V OF THE NIVERSITY, OF Photo by Ottomar Anschiitz, Berlin. OCELOT FROM CENTRAL AMERICA. This is one of the most beautifully marked of all Mammals. The ornamental colouring is seldom quite the same in any two specimens. THE LIVING A NIM OF THE WORLD AN INTERESTING DESCRIPTION OF BEASTS, BIRDS, FISHES REPTILES, INSECTS, ETC., WITH AUTHENTIC ANECDOTES Photo by Otto^llar Ansc/iiitz, Berlin VOL. I. MAMMALS BT C. J. CORNISH, M.A., F.Z.S. (Editor.} F. C. SELOUS SIR HARRY JOHNSTON, G.C.M.G., K.C.B C. H. LANE, F.Z.S. LOUIS WAIN W. P. PYCRAFT, A.L.S., F.Z.S. H. A. BRYDEN F. G. AFLALO, F.Z.S. W. SAVILLE-KENT, F.L.S., F.Z.S. 567 ILLUSTRATIONS (INCLUDING 13 COLOURED PLATES) FROM PHOTOGRAPHS LONDON: HUTCHINSON CO., PATERNOSTER Row BIOLOGY LIBRARY G LETTERPRESS PRINTED BY HAZELL, WATSON AND VINEY, LD., LONDON AND AYLESBURY COLOURED-PLATES PRINTED BY A. C. FOWLER, MOORF1ELDS, LONDON VOL. I. INTRODUCTION . . BOOK I. MAMMALS. I. APES, MONKEYS, AND LEMURS II. THE CAT TRIBE III. THE FOSSA, CIVETS, AND ICHNEUMONS IV. THE HYAENAS AND AARD-WOLF V. THE DOG FAMILY . VI. THE BEARS .... VII. THE SMALLER CARNIVORA VIII. MARINE CARNIVORA : THE SEALS, SEA- LIONS, AND WALRUS IX. THE RODENTS, OR GNAWING ANIMALS X. THE BATS AND INSECT-EATING MAMMALS XI. THE ELEPHANT, TAPIR, HYRAX, AND RHINOCEROS CONTENTS PACK CHAP. . i XII. XIII. 1 33 XIV. ONS 74 . 80 XV. . 84 XVI. . 114 XVII. . 125 _ XVIII. EA- . 136 XIX. ALS 146 XX. 165 172 XXI. XXII. PAflC THE HORSE TRIBE . , .189 THE HOLLOW-HORNED RUMINANTS : OXEN, BISON, BUFFALOES, AND MUSK-OX 207 THE SHEEP AND GOATS . .221 THE ANTELOPES .... 239 THE GIRAFFE AND OKAPI . . 264 THE DEER TRIBE . . .271 THE CAMEL TRIBE AND THE CHEVROTAINS .... 302 THE PIG AND HIPPOPOTAMUS . 310 THE DUGONG, MANATEES, WHALES, PORPOISES, AND DOLL>IIINS . . 327 THE SLOTHS, ANT-EATERS, AND ARMADILLOS .... 336 MARSUPIALS AND MONOTRKMUS . 344 Ocelot from Central America The largest Gorilla ever captured African Lion and Lioness . . Wolf from Central Europe . . Himalayan Black Bear Raccoon COLOURED Facing page i . 33 65 ,, ,, 97 . 129 Chapman's Zebras ,,1(51 PLATES. Highland Cattle . . . . Facing page 193 Female Kudu 225 Northern Giraffe ,,257 Fallow Deer ,,289 A Hippopotamus gaping . . . 321 The Great Kangaroo ... ... 353 ILLUSTRATIONS IN THE TEXT. PAGE Pekin Deer in summer dress . Negro Boy and Apes Skeletons of Man and Gorilla . Sea-swallows .... African Leopard . . East African Giraffe . . Flying-fox . . Dolphins . A Happy Family , Elephants . Giant Tortoise .... A group of Crocodilians . Somali Zebras .... Sun-fish viii A young Chimpanzee (Anger, Pleasure, Fear) . Arabian Baboon "Jenny," the well-known Chimpanzee at the Zoo A young Chimpanzee . . Htad of male Gorilla . A male Gorilla . Young Orang-utans . . . Baby Orang-utans at play Two baby Orang-utans. The tug-of-war .... White-handed Gibbon Hulock Gibbon .... Head of Proboscis Monkry Cross-bearing Langu rand young 11 Male Himalayan Langur . Gelada Baboons at home . . Mantled Guereza . . Diana Monkey .... Barbary Ape . . . Rhesub Monkey . Rhesus Monkey and Sooty Mangiibey .... Grey-cheeked Mangabey . Chinese Macaque Grivet Monkey .... Bonnet Monkey and Arabian Baboon . Rhesus Monkeys Orange Snub-nosed Monkey Pig-tailed Monkey , Chaccia Baboon PAGE PAGK FAGK A young male Chucma Baboon 21 Puma. ..... 50 Large Indian Civet 74 Head of male Mandrill 22 Female Puma .... 51 African Civet .... 75 Brown Capuchin . . . 22 Ocelot 52 African Civet . . 76 Drill 22 Ocelot from Central America . 53 Sumatran Civet . . . 76 Red Howler Monkey . 23 Clouded Leopard . . . 54 77 A Spider Monkey . . 23 Fishing-cat . . 54 Two-spotted Palm-civet . 78 Patas Monkey . . 24 Marbled Cat . 54 Masked Palm-civet . . 78 Wanderoo Monkey . 24 Golden Cat 55 Binturong . . 79 Common Squirrel Monkey 25 Pampas-cat . 56 79 Black-eared Marmoset 26 56 Meercat .... hO Humboldt's Woelly Monkey . 26 Bay Cat 5C Spotted Ilyajna .... 81 Pig-tailed Monkey catching a fly 27 Kaffir Cat 57 Spotted Hyjena . . . 81 Ringed-tailed Lemur 28 African Chaus, or Jungle-cat . 57 Striped Hyaena . . 82 A Dwarf Lemur . 28 58 Aaid-wolf . . . 82 Black Lemur . 29 Male Serval 59 Young Grey Wolf . . 83 Coquerel's Lemur . 29 Serval climbing . . 60 A growing Cub . . . 84 Rutted Lemur . 29 European Wild Cat . 61 Wolf Cubs 85 Garnett's Galago . 30 Scotcli Wild Cata 62 White Wolf .... S6 Muholi Galago . . 30 Lynx . . . 83 Prairie-wolf, or Coyote 86 Slender Loris . 31 European Lynx . 64 " The Wolf with privy paw " . 87 Slow Loris. . 31 Canadian Lynx 04 Russian Wolf .... 88 Tarsier . 32 Cheetas . . . 65 A Wolf of the Carpathians 89 Head of Aye-aye 32 A Cheeta hooded . 66 Indian Wolf 90 African Lion . . . 33 A Cheeta on the look out . 67 Wolf's head 90 An Unwilling Pupil . 33 Domestic Cats : Russian Wolf . 91 Lioness aroused 34 White Short-haired 68 North African Jackal 92 Algerian Lioness 35 Long-haired White 68 Indian Jackal . . 92 A Foster-mother . 36 Mackerel -marked Tabby 69 Maned Wolf 93 /* perforrcinsr Lion . 36 Cat carrying Kitten 69 Turkish Jackal . . . 93 Lioness and Cub . 36 Blue Long-baired, or Persian 60 Wild Dog ... 9 J A young Lioness 37 Smoke and Blue Long-haired 69 Dingo 94 A Happy Family A cross between Lion and Tigress 38 38 Orange Tabby Long-haired Tabby 69 69 Dingoes ... . Cape Hnnting-dog . 95 9(5 A hunf^rv T ion 39 Silver Persian . . . 69 97 Lioness and Tiger . 40 Smoke Long-haired, or Persian 69 Mountain-fox . . . 98 Tigress . . 41 Short-haired Blue . . 70 Leicestershire Fox . . 98 Tiger Cub . 42 Silver Tabby . 70 Too difficult ! . 99 A Royal Tiger . 42 Short-haired Tabby 71 Arctic Fox (In summer ; Chang- A Tiper before sleeping . 43 Long-haired Orange 71 ing his coat ; In winter) 100 A half-grown Tiger Cub . 44 Manx 72 Fennec-fox 100 Tigers in Italy . 45 Siamese ... 72 Domestic Dogs : A Leopard-puma Hybrid . 46 Blue Long-haired, or Persian 72 Stag-hound Puppies 101 Leopards . 46 Silver Persians 7-2 Greyhound .... 102 A young Leopard Snow-leopard, or Ounce 47 48 Long-haired Chinchilla . The "Bun" or "Ticked" 73 Retriever . . . Blood-hound .... 103 104 Cheeta 49 Short-haired Cat . 73 English Setter 104 Jaguar , 50 FORM 74 Smooth-coated Saint Btuuard 10/, 689239 Illustrations in the Text, Vol. I. I run Domestic Dogs (con(inu Newfoundland . . 106 Bull-dogs . . .107 Old English Sheep-dog . . 108 Mastiff ... .108 Deer-hound . . 109 Pointer ... .109 Skyc Terrier . . . .109 Corded Poodle . 109 Pomeranian . . . 109 Scottish Terrier . 109 Maltese Toy Terrier . .109 Butterfly-dog . . . .109 Her Majesty Queen Alex- andra, with Chow and Japanese Spaniels . . 110 Sand-dog . . . .110 Pug and Pekinese Spaniel .111 Fox-terrier . . . .111 Blenheim and Prince Charles Spaniels . . . .112 Pariah Puppies . . . 112 Common Brown Bear . .113 An inviting attitude . . 114 'I bree performing Bears . . 114 Eunip';in Brown Bear . .115 Syrian Hear . . . .116 Large Russian Brown Beat . 116 American Black Bear . . 117 Young Syrian Bear from the Caucasus .... 118 & Brown Bear in search of insects 119 Polar Bears . . . .120 Two Polar Hears and a Brown Bear 121 Polar Bear 122 Half-grown Polar Bears . . 128 The Ice-bear's conch . . .124 Common Raccot I 125 Itaccoon . . . 125 Great Panda . . . .126 Kinkftjon 127 Young Otters . . 127 Two tame Otters . . 126 Sea-otter 128 A Skunk 129 A Badger in the water . .129 European Badger . . .130 Ratel 131 Pint-marten . . . 182 Pofccat 183 Himalayan Weasel . . . 133 Common Stoat (In summer and winter coats) . . . 184 Glutton . ... 134 Califomian Sea-lions, or Eared Seals 135 Rtellcr's Sea-lion . . .130 Sea-lion 137 Sea-lion ... .188 Female Walrus . . . 139 Mala Walrus . . 140 Walrus and Sea-lion . . 141 Grey Seal . .142 Giey Seal 143 Harp-seal . 144 Sea-elephant . 145 Cnpybara 146 Flying-squirrel . . . 140 Flying-squirrel . . . .147 Dorsal Squirrel from Central America .... 148 Asiatic Chipmunks . . . 148 Red-footed Ground -squirrel . 149 Black Fox-squirrel . . . 149 Long-tailed Marmot . . . I'd Prairie-dogs, or Marmots . . 151 American Bearer . . . 152 Bearer 153 Beaver . .154 Musk-rat ... .154 Gambian Pouched Rat . .155 Pocket-gopher . . 156 Long-eared Jerboa . 157 Cape Jumping- hare . 157 Octodont ... . H,8 Coypu ... .158 Short-tailed Hntia . . 159 Porcupine . .159 Porcupine . .160 Tiscacha . . . ICO Chinchilla ... .161 Agutis 161 Paca, or Spotted Gary . . 162 Pacas, or Spotted Caries . . 162 I'atagonian Cavj . . . 103 Wood-hare . . . 1C8 Wild Rabbits . 104 Australian Fruit-bat, or "Fly- ing-fox " . 165 Australian Fruit-bats . 166 Tube-nosed Fruit-bat 166 Pipistrelle Bat 1<>7 Leaf -nosed Bat 167 Cobego . 168 Cobego . .169 Cobego asleep . . 170 Three baby Hedgehogs . 170 Common Mole . . 171 Qolden Mole . . . .171 A fin* Tusker . . . .172 A young Indian Elephant . 173 The Chief of Cliiengmai's Car- riage 174 Timber-elephants . . .175 Fenmle Indian Elephant drag- ging teak .... 176 Indian Elephants bathing . 177 African Elephant . . .178 Male African Elephant drinking 179 Malayan Tapir . . . 180 Common American Tapir . 181 Hairy-eared Sumatran Rhino- ceros 182 Great Indian Rhinoceros . . 183 Great Indian Rhinoceros . . 184 Black African lihinoceroses . 185 One of the same Rhinoceroses dead .... 185 Rhinoceros bathing . . 186 Black African Rhinoceros . 187 Sumatran libinoceros . 188 Mountain-zebra . . 189 Grevy's Zebia . . .100 Burcliell's Zebra at home . 191 The lion. Walter Rothschild's team of Zebras . . . 192 Bnrcliell's Zebra, Chapman's variety .... 193 Mare and Foal of Burchell's Zebra 194 Burchell's Zebra . . . 194 Zebras on Table Mountain . 195 Quagga 195 Baluchi Wild ABB . 106 Male Kiang . . 197 Yearling Arab Colts . . 198 Arab Mare 199 Arab Mares and Foals . 200 Percheron Horse . . . 201 Hackney and Foal . 201 Ladas 202 Florizel II 202 Shetland Pony and Foal . . 203 Champion Shire Stallion . . 203 Shire Mare and Foal. . .204 Welsh Pony . . 204 Polo-pony . . . 205 Donkey . . 205 Egyptian Donkeys . . 206 Mules. ... 206 English Park-cattle . . 207 English Park Bull . . .208 Calf of English Park-cattle 208 Jersey Cow . . . 209 Spanish Cattle . . 200 Young Gaur . . . 210 Cow Gayal 211 Indian Humped Bull . 212 Indian Humped Cattla . .213 Domesticated Yak 214 American bull Bison . . 215 European Bison . . 216 American Bison. . 217 Cape Buffalo . .218 Domesticated Indian Buffalo . 218 A pair of Anoas. . . . 219 Young bull Musk-ox . 220 Young Barbary Sheep 221 Siberian Argali . . 222 Baibary Sheep . 223 Barbary Sheep . . 223 Burhal Wild Sheep . 224 Punjab Sheep 225 Fat-tailed Sheep . 225 Four-horned Sheep . 226 South Down Sheep 226 Merino Hams . . , 227 Black-faced Mountain-h*p . 228 Leicester Ewe . 228 Cross-bred Sheep 229 Lonk Ram . 230 Welsh Ewes . 280 Female Angora Goat . 231 Angora Ram , 231 British Goat . . . 232 Femala Topgenburg Goat . . 238 Stud Togpenburg Got . . 233 Schwartzals Goat . . 234 Male Alpine Ibex . . . 235 PAGE Young male Alpine Ibe . 235 Nubian Goat . . .236 Italian Goat . .237 Rocky Mountain Goat . 238 Himalayan Tahr and ymiug 238 Bubaline Hartebeest . . 230 Blesbok .... 240 White-tailed Gnu and Calf 240 A cow Brindled Gnu. . 241 Red-flanked Duiker . . .241 Klipspringer .... 242 Sing-sing Waterbuck. . . 243 Mountain Reedbuck . . . 244 Male Impala, or Palla . . 244 Male Saipa Antelopes . . 245 Arabian Gazelle. . . .246 Goitred Gazelles from Mesopo- tamia 247 Speke's Gazelle . . . .248 Gazellbs from Egypt . . .248 '/tad-fronted Gazelle . . .249 Hed-fronted Gazelle (another view) 249 Male Springbuck . . . 250 Sable Antelope . . . .251 Roan Antelope .... 252 Male of Grant's Gazelle . . 252 Group of Beisa Oryx. . .253 White Oryx . . . .254 Beisa Oryx 254 Gerenuk 255 Female Nilgai . . . .256 Addax 256 A pair of young Prongbucks . 2'>7 Female Goral . . . .258 Harnessed Antelope . . . 258 Male Kudu .... 259 Eland 200 Eland Cows . . 261 Bull Eland 262 The Southern Giraffe . 268 Southern Giraffe lying down . 264 Male Southern Giraffe . . 265 A Giraffe grazing . . . 2f>(> A Giraffe browsing . . . 2i>7 Male and female Giraffes . . 268 The OKapi of the Congo Forest 209 Head of Okapi . . . .270 Scandinavian Reindeer . . 271 Woodland Caribou . . .272 Immature Scandinavian Elk . 273 Female American Elk, or Moose 274 Park Red Deer An Asiatic Wapiti . American Wapiti American Wapiti . American Wapiti . A1I..U Wapiti Manchurian Wapiti calling An Axis Hind .... A stag Axis, or Indian Spotted Deer A Spotted Oriental Deer . A young Fallow Buck of the Brown Breed A Sambar Stag .... Formosan Sika Stag . Javan Rusa Stag Hog-deer . Young male Swamp-deer . Indian Muntjac. Male Silurian Roe . . 291 Female Siberian Roe. . 291 Siberian Roebuck . . . 202 Female European Roe Deer . 203 1'ere David's Deer . . .294 Group of Virginian Deer (two bucks, four does) . 295 A Mule-deer Fawn 296 Virginian Deer . . 297 Mule-dear Stag . . 298 Young Marsh-deer . 299 Young Himalayan Musk-deer . 300 The Camel - plough, used in Algiers 801 A White Camel . 302 Arabian Camel . 302 A Camel 803 A spring of Camels near Port Said 30:( Head of Bactrian Camel . . 804 An old male Bactrian Camel . 305 Bactrian Camel . . . 806 Young Bactrian Camel SOS Guanaco 807 Llamas . 308 Llama . 309 Alpaca . . . 309 A Domesticated Sow and her Progeny . . . .310 Wild Boar . .311 Diving-pigs . 312 PAGE Jaran Wild Pig . . 313 Male and female Babirusa . 313 Wart-hog .... 814 jElian's Wart-hog . . 314 Head of male Wart-hog . .815 Collared Peccary . . .816 A young Collared Peccary . 317 A three-year-old Hippopotamus 318 Hippopotamus drinking . 319 Hippopotamuses bathiuc. . 820 Baby Hippopotamus, aged six months . . . .321 Dental operations on a Hippo- potamus . . . 322, 323 Female Hippopotamuses . . 324 A Hippopotamus Family father, mother, and young 324 Hippopotamus .... 325 MaleandfemaleHippopotamuses 326 Dugong 327 American Manatee . . . 328 Narwhal 829 Grampus, or Killer . . .380 Short-beaked River-dolphin . 331 Sowerby's Beaked Whale . . 832 Common Porpoise . . . 833 Elliott's Dolphin . . .334 Risso's Dolphin . . . .334 Bottle-nosed Dolphin . . 335 Heavyside's Dolphin . . 335 Northern Two-toed Sloth . . 336 Three-toed Sloth . . . 3:'.7 The Great Ant-eater . . 338 Tamandua Ant-eater . . 339 Two-toed Ant-eater . . .340 Weasel-headed Armadillo . 841 Hairy-rumped Armadillo. 841 Peba Armadillo . . .841 Kapplers' Armadillo . . . 341 Cape Aard-vark .... 842 The Great Grey Kangaroo . 843 Silver-grey Kangaroo . . 844 Black-striped Wallaby . . 345 Bennett's Wallaby and the Great Grey Kangaroo . 345 Albino Red Kangaroos . . 34tt Tasmanian Wallaby . . .347 Albino Hed-belKed Wallaby . 348 Rock-wallaby . . . .849 Parry's Wallaby . . .350 Parry's Wallaby . . .850 Foot of Tree-kangaroo . . 851 Brown Tree-kangaroo . 852 Tree-kangaioos .... 853 Gaimard's Rot-kangaroo . . 854 Rat-kangaroo from New South Wales 854 Koala, or Australian Native Bear, and Cub . . .355 Koala, or Australian NativeBear 356 Koala, or Australian Native Hear 357 Squirrel-like Flying-phalanger of Victoria .... 358 Larger Flying-phalanger . . 359 Lesser Flying-phalanger . . 3i>0 Pygmy Flying-phalanger . . 301 Common Grey Opossum, or Pluilanger .... 362 Australian Urey Opossum, or Phalanger .... 863 Front view of Grey Opossum, or Phalanger . . .864 Profile view of Grey Opossum, or Phalanger . . 861 Ring-tailed Opossum, or Pha- langer, and nest . 365 Spotted Cuscus . . . 866 Common Wombat . . 367 Hairy-nosed Wombat . 368 Common Wombat . . . 808 Lonp-nosed Australian Bandi- coot 870 Rabbit-bandicoot . . . 871 Pouched Mole .... 372 Under surface of Pouched Mole S72 Tasmanian Wolf . SfH Tasmanian Wolf 373 Tasmanian Devil . 874 Spotted Dasyures, or Australian Native Cats . . .875 Brush-tailed Pouched Mouse, or Phascogale .... 376 Banded Ant-eater . . 877 Yapock, or Water-opossum . 878 Young Opossum (nato*-.*! size) . 879 Woolly American Ope 'Bum . 880 Common or Virginian Opossum 381 Echidna, or Ant-eating Porcu- pine 382 Tasmanian Echidna, or Porcu- pine Ant-eater . 883 Duck-bilUd Platypus . . 884 HH. -The photograph afdolphint on page v vat inadvertently attributed to Mr. F. 0. AHalo. The name of the photographer ihould have been Mr. T. Ltml>er v , who kindly gave permitfion for hit capital tnap that If be reproduced in Uieie paga Photo by the Duchess of Bedford] PEKIN DEER IN SUMMER DKESS. An eiample of the white spotted type of coloration so common among herbivorous mammals. [ Wobur*. INTRODUCTION. welcome accorded to -- "The Living Races of Mankind," of which the present work is the natural extension, would be a practical encourage- ment, if such were needed, to treat of the Living Eaces of Animals in like fashion. But the interest now taken in Natural History is of a kind and calibre never previously known, and any work which presents the wonders of the Animal World in a new or clearer form may make some claim to the approval of the public. The means at the disposal of those responsible for the following pages are, by mere lapse of time, greater than those of their predecessors. Every year not only adds to the stock of knowledge of the denizens of earth and ocean, but increases the facilities for presenting their forms and By permission o) Herr Carl ffagenbcck] [Hamburg. NEGRO BOY AND APES. An interesting picture of a Negro boy, with a young Chimpanzee (left side of figure) and young Orang-utan (right side of figure). i 11 The Living Animals of the World surroundings pictorially. Photography applied to the illustration of the life of beasts, birds, fishes, insects, corals, and plants is at once the most attractive and the most correct form of illustration. In the following pages it will be used on a scale never equalled in any previous publication. Without straining words, it may be said that the subjects photographed have been obtained from every part of the world, many of them from the most distant islands of the Southern Ocean, the great barrier reef of Australia, the New Zealand hills, the Indian jungle, the South African veldt, and the rivers of British Columbia. Photographs of swimming fish, the flying bird, and of the leaping salmon will be reproduced as accurately as those of the large carnivora or the giant ungulates. In accordance with the example now being set by the Museum of Natural History, the living breeds of domesticated animals will also find a place. The time and expenditure employed in illustration will be equalled by the attention given to the descriptive por- tion of the work. The Editor will have the assistance of specialists, eminent alike in the world of science and practical discovery. Mr. F. C. Selous, for example, will deal with the African Lion and the Elephants, and other sportsmen with the big game of the Dark Continent. Mr. W. Saville-Kent, the author of " The Great Barrier Reef of Australia," will treat of the Marsupials of Aus- tralia and the Reptilia; Sir Herbert Maxwell will write on the Salmonidae, and Mr. F. Gr. Aflalo on the Whales and other Cetacea of the deep seas ; while Mr. R. Lydekker, Dr. Bowdler Sharpe, Mr. W. F. Kirby, and other specialists have kindly agreed to supervise the work. Where possible the illustrations will show the crea- tures in their natural surround- ings, and in all cases the By permission oj Herr Umlauff] SKELETONS OF MAN AND GORILLA. {Hamburg. This photograph shows the remarkable similarity in the structure of the human frame (left) and that of the gorilla (right). This gorilla happened to be a particularly large specimen ; the man was of ordinary height. Photo ly Q. Watmoitgh Webster & Son] [Chester. SEA-SWALLOWS. From their long wings, forked tail, and flight, the Terns are popularly called Sea-swallows. iv The Living Animals of the World Photo by Ottomar Antchutz] [Berlin. AFRICAN LEOPARD. An example of tlitt black-spotted type of coloration BO prevalent in Garni vora. intelligence and the mind of the man-like apes, the likeness both in form and action of the latter to man has never failed to suggest that there may have existed, or may even still exist, a higher anthropoid ape nearer to the human being than those now known. The idea has taken shape in the term " the missing link." The phrase is misleading in itself. Such a creature would be no more a link in the descent of man than one im- perfectly developed limb of a tree is a link between the other branches and the stem. But it was always possible that we might find another branch which had attained a higher type than those terminating in the gorilla or chimpanzee. Recent search seems to have discovered the remains of such a creature. photographic portraits of the animals will, by the nature of things, present true and living pictures, in place of the often curiously incorrect and distorted objects, the product of illustrators' fancy rather than the record of facts, not infrequently seen in previous illustrated natural histories. It is possible that while these pages are in the press discoveries of new animals may be made, or living representatives of creatures supposed to be extinct may be discovered.* One band of explorers is engaged in seek- ing on the plains of South America for recent remains and possible survivors of the giant ground-sloths. Another expedition is engaged, in the island of Java, in an even more interesting quest. Great as is the difference between even the lowest human EAST AFRICAN GIRAFFE. This photograph was taken in the wilds of Africa by Lord Delamere, and shows the animal at home. The tree Is a mimosa, on the top shoots of which the giraffe habitually feeds. * Since this was in type, Sir Harry Johnston has reported the existence in the Congo forest, on the borders of Uganda, of a large unknown type of ruminant, the Akapi of the natives. Photo by W. Savilie-Kent, F.Z.S.} FLYING-FOX. [Oroydon. This bat, which is a native of Australia (where it was photographed), is commonly called the Flying-fox. Great flocks set out at sunset from the forest to feed upon the indigenous fruits, such as that of the native fig. In the island of Java, near one of the homes of the man-like apes of to-day, a naturalist, M. Dubois, employed by the Dutch Government, excavated some fossil-bearing gravels on a river called the Solo. These gravels belong to a period when civilised man, at any rate, did not exist. In them he found a great quantity of bones of mammals and of prehistoric crocodiles. There were no perfect skeletons, and it was fairly plain that the bodies of the creatures had been floated down the river, and there pulled to pieces by the crocodiles, just as they are in India to-day. In this place, lying within a distance of about fifteen yards from each other, he made an extraordinary discovery of animal remains. This was no less than the top of the skull of a creature much higher in development than the chimpanzee or gorilla, but lower than the lowest type of human skull. Near Photob y P . G .Ajiaio,F.z.s. it were also found two of the teeth and DOLPHINS. . This photograph was taken in rmd-ocean, and show, a couple of dolpnms Olie OI the bones OI the thigh. Ihe tlllgn following a ship across the Atlantic VI The Living Animals of the World Photo ly Frutdti Alinari] A HAPPY FAMILY. [Florence. Hyrena, tiger, and lions living in amity a remarkable proof of their tamer's power. In the same park at Hamburg, belonging to Herr Hagenbeck, are also bears, dogs, leopards, and pumas, all loose together. bone resembles very nearly that of a man, though Dr. Virchow, whom Englishmen remember in connection with the fatal illness of the German Emperor Frederick, considered it did not differ from that of one of the gibbons. The inference is that the creature walked upright ; and this fact is recorded in its scientific name. As regards the skull, some specialists in anthropology said that it was that of a large ape, of a kind of gibbon (a long- armed, upright-walking ape, described later), of a "higher anthropoid ape," and of a low type of man. Finally, Dr. Cunningham, the able secretary of the Royal Irish Zoological Society, said it resembled that of a " microcephalous idiot." It is rather strange if the remains of the first and only man ,,__.-,- found in the Lower Pleistocene should happen to be those of a microcephalous idiot, for out of many millions of men born there are perhaps only one or two of this type. Compared with the head of any of the living apes, it is very large. Its brain-holding power is about five to three compared with the skull of a gorilla, and two to One compared with that of a chimpanzee. There is a tradition in Sumatra that man-like apes exist, of a higher character than the orang-utan. Pending the discovery of more remains, the following extract is worth quoting, as giving shape to current ideas about such creatures both here and among the Malays. They take form in a very curious and interesting book, called " The Prison of Weltevreden," written by Walter M. Gibson in the middle of the last ELEPHANTS. century. His story is that he was kept in" This is another of Lord Delameres East African photographs, and shows a couple of wild elephants in the open. prison at Weltevreden, in Java, by the Dutch, Introduction vii after leading a life of adventure and enquiry among the islands of the South Atlantic and Indian Ocean ; that he came in his own small vessel to the Malay Archipelago, and spent some time in the interior of Sumatra, where he saw apparent evidences of semi-human beings. He saw the orang- utans in their native forest, and noted that they were covered with red hair, and was surprised at the slowness of their move- ments. Among some men engaged in building a stable for the raja, he saw " a dark form, tall as a middle-sized man, covered with hair, that looked soft and flowing ; the arms, hands, legs, and feet seemed well formed, like the Malays' ; the body was straight, and easily bore, on the right shoulder, the yoke of two heavy panniers filled with material for the build- ing which was going on." Gibson says that " the eyes were clearer, the nose fuller, and the lips thinner than those of the common By permission of the Son. Walter Rothschild] GIANT TORTOISE. [Tring. This photograph of Mr. Walter Rothschild riding on one of his huge tortoises gives a good idea of the relative sizes of one of the " giant tortoises" and a human being. [Florence. Photo by Fratelli Alinari] A GROUP OP CROCODILJANS. A wonder of modern animal-training. The photograph shows a number of living crocodilians with their trainer. They have been on exhibition in Florence for some years past, and are still to be seen there. < Vlll The Living Animals of the World Malay, but the mouth was wide, the lips protruding, and a chin formed no part of its hairy face ; yet it was pleasantly human in expression," much more so than the dirty, mottle-faced coolies and lascars he had seen. We quote the ac- count, as showing, if true, that Gibson saw an anthropoid ape taught to work. It may be a mere coincidence, but it is nevertheless somewhat remarkable that the two great black man-like apes, the chimpanzee and the gorilla, inhabit the same con- tinent as some of the blackest races of mankind, while the red orang- utan is found in countries where the yellow-skinned Malay races of man are indigenous. SOMALI ZEBRAS. This is a photograph of a group of zebras taken in Africa by Lord Delamere, and gives some idea of the surrounding country, where they live in happy freedom. The special thanks of the Editor and Publishers are due to a great many naturalists and, zoologists for the valuable help they have given to, and the interest they have taken in, this work while it has been in preparation. No doubt, before the complete work is published, a great many more names will be added to the list, but meanwhile grateful acknowledgment should be made to the following : Her Grace the Duchess of Bedford, who has kindly allowed many of her fine photographs to be reproduced in these pages; the Hon. Walter Rothschild, M.P., for the splendid collection of photographs taken especially for him in all parts of the world ; Lord Delamere, for several unique photographs taken with a telephoto lens during his celebrated expedition to Africa; Major Nott, F.Z.S., for the use of his scientific series of animal jjhotographs ; Dr. R. W. Shufeldt, of Washington, for many photographs of fish and other animals in their natural surroundings; Mr. W. Savllle- Kent, F.Z.S., F.L.S., for the photographs taken by him while in Australia,; Mr. Lewis Medland, F.Z.S.,for the use of his singularly complete set of animal photographs ; Herr Carl Hagenbeck, of Hamburg, for permission to use his photographs of some extremely rare specimens of animals which from time to time have found a tem- porary home at his wonderful Thierpark; the Trustees of the British Museum, for permission to photograph some of their animals ; Professor E. Ray Lankester, Director of the Natural History Branch of the British Museum; and the Zoological Society, for permission to photo- graph some of the animals. And also to Herr Ottomar Anschiltz, of Berlin ; Messrs. Bond 4* Graver, of the Scholastic Photographic Co.; Signor Allnari, of Florence ; Messrs. Kerry $ Co. and Mr. Henry King, of Sydney ; Mr. Charle* Knight ; Mr. J. W. McLdlan ; Messrs. Charles and William Reid; Messrs. A. S. Rudland $ Sons; and Messrs. York fy Sons, for permission to reproduce their photographs. Photo ly Dr. R. W. Shufeldt] SUN-FISH. [ Washington. This photograph was taken through the water by Dr. R. W. Shufeldt, who has made a speciality oi this kind of photography. Photos by Q. W, Wition F - z ^ . , ., r c . ,. SLOW LORIS. not give an adequate idea ot the size 01 ot _: ma i ,, n t nhown to Another of the slow-moving loris group. These animals are the eyes. the general public at the Zoo, but kept in a specially warmed room. The Living Animals of the World Photo by A. S. Rudland & Sons. TARSIER. These little animals hop about in the trees like frogs. They are nocturnal, and seldom seen. THE AYE-AYE. Last, and most remarkable of all these weird lemuroids, is the A YE- AYE. It is placed in a group by itself, and has teeth like those of the Eodents, a large bushy tail, and most extra- ordinarily long, slender fingers, which it probably uses for pick- ing caterpillars and grubs out of rotten wood. It is nearly as large as an Arctic fox, but its habits are those of a lemur. In Mada- gascar it haunts the bamboo forests, feeding on the juice of sugar-cane, grubs, and insects. The fingers of its hands are of different sizes and lengths, though all are abnormally long and slender. The second finger seems to have " wasted," but is said to be of the utmost value to its owner in extracting grubs and insects from the burrows in which they dwell, or the crannies in which they may have taken refuge. Very seldom is this animal seen alive in captivity. Although commonly called Aye-aye in this country, it is doubtful if this is really its native name. The aye-aye was long a puzzle to naturalists, but is now classed as a lemuroid. THE living races of animals have thus far been reviewed along the completed list of the first great order the Primates. Even in that circumscribed group how great is the tendency to depart from the main type, and how wonderful the adaptation to meet the various needs of the creatures' environment ! The skeletons, the frames on which these various beings are built up, remain the same in character; but the differences of proportion in the limbs, of the muscles with which they are equipped, and of the weight of the bodies to be moved are astonishing. Compare, for instance, the head of the male Gorilla, with its great ridges of bone, to which are attached the muscles which enable it to devour hard tropical fruits and bite off young saplings and bamboos, with the rounded and delicate head of the Insect-eating Monkeys of South Africa; or set side by side the hand of the Chimpanzee with that of the Aye- aye, with its delicate, slender fingers, like those of a skeleton hand. What could be more diverse than the movements of these creatures, whose structure is nevertheless so much alike ? Some of the lemuroids are as active as squirrels, flying lightly from branch to branch ; in others, as the Slow Lorises, the power of rapid move- ment has disappeared, and been replaced by a creeping gait which cannot be accelerated. Already, in a single order, we see the rich diversity of nature, and its steady tendency to make all existing things serviceable by adapting other parts of creation to their use or enjoyment. Photo by L. Midland, F.Z.S., N. Finchley. HEAD OF AYE-AYE. The aye-aye lives mainly in the wild, sugar-cane gro% - es, and feeds on insects and grubs, as well as on the juice of the sugar- cane. Photo by Charles Knight, Aldershot. AFRICAN LION AND LIONESS. These animals are so numerous in the new British Protectorate of East Africa that they are exempted from protection. Photo by Fratelli Alinari] [florenvt. AFKTCAX LION. 'This lion is almost in the attitude of those sculptured by Sir Edwin Landseer for U.e Xelson Monuineut, but the feet are turned in, and not lying flat. CHAPTER II. THE CAT TRIBE. THOUGH only one species is entirely domesticated, and none of the Cats have flesh edible by man, except perhaps the puma, no group of animals has attracted more interest tluin tliis. Containing more than forty species, ranging in size from the ox-devouring tiger or lion to the small wild cats, they are so alike in habit and structure that no one could possibly mistake the type or go far wrong in guessing at the habits of any one of them. They are all flesh-eaters and destroyers of living animals. All have rounded heads, and an extraordinary equipment of teeth and of claws, and of muscles to use them. The blow of the forearm of a lion or tiger is inconceivably powerful, in proportion to its size. A stroke from a tiger's paw has been known to strike off a native's arm from the shoulder and leave it hanging by a piece of skin, and a similar blow from a lion to crush the skull of an ox. The true cats are known by the power to draw back, or " retract," their claws into sheaths of horn, rendering their footsteps noiseless, and keeping these weapons always sharp. The hunting-leopard has only a partial capacity for doing this. The characteristics of the Cats and their allies are too well known to need description. We will therefore only mention the chief types of the group, and proceed to give, in the fullest detail which space allows, authentic anecdotes of their life and habits. The tribe includes Lions, Tigers, Leopards. Pumas, Jaguars, a large number of so-called Tiger-cats (spotted and striped), Wild Cats, Domestic Cats, and Lynxes. The Hunting-leopard, or Cheeta, stands in a sub-group by itself, as does the Fossa, the only large carnivore of Madagascar. S3 5 By permission of Herr Carl Hagenbtck, Hamburg. AN UNWILLING PUPIL. This is one of Herr Hagenbeck's famous per forming tigers. 34 The Living Animals of the World This closes the list of the most cat-like animals. The next links in the chain are formed by the Civets and Genets, creatures with more or less retractile claws, and long, bushy tails; the still less cat-like Binturong, a creature with a prehensile tail ; and the Mongooses and Ichneumons, more and more nearly resembling the weasel tribe. THE LION. KECENT intrusions for railways, sport, discovery, and war into Central and East Africa have opened up new lion countries, and confirmed, in the most striking manner, the stories of the power, the prowess, and the dreadful destruc- tiveness to man and beast of this king of the Carnivora. At present it is found in Persia, on the same rivers where Nimrod and the Assyrian kings made its pursuit their royal sport ; in Gujerat, where it is nearly extinct, though in General Price's work on Indian game written before the middle of the last century it is stated that a cavalry officer killed eighty lions in three years ; and in Africa, from Algeria to the Bechuana country. It is especially common in Somaliland, where the modern lion-hunter mainly seeks his sport. On the Uganda Eailway, from Mombasa to Lake Victoria, lions are very numerous and dangerous. In Khodesia and the Northern Transvaal they have killed hunters, railway officials, and even our soldiers near Komati Poort. It has been found that whole tracts of country are still often deserted by their inhabitants from fear of lions, and that the accounts of their ravages contained in the Old Testament, telling how Samaria was almost deserted a second time from this cause, might be paralleled to-day. THE AFRICAN LION. BY F. C. SELOUS. When, in the latter half of the seventeenth century, Europeans first settled at the Cape of Good Hope, the lion's roar was probably to be heard almost nightly on the slopes of Table Mountain, since a quaint entry in the Diary of Van Eiebeck, the first Dutch governor of the Cape, runs thus : " This night the lions roared as if they would take the fort by storm " the said fort being situated on the site of the city now known as Cape Town. At that date there can be little doubt that, excepting in the waterless deserts and the dense equatorial forests, lions roamed over the whole of the vast continent of Africa from Cape Agulhas to the very shore of the Mediterranean Sea ; nor was their range very seriously curtailed until the spread of European settlements in North and South Africa, and the acquisition of firearms by the aboriginal inhabitants of many parts of the country, during the latter half of the nineteenth century, steadily denuded large areas of all wild game. As the game vanished, the lions disappeared too; for although at first they preyed to a large extent on the domestic flocks and herds which gradually replaced the wild denizens of Photo by York & Son] [NoMng Hill. LIONESS AROUSED. The pose of the animal here shows attention, but not anger or fear. Photo by JV/. Geiser] [Algiers. ALGERIAN LIONESS. This lioness, sitting under an olive-tree, was actually photographed in the Soudan hy the intrepid M. Geiser. 35 The Living Animals of the World the once-uninhabited plains, this practice brought them into conflict with the white colonists or native herdsmen armed with weapons of precision, before whom they rapidly succumbed. To-day lions are still to be found wherever game exists in any quantity, and their numbers will be in proportion to those of the wild animals on which they prey. The indefinite increase of lions must be checked by some unknown law of A FOSTER-MOTHER. This is a remarkable photograph of a setter suckling three lion cubs which had lost their mother. It is reproduced here by permission of the Editor of the Irish Field, nature, otherwise they would have become so numerous in the sparsely inhabited or altogether uninhabited parts of Africa, that they would first have exterminated all the game on which they had been wont to prey, and would then have had to starve or to have eaten one another. But such a state of things has never been known to occur; and whenever Europeans have entered a previously unexplored and uninhabited tract of country in Africa, and have found it teeming with buffaloes, zebras, and antelopes, they have always found lions in such districts very plentiful indeed, but never in such numbers as to seriously diminish the abundance of the Photo by G. W. Wilson A Co., Ltd.] [Aberdeen. LIONESS AND CUB. Lion cubs thrive both in Dublin and Amsterdam, but not so well at the London Zoo. By permission of //err Carl ffagenbeck] [Hamburg. A PERFORMING LION. Lions, it would seem, are capable of being taught almost anything, even tricycle-riding. game upon which they de- pended for food. It is easy to understand that the increase of a herd of herbivorous animals would be regulated by the amount of the food-supply available, as well as constantly checked by the attacks of the large carnivora, such as lions, leopards, cheetas, hyaenas, and wild dogs ; but I have never been able to comprehend what has kept within bounds the inordinate increase of lions and other carnivorous animals in countries where for ages past they have had an abundant food-supply, and The Cat Tribe 37 at the same time, having been almost entirely unmolested by human beings, have had no enemies. Perhaps such a state of things does not exist at the present day, but there are many parts of Africa where such conditions have existed from time immemorial up to within quite recent years. Since lions were once to be found over the greater portion of the vast continent of Africa, it is self-evident that these animals are able to accommodate themselves to great variations of climate and surroundings ; and I myself have rnet with them, close to the sea, in the hot and sultry coastlands of South-east Africa; on the high plateau of Mashonaland, where at an altitude of 6,000 feet above sea-level the winter nights are cold and frosty ; amongst the stony hills to the east of the Victoria Falls of the Zambesi ; and in the swamps of the Chobi. In the great reed-beds of the latter river a certain number of lions appeared to live constantly, preying on buffaloes and lechwe antelopes. I often heard them roaring at nights Photo by Pratelli Alinari] [ftorence. A YOUNG LIONESS. The sole of the hind foot shows the soft pads on which the Cats noiselessly approach their prey. in these swamps, and I once saw two big male lions wading slowly across an open space between two beds of reeds in water nearly a foot in depth. Although there are great individual differences in lions as regards size, general colour of coat, and more particularly in the length, colour, and profuseness of the mane with which the males are adorned, yet as these differences occur in every part of Africa where lions are met with, and since constant varieties with one fixed type of mane living by themselves and not interbreeding with other varieties do not exist anywhere, modern zoologists are, I think, now agreed that there is only one species of lion, since in any large series of wild lion skins, made in any particular district of Africa or Asia, every gradation will be found between the finest-maned specimens and those which are destitute of any mane at all. Several local race? have, however, been recently described by German writers. In the hot and steamy coastlands of tropical Africa lions usually have short manes, and never, I believe, attain the long silky black manes sometimes met with on the high plateaux of the interior. However, there is, I believe, no part of Africa where all or even the majority The Living Animals of the World By permission of Herr Carl Hagenbeck] A HAPPY FAMILY. [Hamburg. Here is a group of animals and their keeper from Herr Hagenbeck's Thierpark. The animal in front is a cros3 between a lion and a tigress ; he lives on quite friendly terms with his keeper, and also with lions, tigers, and leopards, as seen in the photograph. of male lions carry heavy manes, the long hair of which does not as a rule cover more than the neck and chest, with a tag of varying length and thick- ness extending from the back of the neck to between the shoulder- blades. Lions with very full black manes, covering the whole shoulders, are rare anywhere, but more likely to be encountered on the high plateaux, where the winter nights are extremely cold, than anywhere else. In such cases, in addition to the tufts of hair always found on the elbows and in the armpits of lions with fair-sized manes, there will probably be large tufts of hair in each flank just where the thighs join the belly ; but I have never yet seen the skin of a lion shot within the last thirty years with the whole belly covered with long, thick hair, as may constantly be observed in lions kept in captivity in the menageries of Europe. There is, however, some evidence to show that, when lions existed on the high plains of the Cape Colony and the Orange River Colony, where the winter nights are much colder than in the countries farther north where lions may still be encountered, certain individuals of the species developed a growth of long hair all over the belly, as well as an extraordinary luxuriance of mane on the neck and shoulders. From the foregoing remarks it will be seen that wild lions, having as a rule much less luxuriant manes than many examples of their kind to be seen in European menageries, are ordinarily not so majestic and dignified in appearance as many of their caged relatives. On the other hand, the wild lion is a much more alert and active animal than a menagerie specimen, and when in good condition is far better built and more powerful-looking, being free from all appearance of lankiness and weakness in the legs, and having strong, well-formed hindquarters. The eyes of the menagerie lion, too, look brOWn and USUally By permission of Herr Carl Hagtnbeck] [Hamburg. sleepy, whilst those of the wild animal are A CROSS BETWEEN LION AND TIGRESS. yellow, and extraordinarily luminOUS even This unique photograph shows a remarkable hybrid and its proud parents. after death. When WOUnded and Standing e father (on the right) is a lion, and the mother (on the left) a tigres^ The offspring (in the centre) is a fine, large male, now four years old ; it u at bay, With head held low between his bipger than an average-sized lion or tiger. Photo by Ottomar Anscliiitz] {Berlin. A HUNGRY LION. Notice that the mane, as in most wild lions, is \eryscanty. 