearing the , inclemencies NATURAL HISTORY. 317 inclemencies of the weather, and of conquer- ing the barrenness of the earth. He may be said to have subdued the elements : by a single ray of his intellect he produced the element of fire, which before did not exist on the surface of the earth : he has cloathed, sheltered, and lodged himself, thus providing against every external attack: he has compensated by his reason for every deficiency; and although—not so strong, so large, nor so robust, as many ani- mals, yet he has found means to conquer, sub- due, enslave, and deprive them of those spacer which Nature seems to have resigned for their use. ' The earth is divided into two great conti- nents: and though this division is more an- ‘ cient than all human. structures and monu- ments, yet man is still older, for he is found the same in both. The Asiatic, the Euro- pean, and the Negro, propagate alike with the American. Nothing proves more strongly that they have issued from one source than the facility with which they re-unite with the common stock. The blood is di’ll‘erent, but the germ is the same. ' ‘he skin, the hair, the. features, and the size, have varied, but the internal form has not changed. The type is general and common, and if it should ever ' happen, 0 A u — i8 Barron’s happen, by some revolution not: to be foreseen , but within the possibility of things, that man should be obliged to forsake those climates which he has possessed himself of, and return to his native country, he would in time resume his original features, his primitive size, and his natural colour. But the mixture of races would produce the same effect in a much shorter time. The conjunction of a white male with a black female, or a black male with a white female, equally produCC a mulatto,whose colour is brown, that is, a mixture of black and white. The mulatto intermixing with a white, produces a second mulatto not so brow—n as the former; and if this second mulatto unites with a white, the third mnlatto will have no more than a slight tincture of the brown, which will entirely disappear in sue.- .ceeding generations. Thus, by this mixture with a white, one hundred and fifty, or two hundred years is sufficient to bleach the‘skin of the Negro; but it would, perhaps, rcquir many centuries to produce this effect by the influence of climate alone. Since the Negroes were transported to America, which is about two hundred years, not the smallest shade of (titlerencc is perceivable in the colour of those families which have preserved themselves from mixture, NATURAL HISTORY. 3,19 mixture. It is'true' the climate of SOuth Ame- rica being hot enough to give the natives a brown tint, we ought not to be astonished that the Negroes retain their colour in that part of the world. Indeed, to make a proper exped- riment of the change of colour in the human species, some individuals of this black race should be trans-ported from Senegal to Den- mark, where the people have generally fair skins, golden locks, and blue eyes; and where the difference of blood, and opposition of co- lour, are the greatest. We must keep these Negroes with their females apart from the in- habitants, and scrupulously prevent all cross- ing of their breed. This is the only method of learning how much time it would require to change a Negro into a White, or a White into a Black, by the influence of climate. This is the greatest alteration that the at-. mosphere has made on man, and yet this is only superficial. The colour ofthe skin, hair, and eyes, varies solely according to the influe ence of climate. “The other changes, such as that of size, features, and the quality of the ' hair, do not 'seem to depend on this cause alone, for among the Negro race, the greatest part ofwhom have frizzled wool on their heads, a flat nose, and thick lips, we meet with whole nations 320 ' B‘U’Fron’s natidns with long and real hair, and regular features. Again, if we compare, among the’ white race, the Dane with the Calmuck T ar- tar, or only the Finlander with the Laplander, who are so near each other, we shall find as much difference between them, with respect to size and features, as there is among the N or groes; consequently we must subjoin some \ other cause to that of the climate to account; for these alterations, which are stronger than . the former. The most general and direct cause is the quality of the food, for it is principally through the aliments that man receives the influence of the soil which he inhabits, the air and atmosphere acting more superficially. While the latter alter the external surface by changing the colour of the skin, food acts- npOn the internal form by its properties, which are constantly relative to those of the earth‘ by which it: is produced, Even in the same country we find strong differences between men who occupy the high lands, and those who live in the low. The inhabitants of the mountains are always better made, more spirit- ed, and handsomer than those of the valley :1 therefore, in count riesfar distant from the ori- ginal climates, where herbage, fruit, grain, and the flesh of animals, differ both in quality and substance, NATURAL HISTORY. 391 substance, the men who feed on them must undergo greater changes. These impressions are not suddenly made. Time is required for man to receive the tincture of the atmosphere,‘ and still more for the earth to transmit its qua- lities to him. Ages, joined to a constant use of the same nutriment, is necessary to influence the form of the features, the size of the body, the substance. of the hair, and to produce those . internal alterations which, being afterward-s perpetuated by generation, have become the general and constant characters, by which the races, and even the different nations, which compose the human race, are distinguished. In brute animals 'these effects are quicker and greater; for, partaking more of the nature of the soil than man, and their food being more uniform and unprepared, the quality is more'decisive, and, consequently, its influence stronger; and because as the animals cannot clothe nor shelter themselves, nor make use Of the element of fire, they remain constantly ex- posed to the impressions of the air, and in- clem'encies of the climate. For this reason every animal has chosen its zone and country according to its nature; for the same'reason they remain there, and instead of extending or dispersing themselves, .like the human race, VOL. IX. T t they 322 BUFFoa-‘s they generally continue in those places which are most agreeable to their constitutions} When driven by man, or carried awayg'or forced by any revolution of the globe to for-— sake their native country, their nature underv goes such great and strong alterations, that they are no lenger tobe known, except by at, tentive inspection, experiment,and analogy, If to these natural causes of alteration in free animals we add that of the empire of man over those which he has reduced-to slavery, We shall be surprised to see how far tyranny is able to degrade and disfigure Nature; we shall perceive on all the animals which are reduced to slavery, the stigmas of their captivity, and the impressions of their fetters; we shall find that those wounds are deeper, and more incurable, in proportion to their antiquity; and that in the state wherein we have reduced domestic animals it would perhaps be im pessi. ble to reinstate them in their primitive form, and to restore to them those other natural at- tributes of which we have deprived them. Thus, the temperature of the climate, the quality of the food, and the evils arising from slavery, are the three causes of the changes and degeneration of animals. The effects of each deserve to be particularly considered, and NATURAL HISTORY. ' 323 and their relations, when viewed in detail, will ‘ present a picture, in the foreground of which we shall see Nature 'such as she is at present, and in the distant perspective what she was before her degradation. I Let us compare our sheep with the muflon, from whom they spring. This last, large and swift as. a stag, armed with defensive horns and hoofs, and covered with a rough hair, dreads neither the inclemency of the sky, nor the voracity of the wolf. He not only escapes his enemies by his swiftness, but can even stand against them by the strength of his body, and the solidity of the weapons with which his head and feet are furnished. What a differ- ence from our sheep, who scarcely have any power to, subsist in flocks, and who cannot. defend themselves even by numbers 5 who'are unable to withstand the rigors of our winters without shelter, and who would all perish if it were not for the care and protection of man? In the hotteSt climates of Africa and Asia, the muflon, who is the common father of all the races of sheep, seems to have suffer- ed less degeneration than in any other coun- try ; for, though reduced to a domestic state, he has preserved his stature and his hair, and has only‘ suffered a loss in the siZe of his wea- pons. The sheep of Senegal ‘and India are ' ‘ th0 324: BUFFON’s the largest of all domestic sheep, and those whose nature has experienced the least degra- dation . The sheep of Barbary, Egypt, Arabia,‘ Persia, Armenia, &c. have undergone greater changes; they are, relatively speaking, with regard to the human species, improved in some respects, and vitiated in others ; but improve- ‘ ment and degeneration arc the same thing with regard to Nature, as they both imply an alter- ation from the original formation . Their coarse hairis changed into fine wool ; their tail, load- ed with a lump of fat, has become so large and inconvenient a bulk, that the animal drags it along with pain and difliculty; and while thus charged with superfluous matter, and adorned with a beautiful fleece, their strength, agility, and weapons are diminished ; for these broad and long-tailed sheep are scarcely half the size of the muflon; they cannot fly from danger, nor make resistance against an enemy ; and are in continual need of the care and assistance of man to preserve and’ multiply their species. The degeneration of the original species is still greater in our climates. Of all the qualities be- longing to the muflon, our ewes and rams re- tain nothing but a small portion of vivacity, and even that yields to thevoice of the shepherd . Timidity,weakness,resignation, and stupidity, are the only sorrowful remains of their degraded I nature. NATURAL HISTORY. 395 nature. If we would restore their strength and size, our Flanders sheep should be united with the muflon, and be no longer suffered to propagate with the inferior species; and if we would devote this species to the more useful pur- poses of affording good meat and fine wool, we must imitate some of our neighbours in pro- pagating the Barbary race of sheep, which, being transported into Spain and England, has been attended with such great success. Strength and magnitude are the masculine attributes ; plumpness and beauty of the skin are feminine qualities. If we would have fine wool, there- fore, our rams should be supplied with Barbary ewes: and if the restoration of size be the object, the muflon should be given to our sheep. The same effect might be produced in our goats. We might change the nature of their hair, and render it as useful as the finest woOl, by intermixing them with the goats of Angora. The goat species, although greatly degenerat- ed, is less so in our climate, than that of the sheep; and in the warm countries of Africa and India, it appears to be still more degener- ated. The smallest and weakest goats, are those of Guinea, J uda, &c. and yet in those countries we find the largest and strongest sheep. The 326 nvr'ron’s The species of the ox, of all domestic ani« mals, seems to be that on which its food acts with the greatest influence. It attains a pro- digious size in those countries Where the pasture is rich and nourishing. The ancients called the oxen of EthioPia and some provinces of Asia by the name ot'bzall—elepimnts, because in those countries they nearly approached the size of the elephant. The great plenty of herbage, and its succulent quality, produced this effect, proofs of Which we have in our own climate. An ox fed on the taps of the verdant mountains of Savoy or Switzerland ac- quires twice the bulk of our oxen ; though the oxen of Switzerland, like ours, are shut up in the stable during the greatest part of the year. The difference arises from their being admitted to free pasture as soon asthe snow is melted ; whereas in our provinces they are not permitted to enter the meadows till after the crop of grass reserved for the horses is carried off ; they are, therefore, neither amply fed nor properly nourished, and it would prove ex‘ ' tremely useful to the nation in general, it'a regulation were made to abolish these useless pastures, and to encourage enclosures. .Cvli‘ mate also has great influence on the nature of the ox. In the northern parts of both con- i tinents, it is covered with a long soft. hair re- sembling ,. NATURAL HISTORY. 