39 40 The Living Animals of the World By permission of Herr Carl Hagenbeck] LIONESS AND TIGER. [Hamburg. The straightness of the lioness's tail is here shown. It is not in the least like that of the tiger or of the cat. shoulders, growling hoarsely, and with twitching tail, even if he is not near enough to be observed very closely, a lion looks a very savage and dangerous animal ; but should he be wounded in such a way as to admit of a near approach perhaps by a shot that has paralysed his hind- quarters his flaming eyes will seem to throw out sparks of living fire. Speaking generally, there is little or no danger in meeting a lion or lions in the day- time. Even in parts of the country where fire- arms are unknown, and where the natives seldom or never interfere with them, these animals seem to have an instinctive fear of man, and even when encountered at the carcase of an animal freshly killed, and at a time when they may be supposed to be hungry, they will almost invariably retreat before the unwelcome presence, sometimes slowly and sulkily, but in districts where much hunting with firearms has been going on at a very rapid pace. However, I have known of two cases of Europeans mounted on horseback having been attacked by lions in broad daylight, and Dr. Livingstone mentions a third. In one of the instances which came within my own knowledge, a lion sprang at a Boer hunter as he was riding slowly along, carrying an elephant-gun in his right hand and followed by a string of natives on foot. The lion attacked from the left side, and with its right paw seized my friend from behind by the right side of his face and neck, inflicting deep gashes with its sharp claws, one of which cut right through his cheek and tore out one of his teeth. My friend was pulled from his horse, but, clutching the loosely girthed saddle tightly with his knees, it twisted round under the horse's belly before he fell to the ground. Instead of following up its success, the lion, probably scared by the shouting of the Kaffirs, trotted away for a short distance, and then turned and stood looking at the dismounted hunter, who, never having lost his presence of mind, immediately shot it dead with his heavy old muzzle-loading elephant-gun. Besides these three instances of Europeans having been attacked in the daytime by lions, I have known of a certain number of natives having been killed in broad daylight. Such incidents are, however, by no means every-day occurrences, and, speaking generally, it may be said that the risk of molestation by lions in Africa during daylight is very small. It is by night that lions roam abroad with stealthy step in search of prey; and at such times they are often, when hungry, incredibly bold and daring. I have known them upon several occasions to enter a hunter's camp, and, regardless of fires, to seize oxen and horses and human beings. During the year following the first occupation of Mashonaland in 1890, a great deal of damage was done by lions, which could not resist the attractions of the settlers' live stock. For the first few months I kept as accurate an account as I could of the number of horses, The Cat Tribe donkeys, oxen, sheep, goats, and pigs which were killed by lions, and it soon mounted up to over 200 head. During the same time several white men were also mauled by lions, and one unfortunate man named Teale was dragged from beneath the cart, where he was sleeping by the side of a native driver, and at once killed and eaten. Several of the horses were killed inside rough shelters serving as stables. In the following year (1891) over 100 pigs were killed in one night by a single lioness. These pigs were in a series of pens, separated one from another, but all under one low thatched roof. The lioness forced her way in between two poles, and apparently was unable, after having satisfied her hunger, to find her way out again, and, becoming angry and frightened, wandered backwards and forwards through the pens, killing almost all the pigs, each one with a bite at the back of the head or neck. This lioness, which had only eaten portions of two young pigs, made her escape before daylight, but was killed with a set gun the next night by the owner of the pigs. When lions grow old, they are always liable to become man-eaters. Finding their strength failing them, and being no longer able to hunt and pull down large antelopes or zebras, they are driven by hunger to killing small animals, such as porcupines, and even tortoises, or they may visit a native village and catch a goat, or kill a child or woman going for water ; and finding a human being a very easy animal to catch and kill, an old lion which has once tasted human flesh will in all probability continue to be a man-eater until he is killed. On this subject, in his "Missionary Travels," Dr. Livingstone says: "A man-eater is invariably an old lion ; and when he overcomes his fear of man so far as to come to villages for goats, the people remark, ' His teeth are worn ; he will soon kill men/ They at once acknowledge the necessity of instant action, and turn out to kill him." It is the promptness with which measures are taken by the greater part of the natives of Southern Africa to put an end to Photo ly Ottomar Anschiit:] TIGRESS. Were the grass seen here the normal height of that in the Indian jungles, the upright lines uld harmonise with the stripes, and r, tiger almost invisible. O The Living Animals of the World Photo by L. Midland, F.Z S., North Finchley. TIGEB CUB. any lion which may take to eating men that prevents these animals as a rule from becoming the formidable pests which man-eating tigers appear to be in parts of India. But man-eating lions in Africa are not invariably old animals. One which killed thirty-seven human beings in 1887, on the Majili River, to the north-west of the Victoria Falls of the Zambesi, was, when at last he was killed, found to be an animal in the prime of life ; whilst the celebrated man- eaters of the Tsavo River, in East Africa, were also apparently strong, healthy animals. These two man-eating lions caused such consternation amongst the Indian workmen on the Uganda Railway that the work of construction was con- siderably retarded, the helpless coolies refusing to remain any longer in a country where they were liable to be eaten on any night by a man-eating lion. Both these lions were at last shot by one of the engineers on the railway (Mr. J. H. Patterson), but not before they had killed and devoured twenty-eight Indian coolies and an unknown number of native Africans. Note the great development of the legs THE TIGER. and paws. TIGERS are the " type animal " of Asia. They are found nowhere else. Lions were inhabitants, even in historic times, of Europe, and are still common on the Euphrates and in parts of Persia, just as they were when the Assyrian kings shot them with arrows from their hunting-chariots. They survived in Greece far later than the days when story says that Hercules slew the Nemean lion in the Peloponnesus, for the baggage-animals of Xerxes' army of invasion were attacked by lions near Mount Athos. But the tiger never comes, and never did come in historic times, nearer to Europe than the Caucasian side of the Caspian Sea. On the other hand, they range very far north. All our tiger-lore is Indian. There is scarcely a story of tigers to be found in English books of sport which deals with the animal north of the line of the Himalaya. These Chinese northern tigers and the Siberian tigers are far larger than those of India. They have long woolly coats, in order to resist the cold. Their skins are brought to London in hundreds every year to the great fur-sales. * BOYAL TIGER. But the animals them- Photo by Valentine & Sons, Ltd.] [Dundee. This is an old Bengal Tiger, with the smooth, short coat grown in that hot climate. The Cat Tribe 43 Photo by Fratelli Alinart^ A TIGER BEFOBE SLEEPING. Tigers, when about to sloep, sit in this position ; whan more drowsy, they lie down or roll oyeron their backs. (Florence. selves we never see. The present writer was informed by a friend that in the Amur Valley he shot three of these tigers in a day, putting them up in thick bush- scrub by the aid of dogs. The EOYAL BENGAL TIGER, so called, and very properly called in the old. books of natural history, is a different and far more savage beast. It is almost invariably a ferocious savage, fierce by nature, never wishing to be otherwise than a destroyer of beasts mainly, but often of men. Compared with the lion, it is far longer, but rather Lighter, for the lion is more massive and compact. " A well-grown tigress," says Sir Samuel Baker, " may weigh on an average 240 Ibs. live weight. A very fine tiger may weigh 440 Ibs., but if fat the same tiger would weigh 500 Ibs. There may be tigers which weigh 50 Ibs. more than this; but I speak according to my experience. I have found that a tiger of 9 feet 8 inches is about 2 inches above the average. The same skin may be stretched to measure 10 feet. A tiger in the Zoological Gardens is a long, lithe creature with little flesh. Such a specimen affords a poor example of this grand animal in its native jungle's, with muscles in their full, ponderous development from continual exertion in nightly travels over long distances, and in mortal struggles when wrestling with its prey. A well-fed tiger is by no means a slim figure. On the contrary, it is exceedingly bulky, broad in the shoulders, back, and loins, and with an extraordinary girth of limb^, especially in the forearms and wrists." This ponderous, active, and formidably armed creature is, as might be expected, able to hold its own wherever Europeans do not form part of the regular population. In India the peasants are quite helpless even against a cattle-killing tiger in a populous part of the country. In the large jungles, and on the islands at the mouths of the great rivers, the tigers have things 44 The Living Animals of the World all their own way. Things are no better in the Far East. A large peninsula near Singapore is said to have been almost abandoned by its cultivators lately, owing to the loss of life caused by the tigers. In the populous parts of India the tiger is far more stealthy than in the out-of-the-way districts. It only hunts by night ; and after eating a part of the animal killed, moves off to a distance, and does not return. Otherwise the regular habit is to return to the kill just at or after dusk, and finish the remainder. Its suspicions seem quite lulled to sleep after dark. Quite recently a sportsman sat up to watch for a tiger at a water-hole. It was in the height of the Indian hot season, when very little water was left. All the creatures of that particular neighbourhood were in the habit of coming to drink at one good pool still left in the rocky bed of the river. There the tigers came too. The first night they did not come until all the other creatures hog, deer, peacocks, and monkeys had been down to drink. They then came so softly over the sand that the gunner in waiting did not hear them pass. His first knowledge that they were there was due to the splashing they made as they entered the water. It was quite dark, and he felt not a little nervous, for the bush on which he was seated on a small platform was only some 10 feet high. He heard the two tigers pass him, not by their footsteps, but by the dripping of the water as it ran off their bodies on to the sand. Next night they came again. This time, though it was dark, he shot one in a very in- genious manner. The two tigers walked into the water, and apparently lay down or sat down in it, with their heads out. They only moved occasionally, lapping the water, but did not greatly disturb the surface. On this was reflected a bright star from the sky above. The sports- man put the sight of the rifle on the star, and kept it up to his shoulder. Something obliterated the star, and he instantly fired. The "something" was the tiger's head, which the bullet duly hit. The hill-tigers of India are, or were, much more given to hunting by day than the jungle- tigers. In the Nilgiri Hills of Southern India the late General Douglas Hamilton said that before night the tigers were already about hunting, and that in the shade of evening it was dangerous to ride on a pony not because the tigers wished to kill the rider, but because they might mistake the pony and its rider for a sambar deer. He was stalked like this more than once. Often, when stalking sambar deer and ibex by day, he saw the tigers doing the same, or after other prey. "My brother Kichard," he writes, "was out after a tiger which the hillmen reported had killed a buffalo about an hour before. He saw the tiger on first getting to the ground, and the tiger had seen him. It was lying out in the open watching the buffalo, and shuffled into the wood, and would not come out again. Next morning, when we got to the ground, the tiger was moving from rock to rock, and had dragged the body into a nullah. . . . We were upon the point of starting home when we observed a number of vultures coming down to the carcase. The vultures began to collect in large numbers on the opposite hill. I [Panon't Green. flioto by Scholastic Pkoto. Co.] A HALF-GROWN TIGER CUB. Tigerg " grow to their head," like children. The head of a half -grown cub is as long, though not so broad, as that of tbe adult. Photo by Fratelli Alinari] These tigers were [Florence. TIGERS IX ITALY. photographed in Turin. Italy was the first European country to which these animals were brought from the East. 43 The Living Animals of the World [Hamburg. soon counted fifty ; but they would not go near the buffalo. Then some crows, bolder than the rest, flew down, and made a great row over their meal. All of a sudden they all flew up, and I made certain it was the tiger. Then my brother fired, and there he was, shot right through the brain, lying just above the buffalo. He had been brought down by the noise the crows were making. Upon driving the skolas (small woods on these hills), tigers were often put out. Some- times they availed themselves of the drive to secure food for themselves. A wood was being driven, when a tremendous grunting was heard, and out rushed an old boar, bristling and savage. B was about to raise his rifle, when a growl like thunder stopped him, and a great tiger with one spring cleared the nullah, and alighted on the back of the old boar. Such a battle then took place that, what with the growls of the tiger and the squeals of the boar, one might believe oneself in another world. I thought of nothing but of how to kill one or the other, or both ; so, as they were rolling down over and over, about fifty yards from me on the open hill- side, I let fly both barrels. For a second or two the noise went on ; then the tiger jumped off, and the boar struggled into the nullah close by. The tiger pulled up, and coolly stared at us without moving ; but his courage seemed to fail him, and he sprang into the nullah and disappeared." In most parts of India tigers are now scarce and shy, except in the preserves of the great rajas, and the dominions of some mighty and pious Hindu potentates, such as the Maharaja of Jeypur, who, being supposed to be descended from a Hindu god, allows no wild animals to be killed. There the deer and pig are so numerous that tigers are welcome to keep them down. But the Sunderbunds, unwholesome islands at the Ganges mouth, still swarm with them. So does the Malay Peninsula. Mr. J. D. Cobbold shot a tiger in Central Asia in a swamp so deep in snow and so deadly cold that he dared not stay for fear of being frozen to death. Tigers sometimes wander as far west as the Caucasus near the Caspian. The farther north, the larger your tiger, is the rule. The biggest ever seen in Europe was a Siberian tiger owned by Herr Carl BJI permission of Herr Carl Hagtnbtck] A LEOPARD-PUMA HYBRID. This is a photograph from life of a very rare hybrid. The animals' father was a puma, its mother a leopard. It is now dead, and may bt seen stuffed in Mr. Rothschild's Museum at Tring. Photo by L. Mcdland, F.Z.S.] LEOPARDS. (North Finchley. A pair of leopards, one spotted, the other black. Black leopards may be the offspring of the ordinary spotted form : they are generally much more savage Hagenbeck, of Hamburg, and the largest known skin and skull is from the Far The Cat Tribe 47 North. The skin is 13 feet 6 inches from the nose to the end of the tail. The largest Indian tiger-skin, from one killed by the Maharaja of Cuch Eehar, measures 11 feet 7 inches. LEOPARDS. LESS in size, but even more ferocious, the LEOPARD has a worse character than the tiger.' Living mainly in trees, and very nocturnal, this fierce and dangerous beast is less often seen than far rarer animals. It is widely spread over the world, from the Cape of Good Hope to the Atlas Mountains, and from Southern China to the Black Sea, where it is sometimes met with in the Caucasus. There seems to be no legend of its presence in ' Greece, Italy, or Spain; but it was quite common in Asia Minor; and Cicero, when governor of Cilicia, was plagued by an aristocratic young friend in Koine to send him leopards to exhibit in a fete he was giving. Any one who has frequented the Zoo for any time must have noticed the difference in size and colour between leopards from different parts of the world. On some the ground- colour is almost white, in others a clear nut-brown. Others are jet-black. Wherever they live, they are cattle thieves, sheep thieves, and dog thieves. Though not formidable in appearance, they are immensely strong. Sometimes one will turn man-eater. Both in India and lately in Africa cases have been known where they have " set up " in this line as deliberately as any tiger. They have four or five young at a birth, which may often be kept tame for some time and are amusing pets. But the following plain story shows the danger of such experiments. At Hong-kong an English merchant had a tame leopard, which was brought into the room by a coolie for the guests to see at a dinner party. Excited by the smell of food, it refused to go out when one of the ladies, who did not like its looks, wished for it to be removed. The man took hold of its collar and began to haul it out. It seized him by the neck, bit it through, and in a minute the coolie was dying, covered with blood, on the dining-room floor ! Photo by C, Reid] [Wiiliav:, N.B. A YOUNG LEOPARD opard oib is far more cat-like in appearance than the young tiger or lion. 48 The Living Animals of the World The Chinese leopard ranges as fur north as the Siberian tiger, and, like the latter, seems to grow larger the farther north it is found. The colour of these northern leopards is very pale, the spots large, and the fur very long. At the March fur-sales of the present year, held at the stores of Sir Charles Lampson, there were Siberian leopard-skins as large as those of a small tiger. Leopards are essentially tree-living and nocturnal animals. Sleeping in trees or caves by day, they are seldom disturbed. They do an incredible amount of mischief among cattle, calves, sheep, and dogs, being especially fond of killing and eating the latter. They seize their prey by the throat, and cling with their claws until they succeed in breaking the spine or in strangling the victim. The largest leopards are popularly called PANTHERS. In India they sometimes become man-eaters, and are always very dangerous. They have a habit of feeding on putrid flesh ; this makes wounds inflicted by their teeth or claws liable to blood-poisoning. Nothing in the way of prey comes amiss to them, from a cow in the pasture to a fowl up at roost. " In every country," says Sir Samuel Baker, " the natives are unani- mous in saying that the leopard is more dangerous than the lion or tiger. Wherever I have been in Africa, the natives have declared that they had no fear of a lion, provided they were not hunting, for it would not attack unpro- voked, but that a leopard was never to be trusted. I remember when a native boy, accompanied by his grown-up brother, Photo by J. W. McLellan] [Highbury. SNOW-LEOPARD, OR OUNCE. This is a striking portrait of a very beautiful animal. Note the long bushy tail, thick coat, and large eyes. was busily employed with others in firing the reeds on the .opposite bank of a small stream. Being thirsty and hot, the boy stooped down to drink, when he was immediately seized by a leopard. His brother, with admirable aim, hurled his spear at the leopard while the boy was in his jaws. The point separated the vertebrae of the neck, and the leopard fell stone- dead. The boy was carried to my hut, but there was no chance of recovery. The fangs had torn open the chest and injured the lungs. These were exposed to view through the cavity of the ribs. He died the same night." In the great mountain-ranges of Central Asia the beautiful SNOW-LEOPARD is found. It is a large creature, with thick, woolly coat, and a long tail like a fur boa. The colour is white, clouded with beautiful grey, like that of an Angora cat. The edges of the cloundings and spots are marked with black or darker grey. The eyes are very large, bluish grey or smoke-coloured. It lives on the wild sheep, ibex, and other mountain animals. In captivity it is far the tamest and gentlest of the large carnivora, not excepting the puma. Unlike the latter, it is a sleepy, quiet animal, like a domestic cat. The specimen shown here belonged to a lady in India, who kept it for some time as a pet. It was then brought to the Zoological Gardens, where it was more amiable and friendly than most cats. The writer has entered its cage with the keeper, stroked it, and patted its head, without in the least ruffling its good- temper. The heat of the lion-house did not suit it, and it died of consumption. Photo ly OUomar Angchiltz} [Berlin. CHEETA. A cheeta is a hunting-leopard ; this one is a particularly large specimen. The cheetas are dealt with later on in this chapter. 49 7 50 The Living Animals of the World Pltoto by U. W. Wtison On C'o., Ltd.\ JAGUAB. The largest and strongest of the Cats of the Kew World. A South American species. THE NEW WORLD CATS. THE cats, great and small, of the New World resemble those of the Old, though not quite so closely as the caribou, wapiti deer, and moose of the northern forests resemble the reindeer. red deer, and elk of Europe. They are like, but with a difference. The Jaguar and the Ocelot are respectively larger and far more beautiful than their counterparts, the leopard and serval cats. Bat the Puma, the one medium-sized feline animal which is unspotted, is something unique. The jaguar and puma are found very far south in South America; and though the jaguar is really a forest animal, it seems to have wandered out on to the Pampas of Argentina, perhaps attracted by the immense numbers of cattle, sheep, and horses on these plains. THE JAGUAR. The JAGUAR is as savage as it is formidable, but does not often attack men. Its headquarters are the immense forests running from Central America to Southern Brazil ; and as all great forests are little inhabited, the jaguar is seldom encoun- tered by white rnen. By the banks of the great rivers it is semi-aquatic; it swims and climbs with equal ease, and will attack animals on board boats anchored in the rivers. As there are few animal* of great size in these forests, its great strength is not often seen exercised, as is that of the lion ; but it is the personification of concentrated force, and its appearance is well worth studying from that point of view. The spots are larger and squarer than in the leopard, the head ponderous, the forearms and feet one mass of muscle, knotted under the velvet skin. On the Amazons it draws its food alike from the highest tree-tops and the river-bed ; in the former it catches monkeys in the branches, fish in the shallows of the rivers, and scoops out turtles' eggs from the sandbanks. Humboldt, who visited these regions when the white population Photo Uy Scholastic Photo. Co., Parson's Green. PUJJA. A puma in the act of lying down, like a domestic cat. The Cat Tribe 51 was scarce, declared that 4,000 jaguars were killed annually, and 2,000 skins exported from Ihienos Ayres alone. It was clearly common on the Pampas in his day, and made as great havoc among the cattle and horses as it does to-day. THE PUMA. The PUMA is a far more interesting creature. It is found from the mountains in Montana, next the Canadian boundary, to the south of Patagonia. Yankee stories of its ferocity may have some foundation ; but the writer believes there is no recorded instance of the northern puma attacking man unprovoked, though in the few places where it now survives it kills cattle-calves and colts. It is relentlessly hunted with dogs, treed, and shot. As to the puma Photo by Ottomar Anschutz] FEMALE PUMA. This shows a puma alert and vigilant, with ears pricked forward. [Berlin. of the southern plains and central forests, the natives, whether Indians or Gauchos, agree with the belief, steadily handed down from the days of the first Spanish conquest, that the puma is the one wild cat which is naturally friendly to man. The old Spaniards called it amigo del Cristiano (the Christian's friend) ; and Mr. Hudson, in " The Naturalist in La Plata," gives much evidence of this most curious and interesting tendency : " It is notorious that where the puma is the only large beast of prey it is perfectly safe for a small child to go out and sleep on the plain. . . . The puma is always at heart a kitten, taking unmeasured delight in its frolics ; and when, as often happens, one lives alone in the desert, it will amuse itself for hours fighting mock battles or playing hide-and-seek with imaginary companions, or lying in wait and putting all its wonderful strategy in practice to capture a passing butterfly." From Azara downwards these stories have been told too often not to be largely true ; and in old natural The Living Animals of the World histories, whose writers believed the puma was a terrible man-eater, they also appear as " wonderful escapes." One tells how a man put his poncho, or cloak, over his back when crawling up to get a shot at some duck, and felt some- thing heavy on the end of it. He crept from under it, and there was a puma sitting on it, which did not offer to hurt him. As space forbids further quotation from Mr. Hudson's experiences, which should be read, the writer will only add one anecdote which was told him by Mr. Everard im Thurn, C.B., formerly an official in British Guiana. He was going up one of the big rivers in his steam- launch, and gave a passage to an elderly and respectable Cornish miner, who wanted to go up to a gold-mine. The visitor had his meals on the boat, but at night went ashore with the men and slung his hammock between two trees, leaving the cabin to his host. One morning two of the Indian crew brought the miner's hammock on board with a good deal of laughing and talking. Their master asked what the joke was, whereupon, pointing to the trees whence they had unslung the hammock, one said, "Tiger sleep with old man last night." They were quite in earnest, and pointed out a hollow and marks on the leaves, which showed that a puma had been lying just under the man's hammock. When asked if he had noticed anything in the night, he said, " Only the frogs croaking wakened me up." The croaking of the frogs was probably the hoarse purring of the friendly puma enjoying his proximity to a sleeping man. Mr. Hudson quotes a case in which four pumas played round and leapt over a person camping out on the Pampas. He watched them for some time, and then went to sleep ! Many of those brought to this country come with their tempers ruined by ill-treatment and hardship ; but a large proportion are as tame as cats. Captain Marshall had one at Marlow which used to follow him on a chain and watch the boats full of pleasure-seekers at the lock. The puma is always a beautiful creature, the fur cinnamon-coloured, tinged with gold ; the belly and chest white ; the tail long, full, and round. Though friendly to man, it is a desperate cattle-killer, and particularly fond of horse-flesh, so much so that it has been suggested that the indigenous wild horses of America were destroyed by the puma. There are two other cats of the Pampas the GRASS-CAT, not unlike our wild cat in appearance and habits, and the WOOD-CAT, or Geoffrey's .Cat. It is a tabby, and a most elegant creature, of which there is a specimen, at the time of writing, in the London Zoo. THE OCELOT. In the forest region is also found the most beautiful of the medium-sized cats. This is the OCELOT, which corresponds somewhat to the servals, but is not the least like a lynx, as Photo by Ottomar Ansdiiitz] [.Berlin. OCELOT. Note the elongated spots, and their arrangement in chains. The Cat Tribe 53 the scrvals are. It is entirely a tree-cat, and lives on birds and monkeys. The following detailed description of its coloration appeared in "Life at the Zoo": " Its coat, with the exception perhaps of that of the clouded leopard of Sumatra, marks the highest development of ornament among four-footed animals. The Argus pheasant alone seems to offer a parallel to the beauties of the ocelot's fur, especially in the development of the wonderful ocelli, which, though never reaching in the beast the perfect cup-and-ball ornament seen on the wings of the bird, can be traced in all the early stages of spots and wavy lines, so far as the irregular shell-shaped rim and dot on the feet, sides, and back, just as in the subsidiary ornament of the Argus pheasant's feathers. Most of the ground-tint of the fur is smoky-pearl colour, on which the spots develop from mere dots on the legs and [Berlin. Photo by Ottnmnr AnchHtz] OCELOT FROM CENTRAL AMERICA. The ocelot can be tamed and almost domesticated if taken young, and is occasionally kept as a pet by the forest Indians. speckles on the feet and toes to large egg-shaped ocelli on the flanks. There are also two beautiful pearl-coloured spots on the back of each ear, like those which form the ornaments of the wings of many moths." The nose is pink ; the eye large, convex, and translucent. A tame ocelot described by Wilson, the American naturalist, was most playful an- affectionate, but when fed with flesh was less tractable. It jumped on to the back o a horse in the stable, and tried to curl up on its hindquarters. The horse threw the oce o t off and kicked it curing it of any disposition to ride. On seeing a horse, the ocelot always ran off to as kennel aftenvards. When sent to England, it caught hold of and threw down a child of four years old, whom it rolled about with its paws without hurting it. 54 The Living Animals of the World OTHER WILD CATS. A HANDSOME leopard-like animal is the CLOUDED LEOPARD. It is the size of a small common leopard, but far gentler in disposition. Its fur is not spotted, but marked with clouded patches, outlined in grey and olive-brown. Its skin is among the most beautiful of the Cats. It is found in the Malay Peninsula, Borneo, Sumatra, Formosa, and along the foot of the Himalaya from Nepal to Assam. Writing of two which he kept, Sir Stamford Raffles said : " No kitten could be more good-tempered. They were always courting intercourse with persons pass- ing by, and in the expression of their countenance showed the greatest delight when noticed, throwing them- selves on their backs, and delighting Photo by A. S. Rudland of about a quarter of a mile, the buck doubled like a hare, and the cheeta lost ground as it shot ahead, instead of turning quickly, being only about thirty yards in rear of the buck. Recovering itself, it turned on extra steam, and the race appeared to recommence at increased speed. The cheeta was determined to win, and at this moment the buck made another double in the hope of shaking off its terrible pursuer ; but this time the cheeta ran cunning, and was aware of the former game., It turned as sharply as the buck. Gathering itself together for a final effort, it shot forward like an arrow, picked up the distance which remained between them, and in a cloud of dust we could for one moment distinguish two forms. The next instant the buck was on its back, and the cheeta's fangs were fixed like an iron vice in its throat. The course run was about 600 yards, and it was worth a special voyage to India to se that hunt." Pkoto l>y Otlomar Anschiitz] Berlin. A CHEETA OK THE LOOK-OUT. Cheetas are common to Africa and India. By the native prince of the latter country they are much used for taking antelope and other gama 68 The Living Animals of the World Photo by T. Fall] [Baker Street. WHITE SHOET-HAIKED. Most white cats are not albinoes that is to say, they have ordinarily coloured and not red eyes. THE DOMESTIC CAT. BY LOUIS WAIN. OF the domestication of the cat we know very little, but it is recorded that a tribe of cats was trained to retrieve i.e. to fetch and carry game. In our own time I have seen many cats fetch and carry corks and newspapers, and on one occasion pounce upon a small roach at the end of a line and place it at its owner's feet. Gamekeepers whom I have known agree that, for cunning, craftiness, and tenacity in attaining an object, the semi- wild cat of the woods shows far superior intelligence to the rest of the woodland denizens. It is quite a usual thing to hear of farm cats entering upon a snake-hunting expedition with the greatest glee, and showing remarkable readiness in pitching upon their quarry and pinning it down until secured. These farm cats are quite a race by themselves. Of decided sporting proclivities, they roam the countryside with considerable fierceness, and yet revert to the domesticity of the farmhouse fireside as though innocent of roving instincts. They are spasmodic to a degree in their mode of life, and apparently work out one mood before entering upon another. It will be remembered that this spasmodic tendency the true feline independence, by-the-bye is and has been characteristic of the cat throughout its history, and any one who has tried to overcome it has met with failure. Watch your own cat, and you will see that he will change his sleeping-quarters periodically ; and if he can find a newspaper conveniently placed, he will prefer it to lie upon, before anything perhaps, except a cane-bottomed chair, to which all cats are very partial. If you keep a number of cats, as I do, you will find that they are very imitative, and what one gets in the habit of doing they will all do in time : for instance, one of my cats took to sitting with his front paws inside my tall hat and his body outside, and this has become a catty fashion in the family, whether the object be a hat, cap, bonnet, small basket, box, or tin. If by chance one of the cats is attacked by a dog, a peculiar cry from the aggrieved animal will immediately awaken the others out of their lethargy or sleep, and bring them fiercely to the rescue. They are, too, particularly kind and nice to the old cat, and are tolerant only of strange baby kittens and very old cats in the garden as long as they do not interfere with the " catty " subject. The same quality obtains in Spain or Portugal, where a race of scaveng- ing cats exists, which go about in droves or families, and are equal to climbing straight walls, big trees, chimneys, and mountain- sides. Long, lanky, and thin, they are built more on the lines of a greyhound than the ordinary cat, and are more easily trained in tricks than home cats. . The TORTOISESHELL has long been looked upon as the national Photo l>y T. Fall] [Bilker Street. LONG-HAIBED WHITE. White cats with blue eyes are generally deaf, or at all events hard of hearing. Photo by Fratdli Alinari, Florence. MACKEREL-MARKED TABBY. Tabbies are probably the best known and the commonest cats in England. Photo ly L. Midland, F.Z.S., Soi-th Finchley. CAT CARRYING KITTEN. A unique photograph, showing the way in which the cat carries its young. Photo ly E. Landor, Eiilimj. BLUE LONG-HAIRED, OR PERSIAN. Persian or long-haired cats are of various colours ; this is one of the least common. Photo 'by E. Landor, Eating. SMOKE AND BLUE LONG-HAIRED. Two pretty and valuable Persian kittens. By permission of Lady Alexander. ORANGE TABBY. A champion winner of 90 first prizes. Photo by E. Landor, Baling. LONG-HAIRED TABBY. A pretty pose. Photo by E. Landor, Ealing. SILVER PERSIAN. A handsome specimen. r.n Photo by E. Landor, Ealing. SMOKE LONG-HAIRED, OR PERSIAN. A new breed. 70 The Living Animals of the World SHOET-HAIRED BLUE. This champion cat belongs to Lady Alexander, by whose kind permission it is here reproduced. cat of Spain, and in fact that country is overrun with the breed, ranging from a dense black and brown to lighter shades of orange-brown and white. The pure tortoiseshell might be called a black and tan, with no white, streaked like a tortoiseshell comb if possible, and with wonderful amber eyes. It is characteristic of their intelligence that they will invariably find their way home, and will even bring that mysterious instinct to bear which guides them back long distances to the place of their birth; and, with regard to this cat, the stories of almost impossible journeys made are not one bit exaggerated. The tom-cats of this breed are very rare in England ; I myself have only known of the existence of six in fifteen years, and of these but three are recorded in the catalogues of our cat shows. The BLACK CAT has many of the characteristics of the tortoiseshell, but is essentially a town cat, and is wont to dream his life away in shady corners, in underground cellars, in theatres, and in all places where he can, in fact, retire to monastic quiet. The black cat of St. Clement Danes Church was one of the remarkable cats of London. It was his wont to climb on to the top of the organ-pipes and enjoy an occasional musical concert alone. A christening or a wedding was his pride ; and many people can vouch for a lucky wedding who had the good-fortune to be patronised by the black cat of St. Clement Danes, which walked solemnly down the aisle of the church in front of the happy couples. My old pet Peter was a black-and-white cat, and, like most of his kind, was one of the most remarkable cats for intelligence I have ever known. A recital of his accomplishments would, however, have very few believers a fact I find existing in regard to all really intelligent cats. There are so many cats of an opposite character, and people will rarely take more than a momentary trouble to win the finer nature of an animal into existence. Suffice it to say, that Peter would lie and die, sit up with spectacles on his nose and with a post-card between his paws a trick I have taught many people's cats to do. He would also mew silent meows when bid, and wait at the door for my home-coming. For a long time, too, it was customary to hear weird footfalls at night outside the bedroom doors, and visitors to the house were a little more superstitious as to their cause than we were ourselves. We set a watch upon the supposed ghost, but sudden opening of the doors discovered only the mystic form of Peter sitting purring on the stairs. He was. however, ultimately caught in the act of lifting the corner of the door-rug and letting it fall back in its place, and he had grown quite expert in his method of raising and dropping it at regular intervals until he heard that his signals had produced the required effect, and the door was opened to admit him. WHITE CATS I- might call musical cats, for it is quite characteristic of the albinoes that noises rarely startle them out of their simpering, loving moods. The scraping of a violin, which will scare an ordinary cat out of its senses, or the thumping of a piano, photo by T. Fail] \jtakerstreet. which would terrorise even strong-nerved cats, SILVER TABBY. would only incite a white cat to a happier A beautiful variety of the typical British cat. mood. Certainly all white cats are somewhat The Cat Tribe Pkoto by E. Landor] [Enlmj. SHORT-HAIRED TABBY. This is perhaps the most famous cat now living. It has won no less than 00 prizes. Lady Decies is its owner. deaf, or lack acute quality of senses ; but this failing rather softens the feline nature than becomes dominant as a weak- ness. The nearest to perfection perhaps, and yet at the same time extremely soft and finely made, is the BLUE CAT, rare in England as an English cat, but common in most other countries, and called in America the Maltese Cat for Cushion's sake probably, since it is too widely distributed there to be localised as of foreign origin. It is out in the mining districts and agricultural quarters, right away from the beaten tracks of humanity, where the most wonderful breeds of cats develop in America ; and caravan showmen have told me that at one time it was quite a business for them to carry cats into these wildernesses, and sell them to rough, hardy miners, who dealt out death to each other without hesitation in a quarrel, but who softened to the appeal of an animal which reminded them of homelier times. One man told me that upon one occasion he sold eight cats at an isolated mining township in Colorado, and some six days' journey farther on he was caught up by a man on horseback from the township, who had ridden hard to overtake the menagerie caravan, with the news that one of the cats had climbed a monster pine-tree, and that all the other cats had followed in his wake ; food and drink had been placed in plenty at the foot of the tree, but that the cats had been starving, frightened out of their senses, for three days, and despite all attempts to reach them they had only climbed higher and higher out of reach into the uppermost and most dangerous branches of the pine. The showman hastened with his guide across country to the town- ship, only to find that in the interval one bright specimen of a man belonging to the village had sug- gested felling the tree, and so rescuing the cats from the pangs of absolute starvation, should they survive the ordeal. A dynamite cartridge had been used to blast the roots of the pine, and a rope attached to its trunk had done the rest and brought the monster tree to earth, only, however, at the expense of all the cats, for not one survived the tremendous fall and shaking. A sad and tearful procession followed the remains of the cats to their hastily dug grave, and thereafter a bull mastiff took the place of the cats in the township, an animal more in character with the lives of its inhabitants. Analogous to this case of the travelling menageries, we have the great variety of blues, silvers, and whites which are characteristic of Russia. There is a vast tableland of many thousands of miles in extent, intersected by caravan routes to all the old countries J'hoto by E. Landor] [Ealing. LONG-HAIRED ORANGE. good specimen of this variety is always large and finely furred. The Living Animals of the World [THi/iaic, X.J3. MANX. These tailless cats are well known ; they were formerly called " Corn- wall cats." Note the length of the hind legs, which is one of the characteristics of this variety of the domestic cat. SIAMESE. These strikingly coloured cats are now fairly numerous in England, but command high prices. They have white kittens, which subse. quently become coloured. of the ancients, and it is not astonishing to hear of attempts being made to steal the wonderful cats of Persia, China, and Northern India, as well as those of the many dependent and independent tribes which bound the Russian kingdom. But it is a remarkable fact that none but the blues can live in the attentuated atmosphere of the higher mountainous districts through which they are taken before arriving in Russian territory. It is no uncommon thing to find a wonderful complexity of blue cats shading to silver and white in most Russian villages, or blue cats of remarkable beauty, but with a dash of tabby- marking running through their coats. Their life, too, is lived at the two extremes. In the short Russian summer they roam the woodlands, pestered by a hundred poisonous insects; in the winter they are imprisoned within the four walls of a snow-covered cottage, and are bound down prisoners to domesticity till the thaw sets in again. Many of the beautiful furs which come to us from Russia are really the skins of these cats, the preparation of which for market has grown into a large and thriving industry. The country about Kronstadt, in the Southern Carpathian Mountains of Austria, is famous for its finely developed animals; and here, too, has grown up a colony of sable-coloured cats, said to be of Turkish origin, where the pariahs take the place of cats. The TABBY is remarkable to us in that it is characteristic of our own country, and no other colour seems to have been popular until our own times. If you ask any one which breed of cat is the real domestic cat, you will be told the tabby, probably because it is so well known to all. The complexity of the tabby is really remarkable, and BLUE LONG-HAIRED, OR PERSIAN. This cat belonged to Queen Victoria. SILVER PERSIANS. Three of Mrs. Champion's celebrated cats. The Cat Tribe 73 Photo by E. Landor] LOXG-HAIRED CHINCHILLA. Note the beautiful " fluffiness " of this cat's fur. [Baling. for shape and variety of colouring it has no equal in any other tribe of cat. It has comprised in its nature all the really great qualities of the feline, and all its worst attri- butes. You can truthfully say of one of its specimens that it attaches itself to the indi- vidual, while of another in the same litter you will get an element of wildness. A third of the same parents will sober down to the house, but take only a passing notice of people. You can teach it anything if it is tractable, make it follow like a dog, come to whistle, but it will have its independence. The SAND-COLOURED CAT, with a whole- coloured coat like the rabbit, which we know as the ABYSSINIAN or BUNNY CAT, is a strong African type. On the Gold Coast it comes down from the inland country with its ears all bitten and torn away in its fights with rivals. It has been acclimatised in England, and Devonshire and Cornwall have both established a new and distinct tribe out of its parentage. The MANX CAT is nearly allied to it, and a hundred years ago the tailless cat was called the Cornwall Cat, not the Manx. Siam sends us a regal animal in the SIAMESE EOYAL CAT ; it has a brown face, legs, and tail, a cream-coloured body, and mauve or blue eyes. The Siamese take great care of their cats, for it is believed that the souls of the departed are transmitted into the bodies of animals, and the cat is a favourite of their creed; consequently the cats are highly cultivated and intelligent, and can think out ways and means to attain an end. I have tried for years to trace the origin of the LONG-HAIRED or PERSIAN CATS, but I cannot find that they were known to antiquity, and even the records of later times only mention the SHORT-HAIRED. European literature does not give us an insight into the subject ; and unless Chinese history holds some hidden lights in its records, we are thrown back upon the myths of Persia to account for the wonderful modern distribution of the long-haired cat, which is gradually breeding out into as many varieties as the short- haired, with this difference that greater care and trouble are taken over the long-haired, and they will, as a breed, probably soon surpass the short-haired for '"ntelligence and culture. One variety is quite new and distinctive the SMOKE LONG- HAIRED, whose dark brown or black surface-coat, blown aside, shows an under-coat of blue and silver, with a light brown frill round its neck. All the other long-haired cats AT. it. -U A -u J f Photo by H. Trevor Jessop. can pair with the short-haired for THE .^^ QR (ITICKED> , SHOET . HAIRED CAT . Colouring and marking, but I have This . g one of the rarest ^ in Ensland . It belongs to Miss K. Maud Bennett who has not yet seen a BUNNY LOMJ-II AIRED. kindly had it photographed for this work. 10 CHAPTER III. THE FOSSA, CIVETS, AND ICHNEUMONS. I Photo by A. S. liudland tfc Sons. FOSSA. The only feline animal of Madagascar. THE FOSSA. "N the FOSSA Madagascar possesses an altogether peculiar animal. It is a very slender, active creature, with all its proportions much elongated. It is of a bright bay uniform colour, with thick fur, and has sharp retractile claws. It has been described as the natural connecting-link between the Civets and the Cats, anatomically speaking. Thus it has retractile claws, but does not walk on its toes, like cats, but on the soles of its feet (the hind pair of which is quite naked), like a civet. Very few have been brought to England; indeed, the first time that one was exhibited in our Zoological Gardens was only ten years ago. Formerly stories were told of its ferocity, which was compared to that of the tiger. These tales were naturally the subject of ridicule. The fossa usually attains a length of about 5 feet from snout to tail, and is the largest of the carnivora of Madagascar. A fine young specimen lately brought to London, and in the Zoological Gardens at the time of writing, is now probably full grown. It is about the same length and height as a large ocelot, but with a far longer tail, and is more slenderly built. The extreme activity of the fossa no doubt renders it a very formid- able foe to other and weaker creatures. It has been described by a recent writer as being entirely nocturnal, and preying mainly on the lemurs and birds which haunt the forests of Madagascar. The animal kept at the Zoological. Gardens has become fairly tame. It is fed mainly on chickens' heads and other refuse from poulterers' shops. Apparently it has no voice of any kind. It neither growls, roars, nor mews, though, when irritated or frightened, it gives a kind of hiss like a cat. 74 Photo by L. Medland, F.Z.S.} [North Fincldey. LARGE INDIAN CIVET. Civets are nocturnal in their habits. That shown here has just awakened in broad daylight. The Fossa, Civets, and Ichneumons THE CIVETS AND GENETS. 