327 sembling wool ,— and on its shoulders is a large hunch, which deformity is found in all the oxen of Asia, Africa, and America. Those of Europe alone have no hunch. The last, are the primitive race to which the hunched race acend by intermixture in the first or se- cond generation. 'What‘still further proves this hunched race to be only a variety of the first, is its being subject to great degradations. There is an uncommon difference in their size. The little zebu of Arabia is not more than a tenth part the size of the bull-elephant, In general, the influence of food is greater, and produces more sensible effects on those animals which feed on 'herbage and fruits. Those that live only upon flesh, vary less from that cause than from the influence of climate; because flesh is an aliment,‘ already assimilated to the nature of the carnivorous animal that devours it; whereas grass being the first pro- duct of the earth, possesses all its properties, and immediately transmits the terrestrial qua- lities to the animal. Thus the dog on which food seems to have but slight influence, is, of all carnivorous ani- mals, the most various species ;' it seems to follow exact] y the difference of climate 1n 358 ' ‘ ‘BUFFON’S in its degradation ; it is naked in the war? mest climates; cloathed with a thick and coarse hair in the northern regions, and adorned with a beautiful silken coat in Spain and Syria, where the mildness of the air changes the hair of most animals into a sort of silk. But in- dependentlyiof these external varieties, which are produced by the influence of climate alone, thedogis subjected to other alterations which ‘ proceed from its condition, its captivity, or its state of society with respect to man. The augmentation, or diminution, of its size, is, caused by the care taken to unite the great with the small individuals. . The shortness of the ears and tail proceeds also from the hand of man. Dogs which have had their tails and ears cut for a few generations, transmit those defects wholly, or partly, to their descendants. I have seen dogs whelped with- out tails, which I at first took for individual monsters ; but I am since assured that this breed exists, and is perpetuated by generation. The long and hanging car, which is the most gene- ral and certain markof domestic slavery ,is it not Common to almost every dog? Among thirty different races of which the species is at present composed ,onlytwo or three have preserved their primitive ears 5 the shepherd’s dog, the wolf- dog, NATURAL HISTORY. 329, deg, mid the dog of the north, alonehave. erect ears. The voice of these animals has, also --undergone strange . alterations. The dog seems to owe its vociferous nature,to man, who,'of all beings, uses his tongue the most. In a state of nature the dog is almost dumb, and‘ seldom even howls, except when pressed. ,withhunger; it acquired the faculty of bark: ing by intercourse with men in polished'so. .Cieties, for when transported to extreme cli- mates, where the pe0ple are uncultivated, as the Laplanders, or Negroes, he ceases to‘bark, assumes his natural howling, and, often be-.- comes. absolutel yd umb. Dogs witherect ears, particularly the shepherd’s dog, which is the least degenerated, is also that which. makes the least use of his voice, passing a life of- so:- litude in the country, and having no inter.- ' course but with sheep and a few simple pea.- sants, he is, like them, of a serious and silent disposition, though at the same time very active and sagacious; of all dogs this has the fewest acquired qualities, and the most nay.- tural talents; it is also the most Useful-to pre- serve good order, and to protect the sheep; and it would prove more advantageous to in- ‘ crease this breed than to extend that of other .dogs, who are of no other service but for our yep. ix. U u amusement, 33b burrows amu‘sem’cat, aha ‘Whose numbers are so great, that there is not 'a town ’o'r Village where a nu‘mfier‘of families might not be fed with the alii‘aents consumed by these animals. ‘ Th‘e domesticstate has greatly contributed to Val‘y the (whim of animals, Which Was 'ori. ginafly,'in all, either brown “or'black. The dog, the ox,-th"e goat, the sheep, and the horse, hare imbibed‘all'kinds o'f'colours, -Th‘e hog has changed from black to'white; and pure white, without any spot, seems to mark the last degree 0f degeneration, and which is com- inonly ’aécom’panied With- imperfectiOns or es. sential defects. In the ’r‘ace of ‘white men, those who are remarkalily so, and Whose hair ‘beard, and eye.brows,are white,’ areo'ften (leaf, and‘also have red and'iveeik eyes, In’the'hlack "race, the fairest negroes 1are of "a 7nature still were weak and d‘efeCtiVe. :All those animals J~ilrhicih are absolutely white'haveitlie défc‘c‘tsOf ‘béing’hard of 4he‘aring‘and having‘red eyes. {This kind of degeneration, 'thou'g‘h-mOre com- "I'IiOn in domestic animals, ‘is sometimes seen 'in the wild species; ”as-in the elephant, stag, ‘fallvadeer,mon‘kies, nioles,‘and miCe, in all 'o'f which this colour ‘is 'aIWays accompanied “with either ‘a‘greate'r or a less weaknessofbody and dulness of'sensation. . J 'Bnt NATURAL HISTORY. 331 But of all; animals the camel seems to have the greatest and deepest impressions of slavery made upon him. He comes into the world with prominence‘s on his back, and callosities on the breast and knees; these callosities are formed by the continual friction on those parts,- as is plain from their being filled with. pus and .091“? rupted blood. As. he never travels without being heavily leaded, the pressure of the burden has prevented the free extension and uniform , growth of the muscular parts of the back, and produced a swelling in the surrounding flesh; the camel likewise being constrained at first to rest or sleep in a kneeling posture, in time it becomes habitual; and from supporting the whole weight of his body, for several hours in the day, on his breast and knees, the skin of those parts is rubbed off by pressing against the earth, and by degrees they become hard and callous. The lama, which passes his life, like the camel, under the pressure of heavy burdens, and likewise rests on