75 TITE CIVETS are the first marked deviation from the Cat Family. Their bodies are elongated, their legs short, their claws only partially retractile. Some of them have glands holding a strong scent, much esteemed in old days in Europe, when " The Civet Cat " was a common inn-sign even in England. The civets are generally beautifully marked with black stripes and bands on grey. But none of them grow to any large size, and the family has never had the importance of those which contain the large carnivora, like the true cats or bears. Many of the tribe and its connections are domesticated. Some scholars have maintained that the cat of the ancient Greeks was one of them the common genet. The fact is that both this and the domestic cat were kept by the ancients ; and the genet is still used as a cat by the peasants of Greece and Southern Italy. The AFRICAN CIVET and INDIAN CIVET are large species. The former is common almost throughout Africa. Neither of them seems to climb trees, but they find abundance of food by catching small ground-dwelling animals and birds. They are good swimmers. The Indian civet has a handsome skin, of a beautiful grey ground-colour, with black collar and markings. It is from these civets that the civet-scent is obtained. They are kept in cages for this purpose, and the secretion is scooped from the glands with a wooden spoon. They produce three or four kittens in May or June. Several other species very little differing from these are known as the MALABAR, JAVAN, and BURMESE CIVETS. The KASSE is smaller, has no erectile crest, and its geographical distribution extends from Africa to the Far East. It is commonly kept as a domestic pet. Like all the civets, it will eat fruit and vegetables. The GENETS, though resembling the civets, have no scent-pouch. They are African creatures, but are found in Italy, Spain, and Greece, and in Palestine, and even in the south of France. Beautifully spotted or striped, they are even longer and lower than the civet-cats, and steal through the grass like weasels. The COMMON GENET is black and grey, the latter being the ground-colour. The tail is very long, the length being about 15 inches, while that of the body and head is only 19 inches. Small rodents, snakes, eggs, find birds are its principal food. It is kept in Photo by A. S. Jiudland & Sons. AFEICAX CIVET. This is one of the largest of the Civet Tribe. The perfume known as " civet " is obtained from it. 76 The Living Animals of the World Photo by Scholastic Photo. Co.] [Parson's Green. AFRICAN CIVET. This photograph shows the finely marked fur of the species and the front view of the head. Southern Europe for killing rats. Several other very similar forms are found in Africa. The presence of such a very Oriental-looking animal in Europe is something of a surprise, though many persons forget that our South European animals are very like those of Africa and the East. The porcupine, which is common in Italy and Spain, and the lynx and Barbary ape are instances. A tame genet kept by an acquaintance of the writer in Italy was abso- lutely domesticated like a tame mongoose. It had very pretty fur, grey, marbled and spotted with black, and no disagreeable odour, except a scent of musk. It was a most active little creature, full of curiosity, and always anxious to explore not only every room, but every cupboard and drawer in the house. Perhaps this was due to its keenness in hunting mice, a sport of which it never tired. It did not play with the mice when caught as a cat does, but ate them at once. The LINSANGS, an allied group, are met with in the East, from India to Borneo and Java. They are more slender than the genets, and more arboreal. Of the NEPALESE LINSANG Hodgson writes : " This animal is equally at home on trees and on the ground. It breeds and dwells in the hollows of decaying trees. It is not gregarious, and preys mainly on living animals." A tame female owned by him is stated to have been wonderfully docile and tractable, very sensitive to cold, and very fond of being petted. There is an allied West African species. The PALM-CIVETS and HEMIGALES still further increase this numerous tribe. Slight differences of skull, of the markings on the tail, which may only have rings on the base, and of the foot and tail, are the naturalist's guide to their separation from the other civets; HARDWICKE'S HEMIGALE has more zebra-like markings. Borneo, Africa, India, and the Himalaya all produce these active little carnivora; but the typical palm-civets are Oriental. They are sometimes known as Toddy-cats, because they drink the toddy from the jars fastened to catch the juice. The groves of cocoanut-palm are their favourite haunts ; but they will make a home in holes in the thatched roofs of houses, and even in the midst of cities. There are many species in the group. The BINTURONG is another omnivorous, tree- haunting animal allied to the civets ; but it has a prehensile tail, which few other mammals of the Old World possess. It is a blunt-nosed, heavy animal, sometimes called the Bear-cat. Very little is known of its habits. It is found from the Eastern Himalaya to Java. Photo by L. Midland, F.Z.S.] [North Flnddey. The last of the Civet Family is BENNETT'S CIVET, SUMATRA* CIVET. .1 ,. ,, ,1-1' i -,i A small and very beautiful member of the Civet Family. It the only instance 01 a cat-like animal with partly feeds largely on fish. The Fossa, Civets, and Ichneumons 77 webbed feet. Found in the Malay Peninsula and in Sumatra and Borneo, it is very rare, but is known to feed on fish and Crustacea, and to be semi-aquatic. The author of the chapter on the civets in the Naturalist's Library says, " It may be likened to a climbing otter." THE MONGOOSE AND ICHNEUMON FAMILY. THESE are a numerous and useful race of small mammals, feeding mainly on the creatures most annoying to man within tropical countries. Snakes, the eggs of the crocodile, large lizards, rats, mice, and other creatures known generally as "vermin," are their favourite food. It must be added that, though they are most useful in destroying these, they .also kill all kinds of birds, and that their introduction into some of the West India Islands, for the purpose of killing rats, has been fatal to the indigenous bird life. THE INDIAN MONGOOSE. This universal favourite is one of the largest, the head and body being from 15 to Photo ly A. S. Rudland & Sons. GENET. The genets are smaller than some civets, but allied to them. One was anciently domesticated like a cat. 1 8 inches long, and the tail 14 inches. The fur is loose and long, and capable of being erected. As in all the tribe, the tint is a "pepper and salt," the "pepper" colour being sometimes blackish and sometimes red, but a speckled appearance characterises the whole group. This is the animal supposed to be immune from snake-bite. It is possibly so to some extent, for it kills and eats the poisonous snakes, and it is now known that the eating of snake-poison tends to give the same protection as inoculation does against certain diseases. But it is certain that in most cases the mongoose, by its activity, and by setting up the hair on its body, which makes the snake " strike short," saves itself from being bitten. Many descriptions of the encounters between these brave little animals and the cobra have been written. Here is one of the less known : " One of our officers had a tame mongoose, a charming little pet. Whenever we could procure a cobra and we had many opportunities we used to turn it out in an empty storeroom, which had a window at some height from the ground, so that it was perfectly safe to stand there and look on. The cobra, when dropped from the bag or basket, would wriggle into one of the corners of the room and there coil himself up. The mongoose showed the greatest excitement on being brought to the window, The Living Animals ot the World Photo l>y L. Medland, F.Z.S.] N. [Sorth Finchley. TWO-SPOTTED PALM-CIVET. This is a West African species, which, with an allied form from East Africa, represents the palm-civets in the Dark Continent. and the moment he was let loose would eagerly jump down into the room, when his behaviour became very curious and interest- ing. He would instantly see where the snake was, and rounding his back, and making every hair on his body stand out at right angles, which made his body appear twice as large as it really was, he would approach the cobra on tip-toe, making a peculiar humming noise. The snake, in the meantime, would show signs of great anxiety, and I fancy of fear, erecting his head and hood ready to strike when his enemy came near enough. The mongoose kept running back- wards and forwards in front of the snake, gradually getting to within what appeared to us to be striking distance. The snake would strike at him repeatedly, and appeared to hit him, but the mongoose continued his comic dance, apparently unconcerned. Suddenly, and with a movement so rapid that the eye could not follow it, he would pin- the cobra by the back of the head. One could hear the sharp teeth crunch into the skull, and, when all was over, see the mongoose eating the snake's head and part of his body with great gusto. Our little favourite killed a great many cobras, and, so far as I could see, never was bitten." The EGYPTIAN MONGOOSE, or ICHNEUMON, has an equally great reputation for eating the eggs of the crocodile ; and the KAFFIR MONGOOSE, a rather larger South African species, is kept as a domestic animal to kill rats, mice, and snakes, of which, like the Indian kind, it is a deadly foe. There are more than twenty other species, most of much the same appearance and habits. The smooth-nosed mongoose tribe are closely allied creatures in South Africa, mainly burrowing animals, feeding both on flesh and fruit. The CUSIMANSES of Abyssinia and West Africa are also allied to them. Their habits are identical with the above. THE MEERKATS, OR SURICATES. Most people who have read Frank Buckland's Life will remember the suricate which was his chief pet in Albany Street. The SURICATES, or MEERKATS, burrow all over the South African veldt, espe- cially in the sandy parts, where they sit up outside their holes like prairie- dogs, and are seen by day. They are sociable animals, and make most amusing pets. A full-grown one is not much larger than a hedgehog, but more slender. It barks like a prairie-dog, and has many other noises of pleasure or anger. A lady, the owner of one, writes in Country Life : " It gets on well with the dogs and cats, especially the latter, as they are more friendly to her, and allow her to ." I'lwto ly L. Medland, F.Z.S.] sleep by their side and on the top of MASKED PALM . CIVET . them. One old cat brings small birds A whole-coloured species of the group. [Ewlh Flncldey The Fossa, Civets, and Ichneumons 79 L_J Photo by Robert 1). Carson} [Philadelphia. BLNTUROXG. The binturong is placed with the civets. It has a prehensile tail like the kinkajou (see page 127). to her (her favourite is a sparrow), and makes her usual cry, and Janet runs to her and carries off the bird, which she eats, feathers and all, in a very few minutes, if she is hungry." When near a farm, the meerkats will devour eggs and young chickens. They are also said to eat the eggs of the large leopard-tortoise. The commonest is the SLENDKR- TAILED MEERKAT. It is found all over South Africa, and is very common in the Karroo. It eats insects and grubs as well as small animals, and is commonly kept as a pet throughout the Colony. WE have now traced the long line of the Carnivora from the lordly Lion, the slayer of man and his flocks and herds, and the Tiger, equally formidable and no less specially developed for a life of rapine on a great scale, to creatures as small and insignificant as the Meerkat, which is at least as much an insect- feeder as a devourer of flesh, and the Ichneumons and Civets. The highest form of specialisation in the group is the delicate mechanism by which the chief weapons of offence, the claws, are enabled to keep their razor edge by being drawn up into sheaths when the animal walks, but can be instantly thrust out at pleasure, rigid and sharp as sword-blades. The gradual process by which this equipment deteriorates in the Civets and disappears in the Mongoose should be noted. There are many other carnivora, but none so formidable as those possessing the retractile claws. Thus the Bears, though often larger in bulk than the Lion, are far inferior in the power of inflicting violent injury. At the same time such delicate mechanism is clearly not necessary for the well-being of a species. The members of the Weasel Tribe are quite as well able to take care of themselves as the small cats, though they have non-retractile and not very formidable claws. Such a very abnormal animal as the BINTURONG of which we are able to give an excellent photograph is doubtless rightly assigned to the place in which modern science has placed it. But it will be found that there are several very anomalous forms quite as detached from any general type as is the binturong. Nature does not make species on any strictly graduated scale. Many of these nondescript animals are so un- like any other group or family that they seem almost freaks of nature. The binturong is certainly one of these. The next group with which we deal is that of the Hyaenas. In these the equipment for catching living prey is very weak. Speed and pursuit are not their m&ier, but the eating of dead and decaying animal matter, and the consumption of bones. Hence the jaws and teeth are highly de- veloped, while the rest of the body is degenerate. Photo by L. Medland, F.Z.S.] [Sorth Flncldey. MONGOOSE. The Indian mongoose is the great enemy of snakes. Another species eats the eggs of the crocodile. 8o The Living Animals of the World Photo ly A. S. liudland d; Sons. MEERKAT. A small, mainly insectivorous animal, found in South Africa ; all called the Suricate The question of the comparative intelli- gence of the Apes and Monkeys, and the carnivorous animals subsequently described in these pages, is an interesting one. It would seem at first as if the Cat Tribe and their relations, which have to obtain their prey by constant hunting, and often to make use of considerable reflection and thought to bring their enterprises against other animals to a successful issue, would be more likely to develop intelligence and to improve in brain-power than the great Apes, which find an easy living in the tropical forests, and only seek fruits and vegetables for their food. Yet it is quite certain that this is not the case. The Git Tribe, with the exception of the domesticated cats, does not show high intelligence. Even the latter are seldom trained to obey man, though they learn to accommodate themselves to his ways of life. There is no evidence that cats have any sense of number, or that any of them in a wild state make any effort to provide shelter for themselves or construct a refuge from their enemies, though the Leopard will make use of a cave as a lair. In matters requiring intelligence and co-operation, such rodents as the Beaver, or even the Squirrel, are far beyond the feline carnivora in sagacity and acquired or inherited ingenuity. Except the Stoat, which sometimes hunts in packs, no species of the carnivora yet dealt with in this work combines to hunt its prey, or for defence against enemies. Each for itself is the rule, and even among the less-specialised flesh-eating animals of the other groups it is only the Dog Tribe which seems to understand the principles of association for a common object. CHAPTER IV. THE HYENAS AND AARD-WOLF. IF every animal has its place in nature, we must suppose that the hyaena's business is to clear up the bones and such parts of the animal dead as the vultures and other natural " undertakers " cannot devour. Hyaenas have very strong jaws, capable of crushing almost any bone. In prehistoric times they were common in England, and lived in the caves of Derbyshire and Devon. In these caves many bones were found quite smashed up, as if by some very large wild animal. It was supposed that this was done by bears Dean Buckland said " by hyaenas." He procured a hyaena, kept it at his house, and fed it on bones. Th* smashed fragments he laid on the table at a scientific lecture beside the fragments from the caverns. The resemblance was identical, and the Dean triumphed. The Hyaenas and Aard-wolf l Photo by A. S. liudland house and rushed into the stable, the doors of which were open, seven of the wolves rushed in after them. The driver and traveller leaped from the sledge just as it reached the building, and horses and wolves rushed past them into it. The men then ran up and closed the doors. Having obtained guns, they opened the roof, expecting to see that the horses had been killed. Instead all seven wolves were slinking about beside the terrified horses. All were killed without resistance. In Siberia and Russia the wolves in winter are literally starving. Gathering in packs, they haunt the roads, and chase the sledges with their unfaltering gallop. Seldom in these days does a human life fall victim ; but in very hard winters sledge-horses are often killed, and now and then a peasant. Rabies is very common among wolves. They then enter the villages, biting and snapping at every one. Numbers of patients are sent yearly from Russia and Hungary to the Pasteur Institutes, after being bitten by rabid wolves. In Livonia, in 1823, it was stated that the following animals had been killed by wolves : 15,182 sheep, 1,807 oxen, 1,841 horses, 3,270 goats, 4,190 pigs, 703 dogs, and numbers of geese and fowls. They followed the Grand Army from Russia to Germany in 1812, and restocked the forests of Europe with particularly savage wolves. It is said that in the retreat freni Moscow twenty-four French soldiers, with their arms in their hands, were attacked, killed, and eaten by a pack of wolves. From very early times special breeds of dogs have been trained to guard sheep against the attacks of wolves. Some of these were intended to defend the flock on the spot, others to run down the wolves in the open. The former are naturally bred to be very large and heavy ; the latter, though they must be strong, are light and speedy. Of the dogs which guard the flocks several races still survive. Among the most celebrated are those of Albania and the mountainous parts of Turkey, and the wolf-dogs of Tibet, generally called Tibetan Blood- hounds. The Tartar shepherds on the steppes near the Caucasus also keep a very large and ferocious breed of dog. All these are of the mastiff type, but have long, thick hair. When the shepherds of Albania or Mount Rhodope are driving their flocks along the mountains to the summer pastures, they sometimes travel a distance of 200 miles. During this march the dogs act as flankers and scouts by day and night, and do battle with the wolves, which know quite well the routes along which the sheep usually pass, and are on the look-out to pick up stragglers or raid the flock. The Spanish shepherds employ a large white shaggy breed of dog as guards against wolves. These dogs both lead the sheep and bring up the rear in the annual migration of the flocks to and from the summer pastures. In the west of America, now that sheep-ranching on a large scale has been introduced, wolf-dogs are bred to Photo iy scholastic Photo. Co.] [Parson's Green. live entirely with the sheep. They are suckled PKAIRIE-WOLF, OR COYOTE. when puppies by the ewes instead of by their own This is the small, grey, thickly furred species found on the prairies. mothers, and become as it Were a part of the flock. The Dog Family Colonel Theodore Roosevelt gives an interesting account of wolf-coursing in Russia, in an article contributed to " The Encyclopaedia of Sport " (Lawrence & Bullen). " In Russia the sport is a science," he writes. "The princes and great landowners who take part in it have their hunting-equipages equipped perfectly to the smallest detail. Not only do they follow wolves in the open, but they capture them and let them out before dogs, like hares in a closed coursing-meeting. The huntsman follows his hounds on horseback. (These hounds are the Borzoi, white giant greyhounds, now often seen in England.) Those in Russia show signs oi reversion to the type of the Irish wolf-hound, dogs weighing something like 100 Ibs., of remarkable power, and of reckless and savage temper. Now three or four dogs are run together. They are not expected to kill the wolf, but merely to hold him. . . . The Borzois can readily Photo by Ottomar Anschutz] [Sa-l<.i. "THE WOLF WITH PRIVY PAW." The photograph shows admirably the slinking gait and long stride of the wolf. overtake and master partly grown wolves, but a full-grown dog-wolf, in good trim, will usually gallop away from them." A number of these Borzoi dogs have been imported into America, and are used to course wolves in the Western States. But there professional wolf-hunters are employed to kill off the creatures near the ranches. One such hunter lives near Colonel Roosevelt's ranche on the Little Missouri. His pack of large dogs will tear in pieces the biggest wolf without aid from the hunter. Of his own efforts in wolf-coursing he writes : " We generally started for the hunting-ground very early, riding across the open country in a widely spread line of dogs and men. If we put up a wolf, we simply went at him as hard as we knew how. Young wolves, or those which had not attained their full strength, were readily overtaken, and the pack would handle a she-wolf quite readily. A big dog-wolf, or even a full-grown and powerful she-wolf, offered an altogether different problem. Frequently we came upon one after it had 88 The Living Animals of the World Photo ly J. W. Mclellan] RUSSIAN WOLF. This is a. most characteristic photograph of one of the so-called "greyhound wolves" of the Bussian forests. gorged itself on a colt or a calf. Under such conditions, if the dogs had a good start, they ran into the wolf and held him. . . . Packs com- posed of nothing but specially bred and trained greyhounds of great size and power made a better showing. Under favourable circumstances three or four of these dogs readily overtook and killed the largest wolf. . . . Their dash- ing courage and ferocious fighting capacity were mar- vellous, and in this respect I was never able to see much difference between the smooth and rough the Scotch deer- hound or the greyhound type." Wolf cubs are born in April or May. The litter is from four to nine. There was one of six a few years ago at the Zoological Gardens at the Hague, pretty little creatures like collie puppies, but quarrel- some and rough even in their play. When born, they were covered with reddish-white down ; later the coat became woolly and dark. The European wolf's method of hunting when in chase of deer is by steady pursuit. Its speed is such and its endurance so great that it can overtake any animal. But there is no doubt that the favourite food of the wolf is mutton, which it can always obtain without risk on the wild mountains of the Near East, if once the guardian dogs are avoided. M. Tschudi, the naturalist of the Alps, gives a curious account of the assemblage of wolves in Switzerland in 1799. They had, as is mentioned above, followed the armies from Eussia. Having tasted human flesh, they preferred it to all other, and even dug up the corpses. The Austrian, French, and Russian troops penetrated in 1799 into the highest mountain valleys of Switzerland, and fought sanguinary battles there. Hundreds of corpses were left on the mountains and in the forests, which acted as bait to the wolves, which were not destroyed for some years. Wolves will interbreed with dogs readily, which the red fox will not. The progeny do not bark, but howl. The Eskimo cross their dogs with wolves to give them strength. THE COYOTE, OR PKAIRIE-WOLF. Besides the large grey wolf, a smaller and less formidable animal is common on the prairies and mountains of the northern half of the continent of America. This is the COYOTE. It takes the place of the hyaena as a scavenger, but has some of the habits of the fox. It catches birds and buck-rabbits, and feeds on insects, as well as small rodents like prairie-dogs and mice. Its melancholy howls make night hideous on the northern prairies, and it is the steady foe of all young creatures, such as the fawns of prong-horned antelope and deer. Its skin, like that of most northern carnivora, is thick and valuable for fur wraps. The coyotes assemble in packs like jackals. In the National Park in the Yellowstone Valley grey wolves and coyotes are the only animals which it is absolutely necessary to destroy. As the deer and antelope and other game The Dog Family increased under State protection, the wolves and coyotes drew towards a quarter where there were no hunters and a good supply of food. It was soon found that the increase of the game was checked. The coyotes used to watch the hinds when about to drop their calves, and usually succeeded in killing them. The large grey wolves killed the hinds themselves, and generally made life most unpleasant for the dwellers in this paradise. Orders were issued to kill off all the w r olves by any means. Poison was found to be the best remedy ; but in the winter, when all the game descended into the valleys, the wolves found so much fresh food in the carcases of the animals they killed for themselves that they would not eat very eagerly of the poisoned baits. The coyotes were killed off fairly closely, as they are less able to obtain living prey ; but the grey wolves are constantly reinforced from the mountains, and are a permanent enemy to be coped with. A curious instance of change of habit in wolves on the American prairies was recently noted in the Spectator. Formerly they followed the caravans ; now they come down to the great transcontinental railways, and haunt the line to obtain food. Each train which crosses the prairie is, like a ship, full of provisions. Three meals a day take place regularly, and these are not stinted. The black cooks throw all the waste portions beef-bones, other bones, stale bread, and trimmings overboard. The wolves have learnt that the passing of a train means food, and when they hear one they gallop down to the line, and wait like expectant dogs in the hope of picking up a trifle. The coyotes come close to the metals, and sit like terriers, with their sharp noses pricked up. The big grey wolves also appear in the early morning, standing on the snow, over which the chill wind of winter blows, gaunt and hungry images of winter and famine. Fhoto by Ottomar Anscltiitz] [Berlin* A WOLF OF THE CARPATHIANS. This wolf Is a shorter and more heavily built specimen than the Russian wolf on the previous page. The Living Animals of the World Pkoto by L. Medland, F.Z.S.} [North FinclUey. INDIAN WOLF. This photograph shows the Indian wolf alarmed. It has a reputation for stealing children as well as killing cattle. Some years ago experiments were made at the Eegent's Park Zoological Gardens to ascertain if there were any foundation for the old legends that wolves feared the sound of stringed instruments such as the violin. Every one will remember the story of the fiddler pursued by wolves. It is said that as the pack overtook him he broke a string of his instru- ment, and that the sudden noise of the parting cord caused the pack to stand still for a minute, and so enabled him to reach a tree, which he climbed. Further, that when he improved on the hint so given, and played his fiddle, the wolves all sat still ; when he left off, they leapt up and tried to reach him. Experiments with the Zoo wolves showed that there was no doubt whatever that the low minor chords played on a violin cause the greatest fear and agitation in wolves, both European and Indian. The instrument was first played behind the den of an Indian wolf, and out of sight. At the first sound the wolf began to tremble, erected its fur, dropped its tail between its legs, and crept uneasily across its den. As the sounds grew louder and more intense, the wolf trembled so violently, and showed such physical evidence of being dominated by excessive fright, that the keeper begged that the experiment might be discontinued, or the creature would have a fit. A large European wolf is described in " Life at the Zoo '' as having exhibited its dislike of the music in a different way. It set up all its fur till it looked much larger than its ordinary size, and drew back its lips until all the white teeth protruding from the red gums were shown. It kept silent till the violin-player approached it ; then it flew at him with a ferocious growl, and tried to seize him. There are instances of wolves having been quite successfully tamed, and de- veloping great affection for their owners. They are certainly more dog-like than any fox; yet even the fox has been tamed so far as to become a domesticated animal for the lifetime of one par- ticular individual. An extraordinary instance of this was lately given in Country Pkoto ly Ottomar AnsMtz] [Berlin. j^f ^^ & photograph Q f the WOLF S HEAD. ft tox. It was taken when a A very fine etudy of the bead, jaws, and teeth of a female wolf. The head of the male is much larger. cub. and brought up at a large The Dog Family Pkoto ly Scholastic Photo. Co.] [Parson's Green. RUSSIAN WOLF. Note the expression of fear and ferocity on the face of this wolf ; also the enormously powerful jaws. country house with a number of dogs. Among these were three terriers, with which it made friends. There were plenty of wild foxes near, some of which occasionally laid up in the laurels in a shrubbery not far from the house. These laurels were, in fact, a fairly safe find for a fox. It was the particular sport of the terriers to be taken to " draw " this bit of cover, and to chase out any fox in it. On these expeditions the tame fox invariably ac- companied them, and took an active part in the chase, pursuing the wild fox as far as the terriers were able to maintain the hunt. In Central Asia the wolves lie out singly on the steppes during the summer, and feed on the young antelopes and the lambs and kids of the Tartars' flocks. The Kirghiz organise wolf- killing parties, to which as many mounted men and dogs come as can be brought together. In order to aid the dogs, the Tartars often employ eagles trained to act like falcons, which sit on the arm of the owner. As the eagle is too heavy to be carried for any time in this way, a crutch is fastened to the left side of the saddle, on which the bearer of the falcon rests his arm. When a wolf is sighted, the eagle is loosed, and at once flies after the wolf, and overtakes it in a short time, striking at its. head and eyes with its talons, and buffeting it with its wings. This attack so disconcerts the wolf that it gives time for the dogs to come up and seize it. The habits of the Siberian wolf are rather different from those in West Russia, and the settlers and nomad Tartars of Siberia are far more adventurous and energetic in defending themselves against its ravages than the peasants of European Russia. Being mounted, they also have a great advantage in the pursuit. The result is that Siberian wolves seldom appear in large packs, and very rarely venture to attack man. Yet the damage they do to the flocks and herds which constitute almost the only property of the nomad tribes is very severe. Both the Russians and Siberians believe that when a she-wolf is suckling her young she carefully avoids attacking flocks in the neighbourhood of the place where the cubs lie, but that if she be robbed of her whelps she revenges herself by attacking the nearest flock. On this account the Siberian peasants rarely destroy a litter, but hamstring the young wolves, and then catch them when partly grown, and kill them for the sake of their fur. Among the ingenious methods used for shooting wolves in Siberia is that of killing them from sledges. A steady horse is harnessed to a sledge, and the driver takes his seat in front as usual. Behind sit two men armed with guns, and provided with a small pig, which is induced to squeak often and loudly. In the rear of the sledge a bag of hay is trailed on a long rope. Any wolf in the forest near which hears the pig concludes that it is a young wild one separated from its mother. Seeing the hay-bag trailing behind the sledge in the dusk, it leaps out to seize it, and is shot by the passengers sitting on the back seat of the sledge. The Living Animals of the World Photo by L. Medland, F.Z.S.] [North Finchley. NORTH AFRICAN JACKAL. This is the common jackal of Cairo and Lower Egypt. TEE JACKAL. Of the Wild Canine Family, the JACKAL is the next in numbers and importance to the wolves. Probably in the East it is the most numerous of any. In India, Egypt, and Syria it regularly haunts the outskirts of cities, and lives on refuse. In the Indian plains wounded animals are also killed by the jackals. At night the creatures assemble in packs, and scour the outskirts of the cities. Horrible are the bowlings and weird the cries of these hungry packs. In Ceylon they live in the hills and open country like foxes, and kill the hares. When taken young jackals can be tamed, and have all the manners of a dog. They wag their tails, fawn on their master, roll over and stick up their paws, and could probably be domesti- cated in a few generations, were it worth while. They eat fruits and vegetables, such as melons and pumpkins, eagerly. In Africa two species are found the BLACK-BACKED JACKAL and the STRIPED JACKAL; the former is the size of a large English fox. The young jackals are born in holes or earths; six seems- to be the usual number of puppies. They have nearly always a back door by which they can escape ; this is just large enough for the puppies to squeeze through, what- ever their size. When fox-terriers are put into the earth, the jackal puppies fly out of their back doors, through which, as a rule, the terriers are unable to follow them. Should there be no one outside, the puppies race out on to the veldt as hard as they can go. This jackal is terribly destructive to sheep and lambs in the Colony. A reward of 7s. 6d. per tail is paid to the Kaffirs for killing them. The SIDE- STRIPED JACKAL is a Central African species, said to hunt in packs, to interbreed with domestic dogs, and to be most easily tamed. Both in India and South Africa the jackal has been found to be of some service to the white man by providing him with a substi- tute for the fox to hunt. It has quite as remarkable powers of endurance as the fox, though it does not fight in the same determined way when the hounds overtake it. But it is not easy to estimate the courage of a fox when in difficulties. The writer has known one, when coursed by two large grey- hounds, to disable both almost instantaneously. One was bitten across the muzzle, the other through the foot. The fox escaped without a bite from either. In India the hounds ^nwtoiyA. s. Rutland & sons. used are drafts from English packs. The INDIAN JACKAL. , ,, , -A- it. j ji This Indian jackal might te sitting for his portrait in Mr. Rudyard hOt Weather does not SUlt them, and they Kip i ing - s tale of the "undertakers "-the jackal, alligator, and adjutant. The Dog Family 93 are seldom long-lived ; but while they are in health they will run a jackal across the Indian plains as gaily as they would a fox over the Hampshire Downs. The meet is very early in the morning, as the scent then lies, and riding is not too great an exertion. The ground drawn is not the familiar English covert, but fields, watercourses, and old buildings. A strong dog-jackal goes away at a great pace, and as the ground is open the animal is often in view for the greater part of the run ; but it keeps well ahead of the hounds often for three or four miles, and if it does not escape into a hole or ruin is usually pulled down by them. Major-General R. S. S. Baden-Powell has written and illustrated an amusing account of his days with the fox-hounds of South Africa hunting jackals. The local Boer farmers, rough, unkempt, and in ragged trousers, used to turn up smoking their pipes to enjoy the sport with the smartly got-up English officers. When once the game was found, they were just as excited as the Englishmen, and on their Boer ponies rode just as hard, and with perhaps more judgment. Photo by L. Midland, F.Z.S.] TURKISH JACKAL. [North Finchley. This jackal is common in both Turkey in Europe and in Asia. Near Constantinople it feeds largely on the bodies buried in the cemeteries at Scutari. Photo ly A. S. liudland & Sons. MANED WOLF. A South American animal ; its coat is a chestnut-red. Jackals are said to be much increasing in South Africa since the outbreak of the war. The fighting has so far arrested farming operations that the war usually maintained on all beasts which destroy cattle or sheep has been allowed to drop. In parts of the more hilly districts both the jackal and the leopard are reappearing where they have not been common for years, and it will take some time before these enemies of the farmer are destroyed. THE MANED WOLF. This is by far the largest of several peculiar South American species of the Dog Family which we have not room to mention. It occurs in Paraguay and adjoining regions, and is easily distinguishable by its long limbs and large ears. It is chestnut-red in colour, with the lower part of the legs black, and is solitary in its habits. 94 The Living Animals of the World Photo by A. S. Rudland y Scholastic Photo. Co.] DINGO. The wild dog of Australia, It was found there by the first discoverers, but was probably introduced from elsewhere 95 9 6 The Living Animals of the World Photo ly A. S. Rudland & Sons. CAPE HUNTING-DOG. This animal hunts in packs. It is very active and most destructive to large game of many kinds. wild dog in "West Central Siberia. These dogs killed nearly all the deer in the large forests near Omsk some years ago. Across the Himalaya there are several species, one of them as far east as Burma ; but the most famous are the RED DOGS OF THE DECCAN. They frequent both the jungles and the hills ; but their favourite haunt is the uplands of the Indian Ghats. They are larger than a jackal, much stronger, and hunt in packs. They have only ten teeth on each side, instead of eleven, as in the other dogs and foxes. There is no doubt that these fierce hunting- dogs actually take prey from the tiger's jaws, and probably attack the tiger itself. They will beset a tiger at any time, and the latter seems to have learnt from them an instinctive fear of dogs. Not so the. leopard, which, being able to climb, has nothing to fear even from the "dhole." A coffee-planter, inspecting his grounds, heard a curious noise in the forest bordering his estate. On going round the corner of a thick bush, he almost trod on the tail of a tiger standing with his back towards him. He silently retreated, but as he did so he saw that there was a pack of wild dogs a few paces in front of the tiger, yelping at him, and making the peculiar noise which had previously attracted his attention. Having procured a rifle, he returned with some of his men to the spot. The tiger was gone, but they disturbed a large pack of wild dogs feeding on the body of a stag. This, on examination, proved to have been killed by the tiger, for there were the marks of the teeth in its neck. The dogs had clearly driven the tiger from his prey and appropriated it. The dread of the tiger for these wild dogs was discovered by the sportsmen of the Nilgiri Hills, and put to a good use. They used to collect scratch packs and hunt up tigers in the woods. The tiger, thinking they were the dreaded wild pack, would either leave altogether or scramble into a tree. As tigers never do this ordinarily, it shows how wild dogs get on their nerves. Several South American wild dogs and foxes are included in the series with the wolves and jackals. Among these are AZARA'S DOG and the RACCOON-DOG. These are commonly called foxes, though they have wolf-like skulls. THE DINGO. The only non-marsupial animal of Australia when the continent was discovered was the WILD DOG, or DINGO. Its origin is not known ; but as soon as the settlers' flocks and herds began to increase its ravages were most serious, though doubtless some of the havoc with which it was accredited was due in a great measure to runaways from domestication. Anyhow, in the dingo the settlers found the most formidable enemy with which they had to contend, and vigorous measures were taken to reduce their numbers and minimise their ravages, so that by now they are nearly exterminated in Van Diemen's Land and rare on the mainland of Australia. It is a fine, bold dog, of considerable size, generally long-coated, of a light tan colour, and with pricked-up ears. It is easily tamed, and some of those kept in this country have made affectionate pets. Puppies are regularly bred and sold at the Zoological Gardens. The animal has an elongated, flat head which is carried high ; the fur is soft, and the tail bushy. In% the wild state it is very muscular and fierce. Photo by OttoiiHir Anxchutz, Berlin. HIMALAYAN BLACK BEAR. This photograph shows the most active climber of the two Himalayan bears. The Dog Family 97 THE FOXES. FOXES form a very well-marked group. They have very pointed muzzles, strong though slightly built bodies, very fine thick fur, often beautifully coloured and very valuable, bushy tails, pricked-up ears, and eyes with pupils which contract by day into a mere slit. They are quite distinct from dogs (although wolves are not), and will not interbreed, though stories are told to the contrary. The smell of a fox is disgusting to a dog, and quite sufficient to distinguish it. If the present writer takes a simpler view of the kinds and species of foxes than that adopted by many naturalists, he must plead to a study of the subject on slightly different lines than those usually followed. The skins of all foxes are valuable, some more than others. But they are sent in hundreds of thousands, and from all parts of the northern hemisphere, to London to the great fur-sales. There these differences can be studied as they can be studied Photo l>y C. Reid} [ mshaw, N.B. FOX CUBS. Fox cubs are born from March 25 till three weeks later, the time when young rabbits, their best food, are most numerous. nowhere else. As the habits and structure of foxes are much alike, allowing for differences of climate, and the discrepancies in size, not more than can be accounted for by abundance or scarcity of food, it seems pretty certain that these animals are some of the few, almost alone among mammals, showing almost every variety of colouring, from black to white, from splendid chameleon-red to salmon -pink, and many exquisite shades of brown, grey, and silver. At the Hudson Bay Company's sales you may see them all, and trace the differences and gradations over whole continents. The most important are those of North America. There the EED CANADIAN Fox, of a ruddier hue than brown, shades off into the yellow and grey CROSS Fox of farther north. But of these there are many varieties. Then farther north still comes an area where red foxes, cross foxes, and black foxes are found. The black fox, when the fur is slightly sprinkled with white, is the famous SILVER Fox. This and the black fox are also found in North Siberia and Manchuria. Farthest north we find the little stunted ARCTIC FOXES. In the Caucasus and Central Asia large yellowish-red foxes live, and in Japan and China a very bright red variety. A small grey fox lives in Virginia, and is hunted with hounds descended from packs 13 9 8 The Living Animals of the World taken out before the American Revolution. India has its small DESERT-FOXES ("the little foxes that eat the grapes ") and the BENGAL Fox. The value of the foxes as fur-bearing animals is immense. Only white, blue, and black skins seem to be appreciated in England. The black fox has been known to fetch 150 guineas a skin. But in the East, from Asia Minor to China, red, grey, and yellow fox-skins are the lining of every rich man's winter wraps. Splendid mixed robes are made by the Chinese by in- serting portions of cross fox-skins into coats of cut sable, giving the idea that it is the fur of f^to i y a. w. wnson t Co., Ltd.] a new animal. MOUNTAIN-FOX. rpr P'OMMmvr T^r>Y tViA * n kiUy countries the fox becomes a powerful and destructive animal, killing not only game foundation or type of all the above, is the best-known carnivorous animal in this country. Abroad its habits do not greatly differ, except that, not being hunted much with hounds, it is less completely nocturnal. It drops its young in an earth early in April. Thither the vixen carries food till late in June, when the cubs come out, and often move to a wood or a corn-field. There they are still fed, but learn to do a little on their own account by catching mice and moles. By late September the hounds come cub-hunting, partly to kill off superfluous foxes, partly to educate the young hounds, and to teach the foxes to fear them and to make them leave cover easily. Four or five cubs in a litter are commonly seen. The distance which a fox will run is extraordinary. The following is a true account of one of the most remarkable runs ever known. The hounds were those of Mr. Tom Smith, master of the Hambledon Hunt. He was the man of whom another famous sportsman said that if he were a fox he should prefer to be hunted by a pack of hounds rather than by Tom Smith with a stick in his hand. The fox was found in a cover called Markwells, at one o'clock in the afternoon in December, near Petersfield. It crossed into Sussex, and ran into an earth in Grafham Hill a little before dark. The fox had gone twenty- seven miles. The hounds had forty miles to go back to kennel that night, and three only found their way home four days afterwards. Dog-foxes assemble in considerable numbers when a vixen is about in spring, and at all times common foxes are sociable creatures, though not actually living in societies. Some- times as many as five or six are found in a single earth. Two years ago five foxes and a badger were found in one near Romford. They eat mice, beetles, rats, birds, game, poultry, and frogs. Their favourite food is rabbits. If there are plenty of these, they will not touch other game. They hunt along the railway-lines for dead birds killed by the telegraph-wires. In PHotoly C.Reid], IWisUaw, N.B. fche Ngw Forest th ^O gO down LEICESTERSHIRE FOX. ,, , j i j j n i to the shore and pick up dead nsn. Leicestershire is the best fox-hunting county in England. The foxes are famous for * their speed and endurance. One in the Writer's pOSSCSSion 1 Photo by Ottomar Anschuts [Berlin. TOO DIFFICULT ! Foxes can easily climb trees with small projecting branches. One was found 37 feet up a tree in Savernake Forest ; but a branchless stump such as that here shown no fox could climb. 