his breast and knees, has similar callositics, which are per- petuated by generation. The baboons and .monkies, which, whether sleeping or waking, are generally in a sitting posture, have also .eallosities on their posteriors. This callous 'skin is even adherent to the bones, against which 332 - 9' BUFFON"S which it is’continuall y pressed by the Weight of the body. But the callosities" of the baboons and monkies are of a dry'andhealingna‘ture, fits-they do not proceed from the oppression of tiny, .superabundant weight,:but, on . the con- tiary, areonly'the effeCts of natural habits, for‘the‘se animals remaini longer in a sitting than in any other posture. The callosities of the monkey are'like the double skin on the sole of a man’s foot.L This is a naturalgczallo- Sity,(\vhich Our habit of :walking or standing renders thicker. and harder,.according. tothe greater or lesser degree Of friction ewe effect by exercise; : j I , ' . ' "VVild animals-not being immediately subjeet to the empire of man', are not liable “to such great alterations as the domestic‘kinds. _:.Their nature seems to vary -a<‘:cording‘ to different ‘elimates, .though they are no where degraded. .If they were at liberty. to chase their climate and food these alterations would be still less; but as they have at all times been hunted and exiled by man, or eVen by those quadruped-s which-have greater strength, and are more fe- rocious, the greatest part of .them have been - obliged to quit their native country, and to live in climates less favourable to their constitu-g .tions. Those which had sufficient flexibility at NATURALnIsronY. 333 of nature to accommodate themselves to their new situation have dispersed to great distances, whereas others have no resource but to confine themselves within the neighbouring desarts of their nativecountry. There is no species of animal, except man, universally spread over the/face of the terrestrial globe. Some, and indeed great numbers, are confined to the southern. parts of' the. Old Continent, and others to the southern parts of the new ; While others, though fewer in number, are confined to the cold regions of the north ; , and, instead of extending themselves towards the south, they have passed from one continent to the other by. roads which have hitherto remained unknown to us. . There are other species * which inhabit particular mountains or valleys, and the alterations of their nature are so much the less apparent the more they are confined to a small space. Climate and food having little influence on wild animals, and the empire of man still less, their. principal varieties proceed from another cause. They are relative to the combination .of their number in individuals, as well in those which produce as in those which are produced. In those species, like that of the roe-buck, where the male attaches himself to one 3349- ' i . BUFFUN’S one female,.and never changes, the young (mes demonstrate the fidelity of their parents by; their entire resemblance to them. In those species, on the centrary, where the females often change the male,- as in the stag, for ine - stance, there are a number of varieties; and as there is not. in- nature a single individual which perfectly resembles another, the number of varieties in animals is in .pmportion to the greater or less frequency of their produce. In species where the female produces five or six young ones, three or four times a year, the number of varieties must necessarily be greater” than inthose where the produce is annual, and a single one. The inferiorspocies, therefore, which-produce oftener, and in greater numbers than the larger, .are subject to more varieties. Size of body, which seems only to be a relative quality, nevertheless possesses positive attri-v bntes in the laws of N aturc. The large spe‘ cies is as .fixedas the .small is changeable.- VVe shall be convinced of this -fact .byenua meratingsthe varieties which takeplace in the large ,and:small animals. In Guinea the-wild boar has verylongvears, ‘turne’d backwards. In‘China he has alarge (pendant belly, and very short legs.- At Cape Vere-ma in other places, his tasks. are very large ”Managede‘: " . NATURAL HISTORY. 335 large and crooked like the horns of an ox. In a domestic state, and in cold and temperate climates,his ears are somewhat pendent, and his. bristles are white I do not place the pec- cari, nor the babiroussa, among the varieties-ref the wild boar, because neither belong to that species, although they approach very mear’toih 'We find'that the stag, .in dry, hat, and mountainous countries, such as Corsica and Sardinia, has «lost above half his original size ; his hair has become brown,’ and his .horns blackish. In cold and wet countries, as in Bohemia, and at the .Ardennes, his size :is greatly increased, his coat and horns areabe— «come almostrblack, and his :hair is so greatly flcngthened as’tofform -afkind cof beard on:'his achin. In'North-America-the hornsofthe stag are extended and-branched bycrooked antlers. In a domestic state his coat Changes from .a ,yellow to a white; and When =not aat perfect liberty, or- in large parks,-his legs are deforms- ‘ed and crooked. 1'I do not -reckon the axis among the varieties ofthestag ; .it' approaches nearer-that of the fallow-deer, and is,.perhaps, only a variety of‘it. ' It would be adiflicult :point to determine 'the original species of the fallow-deer. It is Inot in any 'part of the: globe entirelysdomestic, nor 336 BUFFON’S nor absolutely wild. ' It varies indiEereutiy' from a yellowishlbrow‘n to a pied, and from a pied to a White. . -' His horns and tail, in differ- ent‘races, are longer’or shorter, and his fleSh is good or bad, according to the soil and climate. Like" the stag he is found in both centinents, and he seems to be larger in Virginia, and the ether temperate provinces'of America, than in Europe; It isthe same withthe roe-buck; he is of a larger Size in the New than in the 01d Continent; but in other respects, his varie- ‘ ties are confined to somedifl'erences in the co:- lour or the hair, which changes from a yellow to 'a deep brown. The smallest roe-bucks are generally of a fallow colour, and the largest brown. The roe-buck and fallow-deer, are the only animals common to both continents, and which are larger and stronger in the New than in the Old. , . The ass has undergone but few changes, even though subjected to the mostrigid servi- tude, for his nature is so stubborn, that it equal- ly resists ill treatment,and the inconveniences of a foreign climate and coarse food. Though he is a native of hot countries, he can live and even multiply without any assistance frOm man in temperate climates. Formerly there were "onagres, or wild asses, in the deserts of "Asia; Minor, but at present there are very f6w, and are NATURAL HISTORY. ' 337 are only to be found in numbers in the desarts of Tartary. The Daurian mule, called czz‘gz‘thai by the Mongol Tartars, is, probably, the same animal as the onagre of the Asiatic provinces; asthe former difl’ers only from the latter by the length and colour of the hair, which, ac. cording to Mr. Bell, seems to be undulated withbrown and whitefi" These czigithais are found in the forests of Tartary, even to the 5lst, and 52d degree of latitude. They must not be confounded with the zebra, whose co- lours are more bright, and quite otherwise dis‘i posed; besides the zebra forms a particular species, as different from that of the ass, as from the horse. The only remarkable degra- dation of the ass is that the skin, in a domes- tic state has become more pliant and lost those small tubercles which are found scattered over the onagre, and 'of which the people of the Levant make What is known here by the name of Shagreen. The hare is ofa flexible,yetfirm nature, for though dispersed over almost every climate of the Old Continent, yet it continues nearly the Von. IX. X 3: same, * Perhaps Mr. Bell, who says he only saw the skins of these animals, may have seen the skins of the zebrainstead. For other travellers do not mention that the czigitbais‘or on- agres of Dauria are streaked with brown and white like the zebra; besides, there are in the cabinet at St. Petersburg, skins of the zebra and skins of the czfigfl/fiaigboth of which are ‘shewn to travellers. as: W BUFFON’S same,'its skin“ only becoming rather whiter dun ring the Winter in very cold climates, but it resumes its natural colour in summer, which only varies from a fallow to a reddish hue. The qualities of the flesh vary also, for the red hares are always the best eating. But the rab- bit, though not of so flexible a nature as the hare,bein g less diffused ,and [seemingly confined to particular countries, is, nevertheless, subject to more variations; because the hare is in every. part of the world wild,-whereas the rabbit is al- most every where half domesticated. The wild rabbits have varied in their colours, from fallow to white or black ; they have also varied in size, and in the quantity and quality of their fur. This animal, which is originally a native of Spain, has acquired a long tail in Tartary, and a-thick bushy coat in Syria. Black hares are often found in cold countries. It is asserted also that in Norway, and some other northernre- gions, there are hares with horns. Klein has given figures of two of these horned hares. It is easily seen, from an inspection of these figures, that the horns resemble those of the roebuck. This variety, if it exist, is only individual, and probably appears in those places alone where the hare'caunot meet with grass, and is obliged to feed on the bark, buds, and leaves of trees. The elk, whose species is confined to the northern NATURAL HISTORY. 339 northern part of the two continents, is only less in America than in Europe, and we see by the enormous horns found under the ground in Canada, Russia, Siberia, &c. that these animals were formerly much larger than they are at pree sent. This difference of size proceeded perhaps from the perfect tranquillity which they/enjoyed in the forests; and, not being disturbed by the human species, which had. not at that time pee- netrated into those climates, they were at liberty to chase their resideneein those-spots where the air, soil, and water agreed best with their con,- stitutions. The rein-deer, which the Laplanders haVe rendered domestic, is, on this account, more changed than the elk, which has not yet been reduced to slavery. The wild rein-deer are larger, stronger, and their hair is blacker than the domestic kind ,: the last have varied in the colour of their hair, and also in the size of their horns. The lichen, or the rein-deer liverwort, constitutes the principal food of these animals, . and seems, by its quality, to contribute greatly to the nutritive growth of the horns, which are proportionally larger in the rein-deer than in any other species; and it is, perhaps,th is same nutriment which in this climate produces horns on the head of the hare, in the same manner as it does upon that of. the female reinEdecr ;' for in every other climate, there are no horned i hares, 340 BUFFON’S hares, nor any female animal that is furnished with horns like the male. The elephant is the only quadru ped on which a domestic state has never had any influence, because in that state it will not propagate, and consequently cannot transmit to its species those defects which its servile condition might occasion. The varieties in the elephant are only slight, and almost individual: its natural colour is black; some of them, however, are red, and others white, but those are very few in number. The size of the elephant also va- ries, accOrdin g to the longitude rather than the latitude of the climate. Under the torrid zone, where it is, as we may say, shut up, and under the same line, in the eastern parts of Africa, it attains fifteen feet in height; whereas in the western parts of the same country it only arrives to the height of ten or eleven feet, which proves, that though great heat is necese sary to the full expansion of its body, yet ex- cessive heat reduces it to less dimensions. The rhinoceros seems to be of a more uniform and less variable size, and only differs in its own breed by‘that singular character which distin- guishes it from every other animal, namely, the great horn on its nose. This horn is single in the Asiatic rhinoceros, and double in, the African. it? NATURAL HISTORY. ' 341 I shall not speak here of the varieties which are found in every species of carnivorous ani- mals, as they are extremely slight; because all‘animals which feed on flesh are the least dependent on man; and besides, this nutri~ ment being already prepared by Nature, they receive scarCely any of the qualities of the soil they inhabit ; besides, being endowed with strength and weapons, they have the power of ‘ chusing