99 100 The Living Animals of the World Photos ly Scholastic Photo. Co.] In summer. ARCTIC FOX. Changing his coat. [Parson's Green. In winter. The Arctic Fox is one of the few animals showing different phases of colour, some being blue at all seasons, wliile others are white in winter and mottled brownish in summer. shot when carrying away a lamb from a sheepfold near the cliffs of Sidmouth, in Devon. The shepherd thought it was a marauding dog, and lay in wait with a gun. THE ARCTIC Fox. The ARCTIC Fox is somewhat different in habits from others. It is also much smaller than the red foxes. Its fur is almost as soft as eiderdown, and so thick that the cold does not penetrate. In winter the whole coat changes colour, not gradually, but in patches. At the same time a dense growth of under-fur comes up on the body. In summer this is shed in patches, almost like loose felt. The foxes live in colonies, but are so hard put to it for food in the winter that they desert their homes to gather round whaling-ships or encampments. There they steal everything edible, from snowshoe-thongs to seal-flesh. Blue foxes are bred and kept for the sake of their fur on some of the islands in Bering Sea. They are fed on the flesh of the seals killed on the neighbouring islands, and are, like them, killed when their coat is in condition. THE FENNECS. Africa has a group Some of th em Maholis and other Several are not more long; they are a but the eyes are very The COMMON over the whole of food is dates and but it is also fond eat mice and insects, original hero of the and the grapes, fennec, which is the SILVER Fox, is Cape to as far It is 23 inches mainly on insects of small foxes of its own. Photo ly A. S. Rudland eing known as biack-brindie. bolt upright, the coat as hard as a badger's, L Photo by Lambert Lambert] [Hath. DEER-HOUND. This is a capital portrait of one of the best of this graceful variety. Photo by H. Cornish] \_Crediton. POINTER. This is a young dog not yet shown, but full of quality and type. Photo by VUliers & Sons] [Newport. SKYE TERRIER. The photograph is of a well-known winner in show form. Photo by T. Fall] [Baker Street. CORDED POODLE. The length of the cords of which the coat is composed is clearly shown. By permission of Mrs. Hall- Walker. POMERANIAN. Probably about the best all-black Toy Pomeranian ever shown. A smart picture of one of tho best of these popular dogs. Photo by G. y. Taylor] [Cowley Road. Photo by E. Landor] MALTESE TOY TERRIER. BUTTERFLY-DOG. A very excellent representation of one of the best specimens of The photograph gives an excellent idea of this somewhat rare variety, the present day. 109 no The Living Animals of the World Pltoto by T. Fall} [Baker Street. HER MAJESTY QUEEN ALEXANDRA, WITH CHOW AND JAPANESE SPANIELS. A group which will be studied with much interest by all. teeth even, small dark expressive eyes, fore legs straight, the back short. One I brought from Skye many years since I took with me when driving some miles into the country; coming back by a different route, he missed me; but on nearing my starting-point I found him posted at a juncture of four roads, by one of which I must return. He could not have selected a better position. The illustration is that of a first-rate specimen of the variety, "Champion Balmacron Thistle." DANDIE DINMONT TERRIERS have many quaint and charming ways. They are very strongly built, being among the most muscular of the terriers, of high courage, devotedly attached to their owners, and admirably adapted for companions, being suitable for indoors or out, and at home anywhere. The colours are pepper (a sort of darkish iron- grey) and mustard (a yellowish red-fawn), both with white silky hair on head, called the top-knot, and lustrous dark eyes, very gipsy-like and independent in expression. SKYES, both PRICK- and DROP-EARED, are another Scottish breed which well deserve their popularity, as they are thorough sporting animals. The colours are chiefly shades of dark or light grey, but sometimes fawn with dark points and whites are seen. The texture of coat should be hard and weather-resisting ; the eyes dark and keen in expression ; bodies long, low, and well knit ; legs straight in front ; even mouths ; tails carried gaily, but not curled over the back. SCHIPPERKES are of Belgian origin. To those who do not know them, they are something like medium-sized Pomeranians, short of coat, but without tails. They are nearly always pure black in colour, with coats of hardish texture, fullest round the neck and shoulders, the ears standing straight up like darts, short cobby bodies, and straight legs. They make smart guards and companions. CHOWS originally came from China, but are now largely bred here. They are square-built sturdy dogs, with dense coats, tails carried over the side, blunt-pointed ears, and rather short thick heads. They have a little of a large coarse Pomeranian, with something of an Eskimo about them, but are different from either, with a type of their own. The colour is usually some shade of red or black, often with a bluish tinge in it. One marked peculiarity is that the tongues of chows are blue-black in colour. POMERANIANS can be procured of any weight from 3 to 30 Ibs., and of almost every shade of colour. At present brown of various shades is much in favour, but there are many beautiful whites, blacks, blues, sables, and others. They are very sharp and lively, and make charming pets and companions. Really good "specimens command high prices. The illustration is of one of the best of his colour ever seen Photo by T. Fall] [Baker Street. "Champion Pippin." SAND-DOG. PUGS, both fawn and black, are old-fashioned favourite? A quaint picture of a quaint variety, quite hair- . i ,. . rriu v u i. less, and much the colour of Castuie soap. V61 T quaint and peculiar in appearance. They should have square The Dog Family 111 heads and muzzles, with small ears, large protruding eyes, short thick bodies, and tails tightly curled over the back. The illustration, "Duchess of Connaught," is of a well-known winner. MALTESE TERRIERS are very beautiful when pure bred. They have a long straight coat of silky white hair nearly reaching the ground, black nose and eyes, and the tail curled over the back of their short cobby body. Their beauty well repays the trouble of keeping them in good condition. The illustration, from a photograph taken for this article, is that of the high-class dog " Santa Klaus." YORKSHIRE TOY TERRIERS, with their steel-blue bodies and golden-tanned faces, legs, and lower parts, and long straight coats, require skilful attention to keep in order, but are very attractive as pets. TOY SPANIELS are very old members of the toy division, dating from or before the time of His Majesty King Charles : KING CHARLES SPANIELS being black and tan ; PRINCE CHARLES SPANIELS black, white, and tan ; another strain, the BLENHEIM, white, with shades of reddish-tan markings on the head and body, and a spot of same colour on fore- head ; and the RUBY, a rich coppery red all over. They should be small and stout in size and shape, without coarseness, long in the ear, with large full protruding eyes of dark colour, a short face, a straight coat, and not leggy. JAPANESE SPANIELS carry heavy coats, usually black, or yellow, and white in colour, shorter in the ears, which are carried more forward than in the last-named, broader in the muzzle, with nearly flat faces, dark eyes, and bushy tails carried over the back. They have very short legs and their hair nearly reaches the ground as they walk. When I kept them they were .much larger in size, but they are often now produced under 6 Ibs. in weight. PEKIN SPANIELS, the last of the toy spaniels I need mention, come from China. They should have soft fluffy coats, tails inclined to turn over the back, short faces, broad muzzles, large lustrous eyes, and a grave, dignified expression. The colour is usually some shade of tawny fawn or drab, but I have seen them black and dark brown ; whatever colour, it should be without white. The illustration, Mrs. Lindsay's " Tartan Plaid," was one of the early importations. Photo by County of Gloucester Studio, Clidtenham. PUG AND PEKINESE SPANIEL. A typical portrait of two well-known winners in these popular varieties. Photo by C. Reid] FOX-TERRIER. A picture full of life and go at present odds :a favour of our friend with the prickly coat. [ Wishaic, N.B. 112 The Living Animals of the World Photo by H. Lanavr'j BLENHEIM AND PRINCE CHARLES SPANIELS. This little group will serve to show the appearance of these charming little pets. [Baling. ITALIAN GREYHOUNDS, another old-fashioned variety of toy dog, should not exceed 12 Ibs. in weight, but in my opinion are better if they are some pounds less. Much like miniature greyhounds in shape and build, they are elegant, graceful little creatures, very sensitive to cold. Shades of fawn, cream, or French grey are most common ; but some are slate-blue, chestnut-red, and other tints. Of late years the breed has met with more encouragement, and there is less fear of its being allowed to die out. GRIFFONS BRUSSELOIS have been greatly taken up the last few years. They are something like Yorkshire toy terriers in size and shape, but with a shortish harsh coat, generally of some shade of reddish brown, very short face, small shining dark eyes, heavy under-jaw, short thick body, and an altogether comical appearance. Imported specimens, particularly before reaching maturity, are often difficult to rear. The AFRICAN SAND-DOG occasionally seen in this country (mostly at shows) is remarkable for being entirely hairless, except a few hairs of a bristly character on the top of the head and a slight tuft at the end of or mottled in colour, something black-and-tan terrier, and very Having been supplied with I will say a few words about this numbers at Constantinople and roam about unclaimed, and act as said to divide the places they each with its own leader, and authority. I have known cases mined attack on travellers out rather a cowardly race, and easily the part of the attacked. Prob- of the dogs so often mentioned and, among Eastern peoples, to the most insulting epithet that ancient times, the dog never seems in hunting and pursuing game guardian of their flocks, herds, and Pkoto by the Duchess of Bedford, Woburn Abbey. PARIAH PUPPIES. This capital photograph of a variety seldom seen in this country will be very interesting. the tail ; it is chiefly blue-black in shape and size like a coarse susceptible to cold, an illustration of PARIAH PUPPIES, variety, which is seen in large other Eastern cities, where they amateur scavengers ; they are inhabit into districts or beats, resent any interference with their where they have made a deter- late at night; but they are repulsed with a little firmness on ably these are the descendants in Scripture with opprobrium ; call a man " a dog " is even now can be used. By the Jews, in to have been used, as with us, and wild animals, but merely as a sometimes dwellings. Photo by Ottomar Anschiitz] COMMON BROWN BEAR. In Scandinavia a few still haunt the highest mountain-ridges, as here shown 113 {Berlin. 15 CHAPTER VI. THE BEARS. Ij EXCEPT the great cats, no creatures have longer held a place in fij human interest than the BEARS. Their size and formidable equipment of claws and teeth give the touch of fear which goes with admiration. On the other hand, they do not, as a rule, molest human beings, who see them employing their great strength on apparently insignificant objects with some amusement. Except one species, most bears are largely fruit and vegetable feeders. The sloth-bear of India sucks up ants and grubs with its funnel-like lips ; the Malayan bear is a honey-eater by profession, scarcely touching other food when it can get the bees' store ; and only the great polar bear is entirely carnivorous. The grizzly bear of the Northern Rocky Mountains is largely a flesh-eater, consuming great quantities of putrid salmon in the Columbian rivers. But the ice- bear is ever on the quest for living or dead flesh ; it catches seals, devours young sea-fowl and eggs, and can actually kill and eat the gigantic walrus. Every one will have noticed the deliberate flat- footed walk of the bears. This is due partly to the for- Photo by Ottomar Anschiitz, Berlin. AN INVITING ATTITUDE. The upright position is not natural to the brown bear. It prefers to sit on its hams, and not to stand. mation of the feet themselves. The whole sole is set flat upon the ground, and the impressions in a bear's track are not unlike those of a man's footsteps. The claws .are not capable of being retracted, like those of the Cats; consequently they are worn at the tips where the curve brings them in contact with the ground. Yet it is sur- prising what wounds these blunt but hard weapons will inflict on man wounds resembling what might be caused by the use of a very large garden-rake. Against other animals protected by hair bears' claws are of little use. Dogs would never attack them so readily as they do were they armed with the talons of a leopard or tiger. The flesh-teeth in both jaws of the bear are unlike those of other carnivora. The teeth generally show that Photo by Fratelli AUnari] {Florence. THREE PERFORMING BEARS. Those on the right and left are Himalayan black bears. The white collar is plainly seen. 1H "5 bears have a mixed diet. Bears appear to have descended from some dog- like ancestor, but to have been much modified. Except the ice-bear, all the species are short and very bulky. It is said that a polar bear has been killed which weighed 1,000 Ibs. It is far the largest, and most formidable in some respects, of all the Carnivora. The claws of the grizzly bear are sometimes 5 inches long over the outer curve. All bears can sit upright on their hams, and stand upright against a support like a tree. Some can stand upright with no aid at all. Except the grizzly bear, they can all climb, many of them very well. In the winter, if it be cold, they hibernate. In the spring, when the shoots of the early plants come up, they emerge, hungry and thin, to seek their food. Bears were formerly common in Britain, and were exported for the Eoman amphitheatres. The prehis- toric cave-bears were very large. Their remains have been found in Devon, Derby- shire, and other counties. The species inhabiting Britain during the Koman period was the common brown bear of Europe. THE COMMON BROWN BEAR. Only one species of bear is found in Europe south of the ice-line, though above it the white ice-bear inhabits Spitzbergen and the islands off the White Sea. This is the BROWN BEAR, the emblem of Eussia in all European caricature, and the hero of innumerable fragments of folk- lore and fable, from the tents of the Lapps to the nurseries of English children. Except the ice-bear, it is far the largest of European carnivora, but varies much in size. Eussia is the main home of the brown bear, but it is found in Sweden and Norway, and right across Northern Asia. It is also common in the Carpathian Mountains, in the Caucasus, and in Mount Pindus in Greece. In the south it is found in Spain and the Pyrenees, and a few are left in the Alps. The dancing-bears commonly brought to England are caught in the Pyrenees. The " Queen's bear," so called because its owner was allowed to exhibit it at Windsor, was one of these. But lately dancing-bears from Servia and Wallachia have also been seen about our roads and streets. In Eussia the bear grows to a great size. Some have been killed of 800 Ibs. in weight. The fur is magnificent in winter, and in great demand Photo by Ottomar Anschiitz] [Berlin. EUROPEAN BROWN BEAR. The specimen of the brown bear of Europe from which this picture was taken was an unusually light and active bear. Its flanks are almost flat. n6 The Living Animals of the World Photo by E. Landor] SYRIAN BEAR. This is the bear generally alluded to in the Old Testament. for rich Kussians' sledge-rugs. The finest bear-skins of all are bought for the caps of our own Grenadier and Coldstream Guards. In the Alps the bears occasionally visit a cow-shed in winter and kill a cow ; but as a rule the only damage done by those in Europe is to the sheep on the hills in the far north of Norway. Tame brown bears are amusing creatures, but should never be trusted. They are always liable to turn savage, and the bite is almost as severe as that of a tiger. Men have had their heads completely crushed in by the bite of one of these animals. In Russia bears are shot in the following manner. When the snow falls, the bears retire into the densest thickets, and there make a half-hut, half-burrow in the most tangled part to hibernate in. The bear is tracked, and then a ring made round the cover by beaters and peasants. The shooters follow the track and rouse the bear, which often charges them, and is forthwith shot. If it escapes, it is driven in by the beaters outside. High fees are paid to peasants who send information that a bear is harboured in this way. Sportsmen in St. Petersburg will go 300 or 400 miles to shoot one on receipt of a telegram. The brown bear, like the reindeer and red deer, is found very little modified all across Northern Asia r and again in the forests of North America. There, however, it undergoes a change. Just as the red deer is found represented by a much larger creature, the wapiti, so the brown bear is found exaggerated into the great bear of Alaska. The species attains its largest, possibly, in Kamchatka, on the Asiatic side of Bering Sea ; but the Alaskan bear has the credit with sportsmen of being the largest. A skin of one of the former, brought to the sale-rooms of Sir Charles Lampson & Co., needed two men to carry it. Last spring, in the sale-rooms of the same great firm, some persons present measured the skin of ar> Alaskan bear which was 9 feet across the shoulders from paw to paw. THE GRIZZLY BEAR. This is a very distinct race of brown bear. It has a flat profile, like the polar bear; in addition it grows to a great size, is barely able to climb trees, and has the largest claws of any they have been known to measure 5 inches along the curve. The Cent's Park. iv ^ grizzly, which used to be found as far north as LARGE RUSSIAN BROWN BEAR. />i o i J.-.L j T .-, p TUT ~ . , ol latitude and south as far as Mexico, is a rare The picture shows to what a size and strength the brown bear attains. animal now. Its turn for cattle-killing made the The Bears ranchmen poison it, and rendered the task an easy one. It is now only found in the Northern Rocky Mountains, and perhaps in North California and Nevada. Formerly encounters with "Old Ephraim," as the trappers called this bear, were numerous and deadly. It attacked men if attacked by them, and often without provocation. The horse, perhaps more than its rider, was the object of the bear. Lewis and Clarke measured a grizzly which was 9 feet long from nose to tail. The weight sometimes reaches 800 Ibs. Measurements of much larger grizzly bears have been recorded, but it is difficult to credit them. On a ranche near the upper waters of the Colorado River several colts were taken by grizzly bears. One of them was found buried according to the custom of this bear, and the owner sat up to shoot the animal. Having only the old-fashioned small-bored rifle of the day, excellent for shooting deer or Indians, but useless against so massive a beast as this bear, unless hit in the head or heart, he only wounded it. The bear rushed in, struck him a blow with its paw (the paw measures a foot across), smashed the rifle which he held up as a protection, and struck the barrel on to his head. The man fell insensible, when the bear, having satisfied himself that he was dead, picked him up, carried him off, and buried him in another hole which it scratched near the dead colt. It then dug up the colt and ate part of it, and went off. Some time later the man came to his senses, and awoke to find himself " dead and buried." As the earth was only roughly thrown over him, he scrambled out, and saw close by the half-eaten remains of the colt. Thinking that it might be about the bear's dinner- time, and remembering that he was probably put by in the larder for the next meal, he hurried home at once, and did not trouble the bear again. Not so a Siberian peasant, who had much the same adventure. He had been laughed at for wishing to shoot a bear, and went out into the woods to do so. The bear had the best of it, knocked him down, and so frightfully mangled his arm that he fainted. Bruin then buried him in orthodox bear fashion ; and the man, when he came to, which he fortunately did before the bear came back, got up, and made his way to the village. There he was for a long time ill, and all through his sickness and delirium talked of nothing but shooting the bear. When he got well, he disappeared into the forest with his gun, and after a short absence returned with the bear's skin ! THE AMERICAN BROWN BEAR. The brown bear of America is closely allied to that of Europe; it was first described by Sir John Richardson, who called it the Barrenlands Bear, and noted, quite rightly, that it differed from the grizzly in the smallness of its claws. The difference in the profile is very marked the brown bear having a profile like that of the European bear, while that of the grizzly is flat. The brown bear of North America lives largely on the fruits and berries of the northern plants, on dead deer, and on putrid fish, of which quantities are left on the banks of the Photo ly New York Zoological Society. AMERICAN BLACK BEAR. The black bear was the species first encountered by the early settlers on the Atlantic side of America. The grizzly belongs to the Rocky Mountain region. n8 The Living Animals of the World Photo by L. Mcdland, F.Z.S.] YOUNG SYRIAN BEAR FROM THE CAUCASUS. [ North Finchley. This is, properly speaking, a Syrian bear, but the species is found in the Caucasus and in the Taurus Range. northern rivers. Whether the large brown bear of the Rocky Moun tains is always a grizzly or often this less formidable race is doubtful. The writer inclines to think that it is only the counterpart of the North European and the North Asiatic brown bear. The following is Sir Samuel Baker's account of these bears. He says : " When I was in California, experienced in- formants told me that no true grizzly bear was to be found east of the Pacific slope, and that Lord Coke was the only Britisher who had ever killed a real grizzly in California. There are numerous bears of three if not four kinds in the Rocky Mountains. These are frequently termed grizzlies ; but it is a misnomer. The true grizzly is far superior in size, but of similar habits, and its weight is from 1,200 Ibs. to 1,400 Ibs." After giving various reasons for believing this to be a fair weight, Sir Samuel Baker adds that this weight is equivalent to that of an English cart-horse. There are certainly three Rocky Mountain bears the Grizzly, the Brown, and the small Black Bear. There is probably also another a cross between the black and the brown. It is ridiculous to say that the brown bears which come to eat the refuse on the dust-heaps of the hotels in the Yellow- stone Park, and let ladies photograph them, are savage grizzly bears. THE SYRIAN BEAR. This bear, which figures in the story of Elisha, is a variety of the brown bear. It is found from the Caucasus to the mountains of Palestine, and is a smaller animal than the true brown bear, weighing about 300 Ibs. The fur in summer is of a mixed rusty colour, with a whitish collar on the chest. It steals the grapes on Mount Horeb, and feeds upon ripe fruits, apples, chestnuts, corn, and the like. It is then ready to face the long winter sleep. THE AMERICAN BLACK BEAR. This is the smallest North American species, and perhaps the most harmless. It seldom weighs more than 400 Ibs. Its coat is short and glossy, and its flesh, especially in autumn, is esteemed for food. The early backwoodsmen found it a troublesome neighbour. The bears liked Indian corn, and were not averse to a young pig. " Like the deer," says Audubon, " it changes its haunts with the seasons, and for the same reason viz. the desire of obtaining food. During the spring months it searches for food in the low alluvial lands that border the rivers, or by the margins of the inland lakes. There it procures abundance of succulent roots, and of the tender, juicy stems of plants, upon which it chiefly feeds at that season. During the summer heat it enters the gloomy swamps, and passes much of its time in wallowing in the mud like a hog, and contents itself with crayfish, roots, and nettles; now and then, when hard pressed by hunger, it seizes a young pig, or perhaps a sow or calf. As soon as the different kinds of berries ripen, the bears betake themselves to the high grounds, followed by their cubs. In much-retired parts of the country, where there are no hilly grounds, it pays visits to the maize-fields, which it ravages for a while. After this the various kinds of nuts and grapes, acorns and other forest fruits, attract its attention. The black bear is then seen The Bears 119 wandering through the woods to gather this harvest, not forgetting to rob every tree which it comes across." THE INDIAN SLOTH-BEAR. Few people would believe that this awkward and ugly beast is so formidable as it is. It is the commonest Indian species, seldom eats flesh, prefers sucking up the contents of a white ants' nest to any other meal, and is not very large ; from 200 Ibs. to 300 Ibs. is the weight of a male. But the skull and jaws are very strong, and the claws long and curved. As they are used almost like a pickaxe when the bear wishes to dig in the hardest soil, their effect upon the human body can be imagined. Sir Samuel Baker says that there are more accidents to natives of India and Ceylon from this species than from any other animal. Mr. Watts Jones writes an interesting account of his sensations while being bitten by Photo ly C. Reid] \_Wishaw, N.B. A BROWN BEAR IN SEARCH OF INSECTS. The photograph shows a bear feeding on insects, possibly large ants, which he licks up from the ground, after scratching them out with his claws. one of these bears : " I was following up a bear which I had wounded, and rashly went to the mouth of a cave to which it had got. It charged. I shot, but failed to stop it. I do not know exactly what happened next, neither does my hunter who was with me ; but I believe, from the marks in the snow, that in his rush the bear knocked me over backwards in fact, knocked me three or four feet away. When next I remember anything, the bear's weight was on me, and he was biting my leg. He bit two or three times. I felt the flesh crush, but I felt no pain at all. It was rather like having a tooth out with gas. I felt no particular terror, though I thought the bear had got me; but in a hazy sort of way I wondered when he would kill me, and thought what a fool I was to get killed by a stupid beast like a bear. The shikari then very pluckily came up and fired a shot into the bear, and he left me. I felt the weight lift off me, and got up. I did not think I was much hurt. N. . . The main wound was a flap of flesh torn out of the inside of my left thigh and left hanging. It was fairly deep, and I could see all the muscles working underneath when I lifted it up to clean the wound." This anecdote 12O The Living Animals of the World was sent to Mr. J. Growth er Hirst to illustrate a theory of his, that the killing of wild animals by other animals is not a painful one. Rustem Pasha, once Turkish Ambassador in England, had an accident when brown bear shooting in Russia, and writes of it in the same sense : " When I met the accident alluded to, the bear injured both my hands, but did not tear off part of the arm or shoulder. In the moment of desperate struggle, the intense excitement and anger did, in fact, render me insensible to the feeling of actual pain as the bear gnawed my left hand, which was badly torn and perforated with holes, most of the bones being broken." There is good reason to believe that when large carnivora, or beasts large in proportion to the size of their victims, strike and kill them with a great previous shock, the sense of pain is deadened. Not so if the person or animal is seized quietly. Then the pain is intense, though sometimes only momentary. A tigress seized Mr. J. Hansard, a forest officer in Ceylon, by the neck. In describing his sensations afterwards, he said : " The agony I felt was something frightful. My whole skull seemed as if it were being crushed to atoms in the jaws of the great brute. I certainly felt the most awful pain as she was biting my neck ; but not afterwards, if I can remember." Sir Samuel Baker says he has twice seen the sloth-bear attack a howdah-elephant. Lord Edward St. Maur, son of the Duke of Somerset, was killed by one. Mr. Sanderson, the head of the Government Elephant-catching Department, used to hunt bears in the jungle with bull-terriers. Against these the bear was unable to make a good fight. They seized it by the nose ; and as its claws were not sharp like those of the leopard, the bear could not get them off. This bear seldom produces more than two or three young at a birth. The young cub is very ugly, but very strong, especially in the claws and legs. A six weeks' old cub has been turned upside-down in a basket, which was shaken violently, without dislodging the little animal clinging inside. THE ISABELLINE BEAR AND HIMALAYAN BLACK BEAR. The former animal is a medium-sized variety of the brown bear. The coat in winter is of a beautiful silver-tipped cinnamon colour. The HIMALAYAN BLACK BEAR has a half-moon of white on its throat. The habits of both do not differ markedly from those of the brown bear of Europe. Recently black bears have been most troublesome in Kashmir, attacking and killing and wounding the woodcutters with no provocation. Dr. E. T. Vere, writing from Srinagar, says : "Every year we have about half a dozen patients who have been mauled by bears. Most of our people who are hurt are villagers or shepherds. Bears have been so shot at in Kashmir that, although not naturally very fierce, they have become truculent. When they attack men, they usually sit up and knock the victim over with a paw. They then make one or two bites at the arm or leg, and often finish up with a snap at the head. This is the most dangerous part of the attack. One of our fatal cases this year was a boy, the vault of whose skull was torn off and lacerated. Another man received a compound fracture of the cranium. A third Photo by Fratelli Alinari] [Florence. POLAR BEAES. Though Arctic animals, polar bears can endure great heat. During a " heat wave " at Hamburg, Herr C. Hagenbeck found two of his leopards suffering from heat apoplexy, but the polar bears were enjoying the sun. Photo ly Fratelli Alinari] [Florence. TWO POLAR BEARS AND A BROWN BEAR. Although this is a photograph from life, it is scarcely a very natural scene ; as a matter of fact, all three animals belong to Herr Carl Hagenbeck's remarkable menagerie. 121 16 122 The Living Animals of the World Photo by J. W. McLellan] (Highbury. POLAR BEAR. This beards the. most formidable of all aquatic mammals. It is almost as much at home in the water as a seal. had the bones of his face smashed and lacerated. He had an axe, but said, ' When the bear sat up, my courage failed me.' " THE MALAYAN SUN-BEAR. These small, smooth-coated bears have a yellow throat-patch like a mustard plaster, and are altogether the most amusing and comical of all the tribe. They are almost as smooth as a pointer dog, and are devoted to all sweet substances which can be a substitute for honey, their main delicacy when wild. There are always a number of these bears at the Zoo incessantly begging for food. When one gets a piece of sugar, he cracks it into small pieces, sticks them on the back of his paw, and licks the mess until the paw is covered with sticky syrup, which he eats with great gusto. This bear is found in the Malay Peninsula, Borneo, Sumatra, and Java. It is only 4 feet high, or sometimes half a foot taller. It is more in the habit of walking upright than any other species. THE POLAR BEAR. ICE-BEAR is the better name for this, the most interesting in its habits of all the bears. It is an inhabitant of the lands of polar darkness and intense cold, and one of the very few land animals which never try to avoid the terrible ordeal of the long Arctic night, which rolls on from month to month. It can swim and dive nearly as well as a seal, climbs the icebergs, and goes voyages on the drifting ice, floating hundreds of miles on the polar currents, and feeding on the seals which surround it. Of the limits of size of the ice-bear it is impossible to speak with certainty. From the skins brought to this country the size of some of them must be enormous. One which lived for more than thirty years at the Zoo was of immense length and bulk. When the first discoverers went to the Arctic Seas, dressed in thick clothes and skins, the polar bears took them for seals. On Bear Island, below Spitsbergen, a Dutch sailor sat down on the snow to rest. A bear walked up behind him, and seized and crushed his head, evidently not in the least aware of what kind of animal it had got hold of. When the Jackson-Harmsworth Expedition was wintering in Franz-Josef Land, the bears were a positive nuisance. They were not afraid of man, and used to come round the huts at all hours. The men shot so many that they formed a valuable article of food for the dogs. The flesh is said to be unwholesome for men. The power of these bears in the water is wonderful ; though so bulky, they are as light as a cork when swimming, and their strong, broad feet are first-class paddles. Whenever a dead whale is found near the shore, the polar bears assemble to feed upon it. In the various searches for the Franklin Expedition they pulled to pieces nearly all the cabins erected to hold provisions for the sledge-parties. In one case it was found that the bears had amused themselves by mounting the roof of a half- buried hut, and sliding down the snowy, frozen slope. Cubs are often brought home in whaling- and sealing-ships, after the .mothers have been shot. There is a ready sale of them for Continental menageries. Herr Hagenbeck, of Hamburg, by purchasing them quite young, has induced bears to live on good terms with tigers, boar-hounds, and leopards. The Bears 123 The manoeuvres of an ice-bear in the water are marvellous to watch. Though so bulky a beast, it swims, dives, rolls over and over, catches seals or fish, or plays both on and under the water with an ease and evident enjoyment which show that it is in its favourite element. One favourite game of the ice-bear is to lie on its back in the water, and then to catch hold of its hind toes with its fore feet, when it resembles a half-rolled hedgehog of gigantic size. It then rolls over and over in the water like a revolving cask. Its footsteps are absolutely noiseless, as the claws are shorter than in the land-bear's, and more muffled in fur. This noiseless power of approach is very necessary when it has to catch such wary creatures as basking seals. A very large proportion of the food formerly eaten by ice-bears in summer was probably putrid, as they were always supplied with a quantity of the refuse carcases of whales and seals left by the whaling-ships. This may account for the bad results to the sailors who ate the bears' flesh. Now the whaling industry is so little pursued that the bears have to catch their dinners for themselves, and eat fresh food. Photo by the New York Zoological Society. HALF-GROWN POLAR BEARS. When young polar bears are brought to England or New York on board ship, they arrive with coats almost as yellow as a sponge. It takes a week's bathing to restore the pure white colour. The Arctic explorer Nordenskiold saw much of the ice-bears on his voyages, and left us what is perhaps the best description of their attempts to stalk men, mistaking them for Bother animals "When the polar bear observes a man," he writes in his "Voyage of the Vega, commonly approaches him as a possible prey, with supple movements and a hundred zigzag bends, in order to conceal the direction he means to take, and to prevent the man feeling frightened. During his approach he often climbs up on to blocks of ice or raises himseli his hind legs, in order to get a more extensive view. If he thinks he has to ^do With , a seal he creeps or trails himself forward on the ice, and is then said to conceal with his fore paws the only part of his body that contrasts with the white colour of the snow-las large b ack nose. If the man keeps quite still, the bear comes in this way so near that it can be shot at the distance of two gun-lengths, or killed with a lance, which the hunters consider safer When a vessel lies at anchor, a polar bear sometimes swims out to it, to inspect U visiting ship; it has also a special fancy for breaking open and searching stores of provisions, 124 The Living Animals of the World Photo by G. W. Wilson Co., Ltd.] THE ICE-BEAR'S COUCH. [Aberdeen. A favourite attitude of the polar bear is to lie stretched on its stomach, with the hind and fore legs extended flat. The head often lies between the fore paws. Notice the hair on the feet, which keeps the animal from slipping when on the ice. Fl^^^___^__._^^^_|_^^^^^__ ___._|_ beats abandoned and covered over, and cabins of wrecked ships. One Wk - bear which had looted a provision depot was found to have swallowed a quantity of sticking- plaster. The ice-bear has been met swimming at a distance of eighty miles from land, and with no ice in sight. This shows how thoroughly aquatic its habits and powers are. Polar bears do not husf their O victims, like the brown bear, but bite, and use their immense feet and sharp claws. It has been said that when one catches a seal on the ice it will play with it as a cat does with a mouse. The size of these bears varies very much. Seven or eight feet from the tip of the nose to the tail is the usual length ; yet they have been known to exceed even 13 feet in length. This would correspond to an immense difference in bulk and weight. An ice-bear was once found feeding on the body of a white whale, 15 feet in length, and weighing three or four tons. The whale could not have got on to the ice by itself, and it is difficult to imagine that any other creature except the bear could have dragged it there from the sea, where it was found floating. "When hunting seals, polar bears will chase them in the water as an otter does a fish, but with what result is not known. Besides stalking them in the manner described above, they will mark the place at which seals are basking on the rim of an ice-floe, and then dive, and come up just at the spot where the seal would naturally drop into the water. Those shot for the sake of their skins are nearly all killed when swimming in the sea. The hunters mark a bear on an ice-floe, and approach it. The bear always tries to escape by swimming, and is pursued and shot through the head from the boat. When the females have a cub or cubs with them, they will often attack persons or boats which molest them; otherwise they do not willingly interfere with man, except, as has been said above, when they mistake men for seals or other natural prey. The instances recorded of the affection shown by these animals for their young are somewhat pathetic. When the Carcase frigate, which was engaged on a voyage of Arctic discovery, was locked in the ice, a she-bear and two cubs made their way to the ship, attracted by the scent of the blubber of a walrus which the crew had killed a few days before. They ran to the fire, and pulled off some of the walrus-flesh which remained unconsumed. The crew then threw them large lumps of the flesh which were lying on the ice, which the old bear fetched away singly, and laid before her cubs as she brought it, dividing it, and giving each a share, and reserving but a small portion for herself. As she was fetching away the last piece, the sailors shot both the cubs dead, and wounded the dam. Although she could only just crawl to the place where the cubs lay, she carried the lump of flesh which she had last fetched away, and laid it before them ; and when she saw that they refused to eat, laid her paws on them, and tried to raise them up, moaning pitifully. When she found she could not stir them, she went to some distance, and looked back, and then returned, pawing them all over and moaning. Finding at last that they were lifeless, she raised her head towards the ship and uttered a growl, when the sailors killed her with a volley of musket-balls. CHAPTER VII. THE SMALLER CARNIVORA. THE RACCOON FAMILY. Photo by Scholastic Photo. Co.] COMMON RACCOON. [Parson's Green. A LINK between the Bears and the Weasel Tribe is made by the RACCOONS and their allies. They are bear-like in having a short, thick body, and in their flat-footed manner of walking ; also in their habit of sitting up on end, and using their paws as hands, to some extent, in aiding them to climb. But they are also much like the Civets ; and the pretty little CACOMIXLE, or KING-TAILED CAT of Mexico, was formerly classed with the civets. They are all very active, enterprising, and quick-witted creatures of no great size, very different in temperament from the bears. THE RACCOON. This is the typical representative of the Raccoon Family. It is found in most parts of the United States, and also in South America. The type of the family is the AMERICAN RACCOON itself. Its scientific name of " Lotor," the " Washer," was given to it from an odd habit these creatures have of wetting and washing their food in any water which is near. One kept at the Zoo washed her kittens so much when they were born that they all died. The 'coon inhabits America from Canada to the south as far down as Para- guay. In size it is equal to a common fox, but is short and stout. Restless, inquisi- tive, and prying, it is a most mischievous beast where farm- yards and poultry are within reach. It kills the fowls, eats the eggs, samples the fruit, and if caught shams dead with all the doggedness of an opossum. It is very fond of fish and shell-fish. Oysters are a special dainty, as are mussels and clams. A ffentleman Who ker)t One Photo by c. Reid] This animal has the 125 RACCOON. of always washing its food, if possible, before it eats it. The Living Animals of the World refuge. says : " It opens oysters with wonderful skill. It is sufficient for it to break the hinge with its teeth ; its paws complete the work of getting out the oyster. It must have a delicate sense of touch. In this operation it rarely avails itself of sight or smell. It passes the oyster under its hind paws; then, without looking, it seeks with its hands the weakest place. It there digs in its claws, forces asunder the valves, and tears out the flesh in fragments, leaving nothing behind." Its favourite haunt is in the cane- brakes of the south. There the planters follow it by night with dogs, and shoot it in the trees in which it takes The skins, with handsome alternations of yellow and brown, make fine carriage-rugs. THE COATIS. Photo by A. S. Rudland Sons. COMMON STOAT. Iii summer coat. In winter coat. These photographs show the stoat (or ermine, as it is often called) in its summer and winter coats. This animal gives us the well-known ermino fur. It has the same passion for killing for killing's sake shared by the ferret. If a stoat finds a rabbit's nest, for instance, it always murders all the young ones. These creatures sometimes contrive to hunt in packs, or to migrate in society. They are very fond of their young, which they lay up in old crows' nests, holes in banks, or straw-stacks. They have often been seen to carry them out of danger in their mouths. The length of the head and body is lOf inches, and of the tail 6| inches. The young are usually from five to eight in number, and are born in April or May. They soon move into the long standing-grass, and remain there till it is cut. After that they move to the woods and covers, and great numbers are trapped. If not, they attack the young pheasants, and do great damage. They can climb well, and are known, as is the polecat, to ascend trees and kill birds on their nests. They also suck eggs. Forty-two pheasants' eggs were taken by Mr. de Winton from one stoat's hole. THE GLUTTON, OR WOLVERINE. This largest and most destructive of all the Weasel Tribe is found all round the northern edge of the Arctic Circle, from Norway to Hudson Bay. It is a large heavy animal, with a short head, sharp claws, long thick fur, and a clumsy gait. Its tusks are very long and sharp; and its appetite, if not so insatiable as the old travellers were told, is sharp enough to keep it always hunting. It follows the fur-trappers in the woods, and, being very cunning, breaks in at the back of their fall-traps, and robs the baits or the prey caught. When Lord Milton and Dr. Cheadle made the North-west Passage by land, they lost nearly all their furs in this way. Once, having trapped a valuable silver fox, the only one caught by them, they found nothing but shreds of fur left by the glutton. As the marten-hunters' line of traps is perhaps fifty or sixty miles long, the loss and damage caused by the glutton is most mortifying. This Photo ly A. s. Rudiand & sons animal can only be caught in steel traps, and that with great GLUTTON. A cunning, destructive animal, which follows the trappers and robs them of the animals taken in the traps. difficulty. By permission of the New York Zoological Society. CALIFORXIAX SEA-LIONS, OR EARED SEALS. Seal-herds form " rookeries " when on land at the breeding-season, during which time they undergo a complete fast. 135 CHAPTER VIII. MARINE CARNIVORA: THE SEALS, SEA-LIONS, AND WALRUS. Photo Inj G. Tr. Wilson found in great herds in Davis Straits, on the coasts of Green- land, and in the greater part of the frozen Arctic Ocean. It is the animal which the sealing- vessels which hunt seals for oil and "hair" that is, the leather of the skins, not the fur seek and destroy. In the old days they could be seen in tens of thousands blackening square miles of ice. They are still so numerous that in Danish Greenland more than 30,000 are taken each year. The KINGED SEAL is a small variety, not more than 3 or 4 feet in length, found in great numbers in the Far North. Its flesh is the main food of the Eskimo, and its skin the clothing of the Greenlanders. The seals make breathing-holes in the ice. There the Eskimo waits with uplifted spear for hours at a time, until the seal comes up to breathe, when it is harpooned. The BLADDER-NOSED SEAL is a large spotted variety, with a curious bladder-like crest on the head and nose of the male. Unlike all other seals, it sometimes resists the hunters and attacks the Eskimo in their kayaks. If any evidence were needed of the great destruction which the sealing and whaling industry causes, and has caused, among the large marine animals, the case of the ELEPHANT-SEALS ought to carry conviction. These are very large seals, the male of which has a projecting nose like a proboscis. They were formerly found both north and south of the Equator, their main haunts being on the coast of California, and on the islands of the South Pacific and Antarctic Ocean. They are gigantic compared with the common seals, some of the males being from 16 to 20 feet long. Cuttle-fish and seaweed are the principal food of this seal, which was formerly seen in astonishing numbers. The whaling-ships which hunted both these seals and sperm- whales at the same time almost destroyed those which bred on the more accessible coasts, just as the earlier whalers entirely destroyed Steller's sea-cow, and their modern descendants destroyed the southern right-whales. The elephant-seal is now very scarce, and when one is killed the skin is regarded as something of a curiosity. In the records of the voyage of the Challenger it is stated that there were still great numbers of the elephant-seals surviving near Heard Island, and not a few round the shores of Kerguelen Island. Professor Moseley states that on the windward shore of Heard Island "there is an extensive beach, called Long Beach. This was covered with thousands of sea-elephants in the breeding-season; but it is only accessible by land, and then only by crossing two glaciers. ' No boat can safely land on this shore; consequently men are stationed on the beach, and live there in huts. Their duty is constantly to drive the sea-elephants from this beach into the sea, which they do with whips made out of the hides of the seals themselves. The beasts thus ousted swim off, and often 'haul up,' as the term is, upon the accessible beach beyond. In very stormy weather, when they are driven into the sea, they are forced to betake themselves to the sheltered side of the island. Two or three old males, which are called ' beach-masters,' hold a beach for themselves and cover it with cows, but allow no other males to haul up. They light furiously, and one man told me that he had seen an old male take a young one up in his teeth and throw him over, lifting him in the air. The males show fight when whipped, and are with great difficulty driven into the sea. The females give birth to their 'GREY SEAL. Note the difference between the seal's and the sea-lion's hind flippers. When on land, the seal advances by a jumping movement, produced by the muscles of the body, assisted forward by the front flippers^ 143 144 The Living Animals of the World young soon after their arrival. The new-born young ones are almost black, unlike the adults, which are of a light slate-brown. They are suckled by the female for some time, and then left to themselves, lying on the beach, where they seem to grow fat without further feeding. They are always allowed by the sealers to lie like this, ' in order to make more oil.' This account was corroborated by all the sealers I met, but I do not understand it. Probably the cows visit their offspring unobserved from time to time. Peron says that both parent elephant-seals stay with the young without taking any food at all till the latter are about six or seven weeks' old, and that the old ones conduct the young to the water and carefully keep them company. The rapid increase in weight is in accordance with Peron's account. Ooodridge gives a somewhat different story namely, that after the females leave the young the old males and the pups proceed inland, as far as two miles sometimes, and stop without food for more than a month, during which time they lose fat. The male sea-elephants come ashore for the purpose of breeding about the middle of August, the females a little later." Formerly the elephant-seals were found as far north as the Californian coast, where their capture was the main business of the sealing-traders. This species also formed the mainstay of the far southern sealers. As the elephant-seals were killed off, so the business became less and less profitable. It is to be hoped that the voyages of exploration to the Antarctic ice-fringe will not lead to the discovery of fresh sealing-grounds, for if this is the case there is little chance that any of the southern seals will escape entire destruction. Some form of close time has already been enforced in the pursuit of the hair-seals of Northern Europe; but it is very desirable that the species still found on our own coasts should also receive protection. Except when they paid visits to the fixed salmon-nets, they never did any harm ; and fixed nets are now illegal. When a seal learned the use of the stake-nets, which these animals were very quick to understand, it would wait quietly till it saw a fish caught, and then swim up and carry it off before the fishermen could take it. Two species namely, the COMMON SEAL and GREY SEAL still regularly visit our shores. The common seal breeds on our south-western coasts, and the grey seal off the Hebrides. If the common seal were accorded a close time, its numbers would probably increase ; and the spectacle of such interesting creatures visible on our coast could not fail to be of great interest. All the old legends of mermaids and wild men of the sea are based on the capture of seals. Perhaps the most ancient is one which records such a capture in the river near Orford Castle, in Suffolk, in the reign of Henry II. The ignorant soldiers were persuaded that it was a man, and tortured it to make it speak. They then took it to the church, and showed it the sacred emblems. As it " showed no reverence," they took it back to the castle, and fed it on fish. It was allowed to go into the river, but returned to its captors of its own accord. Later it swam away to the sea. The monk who recorded the story stated his conviction that this seal was an evil spirit which had got into the body of a drowned sailor. A grey seal was taken not many years ago in the creek leading up to the little town of Wells, in Norfolk. It was so tame By. permission of tit* Hon. Walter Rothschild] [Tr'uiy. that the fishermen Caught it by HARP-SEAL, throwing coats over it as it lay on The harp-seal ccmes. from Greenland. the mud. y perniit [ Tring. SEA-ELEPHAXT. These enormous seals (about 20 feet in length) are becoming very scarce. When they come ashore, they are easily approached, though not so easily killed. They are much valued for their oil. Note the trunk-like prolongation of the nose, which, when the animal is excited, becomes distended. 