their own climate : consequently the three causes of change, alteration, and degene~ ration, of which we have spoken, can have but Very slight and trivial effect on them. After this glance at the variations peculiar to each species, a more important considera- tion presents itself, that of the change of the 'species themselves ; that ancient and imme- morial degeneration made in each family, or in every genus, under which we may coma prehend the proximating species. Among all terrestrial animals there are only a few de- tached species, which, like the human, at once compose both species and genus. The elephant, the rhinoceros, the hippopotamus, and thelgirafi‘e, form genera, or simple species, which propagate only in a direct line, and have no collateral branches ; eVery other ap- pears to form families, in which one principal trunk is generally to be recognized, - and whence 349 BUFFON’S whence issues several different branches, :‘so much the more or less numerous as the indi«.- viduals in each species are barren or prolific. Under this point of vizew,..the horse, the zebra, and the ass, are all of the same family. If the horse is the source, or principal trunk, the zebra and the ass Will be collateral branches. The number of their resemblances being in—. finitely greater than that of their differences, we may look on them as constituting only one genus, the principal characters of which are, clearly announced, and. common to all three,~ They are the only animals which have solid hoofs wi hout any appearance of toes or nails. Though they form three very distinct species they are not absolutely separated, since the male-ass will produce with the mare, and the, horse with the she-ass; and it 1s probable that if we were to tame the zebra, and mollify his savage nature, it would likewise produce with the horse and the ass. This mule, therefore, which has hitherto been regarded as a vitiated p1 oductlon , as a monster composed of two different natures, and consequently incapable of reproduction, is not so base as might be imagined from the above prejudice, since it is not really un prolific, and its sterility depends on certain external and pea- culiar circumstances, It is wellknown that I mules (23 NATURAL HISTORY. 43 males produce in warm countries," and we have some examples of their producing even in our temperateiclimates. But we do not know whetherthis generation ever proceeded from the/union of a male with a female mule, or whether the production were not effected by the junction of a male with a mare, or a male-ass with a mule. There are two kinds of males, the first is the great mule, 'wh ich pro- ceeds from the junction of a male-ass with a mare, and the small mule, proceeding from the horse and the she-ass, which we shall call bardeau, to distinguish it from the other. The ancients were acquainted with both, and dis- tinguished them bytwo different names; they called the first mulus, and the second lemmas. They assert that the 73mins produced with the ~mare, an animal called ginmts’t‘, or hinnus ; that the she-mule conceived very readily, but: seldom brought the foetus to perfection: and that, though they have had frequent examples of mules bringing forth, yet such productiOns were looked on as prodigies. But what is a prodigy of nature, except an eventwhich ha p- ' pens "‘ The word gimm: is used by Aristotle in two senses : the first to denote in general an imperfect animal, an abortion, a dwarf animal, proceeding sometimes from the horse and the ass; and the second to signify the particular produce ofthe mule and the mare. 34.1 . BUFFON’S pens more rarely than some others 3 The hes mule, therefore, can engender, and the female conceive, and bring forth, in certain circum- stances: hence it is only required to know what these circumstances are, and to acquire further information concerning degeneration by'a mixture of species, and consequently on the unity and diversity of each genus. To succeed in these enquiries, the he-mule must be joined with a she-mule, a mare, and at Shea ass; the same should be done with the bar- deau, and then the result of these six copus lations ought to be carefully marked. The females of the ass, mule, and bardeau, should also be paired with a horse. These experiments, however simple, have never yetbeen tried with a View to explain the nature of generation. I regret that it has not been in my power to try them, as I am per- suaded consequences would result from them, which at present we only conjecture, and speak of as presumptions. I imagine, for example, that of all the above copulations, that of the great mule with the female bardeau, (the ani~ mal produced by the horse and ass) and that of the male-bard-eau and she-mule might possibly not succeed: that the junction of the he and she-mule, and that of the male and female- bardeau, . NATURAL HISTORY. ' 345 bardeau, might sometimes beattended With success, though not often. That the he-mule would produce with the mare with greater certainty than with the she-ass, and the male- bardeau with more certainty with the ‘sheeass than with the mare; and that the horse and lie-ass might possibly produce with both the she-mules, but that the ass would be more sucv cessful than the horse.’ These experiments should be made in a country at least as warm as the south of France; and the age of the mules should be seven, the horses five, and the asses four years, because those different periods are necessary before those three animals acquire their full vigour. These then are the analogical reasons on which the above presumptions are founded. In the common course of nature, it is not the males but the females which constitute the unity of species. We know from the example of the sheep, which propagate alike with the, ram, or the goat, that the female has much. 'more influence than the male, on the specific, qualities of the production, since the only issue from these two different males are lambs, that is, individuals which have a specific re-_ semblance to the mother; Thus the mule re-~ sembles the mare more than she does the ass, VOL. 13:. Y y and 346 BUFFON's and the bardea'u more the she-ass than the horse; therefore the mute ought to produce more certainly with the more than with the she-ass, and the bardeau still, more so with the .shesass than with the mare, so the horse and {he-ass might possibly produce with both the she-mules ; because being females, though somewhat viti'ated, each retains more specific qualities than the male-mules; but the he'd-ass should produCe with them more certainly than the horse ,- because it is observed, that the lie-ass possesses stronger prolific powers than the'horse, even with the mate, for the first corrupts and totally destrbys the generation of the latter. We may be convinced of this fact by first taking a stallion to a mare, and the nbx-t morning, or even some days after, serva- in}; her with a maleeass, and her production will always be mules, and not horses. This . fact, of vvhich every circflmstance deserves attentiOn, seems to indicate, that the ass and not the :horse, is the stock, or principal'root of the family, since the first predominates by its prolific powers over the latter even with its own female, especially as, if the ass is first given to the mare and the horSe afterwards, the latter does not destroy the generatibn of the former, for even then the production'is still ‘ l a mule, NATURAL HISTORY. 347 a mule. On the ether hand, the like effect does not happen When the her-ass precedes the horse, with the she-ass, for the latter never de- stroys the operation of the former. With re- opectto the copulation of mules among them- selves, I have presumed it to be sterile, for we can expect nothing else from two natures already debased by generation,‘-and which by their union cannot fail of being still more de: based, than a production'entirely'rit-iated, or absolutely none at all. - By the mixture of the mule with the mare, of the bardea‘u with the sheoass, and the horse and he-ass with she mules, we should obtain individuals which would ascend towards the originaispecies ; th ey would be only hal f mules, and, like their parents, would not only have ‘ power to engender with their primitive species, but perhaps have the facu’lty'of prepagating among themselves; for being but half-debased, their production would not hemore vitiated than the first mules; and if the union of these half mules were sterile, or their productions rare, it appears almOst certain, that by bringing them adegroe stillnearer'theirorigina'l species, the individuals which Would result fromsuoh a union, and which would be no more «than a. fourth part dehased, would produce among .Ihemselves {and form a (new stem, which would be 318 BUFFON’S be precisely neither that of the horse nor the ass. Now as every thing possible has been accom- plished in time, and either does exist, or has existed in Nature, I am inclined to think that ,the prolific mule spoken of by the ancients, and which in the days of Aristotle existed in Syria, beyond Phoenicia, might be a race of these half Orquarter mules, which have been produced by the commixtures here spoken; of: for Aristotle expressly says, that these prolific mules perfectly resembled the barren mules. He also very clearly distinguish/es them from the Onagr'es, or wild‘ asses, which he mentions in the same chapter: consequently we can only refer these animals to mules which were but little vitiated, and preserved their repro~ ductive faculties. The czz’githaz', or prolific .mule Of Tartary, of which we have .before spoken, may also possibly not be the onagre, or the wild ass, but only this Phoenician mule, the race of which perhaps still remains. The first traveller who is able to compare them, . will confirm or destroy this conjecture. The zebra itself, which even bears a greater resem- blance to the horse than the ass, might pro- bably have the same origin; the constrained regularity of his colours, alternately disposed in - black and white stripes, seems to indicate that they proceed from two different Species, which NATURAL HISTORY. 31;!) which in their mixture have separated as much as possible; for Nature, in none of her works, is so abrupt, 'or so little shaded as on the coat of the zebra, where it suddenly and alternately changes from white to black, and from black to white, without any intermediate shade throughout the whole extent of the animal’s body. But however that may be, it is certain from what we have said, that mules. 1n general, which have always been accused of sterility, are nevertheless neither really nor universally so; and that this sterility is cnl y manifested in that particular kind of mule proceeding from the conneCtion of the ass and the horse; for the mule produced by the he-goat and the ewe, is as prolific as its parents, and most mules which proceed from different species of birds, are not barren; therefore it is only in the particular nature of the horse and ass, that we must seek for the causes of the infecundity of the mules produced by them ; and instead of supposing barrenness afgeneral and neces- sary defect in every mule, it, on the contrary, should be limited to that mule alone which proceeds from the ass and the horse, and this limitation should be further restricted, as these mules prove prolific in certain circum- stances, 350 Barron’s stances, especially when brought a degree nearer their-original Species. The mule, produced by the horse and the ass, has its organs of generation as complete as other animals; nothing seems wanting either in the male" or female. The males have a great plenty of seminal liquor; and being never suffered to copulate, they are often so pressed for a discharge, that they frequently rest upon their bellies for that purpose. These animals are, therefore, provided with every thing neat cessary for the purpose of generation : they are even very ardent, and consequently, very indifferent in their choice. The males have nearly an equal vehement desire for the female mule, the she-ass, and the mare. There is, therefore,-no difficulty in procuringthecm pulation, though it requires particular attend- tion and care to render it prolific. A too strong ardour is often attended with sterility; and the female mule is at least as ardent as the "she-ass. Now it is known that the latter rejects the seminal liquor of the male, and that to make her retain it, blows must be given, or cold water thrown over her crapper, to calm the convulsive emotions of desire whichsubsist after copulation,.aud which oc- casion this rejection. The she-ass, and the female NATURAL HISTORY. 