145 19 CHAPTER IX. THE RODENTS, OR GNAWING ANIMALS. T HE Rodents, or Gnawing Mammals, have all the same general type of teeth, from which the order receives its distinctive name. There are a very large number of families and of genera among the rodents, more than in any other order of mammals. All the rodents possess a pair of long chisel-shaped incisor teeth in each jaw. The ends of these teeth are worn into a sharp edge which cuts like a steel- tool. In most rodents these are the only teeth in- that part of the jaw, a wide gap intervening between them and the other teeth. The hares, rabbits, and calling-hares have a minute pair of teeth set just behind the large pair in the upper jaw. The grinding- teeth are set far back, and are never more than six in number, these being sometimes reduced to four. Rodents generally have five toes on the fore feet; in< the hind feet there are in some cases only four, or even three. None of the species are of great size; the largest, the CAPYBARA, a water-living animal of South America, is about the dimensions of a small pig. But the number of species of small rodents is prodigious, and their fecundity so great that they ^^ constantly increase in favourable seasons until they become a plague. Voles, lemmings, field- mice, and rabbits are constant sources of loss to agriculture in their seasons of extraordinary increase. Most rodents feed ^K. l on vegetables, though rats and mice have developed car- nivorous tastes. No rodents have canine teeth. Photo ly W. P. Dando] [Regent's Park. CAPYBARA. This, the largest of the Rodents, is found by the rivers of South America. THE SQUIRRELS. Those of the order of Gnawing Animals which have only two incisors in each jaw, and no rudimentary teeth like those possessed by the hares, are called "Simple-toothed Rodents." Of these the family usually placed first in order is that of the SQUIRRELS and their allies. The True Squirrels and Marmots have five molar teeth on each side of the upper jaw. Squirrels are found in nearly every temperate part of the globe, from Norway to Japan, and in very great numbers 146 Jiy permission of Professor Bumpus, At- 1'urk. FLYING-SQUIRREL. One of the small species of the group. The Rodents, or Gnawing Animals 147 in India and the tropics. Everywhere they are favour- ites ; and though they do some mischief in highly cultivated countries, they are among the most harmless of creatures. Most of them live on wild nuts and the kernels of fruit ; they suck eggs occasionally, and in Canada will come to the traps in extreme cold and eat the meat with which they are baited. THE RED SQUIRREL. This, the common squirrel of England, is repre- sentative of the whole order. In old Scandinavian legends the squirrel is represented as the messenger of the gods, who carried the news of what was going on in the world to the other animals. To- gether with its close relations, it is the most graceful of all climbers of trees. With its long tail waving behind it, it races up or down the trunks and across the forest from branch to branch as easily as a horse gallops across a plain. It will descend the trunk head downwards as fast as it runs up. Squirrels pair for life, and Photo by A. S. liudland & Sons. FLYING-SQUIRREL. The large flying-squirrels are mainly nocturnal. They can leap a distance of 40 feet with the aid of the parachutes of skin stretching from the fore to the hind limbs. are most affectionate little creatures, always playing or doing gymnastics together. The squirrel builds a very good house, in which he shows himself far more sensible than the monkeys and apes ; it is made of leaves, moss, and sticks. The sticks come first as a platform; then this is carpeted, and a roof put on. No one who has seen English squirrels at work house-building has ever described exactly how they do it; it is the best nest made by any mammal, thoroughly well fitted together and waterproof. In this nest the young squirrels are born in the month of June ; that year they keep with the parents, and do not " set up for themselves " till the next spring. The red colour is very persistent in squirrels. One Chinese variety, black and red, has even bright red teeth. In cold countries the red squirrels make stores of food, but spend much of the winter asleep. It is a great pity that in England no one tries to tame the squirrels as they do in America; there they are the greatest ornament of the parks of cities, coming down to be fed as tamely as our sparrows. The writer has known one instance in which a lady 148 The Living Animals of the World induced wild squirrels to pay daily visits to her bedroom for food ; they used to climb up the ivy and jump in at the open window. The great enemies of squirrels near houses are the cats, which kill all the young ones when they first come down from the trees. In a garden in Berkshire a pair of squirrels had a family every summer for five years, but none ever survived the cats' persistent attacks. These squirrels were most amusing and improvident. They used to hide horse-chestnuts, small potatoes, kernels of stone fruit, bulbs of crocuses, and other treasures in all kinds of places, and then forget them. After deep snows they might be seen scampering about looking into every hole and crevice to see whether that happened to be the place where they had hidden something useful. Much of the store was buried among the roots of trees and bushes, and quite hidden when the snow fell. Photo ly IP. P. Dando] [Regent's Park. DORSAL SQUIRREL FROM CENTRAL AMERICA. A most beautiful species. The main colour is red, but the back is French grey, and the tail French grey and red mingled. THE GREY SQUIRREL. In Northern Europe, and across Northern Asia and America, a large grey squirrel is found. From its fur the " squirrel-cloaks " are made. These squirrels live mainly on the seeds of pines in winter, and on wild fruits, shoots, and berries in summer. It has been noticed that they will entirely forsake some great area of forest for a year or two, and as suddenly return to it. The marten and the sable are the great enemies of the grey squirrel, but the eagle-owl and goshawk also kill numbers of them. In many countries the flesh of the squirrel is eaten. The grey-and-black squirrel of the United States was thus described some sixty years ago : " It rises with the sun, and continues industriously en- gaged in the search for food for four or five hours every morning. During the warm weather of spring it pre- !4L. w^Htt BP"^%bif^P pares its nest on the branch of a tree, constructing it first of dried sticks, which it breaks off, or, if these are not at hand, of green twigs as thick as a finger, which it gnaws off from the boughs. These it lays in the fork of a tree, so as to make a frame- to by A. s. Rudiand <. sons. work. It lines this framework with ASIATIC CHIPMUNKS. leaves, and over these again it spreads Small ground-aquirrels which store food for the winter. mOSS. In making the n6St, the pair The Rodents, or Gnawing Animals 149 Photo l,it If. P. Dando] [Regent's Park. KED-FOOTED GROUND-SQTJIBREL. This species has some of the characteristics of the tree-squirrels, among them the bushy tail. is usually engaged for several days, spending an hour in the morning hard at work. The noise they make in cutting the sticks and carrying material is heard at some distance." In winter they reside entirely in the holes of trees, where their young are in most cases born. Green corn and young wheat suffered greatly from their depredations, and a wholesale war of destruction used to be waged against them everywhere. In Penn- sylvania an old law offered threepence a bead from the public treasury for every squirrel destroyed, and in 1749 the enormous sum of 8,000 was paid out of the public funds for this purpose. In those days vast migrations of these squirrels used to take place, exciting not only the wonder but the fear of the old settlers. In the Far North- west multitudes of squirrels used to congre- gate in different districts, forming scattered bands, which all moved in an easterly direc- tion, gathering into larger bodies as they went. Neither mountains nor rivers stopped them. On they came, a devouring army, laying waste the corn- and wheat-fields, until guns. cats, hawks, foxes, and owls destroyed them. THE FLYING-SQUIRRELS. One of the finest squirrels is the TAGUAN, a large squirrel of India, Ceylon, and the Malacca forests. It is a "flying-squirrel," with a body 2 feet long, and a. bushy tail of the same length. Being nocturnal, it is not often seen ; but when it leaps it unfolds a flap of skin on either side, which is stretched (like a sail) when the fore and hind limbs are extended in the act of leaping; it then forms a parachute. The colour of this squirrel is grey, brown, and pale chestnut. There are a number of different flying- squirrels in China, Formosa, and Japan, and on the forests of Central America. One small flying-squirrel, the POLATOUCHE, is found in North-east Russia and Siberia. It flies from tree to tree with immense bounds, assisted by the " floats " on its sides. Though only 6 inches long, it can cover distances of 30 feet and more without difficulty. Wherever there are birch forests this little squirrel is found. One nearly as small is a native of the Southern States of America, ranging as far south as Guate- mala. In Africa, south of the Sahara, the place of the Oriental flying- squirrel is taken by a separate family. They have a different arrangement of the parachute from that of the flying- Photo ^ Dr - R - w - Shufeldt] squirrels of India. This wide fold of BLACK FOX-SQUIRREL, skin is Supported in the Asiatic The fur of this species is as valuable as that of the grey squirrel. [ Washington. 150 The Living Animals of the World squirrels by a cartilage extending from the wrist. In the South African flying-squirrels this support springs from the elbow, not from the wrist ; they have also horny plates on the under-surface of the tail. Many of the tropical flying-squirrels are quite large animals, some being as large as a small cat. Mr. W. H. Adams says of PEL'S FLYING-SQUIKKEL, a West African species : " These squirrels come out of their holes in the trees some hours after sunset, and return long before riwto ly scholastic Photo. Co.] [i>ano,is Green, daybreak. They are only visible on LONG-TAILED MARMOT. bright moonlight nights. The natives The marmots live by preference on high and cold mountains just below the Say that they do liot COme Out of line of eternal snow in Europe. In Asia, where the snow-line is higher, they arc 1 i i 11 ,1 found at altitudes of 12,000 feet. thelr holes at a11 m stormy weather, or on very dark nights; they live on berries and fruits, being especially fond of the palm-oil nut, which they take to their nests to peel and eat. They pass from tree to tree with great rapidity, usually choosing to jump from a higher branch to a lower one, and then climbing up again to make a fresh start. . . . They litter about twice in a year, once in September. The young remain in the nest for about nine weeks, during which they are fed by the old ones on such food as shoots and kernels. They do not attempt to jump or 'fly' till the end of that period, extending the length of their jumps with their growth." The ETHIOPIAN SPINY SQUIRRELS have coarse spiny fur; the little INDIAN PALM-SQUIRREL is marked with longitudinal dark and light stripes on the back; others have light bands on their flanks. THE GROUND-SQUIRRELS. Many tree-living squirrels pass a good deal of their time on the ground ; but there are others which burrow like mice, and, though they climb admirably, prefer to make their nest, and the regular squirrel's store of nuts, in the earth, and not in the branches. The best known is the little CHIPMUNK of the United States, the favourite pet of all American children. There are many kinds of chipmunks, all of which have pouches in their cheeks for carrying food. The commonest is the STRIPED CHIPMUNK. It is from 8 to 10 inches long, with white stripes, bordered with dark brown on each side. The chipmunks' hoards of grain and nuts are so large that the Indians used to rob them in times of scarcity. There is also a ground-squirrel in Northern Europe and Northern Asia with much the same habits as the chipmunk. The burrows of the chipmunks are deep and extensive, and into them these rodents convey such quantities of grain and maize as to inflict considerable loss on the farmer. The SIBERIAN GROUND-SQUIRREL has been known to conceal over 8 Ibs. weight of corn in its hole. This has a sleeping-chamber at the end, filled with moss and leaves, on which the family sleep. From this side passages are dug, all leading to chambers stocked with food, often far in excess of the wants of these provident little creatures. The surplus stores are said to be eaten in the spring by wild boars and bears. THE PRAIRIE-DOGS AND MARMOTS. Between squirrels which live in holes in the ground and the marmots and their relations no great gap is found. These creatures drop the climbing habit and increase The Rodents, or Gnawing Animals that of burrowing. In disposition most of them are still very squirrel-like, though thov gain something in solemnity of demeanour by never going far from their holes. A prairie-dog or marmot is like a squirrel which has left society and settled down in a suburb. The little- creatures known in America as PRAIRIE-DOGS have in Northern Europe and the steppes of Asia some first cousins, called SUSLIKS. Both live in colonies, burrow quickly and well, feed on grass, and have a habit of sitting bolt upright outside their holes, keeping a look-out for enemies. The prairie-dogs also bark like a little dog when alarmed. Before going to sleep, the latter always carry the dry grass on which they slept out of their burrow, and carefully bite up into short lengths a fresh supply to make their beds. The susliks and prairie-dogs- are of a khaki colour, like the sand in which they delight to burrow. Every one has heard that the little burrowing-owls live in the same holes in company with the prairie-dogs, and' By permission of the New York Zoological Society. PRAIRIE-DOGS, OR MARMOTS. A most characteristic picture. It shows the prairie-dogs' method of holding their food while they eat, or cutting up grass to make their teds. that the rattlesnake sometimes eats both the young prairie-dogs and the young owls. An acquaintance of the writer who had killed a rattlesnake actually took a young prairie-dog from its mouth. The snake had not struck it with the poison, but had begun to swallow it uninjured. It was still alive, and recovered. The suslik was once found in England; its remains, with those of other steppe animals, are found in the river gravels and brick earth in the London basin. The prairie-dogs form a- kind of connecting-link between the susliks and the true marmots. They have short ears, short tails, rounded bodies, and possess great powers of digging. When a prairie-dog has nothing better to do, it usually spends its time either in digging holes or in cutting up grass or anything handy to make its bed with. Young prairie-dogs are not so large as a mouse when born. The adult animals feed almost entirely on grass and weeds in their wild state ; they seem quite independent of water, and able to live in the driest places. The ALPINE MARMOT is a much larger species than the prairie-dog. It lives on the 152 The Living Animals of the World Alps- just below the line of perpetual snow. From five to fifteen marmots combine in colonies, dig very deep holes, and, like the prairie-dogs, carefully line them with grass ; they also store up dry grass for food. In autumn they grow very fat, and are then dug out of the burrows by the mountaineers for food. Young marmots used to be tamed and carried about by the Savoyard boys, but this practice is now rare. The monkey is probably more attractive to the public than the fat and sleepy marmot. Marmots are about the size of a rabbit, and have close iron-grey fur. Tschudi, the naturalist of the Alps, says of the marmots that they are the only mammal which inhabits the region of the snows. No other warm-blooded quadrupeds live at such an altitude. In spring, when the lower snows melt, there are generally small pieces of short turf near their holes, as well as great rocks, precipices, and stones. Here they make their burrows, outside which they feed, with a sentinel always posted to warn them of the approach of the eagle or lammergeir. The young marmots, from four to six in number, are born in June. When they first appear at the mouth of the holes, they are bluish grey; later the fur gains a brownish tint. The burrows are usually at a height of not less than 7,000 or 8,000 feet. Winter comes on apace. By the end of autumn the ground is already covered with snow, and the marmots retire to sleep through the long winter. As they do not become torpid for some time, they require food when there is none accessible ; this they store up in the form of dried grass, which they cut in August, and leave outside their burrows for a time to be turned into hay. The ALPINE MARMOT is also found in the Carpathians and the Pyrenees. Another species, the BOBAC, ranges eastward from the German frontier across Poland, Kussia, and the steppes of Asia to Kamchatka. In Ladak and Western Tibet a short-tailed species, the HIMALAYAN MARMOT, is found, sometimes living at a height of nearly 17,000 feet. The GOLDEN MARMOT is found in the Pamirs. THE BEAVERS. The BEAVERS are classed as the last family of the squirrel-like group of the Eodents, and the largest creatures of that order in the northern hemisphere. The value of their fur has caused their destruction in great measure where they were once numerous, and has led to their total extirpation where there is evidence that they existed as a not uncommon animal. They were formerly distributed over the greater part of Europe. In England semi- fossilised remains show that they were not uncommon. In Wales beavers' skins were mentioned in the year 940 in the laws of Howel Dha. and in 1188 Giraldus stated that they were living on the river Teify, in Cardiganshire. Beavers were formerly found in France, especially on the Rhone, where a few are still said to survive, in Germany, Austria, Eussia, Poland, and in Sweden and Norway, on the rivers Dvvina and Petchora, and on the great rivers of Siberia. A few still remain in two districts of By permission of the Acw Tort Zoological Society. AMERICAN BEAVEE. Norway, and some were known to The engineering feats of the beavers, in damming streams and forming pools, are the ireqiient the Elbe in 18/8. The most remarkable achievements performed by living animals. MoldaU, in Bohemia, is also Credited 153 20 154 The Living Animals of the World BEAVER. This is a. photograph of a swimming beaver. Note the advantage which it has taken of the eddy in the stream. with a colony ; but parts of the Danube are believed to be the chief haunt of the European beaver at the present time. The American beaver, though its range has greatly contracted, is still sufficiently numerous for its fur to be a valuable item in the winter fur-sales. The beaver's tail is flattened like a paddle and covered with scales ; its hind feet are webbed between the toes; it has sharp claws, w r hich aid it in scratching up mud, and a thick, close fur r with long brown hair above, and a most beautiful and close under- fur, which, when the long hairs have all been removed, forms the beaver-fur of which hats were once made, and trimmings for ladies' jackets and men's fur coats are now manufactured. There are two separate lines of interest in connection with the animal political and zoological. The value of the fur was anciently such that, when the first French explorers began to search the Canadian lakes, and later when the Hudson Bay Company succeeded to the French dominion, the history of Canada was largely bound up with beaver-catching and the sale of the skins. In the early days of the Company the " standard of trade " of the North-west was a beaver-skin. For nearly a century the northern territories were organised, both under French and English rule, with a view to the beaver trade. The beaver was, and is, the crest of the Canadian Dominion. The beavers' engineering feats have for their object to keep up a uniform depth of water in the streams where they live. On large rivers there is always enough water for the beaver to swim in safety from its enemies, and to cover the mouth of the hole which it makes in the bank, just as a water-rat does. But on small streams, especially in Canada, where during the winter the frost prevents the springs from running, there is always the danger that the water may fall so low that the beavers would be left in shallow water, a prey to the wolverine, wolf, lynx, or human enemies. To keep up the water, the beavers make a dyke or dam across the stream. This they go on building up and strengthening until they have ponded back a large pool. In time, as they never seem to stop adding to their dam, the pool floods the ground on either side of the stream and makes & small lake. It flows over the Photo liy Dr. R. W. Shufeldt] [ Washington. MUSK-RAT. A small water rodent, a native of the North American rivers. Immense numbers are killed for the sake of their fur. The Rodents, or Gnawing Animals 155 parts of the bank where their holes are; these also become filled up, because the beavers carry into them every day fresh quantities of wood-chips to make their beds. The beavers then scrape out the earth on the top, pile sticks over this, plaster the sticks with mud, and so build a dome over their bedroom. In time this is raised higher and higher, the artificial lake rises too, and the complete "beaver-lodge" surrounded with water is seen. The old trappers who found these in situ imagined they were built at once and outright in the water. The experiments and observations at Leonardslee, in Sussex, where Sir E. G. Loder has kept beavers in a stream for ten years, show that the "evolution" of the lodge is gradual and only incidental. But the building of the dyke, the cutting of the trees, and the making of the pool are done with a purpose and definite aim. What this is, and how done, is explained in the following description of the beaver colony at Leonardslee: "Their first object was to form in the brook a pool, with water maintained at a constant height, to keep the mouth of their burrow in the bank submerged during the droughts of summer. To this end they built a dam, as good a specimen of their work as can be seen even in Canada. Its situa- tion was carefully chosen. A small oak, growing on what appears to have been a projection in the bank, gives support to the work. It may be concluded that this was part of their intention ; for though they have cut down every other tree in their enclosure to which they had access, except two or three very large ones, they have left this small tree which supports the dam un- touched. (Later, when the dyke was stronger, they cut it down.) Above this stretches the dam, some 12 yards wide, and rising 5| feet from the base to the crest. The beavers built it solidly of battens of alder, willow, larch, and other straight-limbed trees, cut into lengths of from 2 to 3 feet. The bark of each was carefully gnawed off for food ; and the whole work, constructed of these cut and peeled logs, has a very regular and artificial appearance. Smaller twigs and sticks are jammed in between the battens, and the interstices are stuffed with mud, which the beavers bring up from the bottom of the pool in their mouths, and push in with their feet, making the whole structure as watertight as a wall." This dam converted what was a narrow brook into a long lake, some 50 yards by 15 or 20 yards broad. Later the beavers made another larger dam below this, cutting down some more trees. One tree gave them a great deal of trouble ; it was a beech, 40 feet high, and hard to gnaw; so they waited till the water rose round it, and then dug it up. When the large dam was made, quite a considerable lake was formed below the first. They then neglected their first dam, and let the water run out of the top lake into the lower one. At the time of writing there are five old beavers and a family of young ones at Leonardslee. The work -done by these beavers, so few in numbers, shows how large colonies may alter the course of rivers. Photo by W, P. Dando\ GAMBIAN POUCHED RAT. These rats are able to carry food in their cheek-pouches, which are used as pockets. [Regent's Part:. 156 The Living Animals of the World THE DORMICE. There are a considerable number of animals, even in England, which hibernate. Most of these feed largely on insect food, which in winter is unobtainable in any great quantity. Consequently the hedgehog and the badger, which live largely on snails and worms, go to sleep in the famine months. So does the sleepiest of all the DORMOUSE. This alone would show that this little rodent probably feeds on insects very largely, for if it only ate nuts and berries it could easily store these, and find a good supply also in the winter woods. It has been recently proved that dormice are insectivorous, and will eat aphides, weevils, and caterpillars. But a dormouse hibernates for so long a time that one might imagine its vitality entirely lost ; it sleeps for six months at a time, and becomes almost as cold as a dead animal, and breathes very slowly and almost imperceptibly. Mr. Trevor-Battye says that if warmed and made to awaken suddenly in the winter it would die in a minute or two, its heart beating very fast, " like a clock running down." Before their hibernation dormice grow very fat. There is a large species, found in Southern Europe, which the Romans used to eat when in this fat stage. In winter dormice usually seek the nest of some small bird, and use it as a sleeping-place. They pull out arid renew the lining, or add a roof themselves. Into the interior they carry a fresh supply of moss, and sleep there in great comfort. Their great enemy at this time is the weasel. There are two main groups of the dormice, divided by naturalists in reference to the structure of their stomach. The South African GRAPHIURES have short tufted tails. The hibernating habit is confined to the more northern species. THE MOUSE TRIBE. This family, which includes the MICE, RATS, and VOLES, contains more than a third of the number of the whole order of Rodents. Some are arboreal, others aquatic ; but most are ground-living animals and burrowers. The number of known species has been estimated at 330. Among the most marked types are the WATER-MICE of Australia and New Guinea, and of the island of Luzon in the Philippines. The feet of the Australian species are webbed, though those of the Philippine form are not. The GERBILS form another group, mainly inhabitants of desert districts. They have very large eyes, soft fur, and tails of various length and form in different species. They have greatly developed hind legs, and leap like jerboas, and are found in Southern Europe, Asia, and Africa. The PHILIPPINE RATS, large and long- haired, and the TREE-MICE of Africa south of the Sahara, form other groups. A very mischievous race of rodents is represented in Europe by the HAMSTERS, and in the New World by a closely allied group, the WHITE-FOOTED MICE. J'koto by A. S. Rudland & Sons. POCKET-GOPHER. The pocket-gophers are almost entirely subterranean. Their burrowing powers are remarkable. The teeth as well as claws are used to aid them. THE HAMSTERS. The HAMSTER is a well-known European species, and represents the group of pouched rats. The Rodents, or Gnawing Animals 157 fltoto by A. S. Rudland OE SPOTTED CAVIES. f V ViK'f TtiS l )llot S ra l )h ' which represents young animals, shows ir ttie raDDlt. grea t perfection the linear arrangement of the stripes. The Rodents, or Gnawing Animals 163 The CAPYBARA is the largest of all rodents. This species is, in fact, a gigantic water-guinea-pig. It is found in all the great rivers of South America, from the Orinoco to the La Plata. It swims as well as a water-rat, though it is as large as a small pig. Tt feeds on reeds, water-plants, and grass. A capital photograph of this animal appears on page 146. PIKAS, HARES, AND RABBITS. ^^^ataa^jm. The last two families of the Rodents I l^nF -*'" ' ' |w-_. #a!P have a small pair of rudimentary incisor ' .Mt . . ' k i ^,*- "" teeth behind the large ones in the upper jaw. The PIKAS, or CALLING-HARES, resemble the marmot tribe in general appearance. Their heads are short, their ears rounded, and, being tailless, they still less resemble the common hare ; but their dentition marks them as allied. One species, about 9 inches long, is found in Siberia ; and another, only 7 inches long, in the Rocky Mountains. The former has a habit of cutting grass and storing it in small stacks outside its hole for winter use ; the Rocky Mountain species carries its hay into its burrows. The HARES are a widely distributed group. They are found from the north of Scotland (where the grey mountain species turns white in winter) to the south of India, in South Africa, and across the continent of Asia to Japan. The MOUNTAIN-HARE takes the place of the brown species in Scandinavia, Northern Russia, and Ireland ; it is rather smaller, and has shorter ears and hind legs. As early as 54 B.C., Caesar, in his account of Britain, writes that the COMMON HARE was kept by the ancient Britons as a pet, but not eaten by them. It was protected by the Normans in the second list, or schedule, of animals reserved for sport. The first list included the Beasts of the Forest, the second the Beasts of the Chase, of which the hare was one of the first. The word " chase " has here a technical meaning, by which was understood an open park, or preserved area, midway in dignity between a forest and an enclosed park. " Hare parks " were also made, perhaps the most recent being that made at Bushey for the amusement of the sovereign when at Hampton Court Palace. The Photo by Scholastic Photo. Co ] [Parson's Green. PATAGONIAN CAVY. This large species of cavy has been acclimatised successfully both in England and in France. By permission of Professor , ,.-, , WOOD-HARE. [New York. This is one of the forms intermediate between the hares and rabbits. 164 The Living Animals of the World name is often found surviving elsewhere. At Hokham, the Earl of Leicester's seat in Norfolk, a walled park of 1,500 acres holds almost all the hares on the estate. If these parks and forest laws had not existed at an early date, it is probable that the hare would have become very scarce in this country. Hares produce their leverets about the middle of April, though in mild seasons they are born much earlier. The number of the litter is from two to five. They are placed in a small hollow scraped out by the doe hare, but not in a burrow of any kind. The instinct of concealment by remaining still is very highly developed in the hares and rabbits. They will often " squat " on the ground until picked up rather than take to flight. This seems almost a perverted instinct ; yet hares often exhibit considerable courage and resource when escaping from their enemies. The following is an instance : A hare was coursed by two Photo by C. Reid} [ Wishate, N.B. WILD RABBITS. The wild, rabbit has now spread to the north of Scotland, where this picture was taken. It is also common in the Hebrides. young greyhounds on some marshes intersected by wide ditches of water. It first ran to the side of one of these ditches, and doubled at right angles on the brink. This caused the outer dog to lose its balance and to fall heavily into the deep and cold water. The hare then made straight for the line of walkers, and passed through them, with the other greyhound close behind it. The dog reached out and seized the hare by the fur of the back, throwing it down. The hare escaped, leaving a large patch of fur in the dog's jaws, doubled twice, and was again seized by the second dog, which had come up. It escaped from the jaws of the second pursuer, leapt two ditches 12 feet wide, and then sat for a moment behind a gate on a small bridge. This use of the only cover near caused the dogs to lose sight of it ; they refused to jump the second drain, and the hare escaped. The BABBIT is too well known to need description either of its habits or appearance. It originally came from the countries south of the Mediterranean, but is now common in Northern Europe, and has become a pest in Australia and New Zealand. The rabbit breeds when, six months old, and has several litters in each year. CHAPTER X. THE BATS AND INSECT-EATING MAMMALS. BY AV. P. PYCKAFT, A.L.S., F.Z.S. rTlHESE two groups are really closely allied ; but the bats are generally considered apart, on 1 account of their totally different mode of life. Originally, like their more commonplace relatives, they were dwellers upon the earth, or, more correctly, among the trees. By gradual modification of the fore limbs, and a corresponding development of folds of skin attached thereto, and to the body, they have acquired the power of flight. The cobego, to be mentioned presently, gives us a hint of how this may have come about. The bats are the only members of the Mammalia which possess the power of true flight. The so-called flying-squirrels do not rightly deserve this title, for they have no wings. The wings of the bat have been formed by modification of the fore limbs, the finger-bones having become excessively lengthened, so as to serve as a support to a thin web of skin extending outwards from the body, much as the ribs of an umbrella support the covering. The hand of the bat is therefore a quite unique organ. Photo by W. Samite-Kent, F.Z.S.] [Croydon. AUSTRALIAN FRUIT-BAT, OR " FLYING-FOX." This photograph shows the " flying-fox" in its customary resting position. A photograph of it flying is shown on page v of Introduction. 1G3 i66 The Living Animals of the World The wing-membrane serves yet another purpose, for its sense of touch is exceedingly delicate, enabling even blind bats (for bats are not blind usually, as is popularly supposed) to avoid objects placed in their path. Some bats, however, appear to depend also in some slight degree upon hear- ing. The sense of touch is still further increased by the development of frills or leaf-like expansions of skin round the nose and mouth, and by the ex- cessive development of the external ears. Delicate hairs fringing these membranes probably act like the " whiskers " of the cat. Insect-eating bats inhabiting regions with a temperate climate must in winter, when food-supplies cease, either hibernate or migrate to warmer regions. The majority hibernate ; but two species at least of Canadian bats perform extensive migrations, it is supposed to escape the intense cold. The power of flight has made the bats independent of the barriers which restrict the movements of terrestrial animals, and accordingly we find them all over the world, even as far north as the Arctic Circle. But certain groups of bats have an extremely restricted range. Thus thfe Fruit-bats occur only in the warmer regions of the Old World, the Vampires in America, whilst some of the more common insect-eating forms are found everywhere. Those forms with a restricted distribution are, it should be noticed, all highly specialised that is to say, they have all become in some way adapted to peculiar local conditions, and cannot subsist apart therefrom. It is the more lowly less specialised forms which have the widest geographical range. There are some spots, however, on the world's surface from which no bat has yet been recorded such are Iceland, St. Helena, Kerguelen, and the Galapagos Islands. THE FRUIT- BATS. These represent the giants of the bat world, the largest of them, the KALONG, or MALAY FOX-BAT, measuring no less than 5 feet from tip to tip of the wing. The best known of the fruit-bats is the INDIAN FOX-BAT. Sir rhoto ^ A - s - Rudiand * SOHS - T -,-, m , -,, ,, f ., TUBE-NOSED FRUIT-BAT. J. E. Tennent tells us that a favourite The tubular nostrils distinguish tbis and a species of insect-eating oat from all other resort of theirs near Kandy, in living mammals. Photo by Henry King] [Sydney. AUSTRALIAN FRUIT-BATS. In their roosting-places these bats hang all over the trees in enormous numbers, looking like great black frnits. Although shot in thousands, on account of the damage they do to fruit orchards, their numbers do not appear to be reduced. The Bats and Insect-eating Mammals Photo ly Fratdli Alinari] [Florence. PIPISTRELLE BAT. This is one of the commonest of the British bats. It is the first to appear in the spring, and the last to retire at the fall of the year. Ceylon, was some indiarubber-trees, " where they used to assemble in such prodigious numbers that large boughs would not infrequently give way beneath the accumulated weight of the flock." An observer in Calcutta relates that they occasionally travel in vast hordes, so great as to darken the sky. Whether they are performing some preconcerted migration or bent only on a foray to some distant feeding- ground is a matter for speculation. These hordes are quite distinct from the " long strings " which may be seen every evening in Calcutta on their way to neighbouring fruit-trees. One of the most remarkable of this group is the TUBE-NOSED FRUIT-BAT, in which the nostrils are prolonged into a pair of relatively long tubes. Strangely enough, a group of insect-eating bats has developed similar though smaller tubes. Except in these bats, such tubes are unknown among mammals. Their function is not known. INSECT- EATING BATS. The vast majority of the bats comprising this group feed exclusively on insects. however, have acquired the habit of fruit-eating, like the true fruit-bats ; and a few have developed quite ogre- like habits, for they drink blood indeed, they subsist upon nothing else. This they obtain from animals larger than themselves. Many of the bats of this group have developed curious leaf-like expan- sions of skin around the nose and mouth, which are supposed to be endowed with a very delicate sense of touch. In some, as in the FLOWEK-NOSED BAT, the nose-leaf is excessively developed, forming a large rosette. The upper border of this rosette is furnished with three stalked balls, the function of which it is surmised is probably orna- mental from the bat's point of view. To our more aesthetic taste the whole Some, T"-TS3 Photo by A. s. Rudiand & sons. LEAF-NOSED BAT. The leaf-nosed are the most highly organised of all the bats. The remarkable leaf -like folds of skin around the nose or chin, as the case may be, serve as delicate Limited as is OUr Space, We organs of perception. There are numerous species of leaf-nosed bats. ,' V,irlormo i68 The Living Animals of the World cannot pass over the SUCKER-FOOTED BATS. These are met with, strangely enough, in countries so far apart as Brazil and Madagascar. The suckers from which they derive their name, in the Brazilian species, are small circular, hollow disks, attached to the thumb and the sole of the foot, recalling the suckers of the cuttle-fish and brown water-beetle. By their means he animal is enabled to climb over smooth vertical surfaces. A white bat is a rarity in the bat world. We cannot therefore afford to pass without mention the fact that Central and South America possess two species of WHITE BATS. This colour is probably developed for protection's sake, the bats being found nestling between the silvery leaves of a cocoanut- palm. Brilliant coloration, on the other hand, is by no means so rare. WELWITSCH'S BAT, for instance a West African species is remarkable for its gorgeous coloration, the colours being orange and black. An Indian species, known as the PAINTED BAT, is said to be so brilliantly coloured as to resemble a gorgeous butterfly rather than a bat. Ugliness is more common than beauty amongst the bats, and perhaps the ugliest of all the tribe is the NAKED BAT of the Malayan region. It is absolutely repulsive. The skin is naked, save for a collar of hair round the neck; whilst on the throat it gives rise to an enormous throat-pouch, which discharges an oily fluid of a peculiarly nauseating smell. On either side of the body is a deep pouch, in which the young are carried a very necessary provision, for they would be quite unable to cling to the body of the parent, as do the young of Photo *>y w - Savute-Kent, F.Z.S.] COBEGO. Back view of the cobego, with the limbs extended, showing the great size of the flying-membranes, or parachute. \Croydon. fur-bearing bats, on account of the naked skin. Of the great group of the VAMPIRE-BATS we can only make mention of the blood-sucking species. These are natives of South America. It is to Dr. Darwin that we owe our first absolutely reliable information about these little animals. Before the account in his Journal, it was uncertain to which of the vampires belonged the unenviable distinction of being the blood-sucker. During the stay of the great naturalist in Chili one was actually caught by one of his servants, as evening was drawing on, biting the withers of a horse. In the morning the spot where the bite had been inflicted was plainly visible, from its swollen condition. These two species, it has been stated, "are the only bats which subsist entirely on a diet of blood, yet it is possible that . . . some of the JAVELIN-BATS or their allies may on occasion vary their ordinary food with it." The Bats and Insect^eating Mammals 169 THE IXSECTIVORA, OR FLIGHTLESS INSECT-EATERS. Some members of this group have departed from the traditional insect diet. Thus the cobego feeds upon leaves, a curious aquatic shrew the Potamogale of West Africa upon fish, and the moles upon worms. The group has a very wide geographical distribution, but there are nevertheless large portions of the globe in which they are conspicuous by their absence. They are never found in Australia or South America. Madagascar, Africa, and the West India Islands produce the most remarkable forms. THE COBEGO. This is a peculiarly inter- esting animal, which lives in the forests of Sumatra, Borneo, the Malay Peninsula, and the Philippine Islands. It dwells among the trees, moving from one to another by taking flying leaps through the air, covering as much as seventy yards at a jump. Prodigious leaps like this would be quite impossible but for the fact that the animal, which is almost as large as a cat, is provided with a sort of para- chute, formed by a broad web of skin stretched between the body on either side and the fore and hind limbs, and between the hind limbs and the tail. SHREWS, HEDGEHOGS, AND TENRECS. The variation in form presented by the members of this group is considerable. The most noteworthy examples of this variation are furnished by the pretty little squirrel- like TREE-SHREWS of India and Borneo and neighbouring lands, the mouse-like JUMPING-SHREWS of Africa, the HEDGEHOGS, the TENRECS, the elegant little MOUSE-LIKE SHREWS of almost world-wide distribution, and the WATER-SHREWS. Of these, hedgehogs and tenrecs have undergone the greatest transformation. By a curious modification of their original hairy covering they have developed a formidable armour of sharp spines When alarmed, the former roll themselves up into a ball by the contraction of powerful muscles, and so present an almost impregnable armour to an enemy. Stoats and^ ioxes, however, appear at least occasionally to succeed in overcoming this defence and meal of the vanquished. . Tenrecs are found in Madagascar. The COMMON TENREC is the largest of all insect-eaters, fim Photo by W. Saville-Kent, F.Z.S.] [Croydon. COBEGO. Vertical (front) view of the cobego, with newly born and naked young attached. Note the extension of the membrane between the toes of the fore feet of the adult. iyo The Living Animals of the World and one of the most prolific, as many as twenty-one having been produced at birth. Of all living mammals it is the one most nearly allied to the Marsupials. THE MOLES. The COMMON MOLE shows a most perfect adaptation to its underground mode of life. The general form of the animal is long, cylindrical, and pointed in front, whilst the legs are exceedingly short, the foot only in the fore limb projecting from the body. This foot is very broad and spade-like and immensely powerful, its use being to force a way often with incredible speed through the soft, yielding soil, and not to support the body, as in running or walking. The hind feet are weak, but resemble those 'of its allies the shrews, for instance. The eyes have become reduced to mere vestiges, very difficult to find. The fur has become so altered in structure that it will lie equally smooth whether brushed towards head or tail, so that it should not be damaged when the animal travels backwards in its burrow. External ears have been dispensed with. Worms form the staple diet of the mole, but besides underground insects of all kinds are greedily devoured. This animal is one of the most voracious feeders, falling ravenously upon its prey. It has been said with truth that so great is the ferocity displayed by the mole that if it could be magnified to the size of the lion it would be one of the most terrible of living creatures. That a constant supply of food is necessary to satiate its enormous appetite is shown by the fact that a mole will succumb to an abstinence of from ten to twelve hours. Moles fight among themselves furiously; and if two are confined together, the weaker will be attacked and devoured. They take readily to the water, and instances of moles observed in the act of crossing streams are numerous. It is a curious fact, but the mole is unknown in Ireland ; yet it ranges from England in the west through Asia to Japan. Careful observation seems to have shown that with the common mole males are more numerous than females. Whether this is true of other species remains to be seen. The moles of North I'hoto by W. SavUU-Kcnt, F.Z.S.] [< COBEGO ASLEEP. All four limbs are used in suspending itself when asleep, as in the sloths. In this position the cobego closely resembles, and is mistaken by its enemies for, the fruits of one of the native trees. It is a nocturnal animal. Photo by L. Medland, F.Z.S.] THREE BABY HEDGEHOGS. [North Finchley. Young hedgehogs are bom blind and naked. The spines on their first appearance are quite soft ; they soon harden, and at the same time the power to roll the body up into a ball is acquired. The Bats and Insect*eating Mammals 171 Photo oy A. IS. liudland tfc {suits. COMMON MOLE. Note that this mole is changing its coat. )f'". UMiiuu-J^tiit, i-'.4.z>.\ [Croydon. COMMON MOLE. The skeleton is here revealed by the Rontgen rays. America form a group distinct from those of the Old World, though closely allied thereto. The WEB-FOOTED and the STAR-NOSED MOLES are the most interesting of the American forms. Speaking of the prodigious speed with which these animals burrow their way through the ground, Dr. Hart Merriam remarks that in a single night, after rain, they have been known to make a gallery several yards in length, and that he had himself traced a fresh tunnel for nearly a hundred yards. As he says, we can only appreciate the magnitude of this labour by comparison, and " computation shows that, in order to perform equivalent work, a man would have to excavate in a single night a tunnel thirty-seven miles long, and of sufficient size to easily admit of the passage of his body." The star-nosed mole is peculiar in that its nose is surrounded by a ring of finger-like processes, forming a kind of rosette, which probably acts as a highly sensitive organ of touch ; furthermore, it differs from other moles in the great length of its tail, which is nearly as long as its body. Like the mole, this species makes its way through the ground with great speed. Beneficial as moles undoubtedly are in destroying worms and obnoxious insects, yet they are regarded as a pest both by the farmer and gardener. That there is some justification for this dislike must be admitted; for the farmer suffers in that, in the search for food, crops are damaged by cutting through the roots of plants the gardener not only for the same reason, but also because the ridges and hillocks which they make in their course disfigure the paths and beds of a well-kept garden. The nearest allies of the moles are the curious aquatic DESMANS of Russia, and the SHREWS, quite mole-like in having adopted a life. ING SHREWS are not great group which mole-like shape, for hog-like TENRECS is animal known as The mole-like shape animal is another tion to a similar fore limb of the provided with huge used for digging is not broadened the common mole, this unnecessary. some of which are form, owing to their similar mode of The BURROW- the only forms in the have assumed a allied to the hedge- a r em arkable the GOLDEN MOLE. of the body of this instance of adapta- mode of life. The golden mole is claws, which are purposes; the hand out spade-like, as in the claws rendering Photo by A. S. Rudland, y a young Indian elephant. The Elephant, Tapir, Hyrax, and Rhinoceros 175 Photo by M. E. F. Baird, Esq. TIMBER-ELEPHANTS. This photograph was taken at Lakou, in Upper Siam. Notice the large teak log in the foreground. shoulder. In the size of its tusks the African elephant far surpasses the Asiatic species. In India a pair of tusks measuring 5 feet in length and weighing 70 Ibs. the pair would, I think, be considered large, though an elephant was killed by Sir Victor Brooke in the Garo Hills with a single tusk measuring 8 feet in length, 17 inches in circumference, and weighing 90 Ibs., and a few tusks even exceeding these dimensions have been recorded. In Southern Africa the tusks of full-grown bull elephants usually weigh from 80 to 120 Ibs. the pair, and measure about 6 feet in length, with a circumference of from 16 to 18 inches; but these weights and measurements have often been much exceeded, and in my own experience I have known of two pairs of elephants' tusks having been obtained south of the Zambesi, each of which weighed slightly over 300 Ibs., each tusk measuring upwards of 9 feet in length, whilst a single tusk brought from the neighbourhood of Lake N garni in 1873 weighed 174 Ibs. The average weight of cow-elephant tusks in Southern Africa is from 20 to 30 Ibs. the pair, but I have seen the tusk of a cow elephant killed in Matabililand which weighed 39 Ibs. and measured over 6 feet in length, whilst its fellow almost equalled it in size and weight. In North Central Africa, according to Sir Samuel Baker, the tusks of full-grown elephants average about 140 Ibs. the pair, and tusks weighing upwards of 100 Ibs. each are not at all uncommon, whilst many of a much greater size have been obtained. Until quite recently a tusk in the possession of Sir E. Gr. Loder, which weighs 184 Ibs. and measures 9 feet 5 inches in length, with a circumference of 22 inches, was supposed to be the largest in existence; but in 1899 two tusks were obtained near Kilimanjaro, in East Central Africa, both of which much exceed this weight. These enormous tusks were at first stated to be a pair taken from a single elephant ; but though nearly equal in weight they are said to be differently shaped, and as their history is not yet fully known it is possible, though not probable, that they originally belonged to two different elephants. The larger of these two tusks has recently been purchased for the collection of the British The Living Animals of the World FEMALE INDIAN ELEPHANT DRAGGING TEAK. The teak logs are floated down the Burmese rivers and dragged out by elephants. Museum (Natural History), where it may now be seen. It weighs 228 Ibs., measures 10 feet 2 inches on the outside curve, and 24 in girth at the thickest part. The tusks of cow elephants are also considerably larger and heavier on the average in East Central and North Central Africa than in the southern portions of the continent. At the present time the Asiatic elephant is found in a wild state in most of the forest- covered tracts of India, Ceylon, Assam, Burma, Siarn, Cochin-China, Sumatra, and Borneo ; whilst the African species, although it has been hunted out of large tracts of country in South and South-western Africa, still inhabits the greater part of the continent south of the Sahara, and in many districts of Central Africa appears to be extraordinarily abundant. In the Cape Colony two herds still exist under the protection of the Government. As might be expected from the greater length of its legs, and consequent longer stride, the African elephant is admitted by those who have had experience of both species to be a more active animal than its Asiatic cousin. Speaking of the walking and running powers of the Indian elephant, that great authority Mr. Sanderson says that " the only pace of the elephant is the walk, capable of being increased to a fast shuffle of about fifteen miles an hour for very short distances. It can neither trot, canter, nor gallop. It does not move with the legs on the same side, but nearly so. A very good runner might keep out of an elephant's way on a smooth piece of turf, but on the ground in which they are generally met with any attempt to escape by flight, unless supplemented by concealment, would be unavailing." This description exactly coincides with my own experience of the African elephant, except that I think that animals of the latter species, especially cows and young bulls, are capable of getting up a pace of at least twenty miles an hour, and keeping it up for from 100 to 200 yards, when charging. The Elephant, Tapir, Hyrax, and Rhinoceros 177 In disposition both African and Asiatic elephants are as a rule timid animals, and, excepting in the case of males of the latter species when suffering from seiual excitement, are always inclined to shun danger. I have never heard of male elephants of the African species becoming savage and aggressive at any season of the year; indeed, old bulls always appeared to me to be less inclined to charge than cows or young bulls. The eyesight of the elephant of the African species at least is bad, and his hearing not particularly acute ; but 1 his olfactory nerves are probably more highly developed than in any other animal, and, aided by thin exquisite sense of smell, he will avoid a human being if possible. But if elephants are attacked and wounded, they become savage and dangerous animals; and the charge of an African elephant, coming on with the great ears outspread, to the accompaniment of a quick succession of short, sharp trumpeting screams, besides being very sudden and rapid, is very disconcerting to the nerves of a man unaccustomed to such experiences. I remember the case of a young Englishman who was killed in Matabililand many years ago by the first elephant he had ever seen. This animal an old bull had retired, after having been wounded, into a small but dense patch of thorn-bush, into which its pursuer thought it unadvisable to follow on horseback. He therefore left his horse, and advanced on foot towards the cluster of trees amongst which the elephant was concealed. The latter, having either seen or smelt the approaching enemy, at once charged out, screaming loudly ; and the young hunter, instead of standing his ground and firing at the advancing monster, lost his presence of mind, and, turning, ran for his horse; but before he reached it he was overtaken and killed. It seemed to the friend who found his body (he was close at hand shooting another elephant at the time, and pieced the story together from the tracks of man, horse, and elephant) that the victim had first been struck in the back of the head by one of his pursuer's tusks at any rate his skull had been smashed to pieces and emptied of its brains. Then the elephant had rushed upon him where he fell, and, after first having driven a tusk right through his chest and deep into the Photo by M. E. F. Baird, Esq. INDIAN ELEPHANTS BATHING. These animals love a bath, and will walk on the bottom of a deep river with only their trunks raised above the water. 23 1 7 8 The Living Animals of the World ground, had stamped him into a bloody pulp with his huge feet. A waggon was brought the same night, and the mangled body carried to the hunter's camp on the banks of the Kamokwebani, where it was buried. The strength of the elephant is proverbial; and in India and Burma, where this animal has for ages past been trained in the service of man, this power is habitually made use of in moving and stacking large baulks of timber, or in dragging heavy guns through muddy ground or up steep ascents. In Africa the traveller is often astonished at the size of trees- which have been uprooted and overturned by elephants. These trees, however, have no tap- root, and have not therefore a very firm hold in the ground, especially during the rainy season, when the ground is soft. At this time of year large trees are butted down by elephants, which push against their stems with the thick part of their trunks, and get them on the swing, until the roots become loosened and the trees are at last overturned. Small trees of 2 or 3 inches in diameter, as well as branches, they break off with their trunks. In 1878 a tuskless bull elephant I met the same animal again in 1885, and he is the only African bull elephant without tusks I have ever seen killed a native hunter in Mashonaland. This man, a big powerful Zulu and a great friend of my own, was torn into three pieces. I imagine that, after having caught him, the elephant held the unfortunate man down with his foot or knee, and then, twisting his trunk round his body, tore him asunder surely a terrible exhibition of strength. The elephant is a very slow-growing and long-lived animal, not arriving at maturity until upwards of thirty years of age; and since cases are on record of elephants having lived for upwards of 130 years in captivity in India, it is probable that in a wild state these animals r both in Asia and Africa, often attain to an age of 150 years. The female elephant produces,. as a rule, but one calf at birth, the period of gestation lasting from eighteen to nearly twenty-two months. The mammse of the cow elephant are placed between the fore legs, and the, new-born calf sucks with its mouth, holding its trunk turned back over its head. I have seen elephant calves so engaged. Although there is no reason to doubt that the African elephant is as intelligent as the- Asiatic species, its domestication has never been attempted by the Negro or Bantu races of Africa. It is believed, however, that the African elephant was in ancient times domesticated by the Carthaginians, and used by them in their wars with the Eomans. The opinion, too, is generally held that the elephants with which Hannibal crossed the Alps were of the African species, as well as those which, after the conquest of Carthage, were used in the Eoman amphitheatres and military pageants. On the other hand, it is well to remember that the late Mr. W. Cotton Oswell, who had had great experience both with African and Asiatic elephants, wrote as follows on this subject: "I believe some people suppose the Carthaginians tamed and used the African elephant ; they could hardly have had mahouts Indian fashion, for there is no marked depression in the nape of the neck for a seat, and the hemming of the ears when erected would have half smothered them. My knowledge does not allow me to raise any argument on this point ; but might not the same market have been open to the dwellers [Highbury. Photo by J. W. McLdlan} AFRICAN ELEPHANT. The difference in profile between this and the Indian species is noticeable The forehead is receding and the ears much larger in the African species. The Elephant, Tapir, Hyrax, and Rhinoceros 179 -at Carthage as was afterwards to Mithridates, who, I suppose, drew his supply from India ? I know in the representations of elephants on the medals of Faustina and of Septimus Severus the ears are African, though the bodies and heads are Indian ; but these were struck nearly 400 years after Carthaginian times, when the whole known world had been ransacked by the Romans for beasts for their public shows; and I still think it possible that the Carthaginians the great traders and colonisers of old may have obtained elephants through some of their colonies from India." An interesting example of the intelligence of these animals can be seen any day at the London Zoological Gardens. A large African ele- phant restores to his would-be entertainers all the biscuits, whole or broken, which strike the bars and fall alike out of his reach and theirs in the space between the barrier and his cage. He points his trunk at the biscuits, and blows them hard along the floor to the feet of the persons who have thrown them. He clearly knows what he is doing, because, if the biscuits do not travel far enough, he gives them a harder blow. TAPIRS AND HYRAX. BY W. P. PYCRAFT, A.L.S., F.Z.S. TAPIRS are -odd-looking creatures, and, strange as it may seem, are nevertheless related on the one hand to the rhinoceroses, and on the other to the horses. They are furthermore extremely interesting animals, because they have undergone less modification of form than any other members of the group to which they belong. This we know because fossil tapirs, belonging to a very remote period of the world's history, are practically indistinguishable from those now living. The general form of the body may perhaps be described as pig-like ; the head, too, suggests that animal. But the pig's snout is here produced into a short proboscis, or trunk. 'The feet are quite unlike those of the pig, and resemble those of the rhinoceros. The fore feet have each four and the hind feet three toes ; these are all encased in large horse-like 'hoofs. The tail is reduced to a mere stump. Tapirs are shy and inoffensive animals, living in the seclusion of dense forests in the neighbourhood of water, in which element they are quite at home ; indeed, it is said that they will frequently dive and walk along the bed of the river. They are also fond of Photo by L. Medland, F.Z.S.] MALE AFRICAN ELEPHANT DRINKING. Note the great size of the tusks and base of the trunk. [Nmlh Finchley. i8o The Living Animals of the World Photo by York & Son] {Notting Hill. MALAYAN TAPIR. The largest of all the tapirs. Is easily distinguished from the American tapirs by the patch of white on the middle of its body. wallowing in mud, partly, it is believed, that they may encase themselves with it as a protection against the annoy- ance of flies. They feed on shoots of trees, bushes, leaves, and fallen fruits, foraging during the evening, and possibly far into the night. Tapirs are hunted by the natives for the sake of their thick hides, which are cut into thongs for reins and bridles. The flesh also is esteemed by some. There are three methods of capture. In South America the lasso is used with occasional success. But when not foiled by under- growth, the hunter often loses his victim by reason of the violence and force of its rush, which snaps the thong. The Gauchos intercept it with dogs on its way to the water, when it will fight furiously, and many dogs may be killed before its dispatch is accomplished. Others imitate its peculiar, shrill call, and shoot it on its approach in answer thereto. Captives are easily tamed, and may be seen walking about the streets in many South American towns. They wander into the forest by day, returning in the evening to be fed, and are said to display great affection. On account of their great strength, it has been suggested that such captives should be used as beasts of burden. Except the MALAYAN TAPIR, which is black and white, tapirs are black or dark brown in colour, and but scantily clothed with hair ; but the young, it is interesting to note, are spotted and striped with white or fawn-colour on a dark ground, a coloration recalling that of the wild pig. There are five different species of tapir. Their geographical distribution is remarkable, four species being South American, and one belonging to the Malayan region. But far back in the world's history, as we know from fossils, tapirs roamed over the warm and temperate regions of Europe, and their remains have been found in China and the United States. Thus the intervening gaps existing to-day have been made by the extinction of these intermediate species. By nature the tapir appears to be a harmless and inoffensive animal, flying even before the smallest dog. Occasionally, however, it displays great courage and ferocity, and this appears to be especially the case with females deprived of their young. - At such times they will charge with great spirit, and knock down, trample on, and bite their victim after the fashion of wild swine. Man alone excepted, the most deadly foe of the AMERICAN TAPIR is the jaguar, as is the tiger of the Malay species. The American tapir often gets rid of the jaguar by rushing at full speed into the dense jungle, thus sweeping its assailant from its back, the jaguar's claws finding but an insecure hold on its victim's thick hide. Tapirs are often found bearing scars all over the back, witnessing the terrible nature of the wounds received at such times. That the tapir is a comparatively unknown animal is partly accounted for by the fact that it is but little sought after by the big-game hunter who finds more excitement in pursuit of its larger relative the rhinoceros and partly, perhaps, owing to its inhabiting regions comparatively little visited by Europeans. Nevertheless, the tapir is an animal of quite peculiar interest, having undergone but little change during long ages, whilst its ally the horse has The Elephant, Tapir, Hyrax, and Rhinoceros 181 effected in the same time a complete transformation, not only in its general shape, but more especially in its teeth and feet. The gradual steps by which this transformation has been brought about we can trace through certain fossil forms, of which we can say little here. Amongst these fossils occur remains of an animal bearing a very strong resemblance to the living tapir, but which, strangely enough, is not really so closely related thereto as to the horses. It does not, however, stand in the direct line of descent of these latter, but must be regarded as representing a collateral branch thereof. The occurrence of this distinct tapir-like animal is of great scientific interest. The short, stout legs and spreading toes of the living tapirs, rhinoceroses, and ancestral horse are admirably adapted for plodding deliberately over soft and yielding ground, such as is afforded by reed-beds and banks of rivers, or the shady depths of forests. Speed in such surroundings is not necessary, food in plenty being always at hand, and escape from enemies being sought by concealment in thick herbage rather than flight. With a migration to drier and higher plains, the spreading foot has undergone a change. The short legs and numerous toes have given place to long ones, and of the several toes growth has taken place in one only the third; whilst the others have slowly dwindled, till eventually only traces of the second and fourth remain, as in the modern horse. Thus has a firmer support over hard, unyielding ground been brought about, and great speed gained. The animals with this type of foot (in which the third is the largest toe) are known as the Odd-toed Hoofed Animals. The pigs, sheep, deer, and oxen have gained an equally efficient foot, yet retaining four toes. Of these, the third and fourth are equal in size, and serve as a support to the body, whilst the second and fifth have now become func- tionless, and do not reach the ground. This type of foot characterises that group of the hoofed animals known as the Even-toed. THE HYRAX. This is one of the most remarkable of living mam- mals, and one of the greatest puzzles to zoologists, having no near living relatives. Though bearing some resemblance to an earless rabbit, it really belongs to the hoofed animals, and amongst them comes perhaps somewhat nearer the rhinoceros than to any other animal. It is the CONEY of the Bible. It inhabits the rocky districts of Syria and parts of Africa. It is a vegetable-feeder, and very wary. About a dozen species are known. Photo by G. W. Wilson Co., Ltd.} COMMON AMERICAN TAPIR. [Aberdeen. This tapir inhabits tropical America. It is a nocturnal animal, frequenting the depths of shady forests in the neighbourhood of water, to which it frequently resorts for the purpose of bathing, or as a refuge from pursuit. 182 The Living Animals of the World t.^- _,; - -, --*- / - ^ Photo by JT. P. Dando] [Regent's Park. HAIRY-EARED SUMATRAN RHINOCEROS. This species is found in Eastern Bengal and in the Malay Peninsula and adjacent large islands. THE RHINOCEROS. BY F. C. SELOUS. OF the five existing species of RHINO- CEROS, three are found in Asia, whilst two are inhabitants of Africa. Of the three Asiatic species, two, the INDIAN and the JAVAN, are one-horned, and have a single pair of broad incisor teeth in the upper jaw, and a pair of sharp-edged and pointed tusks in the lower, the nasal bones being long and narrow, and terminating in a point. In both these species the skin is hairless (except for tufts or fringes at the extremity of the tail and on the edges of the ears), and is arranged in shield-like folds over the body. The arrangement of these folds, however, differs somewhat in the two species, and the large round tubercles with which the skin of the great Indian rhinoceros is profusely studded are wanting in the Javan species. The INDIAN EHINOCEROS inhabits the Terai at the foot of the Himalaya from Bhutan to Nepal, and is said to be very abundant in Assam and the Bhutan Dooars. It frequents swampy ground, and lives amongst jungles and dense growths of reeds and grass, which attain a height sometimes of 20 feet, and cover vast areas of ground in the valley of the Brahmaputra and other rivers. Owing to the nature of the country in which it lives, the Indian rhinoceros cannot often be hunted with much prospect of success, except with the aid of elephants, which sagacious animals are not only employed to carry the hunters, but are also used to beat the great grass jungles in which the rhinoceroses lie hidden, and drive them towards the guns. Despite its great size and strength, the Indian rhinoceros seems to be regarded as, in general, a timid and inoffensive animal, and even when wounded it seldom charges home. Elephants, however, appear to be as a rule nervous when in the near proximity of rhinoceroses, perhaps objecting to the smell of those animals. When the Indian rhinoceros does make good its charge against either man or elephant, it cuts and rips its enemy with its teeth, and makes little use of its horn as an offensive weapon. The Indian rhinoceros is said to live principally, if not entirely, on grass and reeds. As a rule it is a solitary animal, but sometimes several are found living in a comparatively small extent of grass-covered plain. Large males of this species will stand from 5 feet 9 inches to 6 feet at the shoulder, and they are enormously bulky. Both sexes carry well-developed horns, which, however, do not usually attain a length of upwards of 12 inches. There is a specimen in the British Museum measuring 19 inches, and it is believed that in very exceptional instances a length of 2 feet has been attained. The JAVAN RHINOCEROS, though it has been called the Lesser Indian Rhinoceros, is said by a late authority Mr. C. E. M. Russell to stand about the same height at the shoulder as the Indian species. It is found in the Sunderbunds of Eastern Bengal, and has been met with in the Sikhim Terai and in Assam, ranging eastwards through Burma and the Malay Peninsula to Sumatra, Java, and Borneo. Photo ly J. W. McLMa.nl GREAT INDIAN RHINOCEROS. The largest land mammal of the East after the elephant. 183 [Jfig/tburi/. 184 The Living Animals of the World But little appears to be known of the habits of this species of rhinoceros. Although it is found in the swampy grass-covered plains of the Sunderbunds, its more usual habitat seems to be hilly forest-covered country, and both in Burma and Java it ascends to a height of several thousand feet above sea-level. It feeds principally upon leaves and the young shoots of trees and bushes. In disposition it is timid and inoffensive. Only the male carries a horn, which, being very short, is a very poor trophy for a sportsman. The third Asiatic species of rhinoceros, known as the SUMATRAN, is the smallest of all living rhinoceroses. This species carries two horns, and its skin, which is very rough, is usually thinly covered with hair of a dark brown colour and of considerable length. The folds in the skin of the Sumatran rhinoceros are not nearly so well developed as in its single-horned relatives, and the one behind the shoulders is alone continued over the back. Although furnished- with tusks in the lower jaw, the small pair of incisor teeth, which in the other two Asiatic rhinoceroses are always present in front of these tusks, are wanting in the Sumatran species. The Sumatran rhinoceros is rare in Assam, but is found in Burma and the Malay Peninsula, as well as in Siam, Sumatra, and Borneo. The two horns of this species are placed at some distance apart. Although they are as a rule very short, the front horn occasionally grows to a considerable length, sweeping back- wards in a graceful curve. In height adult males of the Sumatran species stand on the average from 4 feet to 4| feet at the shoulder, and females sometimes not more than 3 feet 8 inches. Like the Javan rhinoceros, the Sumatran species is by preference an inhabitant of hilly, forest>covered country, and browses on the leaves and shoots of trees and bushes. It is a timid and inoffensive animal, soon becoming tame in captivity. Its flesh is said to be much appreciated by the Dyaks of Borneo; and as its horns are of value for export to China, where they are used for medicinal purposes, it has of late years very much decreased in numbers in the province of Sarawak, but is more plentiful in Central and North Borneo. Living as it does in dense jungle, it is an animal which is seldom seen by European sportsmen, and its habits in a wild state have never been yet very closely studied. Turning to the two species of rhinoceros which inhabit the continent of Africa, both are double-horned, and neither furnished with incisor teeth, the nasal bones being thick, rounded, and truncated in front. Both, too, are smooth- skinned and entirely hairless, except on the edge of the ears and extremity of the tail, which are fringed or tufted. Of the two African species, the WHITE or SQUARE-MOUTHED KHINOCEROS is the larger and the rarer. Until quite recently the range of this huge ungainly-looking animal, the biggest of all terrestrial mammals after the elephant, was supposed to be entirely confined to the southern portions of the African Continent; for although from time to time horns had found their way to Zanzibar which seemed referable to the square-mouthed rhinoceros, the fact of the existence of the white rhinoceros in any part of Africa north of the Zambesi remained in doubt until a female was shot in the year 1900, in the neighbourhood of Lado, on the Upper Nile, by Captain A. St. II. Gibbons, who brought its skin, skull, and horns to England. Photo by York tpm India This is one of the three leading varieties of the Asiatic wild ass. It is found the low-lying portions of their and Baluchistan. The Horse Tribe Photo by the Duchess of Bedford] [ Woburn Abbey. MALE KIANG. The kiang comes from the Tibetan highlands. It is the largest and most horse-like of the wild asses of Asia. range, but of woody plants on the high mountain-plateaux, where little else is to be obtained. Of wild asses in general the late Sir Samuel Baker once said : " Those who have seen donkeys only in their civilised state can have no conception of the wild or original animal ; it is the perfection of activity and courage." DOMESTICATED HORSE, ASSES, AND MULES. BY \V. P. PYCRAFT, A.L.S., F.Z.S. THE DOMESTICATED HORSE. LIKE the wild camels, genuine wild horses are very generally believed to be extinct. The vast herds which occur to-day in a wild state in Europe, America, and Australia are to be regarded, say those who believe in the extinction theory, as descended from domesticated animals which have run wild. So far as the American and" Australian horses are concerned, this is no doubt true ; but of the European stocks it is by no means so certain. For Dr. Nehring and he speaks with authority assures us that the wild horses known as TARPANS, which occur on the steppes north of the Sea of Azoff, between the river Dnieper and the Caspian, are veritable wild horses, the last remaining members of enormous herds which occurred in Europe before the dawn of civilisation. These horses formed no small part of the food of the savage races of men then inhabiting this continent. This we know because of the quantities of their remains found in the caves of the south of France, for instance, associated with the remains of the men who hunted them. Further evidence of this we have in the shape of crude engravings on pieces of bone and deer horns, carved by the more artistic spirits amongst these early hunters. From these drawings we gather that the horse they hunted was small in size and heavy in build, with a large head and rough, shaggy mane and The Living Animals of the World tail a horse, in fact, almost identical with the above-mentioned tarpan. But long before historic records begin these horses must have been domesticated ; man discovered that they could be even more useful alive than dead, and from that time forth the horse became his inseparable companion. "Caesar found the Ancient Britons and Germans using war-chariots drawn by horses." But the stock of domestic horses drawn from this tarpan breed appears to have died out almost entirely, the majority of horses now existing being probably descendants of the native wild horses of Asia, the product of a still earlier domestication. In Egypt the horse, as a domestic animal, seems to have been preceded by the ass; but about 1900 B.C. it begins to appear in the role of a war-horse, to draw chariots. Its use, indeed, until the Middle Ages was almost universally as a war-horse. From the time of its domestication till to-day the history of the horse has been one of progress. The care and forethought of the breeder have produced many varieties, resulting in such extremes as the London Dray-horse, the Eacer, and the Shetland Pony. The coloration of our various breeds of horses is generally without any definite marking, piebald and dappled being the nearest approach to a pattern. Occasionally, however, horses are found with a dark stripe along the back, and sometimes with dark stripes on tne shoulders and legs. Darwin, discovering a number of horses so marked belonging to different breeds, came to the conclusion that probably all existing races of horses were descended from a " single dun- coloured, more or less striped primitive stock, to which [stock] our horses occasionally Note the colts examining the photographer's bag. They are very inquisitive creatures, but easily frightened. revert." " If we were not so habituated to the sight ' of the horse," says the late Sir William Flower, " as hardly ever to consider its structure, we should greatly marvel at being told of a mammal so strangely constructed that it had but a single toe on each extremity, on the end of the nail of which it walked or galloped. Such a conformation is without parallel in the vertebrate series." By the aid of fossils we can trace out all the stages through which this wonderful foot has passed in arriving at its present state of perfection : we can see how it has become more and more beautifully adapted to fulfil the requirement demanded a firm support to enable its owner to cover hard ground at great speed. The study of the structure of this foot, and a comparison with the intermediate forms, make it clear that this toe corresponds to the third finger or toe of the human hand or foot according as we compare the fore or hind limbs and that its development was at the expense of the remaining toes, which gradually dwindled and disappeared, leaving in the living one-toed horse only traces of the second and fourth toes in the shape of a pair of splint-bones, one on either side of the excessively developed third toe. The horses, it must be remarked, may be distinguished from the asses by the fact that the tail in the former is clothed with long hair throughout; in the latter long hair springs only from the sides and end, forming a tuft. Furthermore, the horses have a remarkable horny Photo by T. Fall} IJJaker Street. YEARLING AEAB COLTS. Photo by T. Fait} ARAB MAKE. [Baker Street. Xothing \rould induce this horse to stand still in order to be photographed ; so as a last resource Lady Anne Blunt put on her Arab costume. This acted like magic, for under its spell the animal at once became quiet. 199 2OO The Living Animals of the World Photo ly T. Fall] [Baker Street. ARAB MAKES AND FOALS. A pretty group of some of Lady Anne Blunt's famous Aral excrescence, resembling a huge black and flattened wart, on each hind leg just below the " hock," or heel-joint. This excrescence is commonly known as the " chestnut." Its function is unknown. A similar pair of " chestnuts " occurs on the inner side of the fore limb just above the wrist, or " knee," as it is generally called. The " chestnuts " of the fore limb occur also in the asses, but not those of the hind limb. THE ARAB HORSE. This magnificent and justly celebrated animal is chosen first for consideration because it is probably a direct descendant of an original wild breed the Asiatic wild horse. How far back the domestication of this breed began will probably never be exactly known. Till the third century after Christ the Arabs were almost certainly camel-riders; but by the sixth century of our era we find them in possession of a breed of horses which they regarded with great reverence, and spoke of as an heritage from their forefathers. They were probably introduced from the Caucasus or Asia Minor. The Arab horse found its way into Europe, perhaps accompanied by an allied breed the Barb with the Arab invasion of Spain in the eighth and ninth centuries, leaving traces of its sojourn in the Andalusian and the French Limousin. But the great value of Arab blood was not appreciated till armour ceased to be used, the excessive weight of this demanding a horse of heavy build. The Arab does not appear to have been introduced into England till the seventeenth century ; but the result of that introduction, as we shall see presently, has been fraught with tremendous consequences. In its native land it appears to have been bred chiefly for the purposes of warfare. The success with which the breeders' judicious selection has been rewarded is plainly seen in the wonderful powers of endurance on long marches; so that, at the end of a raid, the animal is still fresh enough either for flight, if necessary, or for a final rush on a retreating enemy. Besides, Arabs possess great courage, and are frugal both in the matter of food and drink. The Horse Tribe 201 [ TTobwrn Abbey. As a race-horse, one enthusiast assures us, the Arab is superior to every other natural breed; he is beaten only by his own half-breed offspring the English Eace-horse. But this seems to be rather an over- estimate. The colour of the Arab varies ; white is the most highly esteemed, but bay and chestnut are common, black being rare. Strange as it may seem, the white breed is never born white. The great affection of the Arab for his horse is proverbial. The following story is certainly worth repeating: "The whole stock of an Arab of the desert consisted of a mare. The French Consul offered to purchase her, in order to send her to his sovereign, Louis XIV. The Arab would have rejected the pro- posal ; but being miserably poor, with scarcely a rag to cover him, his wife and children starving, he was tempted greatly. At length he yielded. He brought the mare to the consul's Photo l>ij the Duchess of Bedford] PEBCHEEON HOESE. A Continental breed. This horse is believed to be the only one of its kind in England. hoUS6, and Stood leaning On her neck and looking, now at the gold, and now at the horse. The gold was good to look upon ; it would make him rich for life. Turning at last to his favourite, he said : ' To whom is it I am going to yield thee up ? To Europeans, who will tie thee close, who will beat thee, who will make thee miserable. Keturn with me, my beauty, my jewel, and rejoice the hearts of my children.' At the last of these words he sprang upon her back, and was in a few moments out of sight." THE BARB. This is an African breed, which, like the generality of African horses, is distinguished from those of Asia by its long limbs 'and small girth at the loins, thus resembling the foals of other breeds. It displays great powers of enduring hunger and Photo by T. Fall} HACKNEY AND FOAL. A specimen of the English carriage -horse. 26 202 The Living Animals of the World thirst ; and is fleet, with a high and graceful action. The barb takes its name from its native land Barbary. It the Arab. is a larger breed than the Photo ly C. Reid] A perfect English thoroughbred. [ Wishaw, N.B. LADAS. With this racer Lord Rosebery won the Derby in 1894. LEVANT AND PERSIAN HOUSES. These are very closely allied to Arab, but generally of larger size ; and in Southern Persia, at least, less delicately framed. The Turkoman horses are related to those of Northern Persia. THE ENGLISH EACE-IIOJISE. This animal is the product of very careful selection and gradual improvement of an original native breed, extending over several centuries. Long since, so long ago as the reign of James I., it had reached a high degree of excellence. Upon this native stock there has been built up, by the infusion of Arab blood, the swiftest horse which the world has ever known the BRITISH THOROUGHBRED. " Of this breed, it may be stated," says Mr. Allison, "that every such animal in the stud-book of the present day, in this country or any other, descends . . . from one of three original Eastern sires the Darley Arabian, the Byerley Turk, or the Godolphin Arabian." This is an extremely interesting fact, and constitutes a lasting monument to the enterprise and acumen of the British horse-breeder. The Byerley Turk hailed from the Levant, and was introduced by Captain Byerley about 1689. From the Byerley Turk came Herod, the most celebrated of his descendants, who has given rise to the Herod line, which to-day is but feebly represented. The Godolphin Arabian, or the Godolphin Barb, was born about 1724. From his grandson Matchem is derived the Matchem line, which is also to-day bordering on extinction. The Darley Arabian carries us back to the reign of Queen Anne. Flying Childers and Bartlett's Childers are directly descended from him ; and from the latter is descended Eclipse, 1 the fastest horse which the turf has \ ever known. It is interesting to note 'that the descendants in the Eclipse 'line enormously outnumber those of FLORIZEL ii. the other two lines which we have con- of the King's racing-stud. sidered. Of his descendants, one of the The Horse Tribe 203 most illustrious is Stockwell, who has been described as the most extraordinary sire of all time, whose blood is coming more than ever to the front. THE TROTTIXG-HORSE. This is an American breed. The trotting-horse is a com- bination of barb and Arab on an English stock. Most if the trotting- and pacing- horses of America may be traced to an English thorough- bred Messenger who was imported into America in 1780. This horse became the founder of the greatest trotting family in the world. The speed attained by some of the fastest trotters is wonderful, a mile being covered in some three or four seconds over two minutes. Eussia is the only Euro- pean country with a distinct breed of trotter the ORLOFF. the native races. The Orloff has not the speed of the American horse, but has greater powers of endurance. The trotting-season in Russia is winter, the races taking place on the ice. The PACER is not a distinct breed, but so called on account of its curious method of trotting. In trotting the left fore and right hind leg strike the ground at the same moment ; in pacing the fore and hind leg of the same side move in unison. Some wild animals as the giraffe are pacers. " Many American horses," says Mr. Winans, "are able to move with either action, a set of lighter shoes often sufficing to convert a trotter into a pacer." Pacing is a swifter mode of motion f/tolo by T. J''ali] SHETLAND POXY AND FOAL. These ponies belong to Lady Mary Hope and her sister, who have been very successful in breeding them. This breed was made by crossing Arab and English horses with Photo bit T. t\ CHAMPION SHIRE STALLION. One of Sir Walter Gilbey's celebrated cart-horses. Photo by T. Fall} SHIRE MARE AND FOAL. Another of Sir Walter Gilbey's champion cart-horses showing mother and young Photo by T. Fall} [faker Street. WELSH PONY. This photograph shows the Duchess of Newcastle with one of her white Welsh ponies. 