351 female mule, therefore, incline to sterility by their over-heat. The asses incline to it from another cause ; for as'the y are originally natives of hot climates, cold opposes their generation, and this is the reason they are allowed to couple in' summer only. , If their union is permitted at any other time, and particularly-in winter, it is seldom'attended with impregnation. The season necessary to the success of their genera~ tion is as much so for the preservation of their production. If the young ass is not brought forth in warm weather it either languishes or dies; and as the time of the gestation with the ass is only once a year, she produces at the . season she conceives: this sufliciently proves ' how necessary warmth is, not only for the fe¢ , cundity but also for the life of these animals. This strong ardour of the “female is the occasion of the male being given her alrnest immediate'l y after she has brought forth, for she ‘is seldom sulfered to rest above sevenor eight days be- tween her delivery and copulation; 'weakened: by the birth she is then lessardent, and from there not having been azsnflixcient interval al- lowed to strengthen the parts, the ‘cO‘ncepti'on is more Certain than "when she is in f all vigour. It is pretended, that in this species, as :in that of the cat, the temperament of the female is more ardent than that Of the male. However the 352 . BUFFoN’s the he-ass is a great example of vigour, for he can cover females several times eaCh day sue-’- cessively. He has been known to indulge his passionsto so great an eXcess, as to die on the ' spot,lafter eleven or tWelve reiterated efforts, almost without interval, and without refresh- ment, except a few draughts of water. V This heat, which consumes the animal, is too strong to be lasting; the lie-ass soon becomes unfit for service, and this, probably, is the reason of. its being said the female is stronger-and longer- lived than the male. It is certain, that with the proper care and management we have laid down, she will live thirty years, and bring forth every year of her life 3' whereas the male, when not kept from the females, abuses his strength to so great a degree as to lose the total pow er of engendering 1n a very few years. The he and she-ass, therefore, both incline to sterility by common and also by different qualities. The horse and the mare have the same tendency. ' The mare may receive, a. stallion nine or ten days after she has brought forth, and she will produce fiveor six years successively, but after that time she beComes \ barren. To preserve her fecundity an interval ‘ of a year should be allowed between each birth, and instead of giving her the stallion imme-- diatel y after she has foaled, she should be kept. 'until NATURAL HISTORY. 353 until she shews some external signs of heat. The mare seldom proves prolific after she is twenty years old 5 while the horse sometimes preserves the power of engendering until the age of thirty. The seminal liquor is less abun- Idant, and less stimulating in the horse than in the ass ; for the former often copulates without emitting, eSpecially if the mare be presented to ' 'him before he seeks her. Besides, his most vigorous efforts are not always successful ; for there are some mares naturally barren, and others whose’fecundity is but trifling. There. are also stallions which, though vigorous to all appearance, have'.but little. power. To these particular reasOns ,we can. add a more evident and general proof of the small degree of fecung- dity there is in the horse and ass. Of all do— mestic animals, although they are the most carefully'attended to, they are the least in number. In the ox, the sheep; the goat, and particularly—the hog, dOg, and cat, the indi? viduals are ten, and, probably, a hundred times more numerous than those of the horse and ass. Thus th’éir want ’of fecundity is pro- ved by facts, and we must attribute the sterila ity of the mules to all the above causes, as they .proceed from a mixture of these naturally u-n«- prolific species. In thoSe Species, on the con- trary, Which, like the sheep and goat, are -VOL. 1x}. Z z numerous, ’ 354: BUFFON’S numerous, and, consequently prolific, the mules proceeding from their intermixture, are not barren but ascend to the original species in the first generation, whereas, two, three, or per- haps four generations, are required to reinstate the mule produced by the horse and the ass, to the same degree and perfection of nature. It has been asserted, that another kind of mule is produced from the copulation of the hull with the mare. Columella is, I think, the first who has spoken of it. Gesner quotes the Words of Columvella, and adds, that he found , these mules in Grenoble, and which are called in French jumars. One of these ju- mars I had brought to me from Dauphiny, and another from the Pyrenees. By the inspec- tion of the external parts, as well as by the dissection of the internal, Idiscovered that they were only bardeaus', or mules produced between the horse and the she-ass. -I think myself, therefore, authorized from this experi- ment, and from analogy, to suppose this kind of inulc does not exist, and that the. word jumar is only a ‘chimerical name without any ‘real object}. The nature of the bull is too distant from that of the mare, to admit of their engendering together, the one having four sto- machs, horns, cloven feet, 850. and the other ' being “whole-booted, with no horns, and only one NATURAL HISTORY. 355 :one stomach. The organs of generation are likewise so very different, there is not the least; reason to suppose they can copulate with any degree of pleasure or success. If the bull were to produce with any species besides his own, it 'would be with the buffalo, which resembles him in conformation and natural habits; yet we have never heard of any mules being pro- duced by the junction of these two animals. WVhat is related of the copulation and produc- tion of the stag and cow, is nearly as suspio pious as the story of the jumars, though the stag is much less distant, in its conformation, from the nature of the cow, than the bull is from that of the mare. END OF THE NINTH VOLUJIE. '1‘. Gillet, Printer, Wild-Court; .Dzrectzons for placing the Plates in the rage 1,1fig. Fig. Fig. 35, Fig. Fig. 57, Fig. Fig. Fig. Fig. Fig. Fig. Fig. 9, 29, 41, 150, 189, 197, 202, 208, 221, 225, Fig. 247, 255, Fig. Fig. N mtlz Volume. 176, 177, 178, 179. 180,181. 182,183,184. 185,180,187,188. -189,199,191. 192,193,194. 195,196. 197,198. 199,200. 201,202,203. 204,205,200,207. 208,209,210. 211,212,215. 218,:211,216. 217,218,219.