204 [Baker Street. The Horse Tribe 205 [ irishair, X.B. POLO-PONY. Various breeds of ponies are used in this game, but the most esteemed at the present day are the English-bred Xew Forest, Dartmoor, or Exmoor, or Welsh ponies. than trotting. The record time stands at one mile in 1 minute 39 seconds, as against the trotting record of one mile in 2 minutes 3| seconds. THE HUNTER. This also is not a distinct breed, as some suppose. Any good riding-horse may be used as a hunter. " Hunters " have been made by infusing the blood of the race-horse with native breeds. The chief requirements are a muscular neck and chest, with a rather short body, and shorter and stouter legs than the race-horse. From the half-bred hunter we pass by insensible gradation to the ordinary saddle- and carriage-horses. The ideal carriage-horse, however, is more of a distinct breed than the hunter, and known as the CLEVELAND BAY. It has been produced by mingling the blood of the thoroughbred with that of a horse of stouter make than that of the hunter type. The record broad jump for the hunter, we might mention in passing, is variously stated to be from 33 to 37 feet! THE SHETLAND PONY. This is a native of the Shetland Islands, and remarkable for its small size, docility, and hardihood. It is allowed to run nearly wild, and made to forage almost entirely for itself. In the winter it grows a coat of great length, which, soon becoming matted, forms a most effective protection against cold and wet. The DARTMOOR, EXMOOR, and NEW FOREST are likewise small breeds, but lack the symmetry and beauty of the Shetland. CART-HORSES. Under this head are included all the large, heavily built draught-horses. These are of European origin, and without intermixture of foreign Asiatic or African blood. In England the most important breeds are the BLACK or SHIRE Photo by T. Fall] [Baker Street. HORSE, the CLYDESDALE, and the SUFFOLK DONKEY. PUNCH. These are wonderful instances Uhis is a typical English coster s dockey, and won the first prize at the Southwark show. of the results of selective breeding 2O6 The Living Animals of the World Photo by W. Reid] [ Wishaw, N.S. EGYPTIAN DONKEYS. The ass has long been known to the Egyptians, having been in use by them before the introduction of the horse. towards a definite end large size, accom- panied by great physical strength and powers of endurance. To accomplish this, speed has had to be sacrificed. ASSES AND MULES. ASSES. THE DOMESTIC Ass, so common to-day in these islands, is of African origin, and has, moreover, departed but little in either form or colour from the wild race. This is probably due to the fact that the ass has not been subjected in this country to that process of rigorous and careful selection that the horse has undergone. We have no record of its first intro- duction to these islands, but it was certainly known in the reign of Ethelred, though it was a rare animal. Later it appears to have died out, and to have been reintroduced in the reign of Elizabeth ; but it has never become popular. This is unfortunate; its sterling qualities have never been really appreciated by us. Spain, Italy, and Malta have all succeeded in raising some fine breeds. The United States has, however, produced the finest of all in animals standing some 15 or 16 hands (5 feet or 5 feet 4 inches) high. MULES. . The term MULE, strictly speaking, should be reserved for the offspring of the male ass and the mare : the offspring of the opposite cross is called the HINNY. Mules are valued on account of their great powers of endurance and their sure-footedness. The finest and handsomest are bred in Spain, the United States, and North-west India. It is interesting to note that mules exhibit a strong tendency to revert to the dun- coloured and striped coloration believed to belong to the primitive horses. The spinal and shoulder stripes which sometimes appear in horses, and more frequently in asses, occur yet more frequently in mules. The legs of the mules appear particularly liable to revert to this striped colora- tion in the United States, it is said nine out of ten being MULES. SO marked. A couple of fine mules belonging to Lord Arthur Cecil. photoiyc.Reid] CHAPTER XIII. THE HOLLOW-HORNED RUMINANTS: OXEN, BISON, BUFFALOES, AND MUSK-OX. , Deer, Camels, Pigs, Horses, Tapirs, Khinoceroses, and Elephants differ greatly in \_J structure from the orders already described. They are classed as the Ungulates, or Hoofed Mammals. In most of these, such as the Horse, Deer, and Oxen, the toes are contained within a solid hoof; in others, such as the Khinoceros, they are protected by broad nails. Great differences exist in the feet of the various groups of Ungulates, caused by the degree in which the digits, or " toes," remain in use or not. Except in the Elephant, where there are five, the greatest number of "working" digits found in existing forms is four. In the Horse and its surviving allies the digits are reduced to one ; in the Giraffes, to two. The general process, as it can be learnt from the remains of the horse-like animals of the past, seems to have been as follows. One or more of the toes were developed in length and strength at the expense of the others, until, in the case" of the Horse, only one toe remained, which was enclosed in a large and solid hoof, little splints on either side of the cannon-bone being left to hint where the second and fourth toes had once been. In the Oxen and Deer the third and fourth toes developed equally, at the expense of the others, and each gained a case or covering, which makes the two parts of the "cloven hoof" of these groups. The first group of the order of Ungulates is represented by the Hollow-horned Kuminants. These have horns set on a core of bone, the horns themselves being hollow throughout. They "chew the cud," after receiving the food eaten into the first of four divisions in the stomach, whence it is brought up into the mouth, and then swallowed again for digestion. The Oxen, Sheep, and Goats have no popular name by which they are collectively distinguished, but their characteristics are sufficiently well known. The horns are never shed annually, as is the case with the Deer ; and the hoofs are cloven. They have no incisor teeth in the upper jaw, a characteristic also shared by the Giraffes, the Prongbuck (or American antelope), and the Deer. The lower jaw has its full complement of incisor teeth. The Oxen and the allied Bison, Yak, and Buffaloes are the bulkiest and most impor- tant to man of all ruminants. Some are found in nearly all inhabited parts of the Old World, and there is one North American species, now practi- ^^ PARK . CATTLE> Cally exterminated as a Wl Id Tt . g p hotogra ph represents two animals of different types. The bull (on the right) is from Earl animal Ferrers' herd at Chartley Castle ; the cow is a cross-bred. 207 20b The Living Animals of the World Photo by JJ". P. UciMlol [Regent's Park. ENGLISH PARK BULL. The similarity in shape to the best-bred modern shorthorns is obvious. BRITISH PARK-CATTLE, AND THE AUROCHS. THE so-called "WiLD CATTLE" found in the parks of Chillingham and Chartley, as well as in Lord Leigh's park at Lyme, and in that of the Duke of Hamilton at Cadzow Castle, Scotland, are probably not the descendants of an indigenous wild race. It is not without reluctance that the belief in their wild descent has been abandoned. .But the evidence seems fairly conclusive as to the antiquity of these white cattle, regarded as a primitive breed, and of the unlikelihood of their being survivors of a truly wild stock. They are almost identical in many points with the best breeds of modern cattle, and probably represent the finest type possessed by the ancient inhabitants of these islands. But they are far smaller than the original WILD Ox, or AUROCHS, the ancestor of our domestic breeds. The skulls of these large wild oxen, which still survived in the Black Forest in Caesar's time, have been dug up in many parts of England, especially in the Thames Valley, and may be seen at the Natural History Museum. The remains of the extinct wild ox, the Bos urus of the Romans, show that, if not so large as an elephant, as Caesar heard, its size was gigantic, reckoned by any modern cattle standard whatever. It probably stood 6 feet high at the shoulder, and there is every reason to believe that it was the progenitor of the modern race of domestic cattle in Europe. It seems certain that the Chartley Park herd did once run wild in Needwood Forest ; but so do the Italian buffaloes in the Maremma, and the Spanish bulls on the plains of Andalusia. Those at Chartley have been kept in the park, which is very wild and remote, so long that they have gradually lost many of the attributes of domestica- tion. This is even more marked in the case of Lord Tankerville's white cattle at Chillingham. An observant visitor to Chillingham lately noted that the bulls fight for the possession of the cows, and that one is occasion- ally killed in these combats. The cows still " stampede " with their. calves when alarmed, and hide them for a week or ten days after they are born. The horns of the Chillingham cattle turn up; those of the bulls of the Chartley herd are straight or slightly inclined downwards. Cross- breds between the Chartley cattle and some other herds of reputed ancient descent may generally be seen at the Zoological Gardens. They remain remarkably true tO type. Photo i y w. p. [Regent's CALF OP ENGLISH PARK-CATTLE. Though the stock is very old and inbred, the white park-cattle are still fairly prolific. The Hollow'horned Ruminants 209 Photo l>y J. T. Newman] [Berkhamsted. JERSEY COW. The property of Lord Braybrooke. Though small in size, the Jersey cows produce more butter than any English breed. Formerly there were several other herds of ancient white cattle. One was at Gisburne, in Yorkshire; another at Chatelherault Park, in Lanarkshire ; and records of herds at Bishop Auckland in Durham, Barnard Castle, Blair Athol, Burton Constable, Naworth Castle, and other ancient parks are preserved. Probably all were of a breed highly prized in ancient days, which was allowed the run of the forests adjacent to the homes of their owners ; then, as the forests were cleared, they were gradually taken up and enclosed in parks. Another theory is, that they were the white cattle of North-western Italy, imported by the first settlements of Italian monks after the conversion of the Saxons. SOME DOMESTICATED CATTLE. THE various species of European domestic cattle have in most cases been brought to a degree of excellence even higher than that which might be expected from the long period of time in which their improvement has been an object of solicitude to man. Of the foreign races, the dark red cattle of the Spanish Peninsula animals which have been exported to the Canary Islands and Madeira with great success are justly famous. The white oxen of North- east Italy have been famous since the days of the Romans. The tall long-horned cattle of Hungary are excellent alike as beasts of draught and for beef. The black-and-white Dutch cows are, and have been, the mainstay of the dairy industry of Holland, and later of Denmark; while the small Brittany cows are perhaps the best butter-producers on the continent of Europe. But England and the Channel Islands may justly claim to rear the finest cattle of the temperate parts of the world. The diminutive Jersey cows, now reared in all parts of the kingdom, surpass all the animals of Europe or America in the richness of their milk, while stock from the pedigree herds of various English breeds is eagerly sought by foreign and continental buyers on both sides of the Atlantic, and in New Zealand and Australia. These foreign strains need constant replenishing from the English herds, and the result is a golden harvest to the breeders in these islands. The SHORTHORN was the first breed to be brought to perfection. Two main stocks one for producing beef, the other for the dairy are recognised; they are the "all- ^oto^w.p.v^ vvKt.fa*. SPANISH CATTLE round breed" most in favour, and it is said These belong to Uie long .; or J d race of Southe ; n and Eastern Eur0 pe. m that the improvement in this race alone has the bulls the horns are shorter, and of ten turn downwards. 27 210 The Living Animals of the World raised the value of average Irish store cattle 2 per head during the last twenty years. The shorthorns are level-backed, large animals, maturing very quickly. The commonest colours are roan, white, red, and red-and-white. HEREFORD CATTLE are red, with white faces and long, upturned horns ; they fatten quickly on good grass, and are in most demand for summer beef. HIGHLAND CATTLE have long horns, rough, shaggy coats, and bodies of moderate size and great symmetry ; they are grazed on the mountains of the West Highlands mainly, and fattened in the south. The beef is of the finest quality. SUSSEX CATTLE are an " all red " variety, large, and formerly much used for draught and farm work. The DEVONS are another red variety, very like the Sussex, yielding excellent and rich milk, and, when fattened, being little inferior to any breed as beef. The long-horned black WELSH CATTLE grow to a great size, as do the polled ANGUS breed of Scotland. The polled or hornless cattle include the red SUFFOLKS, a most valuable breed, hardy, and wonderful producers of milk. The cows often give milk every day of the year. The LONGHORN breed is almost disappearing, as the horns are a disadvan- tage both in the fields and when the animals are carried on board ship or in the train. The HUMPED CATTLE of India and East Africa belong to a race different from European cattle, of which the parent stock is not known. They have a hump upon the withers, drooping ears (a sign of ancient domestica- tion), and a very large dewlap. The coat is always exquisitely fine. They are of all sizes, from the tall Brahminee bull to dwarf breeds not larger than a New- foundland dog. The commonest colours are cream, grey, mouse-colour, and white. They do not low, but grunt, and are by no means so fond of shade and water as European cattle. WILD OXEN. THIS group consists of the GAUR of India; the GAYAL of Assam, which is possibly a domesticated form of the gaur, but rather smaller in size, with skull and horns different in character; and the BANTING, a lighter and more slender wild ox, of which different varieties are found in Burma, in Java (where it is kept in a half-domesticated condition), and in Manipur. THE GAUR. The GAUR, the so-called INDIAN BISON, is probably the largest of all the wild bovine animals. It is found at the foot of the North-eastern Himalaya, in the Central Provinces of India, the forests of Madras and Mysore, and in parts of Burma and the Malay Peninsula, but not in Ceylon. Its range eastward is not accurately known. In habits the gaur is mainly a forest animal, retiring always at daybreak into the depths of the jungle. It sometimes attains a height of over 6 feet at the shoulder, and a length of 9 feet 6 inches [Aberdeen. YOUNG GATJB. The largest and handsomest of the wild oxen. The Hollow-horned Ruminants 211 I'hutu by York d> Sun] [Netting JIM. COW GAYAL. This animal is not at all dissimilar to the gaur. Its chief points of differ- ence are in the horns and :n the colour of its skin. from the nose to the tail. The colour of the full-grown gaur is dark brown, turning to black ; the legs from above the knees and hocks to the hoofs are white, the hair being short and fine. Its horns are upturned, and tipped with black, with white hair covering the junction on the top of the skull. The cows are much smaller than the bulls, standing about 5 feet high at the shoulder. This species feeds both on grass and on the young shoots of trees and of bamboos. The calves are dropped in August and September. The pure-bred animal does not appear capable of domestication. Hunting gaur by tracking in the jungle has long been a favourite sport of Anglo- Indians. General Douglas Hamilton says : "I have killed bulls measuring 6 feet at the shoulder, and the average height of the male is from 5 feet 8 inches to 5 feet 10 inches. An old bull gaur is a magnificent animal. The normal colour is a brownish black, sometimes in very old specimens almost quite black. The white stockings reach from the hoof to above the knee, and are very conspicuous. When on the Anamalies, I had a grand fight with a big bull. I was out early, and came on the spoor of bison, and soon saw two, one a very large bull. To my disgust he lay down, and was completely covered by creepers and bushes. After a bit I attempted to move to get a better view ; but there to my left was a cow bison staring at me. She at once gave the alarm, and I waited for the large bull to rise. This he did so quickly, and disappeared so suddenly, that I only got a snapshot. As I stopped to load, I saw a young calf squatting at the foot of a tree like a hare, intently watching me. I put the rifle down, crept up behind the tree, and suddenly threw myself on the little calf, and managed to get hold of its hind legs, but it got from under me. I managed, however, to tie its fore legs securely by means of some slender stems from the creepers. All this time it continued to bellow and to make a great row, and I fully expected to see the mother come charging down. I went back to the bungalow, and got some men to bring my little captive home. After breakfast I started again, and got on the track of the bison. ... I saw some branches move, and on looking carefully perceived a large bull bison ; but he was among the thick bushes, and I could not see his outline. I guessed as nearly as possible the position of the shoulder, and fired the big rifle at him. He g ave a bound forward, and then stopped long enough for me to give him a shot with the other barrel. . . . The next moment I saw the bull standing on the high ground above us. I fired again, and hit him well behind the shoulder. He dashed off, but only went fifty yards, and then stopped. I walked up, thinking to finish him, when he made a fearful rush at me. My man put the double rifle into my hands and then bolted, and I thought it prudent to retire and await my opportunity. But he only moved a few paces forward, and then stopped. Then began a regular siege of his position." The result of the siege was that the bison received four more bullets, charged and routed the hunter twice, and then walked off. It was shot twice more, charged again, and was finally killed by General Hamilton with his hunting-knife tied to a bamboo spear-pole. Considering the size and tenacity of life of the gaur, it is rather wonderful that more accidents do not occur in the pursuit of this animal ; but as it lives mainly in thick jungle, where large trees grow, the sportsman has more chance of getting out of sight of a wounded animal than when attacked by the Indian buffalo, which generally haunts jungles of high grass. 212 The Living Animals of the World I Cy ptnnusion oj Herr Carl Hagenbeck\ INDIAN HUMPED BULL. The hump and dewlap mark the Oriental cattle. The ears are often more drooping than in this specimen. THE GAYAL. The doubt whether this animal is found in a wild state has recently been considerably increased. It is well known in a semi-domesticated condition, in which it is kept by the tribes in and around the Assam Valley, where the wild gaur is also found. These herds roam during the day freely in the jungle, and return to be fed at the villages. It has been stated that wild gayal are enticed to join the tame herds by feeding them with balls of meal and salt ; but these " wild " speci- mens may be only those which have belonged to or have descended from the domesticated herd. Gayal have been kept in England not only in the Zoological Gardens but in some parks, and crossed with English cattle. The offspring furnished excellent beef, but were rather wild and intractable. The horns of the gayal are thicker and flatter than those of the gaur, and placed lower on the skull and farther apart. The domesticated gaval stands lower than the gaur, but is a very massive animal. THE BANTING. The common wild ox of the Malay countries of Borneo, Java, Eastern Burma, and northwards, in Manipur resembles the European oxen rather more than does the gaur. In size the bulls sometimes reach 5 feet 9 inches. The old bulls are black, the younger bulls chocolate-red, and the cows a bright reddish brown. The rump is marked with a large white patch, and all have white stockings from above the knees and hocks down to the hoofs. The tail is considerably longer than in the gaur, coming well below the hocks. As might be expected from its distribution, the size of this animal and the shape of the horns vary considerably in the different districts which it inhabits. In Borneo the horns often curve forwards ; in Java they spread outwards. In the latter island large herds of this species are kept in a state of domestication. When wild, banting live in small herds, and in Burma feed from early morning until ten o'clock, when they retire into the jungle for shelter. The Manipur race is smaller than that of Burma (of which the males are not black), and the bulls have not the white rump. THE YAK. THE YAK is naturally an inhabitant of the very high plateaux and mountains of Tibet, where the climate is cold and the air excessively dry. Lower down on the Indian side of the Himalaya a smaller race is found domesticated, which is the only one able to stand the climate of India, or of Europe, where it is now kept in some parks as a curiosity. - The tamed yaks are usually much smaller than the wild; these sometimes reach a weight of between 1,100 and 1,200 Ibs. In form they are long and low, very massive, and with hair almost entirely black ; this falls off along the sides into a long sweeping fringe. The tail is thickly tasselled with fine hair, and is employed by Indian princes for fly-flaps. The wild yak has large, massive black horns, curved upwards and forwards in the male. In Ladak and Chinese Tibet the yaks inhabit a desolate and barren country, in which their main food is a dry, The Hollow'horned Ruminants 213 coarse grass, on which they nevertheless contrive to keep themselves in condition, feeding in the mornings and evenings, and lying down by day to rest among the rocks. THE BISON. THE BISON form a marked group, differing from others of the Ox Tribe. They possess fourteen pairs of ribs, while the oxen have only thirteen (the yak has fourteen) ; and have very heavy, massive heads, broader and more convex foreheads than the oxen, longer spinal processes on the vertebrae of the front part of the back, and larger muscles to hold the ponderous head, causing a hump, which in the American bison is very marked. There are two living species of bison, one of which is found in Europe, the other in North America. THE EUROPEAN BISON. This is the most interesting survival of the primitive fauna of the Old World. It is still found wild, though protected, in a large forest in Lithuania, the property of the Czar of Eussia, called the Forest of Bielowitza. A few are also left of the purely wild stock in the Caucasus. Those in Lithuania have been protected for several centuries, and the herd is numbered from time to time. In 1857 there were 1,898 of these bison left; in 1882 there were only 600; in 1889 the herd had sunk to 380, but in 1892 it had risen to 491. The presence of the bison in the Caucasus had been almost forgotten till Mr. Littledale and Prince Demidoff gave accounts of hunting it there quite recently. The ZUBR, as it is called, only survives in some very inaccessible parts of the mountains, preserved by the Grand Duke Sergius Michaelovitch, in the Kouban district. There it exists as a really wild animal. The dimensions of one recently shot were 10 feet from the muzzle to the end of the last vertebra of the tail. The Grand Duke has to obtain special permission from the Czar to shoot one whenever he goes to the Caucasus. This bison seems to have been an inhabitant of most of the forests of Europe and Northern Asia ; its remains show that it existed in Britain, and it was plentiful in the Black Forest in the time of Csesar. It is the largest of all European quadrupeds, measuring as much as 10 feet 1 inch from the nose to the root of the tail, and standing nearly 6 feet high at the shoulder. Prince Demidoff states his belief that it is found on the southern slopes of the Caucasus Range between the hills and the Black Sea. The weight of this bison reaches 1,700 Ibs. It is now rare to see more than five or six together. Though the animal is so massive, its horns are rather small and slender, and curve upwards. The mane which, like the rest of the coat, is of a uniform rich brown is thick and curly, but not developed like that of the American bison. THE AMERICAN BISON. The American bison is the western representative of the bison of Europe. The almost complete disappear- ance of this species is one of the warnings against reckless p/ i0to i y w. P. Dando} [Regent's Park. destruction of animal life. It INDIAN HUMPED CATTLE. formerly found in millions These are often called Zebu in Europe, but the origin of the name is unknown. 214 The Living Animals of the World udoJ [/< :" *t* J'" I*. DOMESTICATED YAK. The wild Iwvine animal of the Central Asian plateau, tamed and domesticated. on the prairies, and its meat formed the staple food of the Red Indians, who lived on the flesh and used the "robes" of those killed in winter for great coats and bedding. When Audubon went up the Upper Missouri, bison were in sight almost through- out the voyage ; they were even carried down on ice-flows on the river. The bulls were very large, and were occasionally savage, especially when attacked and wounded ; but usually they were harmless animals. Every winter and spring they made migra- tions along regular routes to fresh pastures. These lines of travel were then black with bison. The females had their calves by their sides, and all travelled in herds, feeding as ' O they went. At the present time the only remains of the bison are the paths they left on the prairies, and their bones and skulls. The paths are still distinctly seen, worn by the " treks " of the great beasts which have now perished. The bones were collected in stacks and sold to make manure. Colonel Roosevelt, in an article contributed to " The Encyclopaedia of Sport," thus describes the destruction of the bison : " Pursuit by sportsmen had nothing to do with the extermination of the bison. It was killed by the hide-hunters, redskin, white, and half-breed. The railways, as they were built, hastened its destruction, for they gave means of transporting the heavy robes to market. But it would have been killed out anyhow, even were there no railroads in existence. Once the demand for the robes became known to the Indians, they were certain to exterminate it. Originally the bison ranged from the Rocky Mountains to the Alleghanies, and from Mexico to the Peace River. But its centre of abundance was the vast extent of grass-land stretching from the Saskatchewan to the Rio Grande. All the earlier explorers who crossed these great plains, from Lewis and Clarke onwards, spoke of the astonishing multitudes of the bison, which formed the sole food of the Horse Indians. The herds were pressed steadily back, but the slaughter did not begin till after the Civil War; then the commercial value of the robes became fully recognised, and the transcontinental railways rendered the herds more accessible. The slaughter was almost incredible, for the bison were slain literally by millions every year. They were first exterminated in Canada and the southern plains. It was not till 1883 that the last herd was killed off from the great north-western prairies." The height of a fine bull American bison at the shoulder is 6 feet. The horns are short, blunt, and curved, and set farther back on the forehead than in the European species. The hindquarters are low and weak, and the mane develops in winter into a thick robe, covering the neck, shoulders, and chest. An adult bull bison was found to weigh 1,727 Ibs. The woodland-bison of Athabasca, now nearly exterminated, are larger than the prairie-bison, and have finer coats. In 1897 there were said to be between 280 and 300 head remaining in two herds. THE BUFFALOES. THE BUFFALOES are so far distinct from other wild cattle that they will not interbreed with them ; yet one species, the INDIAN BUFFALO, has been domesticated for a long, though By permission of the Sew York Zoological Society. AMERICAN BULL BISON. The American bison (locally called " buffalo") is lower behind than its European brother ; but the withers, as will be seen from the photograph, are stronger and more massive, and its mane considerably longer. 215 2l6 The Living Animals of the World Photo by the Duchess of Bedfo EUROPEAN BISON. unknown period, and is among the most valuable of tame beasts of draught, as well as for dairy purposes. The various buffaloes usually have little hair, especially when old, and have flatter shoulders than the gaur, gayal, or bison. The pairs of ribs number thirteen. THE AFRICAN BUFFALO. Great differences in size and colour exist in the AFRICAN BUFFALOES. Whether they are separate species or not may be doubtful; but the small yellow CONGO BUFFALO, with upturned short These wild animals of the Caucasus are very ranch scarcer than formerly, and are in danger DOmS, IS a Vastly different of becoming extinct. creature from the large black CAPE BUFFALO. There is also an Abyssinian or brown race of African buffalo, and another in Senegambia smaller than the former, and a reputed grey race near Lake Tchad. The Cape buffalo is a heavy, thickset animal, ah 1 black in colour, with large massive horns covering the skull, and nearly meeting in the middle line of the forehead. In height it varies from 4 feet 10 inches to 5 feet at the shoulder. This species ranges from South Africa to the Congo on the west, and to the region of the Equator on the east of the continent. Firearms, and lately rinderpest, have greatly reduced the number of these creatures. They live and feed in herds, and, like the Indian species, are fond of the neighbourhood of water, in which they bathe, but are not so dependent on bathing and wallowing as the former. Fully as formidable as the Indian buffalo, and much like it in habits, the African species is quite distinct. It has different horns, broad at the base and curled and tapering at the ends. Among the extreme measurements of the Indian buffalo's horns recorded is one of 12 feet 2 inches from tip to tip along the curve. Those of the African buffalo are seldom more than 6 feet, measured in the same way. By far the greatest number of hunting accidents in Africa are caused by the buffalo. Sir Samuel Baker shot a buffalo bull one evening near the White Nile. His men actually danced upon the body, when the animal rose to its feet, and sent them flying into the river like so many frogs. It then disappeared in the thick vegetation. On the following day, supposing that it must have died during the night, thirty or forty men, armed with double-barrelled guns, went to look for it. The result was thus recorded by Sir Samuel Baker : " They had not been ashore for many minutes when I first heard a shot and then a regular volley. My people returned with the head of the buffalo and a large quantity of meat, but they also carried the body of my best man, who, when leading the way through the high reeds, following the traces of blood, actually stumbled upon the buffalo lying in the swamp, and the light guns failed to stop its charge. The crooked horn had caught him behind the ear, and, penetrating completely through the neck, had torn out the throat as though it had been cut. The savage beast had then knelt upon the body, and stamped it into the muddy ground, until it fell beneath the fire of thirty men." The head and body of a male Cape buffalo are 9 feet long. It is stated that the parasite conveyed by the tsetse fly remains in the blood of the buffalo (which is not affected by it), and that this forms a reserve whence the fly, after sucking the blood of the buffalo, poisons other animals. The Hollow'horned Ruminants 217 THE CONGO BUFFALO. This is a very small race, the height at the shoulder being about 3 feet 6 inches. The shape of the horns varies, but they are wrinkled at the bases and flattened, and turn upwards, ending in thin, sharp tips. The hair is bright reddish yellow. It is entirely a West African species. Sir Samuel Baker records an instance in which his brother was nearly killed by a small West African buffalo, probably one of the species in question. It is said to be less gregarious than the Cape buffalo, and usually found in pairs. THE INDIAN OR WATER-BUFFALO. Very great interest attaches to this animal, if only from the fact that it is evidently a species domesticated directly from the wild stock. It therefore deserves consideration both as a wild and as a domesticated animal. It is found wild in the swampy jungles at the foot of the Himalaya, in the Ganges Delta, and in the jungles of the Central Provinces; also, it is believed, in the jungles of West Assam. Like the African species, it is an animal of great size and strength, with short brown hair, white fetlocks, and immense long, narrow, flattened horns. It is almost aquatic by preference, passing many hours of each day wallowing in the water, or standing in any deep pool with only the tips of its nostrils and its horns out of the water. By general consent it is the most dangerous of Indian animals after the tiger. A buffalo bull when wounded will hunt for its enemy by scent as persistently as a dog hunting for a rabbit. A writer in County Life lately gave an account of a duel between himself, armed with a small and light rifle, and a buffalo bull, in which the latter hunted him for more than an hour, each time being driven off by a shot from the light rifle, and each time returning to the search, until it was killed. Sir Samuel Baker, when he first went to Ceylon, found the buffaloes practically in possession of the meadows round a lake in the neighbourhood of his quarters, and waged a war of extermination against the bulls, which were very dangerous. Photo by the Duchess of Bedford'] I Woburn Abbey. AMERICAN BISON. Notice the difference in the fore and hind quarters of this animal and the European representative of the same group. (See page 216.) 28 218 The Living Animals of the World The buffaloes of Ceylon are the same as those of India, but the horns are inferior in size. " The charge of a buffalo is a serious matter," says Sir Samuel Baker. "Many animals charge when infuriated, but they can generally be turned aside by the stunning blow of a rifle- shot, even if they be not mortally wounded. But a buffalo is a devil incarnate when it has once decided on the offensive ; nothing will turn it. It must be actually stopped by death, sudden and instantaneous, as nothing else will stop it. If not killed, it will assuredly destroy its adversary. There is no creature in existence so determined to stamp the life out of its opponents, and the intensity of its fury is unsurpassed when a wounded bull rushes forward upon its last desperate charge. Should it succeed in overthrowing its antagonist, it will not only gore the body with its horns, but will kneel upon the lifeless form, and stamp it with its hoofs till the mutilated remains are beyond recog- nition." The true Indian buffalo is usually shot from the back of an elephant. Hunting it on foot is dangerous in the extreme, for the buffalo can crash through obstacles which would prevent any man from making his way through them when escaping. When domesti- cated, the Indian buffalo loses most traces of its savageness ; it is habitually managed by the children, who take the herds out to graze in the jungle, and drive them back, often riding on one of the bulls, at night. They dislike Europeans, and often show this by attacking them ; but other- wise they are quite tame, and are docile when in harness or carrying -.***-*** [**,***. , . DOMESTICATED INDIAN BUFFALO. burdens. The burlalo s milk i 3 very Th . g animal ig found M a wild and domesticated species in India . It i s valuable as a rich, and makes a much larger per- beast of draught and for the dairy. Photo by York Ltd.} [Aberdeen. 20,000 feet. Here the country is YOUNG BARBARY SHEEP. Quite Open. Note the lensrtb of the tail as compared with other wild sheep. 221 222 The Living Animals of the World THE EUROPEAN MOUFFLON. The only wild sheep of Europe is the MOUFFLON, found in the mountains of Corsica and Sardinia. Its height at the shoulder is about 27 inches. In the rams the horns are strong, and curved into a spiral, forming almost a complete circle. The hair is close, and in winter has a woolly under-fur. In summer and autumn the coat is a bright red-brown on the neck, shoulders, and legs ; the rump and under-parts are whitish, and the back and flanks marked with a white saddle. In winter the brown becomes darker and the white saddle broader. A rather larger moufflon is found on Mount Elburz in Persia, in Armenia, and in the Taurus Mountains. A smaller variety exists in Cyprus, where it has been preserved since the British occupation. The moufflon is a typical wild sheep. In Sardinia and Corsica are dense scrubby forests of tall heather, some 5 feet high. This maquia is practically impenetrable to hunters. When alarmed, the moufflon dash into it, and are safe. The maquia has preserved two very interesting survivals of antiquity the moufflon, and the Corsican or Sardinian bandit. The Corsican bandit, like the moufflon of the same island, is nearly extinct. In Sardinia both flourish. Many English sportsmen have had their first taste of big-game shooting in the difficult pursuit of the moufflon on the Sardinian mountains. Some declare that the sport is so fascinating that they have seldom found much to equal it since. Mr. S. H. Whitbread, whose notes' in " The Encyclopedia of Sport " are very full on this subject, deems that the best season to stalk moufflon is in October or November. The animals are then less disturbed by shepherds and dogs, and the moufflon are on the move and more easily seen during the day than in summer, when they feed at night and rest or sleep by day. Sir E. Gr. Loder has a small herd of moufflon running wild in his park at Leonardslee, near Horsham. They one of the large wild sheep of Central Asia. have a specially built " mountain-top " of stone to make a home of, but are free to feed where they like in the park. They produce lambs yearly. It is an interesting sight to see the quick rush of the little flock, when frightened, to their sheltering-place, led by an old white-saddled ram. THE ARGALIS. The ARGALIS are the largest of all living wild sheep. Some measure from 3 feet 9 inches to 4 feet at the shoulder. The horns are broad, corrugated, and curling in the male, and in the female short, erect, and curving backwards. The male TIBETAN ARGALI has a ruff on the throat. The usual colour is a stony grey, mingled with white in the summer in the case of the old males. The name is applied collectively to several wild sheep found in Northern and Central Asia. Whether these are only varieties or separate species it is difficult to say; but the following are some of the most marked forms. The SIBERIAN ARGALI is the characteristic wild sheep of the rocky hills and mountains of Southern Siberia, the Altai Mountains, and Northern Mongolia. The horns curve so as to form more than a complete circle; the upper parts are tinged with grey, and the lower are white. Photo by W. P. Dando] [Regent's Park. SIBERIAN ARGALI. The Sheep and Goats 223 Photo by J. T. atteman] [Berkliamstcd. BARBARY SHEEP. These fine wild sheep are found in the Atlas and Aures Mountains of Jsorth Africa. The TIBETAN ARGALI is a little smaller in size, and has slightly smaller horns. The rams have also a large white ruff on the throat. These sheep descend in winter to the lower valleys of the Tibetan plateau, returning to the higher ground in spring. The lambs are born in May or June. LITTLEDALE'S SHEEP is a smaller animal, found on the Sair Mountains in the Great Altai, on the north- western border of Mongolia. It is darker in colour than the argali or Marco Polo's sheep, and has dark under-parts. Writing of the argali of Southern Siberia, the naturalist Brehm says that when the Tartars want mutton an argali hunt is organised. The Tartar hunters advance on their horses at intervals of 200 or 300 yards, and when the sheep are started generally manage, by riding, shooting, coursing them with dogs, and shouting, to bewilder, shoot, or capture several. On the high plateau of the Pamirs and the adjacent districts MARCO POLO'S SHEEP is found. The rams are only slightly less in size than the Siberian argali ; the hair is longer than in that species, and the horns are thinner and more slender and extend farther in an outward direction. An adult ram may weigh 22 stone. The first description of this sheep was given by the old traveller whose name it now bears. He said that on the Pamir plateau wild animals are met with in large numbers, particularly a sheep of great size, having horns three, four, and even six palms in length, The shepherds (? hunters) form ladles and vessels from them. In the Pamirs, Marco Polo's sheep is seldom found at less than 11,000 or 12,000 feet above the sea. In the Thian-shan Mountains it is said to descend to 2,000 or 3,000 feet. They prefer the hilly, grassy plains, and only seek the hills for safety. On the Pamirs they are said to be very numerous in places, one hunter stating that he saw in one day not less than 600 head. THE BIGHORN SHEEP OF AMERICA AND KAMCHATKA. Photo by H". P. Sand BARBARY SHEEP. This shows a fine ram, with a mane reaching almost to its hoofs. .North America has its parallel to the argalis in the famous BIGHORN. It is now very rare even in Northern 224 The Living Animals of the World Photo by J. W. McLellan] [Highbury. BURHAL WILD SHEEP. Sometimes called the Blue Sheep. They have a wide range both on the Himalaya and north of those mountains. Canada, and becoming scarce in the United States, though a few are found here and there at various points on the Rocky Mountains as far south as Mexico. In habits it is much the same as other wild sheep that is to say, it haunts the rock-hills and " bad lands " near the mountains, feeding on the scanty herbage of the high ground, and not descending unless driven down by snow. The bighorn sheep are very partial to salt. Mr. Turner Turner, who hunted them in East Kooteney, says : " Wild sheep make periodical excursions to the mountain-tops to gorge themselves with salty clay. They may remain from an hour to two days, and when killed their stomachs will be found full of nothing but the clay formed from denuded lime- stone, which they lick and gnaw until sometimes deep tunnels are formed in the cliffs, large enough to hide six or seven sheep. The hunter, standing over one of these warrens, may bolt them within two yards of him. In the dead of winter sheep often come to the woods to feed on fir-trees. At such times they may be seen mixed with black-and-white-tailed deer, low on a river-bank. I have known them come within forty yards of an inhabited hut." While on the subject of the fondness of sheep and deer for salt, we may mention an anecdote told by Mr. H. C. Nelson in Country Life. He was sleeping with two other friends in a hut in the mountains where some miners had lived for a time. These men, when they washed up their pots and pans, threw the slops away at a certain place close by the hut. As all water used for cooking meat has salt put into it, a little salt remained on the surface. This the wild deer had found out, and were in the habit of coming to lick it at night. Mr. Nelson had a shot at one some twenty yards from the hut. The bighorn sheep stands from 3 feet 2 inches to 3 feet 6 inches at the shoulder. The horns are of the general type of the argalis, but smoother. Another bighorn is found in Kamchatka. There is also a beautiful white race of bighorn inhabiting Alaska. The typical Rocky Mountain race is browner than the Asiatic argalis, and in winter is dark even beneath the front parts of the body. It is not found on the high peaks of the great ranges, but on difficult though lower ground on the minor hills. THE OORIAL. The vast range of the Himalaya affords feeding-ground to other species of wild sheep and wild goat, so different in the shape of the horns that the variations of the ovine race under domestication need not be matter for wonder when so much variety is seen in nature. The OORIAL, or SHA, is found in North-west India, on the Trans-Indus Mountains, and in Ladak, Northern Tibet, Afghanistan, Baluchistan, Turkestan, and Southern Persia. The horns make a half-curve backwards, and are flattened. The angle with the horizontal line across the ears is about half a right angle. The coat is of a reddish-brown colour, with white on the belly, legs, and throat. This species has a very wide geographical distribution, and is- the only wild sheep found in India proper. Photo by The Duchesx of Bedford, Woburn Abbe.y. FEMALE KUDU. The Kudu is one of the handsomest of the African Antelopes, the corkscrew-like horns of the bucks forming some of the most striking of all sporting trophies. The Sheep and Goats 225 [Bcrl-liafttstal. PUNJAB SHEEP. This is an example of one of the breeds which carry no wool whatever. I'koto by J. T. Newman] chamois-stalking ; but the pursu't seems to fascinate gave some charming descrip- tions of the silence, the rugged rocks, and the astonishing views over the great orange Sahara Desert seen from the tops of these haunts of the Barbary sheep mountains on the summits of which his Arab guides would prostrate them- selves in evening prayer as the sun sank over the desert, and then, rising, once more resume the chase. The young lambs of the Barbary sheep are charming little creatures, more like reddish kids. They can follow the mother over the steepest ground at a great pace. When caught, as they sometimes are by the Arabs, they soon become tame. The THE BARBARY SHEEP, AOUDAD, OR ARUI. This is a large wild sheep of the North African highlands. The old rams have a very fine appearance, with a long flowing beard or mane, and large horns. These wild sheep, though somewhat goat-like in appear- ance, are typical of their race in general habits. They live in the Atlas Eange, and in the splendid heights of the Aures Mountains, which lie at the back of Algeria and fringe the great Sahara Desert. In the isolated and burning rocks which jut up in the desert itself into single mountains they are also found, living on ground which seems absolutely destitute of water, grass, or vegetation. They live singly or in small families; but the rams keep mainly alone. Sometimes they lie in shallow caves during the heat of the day. These caves smell like a sheep-fold. More generally the sheep repose on some shelf of rock, where they exactly match the colour of the stone, and are invisible. The ground is among the most difficult in which any hunt- ing is attempted, except perhaps in sportsmen. Mr. A. E. Pease recently Photo by L. Medland, F.Z.S.] The fat tail of this sheep was [North Finchley. PAT-TAILED SHEEP, considered by Charles Darwin as due to degeneration. 29 226 The Living Animals of the World Photo by IK. f. Dando} [AV/../if* I FOUB-HOBNED SHEEP. There are several breeds of these sheep, some from China, some from Iceland, and others from South Africa. tail is longer than in other wild sheep, and in the males a large mane covers the chest. THE BURHAL, OR BLUE SHEEP. This species possibly indi- cates the transition-point from the sheep to the goats. It was pointed out by Mr. Brian Hodgson that it had certain features more like the goats than the sheep, and later other writers laid stress on structural differences of the same kind, both in skull and horns. It has not the dis- agreeable odour of the goats; but the black markings which separate the white of the belly from the brown of the flanks, and run down the front of the legs, are like those seen on some goats. The horns rise in a curve outwards and downwards. The largest are only some 30 inches long. 'Burhal are perhaps the commonest of all Asiatic wild sheep. They inhabit the whole length of the higher Himalayan Eange, and are found over and round the Central Asian plateau as far north as Yarkand. The horns make two half-moons at right angles to the skull. Unlike some 'of the other wild sheep, burhal often climb the very highest ground of all. Much of the best burhal ground is above 17,000 feet high, and, as Mr. Whitbread remarks, this alone makes the chase of such an animal difficult. As in the moufflon, the mutton is excellent. There is no difficulty whatever in taming these wild Himalayan sheep ; those in the Zoological Gardens are practically domesticated. DOMESTICATED SHEEP. Under domestication sheep exhibit a wide variety of coat, shape, and size, very striking to the eye, and very important in regard to the produce of wool or mutton. The intro- duction of a particular breed, with long wool or short wool as the case may be, has often saved or altered for a time the economic condition of a colony or province. It was the introduction of the sheep which gave Australia first rank among the rich colonies of the world; and the discovery that the Cheviot breed would thrive on the Scotch hills made millions of acres remunerative which might otherwise have been very un- productive. But the only important change in the structure of the sheep in domestica- tion is the lengthening of the tail. The carcase may be fat mutton or thin mutton, 'the wool long or short, fine or coarse ; but the sheep itself remains true to type, and of much the same docile habits, under all the Changes of the breeders. Phol b v J- [Serklian SOUTH DOWN SHEEP. The finest breed of down-sheep. The Sheep and Goats 227 We may first say a word or two as to foreign breeds of sheep, especially those of the East. Some of these resemble the wild breeds in having smooth coats and almost no wool. The SOMALI SHEEP, for instance, yield no wool useful for felting or spinning. They have drooping ears and black heads. Some of the finest natural wool is developed by a white sheep in Tibet. The fur is usually sold as Tibetan lamb. The wool is exactly like white floss-silk. When cured by the Chinese, the leather is like white kid, with this flossy wool attached. In India and Persia the sheep is sometimes used as a beast of burden. Mr. Lockwood Kipling, in his " Beast and Man in India," says : " Borax, asafcetida, and other commodities are brought into India on the backs of sheep in bags. The flocks are driven in large numbers from Tibet into British territory. One of the sensations of journeying in the hills of the * interior,' as the farther recesses of the mountains are called by Anglo-Indians, is to come suddenly on such a drove, as it winds, with the multitudinous click of little feet, round the P koto by W. Heidi MERINO BAMS. The best wool-producing sheep. Imported from Spain to Australia. [Wishaic, N.B. shoulder of some Himalayan spur. The coarse hair bags scrape the cliffside from which the narrow path is built out or hollowed, and allow but scant room for your pony, startled by the hurry and the quick-breathing rush of the creatures as they crowd and scuffle past. Only the picturesque shepherds return from the^e journeys. The carriers of the caravan (i.e. the sheep), feeding as they go, gather flesh in spite of their burdens, and provide most excellent mutton. ... In the towns of the plains rams are kept as fighting animals. A Mohammedan swell going out for a stroll with his fighting-ram makes a picture of foppery not easily surpassed by the sporting 'fancy' of the West. The ram is neatly clipped, with a judicious reservation of the salient tufts, tipped with saffron and mauve dye, and besides a large collar of blue beads it wears a necklace of hawk-bells." The FAT-TAILED SHEEP of Persia and Tartary exhibits a curious provision of nature. When food is plentiful, a quantity of fat accumulates on the tail and croup. As the pasture dries up and the animal finds little food, this store of fat is gradually absorbed. Another fat-tailed sheep is found from Syria and Egypt to the Cape. This has a long tail reaching to the 228 The Living Animals of the World ground. In the Egyptian breed the tail is broad throughout ; in the Syrian it narrows to a point. The ordinary weight of the Syrian sheep's tail is 15 Ibs. ; but in some well-fattened examples it reaches 70 or 80 Ibs. Ludolph saw in Egypt a sheep's tail of 80 Ibs. weight. This overgrown tail is a great encumbrance to the animal. In order to lighten the burden, the shepherds fasten under it a small board, sometimes with wheels attached, to make it easy to draw over the ground. In Greece, Wallachia, and Western Asia a fine breed of sheep, quite different from the English forms, is seen. It is called the WALLACHIAN SHEEP. When the Zoological Gardens were first founded here, some of these sheep were introduced and crossed with English breeds. The horns are tall spirals, as in the great kudu antelope. The body is large, and the fleece long and straight, and more like that of the long-haired goats than curly wool. There are now few countries in the world to which sheep have not been intro- duced. They were probably among the earliest animals to be domesticated. Certainly they are the first to be mentioned ; for we learn that "Abel was a keeper of sheep," while Cain tilled the earth. The feud between the keeper of flocks and the grower of crops typified in this ancient quarrel still goes on wherever the wild mountain breeds of sheep are kept, for there is of necessity always danger that the wander- ing sheep may raid the plots of corn. In Spain a curious and ancient set of laws regulates the passage of the flocks to and from the mountain pastures through the corn-lands. It is said that the name of the famous breed of Spanish sheep known as MERINOS recalls their foreign origin from across the sea, and that they were originally imported into Spain from England. Whether that be so or not, it is certain that no one could recognise them now. The finest merino sheep, especially those bred in Australia, into which country they were imported some forty years ago, look as if covered with a dense growth of moss. The close wool grows not only on their backs, sides, and bellies, but on legs, forehead, and nose. There are believed to be ten millions of merino sheep in Spain, most of which are migratory. They are called " transhumantes," and are taken from the plains to the mountains LEICESTER EWE. and from the mountains to the plains yearly. These A heavy, long-wooiied breed. Photo li> J. T. -Kemnan} [Serkluansted. BLACK-FACED MOUNTAIN-SHEEP. The sheep of the high mountains and heather-moors. Phoio by /. The Sheep and Goats 229 " transhumantes " are divided into flocks, each under a head shepherd, or " majoral." The flocks follow the shepherds, who lead the way, and direct the length and speed of the journey. A few wethers, trained to the business, follow the shepherds, and the rest come in due order. Powerful dogs accompany them as guards. This system of sheep migration is controlled by a tribunal termed the Mesta. It can be traced back to the middle of the fourteenth century. By it persons are prohibited from travelling along the course of the route pursued by the flocks so long as they are on the road. It also maintains the right for the flocks to graze on all the open or common land that lies in the way. Moreover, it claims a path ninety yards wide through all enclosed and cultivated country. The length of the journey is over 400 miles, which is accomplished in six or seven weeks. The system works greatly to the injury of local cultivators and stationary flocks, whose fields are injured by the migratory sheep. Photo by W. [Withaw, N.B. CROSS-BRED SHEEP. The class of sheep kept mainly on cultivated land in the North Midlands. ENGLISH BREEDS OF SHEEP. In England are reared the finest and most valuable sheep. This is evident from the prices paid for them by foreigners and breeders in our colonies. Except for merinos, no one comes to any other country but this when about to seek new blood for their flocks or to stock new lands. Kecently 1,000 guineas were paid by a firm in Argentina for a single Lincoln ram. Differences, well marked and of great importance, exist between our different breeds. Each suits its own district, and each is carefully improved and kept pure by herd-books, in which all pedigree animals are entered. The " general utility sheep " in England is the SOUTH DOWN ; in Scotland, the BORDER LEICESTER. The former is a small, fine sheep, with close wool, and yielding excellent mutton. It provides the meat sold in our best shops, and has largely stocked New Zealand. The original breed of England was possibly the COTSWOLD; it is a tall, long-woolled, white-fleeced 230 The Living Animals of the World Photo by J. T. Kemnan] listed. LONK RAM. This is a photograph of the largest sheep on record. sheep. Later a large heavy sheep, with long wool and a massive body, was bred in the Midlands, and called the LEICESTER LONG-WOOL. This sheep gives a great cut of wool, and much coarse mutton. The CHEVIOT SHEEP, originally bred on the hills of that name, is now one of the mainstays of the Scotch mountain farmer. The Cheviots eat the grass on the high hillsides, while the BLACK-FACED HIGHLAND SHEEP live on the heather higher up. The SUFFOLK, OXFORD, HAMPSHIRE, and other " Down " sheep are larger breeds than the Soutih Down. The ROMNEY MARSH SHEEP are a heavy long-woolled breed. The EXMOORS are small heather-sheep like those of Wales, and the SOA and ST. KILDA SHEEP, which are often four- horned, the smallest of all. The maintenance of flocks is now almost an essential part of English agriculture on all chalk lands, which comprise a very large percentage of the southern counties. On the chalk downs the flocks are the great fertilisers of the soil. Every night the sheep are folded on the fields which are destined to produce corn in the following year. The manure so left on the soil ensures a good crop, with no expense for carting the fertiliser from the farmyard, as is the case with manure made by oxen kept in straw-yards. On the South Downs, Oxfordshire Downs or Chiltern Hills, Salisbury Plain, and the Berkshire Downs the farms have been mainly carried on by the aid of the flocks. Where these are no longer kept the land reverts to grass, and the growing of corn ceases. On the coarse, new-sown grasses cattle take the place of sheep, and an inferior style of farming, like the ranches of South America, replaces the / careful and high-ly skilled agriculture of Old England. In the far north of Scotland cross- bred sheep are now reared and fed in winter on turnips, which will grow luxuriantly where the climate is too bleak and wet for wheat. Formerly cattle were the main source of wealth to the owners of Highland estates. The sheep was only introduced after the Highlands were subdued subsequently to the rebellion in 1745. It was found that the rough-coated heather-sheep throve on the wet and elevated hills. This led to their substitution for cattle, as wool was then dear. Sheep are now in their turn giving way to Pkoto hy ^ r> Newman] grouse and deer over much of the Central WELSH EWES Highlands, as the price of wool has fallen. A small breed of hill . sheep . [Serkhamsted. The Sheep and Goats 231 Photo by E. Landor] FEMALE ANGORA GOAT. The breed from which mohair is obtained. [Eating. THE GOATS. THOUGH the dividing-line between the Sheep and Goats is very indistinct, some differences are of general applica- tion. The goats are distinguished by the unpleasant " hircine " odour of the males, and by beards on the chins of the same sex, by the absence of glands in the hind feet, which sheep possess, and by certain variations in the formation of the skull. The difference between the temperament of the sheep and goats is very curious and persistent, showing itself in a marked way, which affects their use in domestication to such a degree that the keeping of one or the other often marks the owners as possessors of different degrees of civilisation. Goats are restless, curious, adventurous, and so active that they cannot be kept in enclosed fields. For this reason they are not bred in any numbers in lands where agriculture is practised on modern principles ; they are too enterprising and too destructive. Consequently the goat is usually only seen in large flocks on mountain pastures and rocky, uncultivated ground, where the flocks are taken out to feed by the children. On the high Alps, in Greece, on the Apennines, and in Palestine the goat is a valuable domestic animal. The milk, butter, and cheese, and also the flesh of the kids, are in great esteem. But wherever the land is enclosed, and high cultivation attempted, the goat is banished, and the more docile and controllable sheep takes its place. In Syria the goat is perhaps more docile and better understood as a dairy animal than elsewhere in the East. The flocks are driven into Damascus in the morning ; and instead of a milk-cart calling, the flock itself goes round the city, and particular goats are milked before the doors of regular customers. The EUROPEAN GOAT is a very useful animal for providing milk to poor families in large towns. The following account of its present uses was recently published : " The sheep, while preserving its hardy habits in some districts, as on Exmoor, in Wales, and the Highlands, adapts itself to richer food, and acquires the habits as well as the digestion of domestication. , Inese goats were originally obtained from Turkey in Asia, and exported to South The goat remains, as in old days, the Africa. Photo by E. Landor] [Ealing. ANGORA RAM. 232 The Living Animals of the World enemy of trees, inquisitive, omnivorous, pugnacious. It is unsuited for the settled life of the English farm. Rich pasture makes it ill, and a good clay soil, on which cattle grow fat, kills it. But it is far from being disqualified for the service of some forms of modern civilisation by the survival of primitive habits. Though it cannot live comfortably in the smiling pastures of the low country, it is perfectly willing to exchange the rocks of the mountain for a stable-yard in town. Its love for stony places is amply satisfied by the granite pavement of a 'mews,' and it has been ascertained that goats fed in stalls and allowed to wander in paved courts and yards live longer and enjoy better health than those tethered even on light pastures. In parts of New York the city goats are said to nourish on the paste-daubed paper of the advertisements, which they nibble from the hoardings. It is beyond doubt that these hardy creatures are exactly suited for living in large towns ; an environment of bricks and mortar and paving- stones suits them. Their spirits rise in proportion to what we should deem the depressing nature of their sur- roundings. They love to be tethered on a common, with scanty grass and a stock of furze-bushes to nibble. A deserted brick-field, with plenty of broken drain-tiles, rubbish-heaps, and weeds, pleases them still better. Almost any kind of food seems to suit them. Not even the pig has so varied a diet as the goat ; it consumes and converts into milk not only great quantities of garden-stuff which would otherwise be wasted, but also, thanks to its love for eating twigs and shoots, it enjoys the prunings and loppings of bushes and trees. In the Mont d'Or district of France the goats are fed on oatmeal porridge. With this diet, and plenty of salt, the animals are scarcely ever ill, and never suffer from tuberculosis; they will often give ten times their own weight of milk in a year." The Kashmir shawls are made of the finest goats' hair. Most of this very soft hair is obtained from the .under-fur of goats kept in Tibet, and by the Kirghiz in Central Asia. Only a small quantity, averaging 3 ozs., is produced yearly by each animal. The wool is purchased by middlemen, and taken to Kashmir for manufacture. In India the goat reaches perhaps the highest point of domestication. The flocks are in charge of herd-boys, but the animals are so docile that they are regarded with no hostility by the cultivators of corn and cereals. Tame goats are also kept throughout Africa. The valuable ANGOHA breed, from which " mohair " is obtained, is now domesticated in South Africa and in Australia. In the former country it is a great commercial success. The animals were obtained with great difficulty, as the Turkish owners did not wish to sell their best-bred goats; but when once established at the Cape, it was found that they proved better producers of mohair than when in their native province of Angora. The "clip" from their descendants steadily improves. Photo by E. Landor] [Baling. BKITISH GOAT. A much-neglected breed in this country. Note the shape of this animal. The Sheep and Goats 233 WILD GOATS. THE TUR. IN the Caucasus, both east and west, in the Pyrenees, and on the South Spanish sierras three fine wild goats, with some features not unlike the burhal sheep, are found. They are called TUR by the Caucasian mountaineers. The species found in the East Caucasus differs from that of the west of the range, and both from that of Spain. The EAST CAUCASIAN TUR is a massive, heavy animal, all brown in colour (except on the fronts of the legs, which are blackish), and with horns springing from each side of the skull like half- circles. The males are 38 inches high at the shoulder. The short beard and tail are blackish, and there is no white on the coat. The WEST CAUCASIAN rp, . , ,. , , . , Ey permission of P. Thomas, Esq. TUR is much lighter in colour than FEMALE TOGGENBURG GOAT . that OI the iiaSt CaUCaSUS, and the These goats are milk-goats par excellence ; they remain in profit for at least ten homS point backwards more like those montlls in tne y^ 1 Each goat produces on an average from 110 to 120 gallons of , ' milk during the year oi the ibex, though set on the skull at a different angle. The SPANISH *~ TUR has the belly and inner sides of the legs white, and a blackish line along the flank, dividing the white from the brown ; also a blackish chest, and some grey on the flank. In the Caucasus the tur are found on the high crags above the snow-line in summer, whence they descend at night to feed on patches of upland grass; but the main home of the tur by day is above the snow- line. The Spanish species modifies its habits according to the ground on which it lives. Mr. E. N. Buxton found it in dense scrub, while on the Andalusian sierras it frequents bare peaks 10,000 feet high. In Spain tur are sometimes seen in flocks of from 100 to 150 each. THE PERSIAN WILD GOAT. This breed originally came from Switzerland, but is now well known in England. The animals are fine in bone, have a long, thin neck, with two tassel-like The original of our domesticated appendages. goat is thought by some to be the PASANG, or PERSIAN WILD GOAT. It is a fine animal, with large scimitar-shaped horns, curving backwards, flattened laterally, and with knobs on the front edge at irregular intervals. It is more slender in build than the tur, light brown in general colour, marked with a black line 30 By permission of P. Thomas, Esq. STUD TOGGENBURG GOAT. 234 The Living Animals of the World along the nape and back, black tail, white belly, blackish shoulder-stripe, and a black line dividing the hinder part of the flank from the white belly. Formerly found in the islands of South-eastern Europe, it now inhabits parts of the Caucasus, the Armenian Highlands, Mount Ararat, and the Persian mountains as far east as Baluchistan. A smaller race is found in Sind. It lives in herds, sometimes of considerable size, and frequents not only the high ground, but the mountain forests and scrub, where such cover exists. The domesticated goat of Sweden is said to be certainly a descendant of this species. THE IBEX. Of the IBEX, perhaps the best known of all the wild goats, several species, differing somewhat in size and in the form of their horns, are found in various parts of the Old World. Of these, the ARABIAN IBEX inhabits the mountains of Southern Arabia, Palestine, and Sinai, J3y permission of P. Thomas, Esq. SCHWARTZALS GOAT. A large, long-haired breed, which derives its name from its peculiar colour, the fore part of the body being black and the hinder part white. These goats are good milkers. Upper Egypt, and perhaps Morocco. The ABYSSINIAN IBEX is found in the high mountains of the country from which it takes its name. The ALPINE IBEX is now extinct in the Swiss Alps and Tyrol, but survives on the Piedmontese side of Monte Rosa. The ASIATIC IBEX is the finest of the group; its horns have been found to measure 54f inches along the curve. This ibex inhabits the mountain-ranges of Central Asia, from the Altai to the Himalaya, and the Himalaya as far as the source of the Ganges. The King of Italy is the great preserver of the ALPINE IBEX, and has succeeded where the nobles of the Tyrol have failed. The animals are shot by driving them, the drivers being expert mountaineers. The way in which the ibex come down the passes and over the precipices is simply astonishing. One writer lately saw them springing down perpendicular heights of 40 feet, or descending " chimneys " in the mountain-face by simply cannoning off with their feet from side to side. Young ibex can be tamed with ease, the only drawback to their maintenance being the impossibility of confining them. They will spring on to the roof of The Sheep and Goats 235 a house, and spend the day there by prefer- ence, though allowed the run of all the premises. The kids are generally two in number; they are born in June. The ibex was long one of the chief objects of the Alpine hunter. The Emperor Maximilian had a preserve of them in the Tyrol mountains near the Aachen Sea ; these he shot with a cross-bow when they were driven down the mountains. Sometimes they were forced across the lake. A picture in his private hunting-book shows the Emperor assisting to catch one in a net from a boat. He notes that he once shot an ibex at a distance of 200 yards with a cross-bow, after one of his companions had missed it with a gun, or "fire-tube." When away on an ex- pedition in Holland, he wrote a letter to the wife of one of the most noted ibex-poachers on his domain, promising her a silk dress if she could induce her husband to let the animals alone. In the Himalaya the chief foes of the ibex are the snow-leopard and wild dog. THE MARKHOR. The very fine Himalayan goat of this name differs from all other wild species. The horns are spiral, like those of the kudu Photo by S. G. Payne, Aylesbury, ly permission of the Hon. Waltsr Rothschild. YOUNG MALE ALPINE IBEX The photograph shows the corrugated horns of the male. Photo l>y the Duchess of Bedford] [ Woburn Abbey. MALE ALPINE IBEX. The finest wild goat of Europe, formerly common on the Swiss Alps, now only on a limited area on the Italian side. antelope and "Wallachian sheep. It may well be called the king of the wild goats. A buck stands as much as 41 inches at the shoulder, and the maximum measurement of the horns is 63 inches, or over 5 feet ! It has a long beard and mane, and stands very upright on its feet. Besides the Himalaya, it haunts the mountains on the Afghan frontier. The markhor keep along the line between the forest and snow, some of the most difficult ground in the hills. The horns are a much-prized trophy. THE TAHR. The TAHR of the Himalaya is a very different-looking animal to the true goats, from which, among other characters, it is distinguished by the form and small size 236 The Living Animals of the World of the horns. The horns, which are black, spring in a high backward arch, but the creature has no beard. A buck stands sometimes as much a& 38 inches high at the shoulder. It has a long, rough coat, mainly dark stone-colour in tint. Tahr live in the forest districts- of the Middle Himalaya, where they are found on very high and difficult ground. General Donald Macintyre shot one standing on the brink of an almost sheer precipice. Down this it fell, and the distance in sheer depth was such that it was difficult to see the body even with glasses. The tahr is fairly common all along the higher Himalayan Kange. Its- bones are believed to be a sovereign cure for rheumatism, and are exported to India for that object. A smaller kind is found in the mountains of Eastern Arabia, where very few English sportsmen have yet cared to attempt to shoot them. by permission oj P. ThomiUf, MJ. NUBIAN GOAT. These goats come from Nubia and Upper Egypt. They are generally hornless and short-haired ; the colour varies, being sometimes black, and sometimes tan and spotted. THE NILGIRI TAHR, OR NILGIRI IBEX. Though not an ibex, the sportsmen of India early gave this name to the tahr of the Nilgiri and Anamalai Hills. The Himalayan species is covered with long, shaggy hair ; the South Indian has short, smooth brown hair. "The ibex," says Hawkeye, the Indian sportsman, of this animal, "is massively formed, with short legs, remarkably strong fetlocks, and a heavy carcase, short and well ribbed up, combining strength and agility wonderful to behold. Its habits are gregarious, and the does are seldom met with separate from the flock or herd, though males often are. The latter assume, as they grow old, a distinctive appearance. The hair on the back becomes lighter, almost white in some cases, causing a kind of saddle to appear; and from that time they become known to the shikaries as the saddle-backs of the herd, an object of ambition to the eyes of the true sportsman. It is a pleasant sight to watch a herd of ibex feeding undisturbed, the kids frisking here and there on pinnacles or ledges of rock and beetling cliffs where there seems scarcely safe hold for anything much larger than a grasshopper, the old mother looking calmly on. Then again, see the caution observed in taking up their resting- or abiding-places for the day, where they may be warmed by the sun, listening to the war of many waters, chewing the cud of contentment, and giving themselves up to the full enjoyment of their nomadic life and its romantic haunts. Usually, before reposing, one of their number, generally an old doe, may be observed gazing intently below, apparently scanning every spot in the range of her vision, sometimes for half an hour or more, before she is satisfied that all is well, but, strange to say, seldom or never looking up to- the rocks above. Then, being satisfied on the one side, she follows the same process on the other, and eventually lies down calmly, contented with the precautions she has taken. Should the sentinel be joined by another, or her kid come and lie by her, they always lie back to back, in such a manner as to keep a good look-out to either side. A solitary male goes through all this by himself, and wonderfully careful he is ; but when with the herd he reposes in security, leaving it to the female to take precautions for their joint safety." Plioto by Fratdli Al'uuai} ITALIAN GOAT. Prom the earliest Roman days these goats have been the main form of livestock kept by the mountaineers of the Apennines. 237 [Florence. 238 The Living Animals of the World ROCKY MOUNTAIN GOAT. America possesses only one species of wild goat, the place of this genus being taken in the southern part of the continent by the camel-like guanacos. The ROCKY MOUNTAIN GOAT, the North American representative of the group, is a some- what anomalous creature. It has very few of the characteristics of the European and Asiatic species. In place of being active in body and vivacious in temperament, it is a quiet, lethargic creature, able, it is true, to scale the high mountains of the North-west and to live among the snows, but with none of the energetic habits of the ibex or the tahr. In form it is heavy and badly built. It is heavy in front and weak behind, like a bison. The eye is small, the head large, and the shoulders humped. It feeds usually on very high ground ; but hunters who take the trouble to ascend to these altitudes find little difficulty in killing as many wild goats as they wish. These goats are most numerous in the ranges of British Columbia, where they are found in small flocks of from three or four to twenty. Several may be killed before the herd is thoroughly alarmed, possibly because at the high altitudes at which they are found man has seldom disturbed them. None of the domesticated sheep or goats of the New World are indigenous to the continent of America. It is a curious fact, well worth studying from the point of view of the history of man, that, with the exception of the llama, the dog, and perhaps the guinea-pig, every domesticated animal in use from Cape Horn to the Arctic Ocean has been imported. The last of these importations is the reindeer, which, though the native species abounds in the Canadian woods, was obtained from Lapland and Eastern Asia. The history of this effort at acclimatisation is curious, and may be quoted in this connection. When the first rush to Klondike was made, the miners were imprisoned and inaccessible during the late winter. The coming of spring was the earliest period at which communication could be expected to be restored, and even then the problem of feeding the transport animals was a difficult one. The United States Government decided to try to open up a road from Alaska by means of sledges drawn by reindeer, and the Canadian Government devised a similar scheme. Agents were sent to Lapland and to the tribes on the western side of Bering Sea, and deer, drivers, and harness obtained from both. The deer were not used for the Klondike relief ex- peditions by the Americans ; but the animals and their drivers were kept in Alaska, native reindeer were caught, and the latest news of Pkoto by Migs E - J - Beck - the experiment is that the deer were found HIMALAYAN TAHR AND YOUNG. Very Useful for Carrying the mails in winter. The typical representative of the short-horned wild goats. Photo by Miss E. J. Beck. ROCKY MOUNTAIN GOAT. This is one of the few animals which are white at all seasons of the year. The horns and hoofs are jet- black, forming a striking contrast to the beautiful coat. CHAPTER XV. THE ANTELOPES. BY F. C. SELOUS. rTIHE TRUE ANTELOPES (including the Gazelles) are strictly 1 confined to the Old World, the Prongbuck of North America differing so much from all other living ruminants, in its horn growth and other particulars, that it is considered to be the sole representative of a distinct family. THE HARTEBEESTS. With the exception of one species the Bubal which is found both in North Africa and Arabia, the HARTEBEESTS are entirely confined to the African Continent. They are animals of large size, standing from 43 to 48 inches at the shoulder, and are characterised by their long, narrow faces, high withers, and doubly curved horns, which are present in both sexes. Nine different species of this group are known to exist. Although the ranges of these various species of harte- beest cover the greater part of the African Continent, it is noteworthy that each species keeps to its own ground, their several ranges but rarely overlapping. All the hartebeests have a strong family resemblance, and are very similar in their habits. They are never found either in dense forests or in swampy or mountainous country, but are inhabitants of the arid deserts of Northern and South-western Africa, and of the open grassy plains and thinly forested regions of the high plateaux of the interior of that continent. They are extraordinarily fleet and enduring, and in my own experience I have never heard of one of these animals, of whatever species, having been overtaken or ridden to a standstill by a man on horseback. They are very inquisitive, and where they have not been molested will allow any unaccustomed object such as a European in clothes to walk to within easy shot of them before running off. They soon gain experience, however; and in countries where they have been most persecuted hartebeests are the keenest-sighted and the most wary of all African game. They are very fond of climbing to the top of the large ant-heaps with which the plains of Africa are profusely studded, and from this point of vantage surveying the surrounding country. They live, I believe, entirely upon grass, and in the desert areas of their range seem able to subsist for long periods without drinking water. Their meat I have always thought very palatable. They are generally in fairly good condition, though they seldom carry much fat. Their fat, after being melted, becomes solid again immediately on cooling, and clogs on the teeth whilst being eaten. But very few African species, except the eland, ever become really fat ; their life is too active, and the food-supply too uncertain, for them to put on flesh like European deer. 239 Photo by Miss E J. Beck. BUBALINE HARTEBEEST. A small species, found in Syria as well as in North Africa. 240 The Living Animals of the World Photo by Percy Askmden A species BLESBOK. formerly very numerous in South Africa, but now -well-nigh exterminated. BONTEBOK AND BLESBOK GROUP. Nearly allied to the hartebeests are certain other anteloj.es, of which it will be sufficient to mention but two species viz. the BONTEEOK and the BLESBOK. These two antelopes, though doubtless distinct, since their points of difference are constant and unvarying, are nevertheless so much alike, and evidently so closely allied, that I look upon the former as a highly coloured and sjiecialised race of the latter. The blesbok once had a far wider range than the bontebok, and ran in countless herds on the plains of the northern districts of the Cape Colony, the Orange Biver Colony, the Transvaal, Griqualand West, and British Bechuanaland, whilst the latter animal has always been confined to the sandy wastes in the neighbourhood of Cape Agulhas, the extreme southern point of Africa. I think it, however, not improbable that ages ago the blesbok ranged right through Cape Colony to the sea-shore, and that subsequently the gradual desiccation of the south-western portions of the country which is still continuing or several years of continuous drought, caused the withdrawal of the species northwards from the waterless parts of the country. Those, however, which had reached the neighbourhood of Cape Agulhas, where there is plenty of water, would have remained behind and formed an isolated race, which, being influenced by local conditions, would naturally in course of time have become differentiated from the parent stock. Be this as it may, the bontebok of to-day is nothing but a glorified blesbok, being slightly larger and more richly coloured than the latter animal. Its horns, too, are always black, whilst those of the blesbok are of a greenish hue. When they are in good condition, the coats of both these species of antelope, as well as of the SASSABY, another member of this grouj), show a beautiful satiny sheen, which plays over their purple-brown hides like shadows on sunlit water. The few bonteboks which still survive are now all preserved on large enclosed farms; but their numbers are very small less than 300, it is believed. The farmers of Dutch descent now do their best to preserve rare species on WHITE-TAILED GNU AND CALF. their land. This" Wildebeest' io now believed to be practically exterminated as a wild animal Photo i y /. w. [Highbury. 241 Shotu by the Duchess of Bedford] A COW BRINDLED GNU. This gnu, which is still found in great numbers in Bast Central Africa, indulges in the same curious antics as the white-tailed species. THE GNUS. These remarkable animals were once distributed throughout the greater part of Africa from the Cape to Abyssinia, and their range is even now very extensive, though what was once the most numerous and the most eccentric-looking species of the group has almost ceased to exist. The gnus are of large size, and at first sight appear to have the head of a buffalo, the tail of a horse, and the limbs and hoofs of an antelope. Their heads are very massive, with broad muzzles and widely separated, hairy nostrils; their necks are maned, tails long and bushy, and both sexes carry horns. They are known as " wilde beeste." or " wild cattle," to the Dutch colonists of South Africa. The WHITE-TAILED GNU, or BLACK WILDEBEEST, as it is more commonly called, was once found in great numbers on the karroos of Northern Cape Colony, and through- out the vast plains of the Orange River Colony, Transvaal, Griqualand W^est, and British Bechuanaland. Its range, in fact, was coequal with that of the blesbok. Even as lately as in 1875 and 1876 I personally saw very considerable herds of these quaint animals in the Orange River Colony and the Western Transvaal. When the present war broke out in 1899, there were only two herds of black wildebeest left alive. These animals numbered some 500 head altogether, and were protected by Dutch farmers. There o 1 Photo by MitsE.J. Beck. RED-FLANKED DUIKER. The duikers are for the n)ost p ^ rt diminutive and graceful simple, spike-like homs. , with 242 The Living Animals of the World are probably very few of them left to-day, and it is scarcely possible that this most interesting animal will long escape complete extinction. Black wildebeests, before they had been much persecuted, were so inquisitive that, in the words of Gordon Gumming, they would " caper and gambol " round a hunter's waggon or any other unusual object, and sometimes approach to within a couple of hundred yards, when, whisking their long white tails, they would gallop off with loud snorts. They were always, however, very keen-sighted, and soon became extremely wary and almost impossible to approach on foot in the open plains they frequented, whilst their powers of endurance and fleetness of foot were such that they could only be overtaken by a well-mounted hunter. In spite of these advantages, however, the value of their skins, and the ever-increasing number of hunters, armed with long-range rifles, practically brought about the extermination of this species of gnu in a few decades. The BRINDLED GNU is a larger animal than the last-named species, standing 4^ feet and upwards at the shoulder. This animal once ranged from the Vaal Kiver northwards, throughout Eastern and Central Africa, to the north of Kilimanjaro, where its range overlaps that of a closely allied form, the WHITE-BEARDED GNU, which is only found in certain districts of Eastern Africa. In general habits these two varieties seem to be identical. In the interior of Southern Africa, both north and south of the Zambesi, I have met with very large numbers of BLUE WILDEBEESTS. They usually run in herds of from ten to twenty individuals, but towards the end of the dry season collect in droves of 200 or 300. They are often found in company with zebras and sassaby antelopes. Their flesh resembles coarse beef, and, to my thinking, is not ill-flavoured. THE SMALLER BUCKS. In addition to the great number of antelopes of large size which inhabit the African Continent, there are also very many small species, the life 'history and habits of some of which are as yet but imperfectly known, since they are denizens of dense forests, and feed principally at night. All these small African antelopes are divided into two sub-families. The first comprises the African DUIKERS and the Indian FOUR-HORNED ANTELOPE, and the second the DIK-DIKS, ORIBIS, KLIPSPRINGER, and certain other small bush-antelopes. The African duikers are distributed throughout Africa south of the Sahara, and are represented by some twenty different species, the largest of which approaches a small donkey in size, whilst the smallest is not much larger than a hare. The majority of these dainty little antelopes are inhabitants of the dense tangled forests of the coast-belts of Africa, and are therefore but seldom seen by travellers and sportsmen. One species of the group, however, the COMMON DUIKER of South Africa, is a very well-known animal. This little antelope inhabits much more open country than most of its congeners, and has an enormous range, extending from Cape Agulhas to Somaliland, whilst Photo ly Miss E. J. Beck. KLIPSPRINGER. The " cliff-jumper " is as active in its habits as a chamois, and is found in most of the mountain-ranges of Africa. Photo by G. W. Wilson & Co., Ltd,] SING-SING WATERBUCK. The sing-sing and its relatives differ from the true waterbuck by the absence of the white elliptical ring on the rump. 243 [Aberdeen. 244 The Living Animals of the World Photo by IF. P. Dando"] [Regent's Park. MOUNTAIN EEEDBUCK. One of a group of small antelopes still common in many parts of Africa. two very nearly allied forms are found in Senegal and Abyssinia respectively. In most species of duikers both sexes are horned, but in the case of the common duiker it is very excep- tional to find a female with horns, and in all my experience I have only known of three such cases. The FOUR-HORNED ANTELOPE is the Indian representative of the African duikers, and is found along the foot of the Himalaya from the Punjab to Nepal, and in suitable localities through- out the peninsula of India. It frequents wooded hills, but avoids dense jungle. Like its nearest allies, the duikers, it is solitary in its habits, more than two of these antelopes seldom being seen together. The growth of four horns on the skull of this antelope and on certain breeds of domesticated sheep is a curious fact which has not roused as much comment as it deserves. THE KLIPSPRINGER. Turning to the second sub-family, we may select the KLIPSPRINGER as the most characteristic species to describe. This beautiful little animal, which is often called the African Chamois, is found in suitable localities from the Cape to Abyssinia. In the southern and northern portions of its range the klipspringer is an inhabitant only of rugged mountain-ranges, and ascends to a height of 9,000 or 10,000 feet above sea-level. In the more central regions of its habitat, however, although it always lives amongst rocks, and thoroughly justifies its name of "rock-jumper," it is often found in regions where there are no high mountain-ranges. It used to be very common in Matabililand, both in the Matopo Hills and on the isolated granite kopjes which are so numerous in that country, and usually are not more than 200 or 300 feet in height. In Mashonaland I have found it living amongst granite rocks in the beds of the larger rivers, and actually on the same level as the surrounding country ; whereas on Wedza, a great mountain-mass of slate and ironstone, which rises to a height of about 2,000 feet above the surrounding country, and to the top of which I once climbed, I did not see any klipspringers. The hoofs of this little animal are curiously different from those of any other African antelope, being remarkably short and small, with very deep holloWS. This adaptation to its Photo ^ S.O. Payne, Aylesbury, by permission of the Hon. Walter Rothschild. requirements enables the klipspringer MALE IMPALA ' OR PALLA ' , . . PIII i, The beautifully curved horns of the male palla form some of the most gracetul or to obtain a foothold on any small trophies. The Antelopes 245 projecting piece of rock, and to climb in a series of little jumps up the faces of cliffs which seem almost perpendicular. In height the klipspringer stands about 1 foot 9 inches at the shoulder. The males alone carry horns, which are straight and ringed at the base, and vary from 3 to 5 inches in length. The coat is of a greeny yellow-brown colour, with the hairs hollow and brittle. These little animals are usually met with singly, or in twos and threes together. When caught young, they become wonderfully tame, and make the most charming pets, being very playful and fond of jumping, with surprising ease and grace, from the floor of a room on to any elevated position, such as a table, mantelpiece, or window-sill. THE WATERBUCKS. The largest animals in the first of three groups now to be considered are the WATERBUCKS,. antelopes of stout and sturdy build, standing from 45 to 50 inches at the shoulder, and covered with long, coarse hair, especially on the neck, in both sexes. The males alone carry horns, which vary from 20 to 36 inches in length, and are strongly ringed in front for three-fourths of their length. They are sublyrate in shape, being first inclined backwards and then forwards at the tips. There are three well-marked species of waterbuck viz. the COMMON WATERBUCK of South Africa, whose range extends from the Limpopo northwards, through Nyasa- land to German and British East Africa, and to the Shebeyli Eiver, in Somali- land ; the SING-SING of Senegal and Gambia ; and the DEFASSA WATERBUCK of Western Abyssinia and the Nile Valley, south to Uganda and British and German East Africa. In habits all species of water- buck are very similar. They live generally, though not invariably, in herds of from ten to twenty individuals, and in such small herds there is seldom more than one full-grown male present. In the interior of South Africa the waterbuck is often met with amongst steep stony hills and at a distance of more than a mile from the nearest river. Speaking generally, however, this antelope may be said to frequent the near neighbourhood of water, but to prefer dry to swampy ground. When chased by dogs it always makes for water, and will plunge fearlessly into broad, deep rivers, regardless of crocodiles, to which ravenous reptiles it sometimes falls a victim. In South Africa waterbuck vary much in colour even in the same district, some being reddish brown, whilst others are of a very dark grey. The flesh of the waterbuck is coarse, and sometimes rather strongly tasted, and when in good condition the fat is very hard. The REEDBUCKS are similar in essential characters to the waterbucks, but are of smaller size, and have more bushy tails, and naked spots on the sides of the head beneath the ears. Of this group the COMMON REEDBUCK of South Africa is the best known. This animal stands 3 feet at the withers, and is of a soft greyish fawn-colour, with a large fluffy tail, which is always thrown up when the animal runs, exposing the white under-surface. The males alone carry horns, which curve backwards and then forwards, and attain a length of from 12 to 16 inches. Reedbucks are met with singly or in twos and threes, and never congregate in herds, Photo by S. ff. Payne, Aylesbury, by permission MALE SAIGA ANTELOPES. These antelopes inhabit the Bast Russian steppes. The thick woolly coat turns nearly white in winter. 246 The Living Animals of the World though I have seen as many as eight, belonging probably to three or four families, feeding in close proximity to one another on young green grass. Another member of the reedbuck group is the Eooi EHEBUCK of South Africa. This latter species, though a much smaller animal, is very similar to the common reedbuck in colour, shape, and general appearance ; it is quite distinct in its habits and mode of life, as it lives in small herds of from four or five to fifteen head, amongst rugged stony hills, often far from water. THE BLACKBUCK OF INDIA. This handsome species is found throughout India wherever there are open cultivated plains. The male stands about 32 inches at the shoulder, and when full grown is of a glossy black colour, with the exception of a chestnut-coloured patch at the back of the neck, and some markings of the same colour about the face. The belly and insides of the limbs are pure white, the line between the black and white being very clearly defined. The whole body and frame are very compact, strong, and beautifully proportioned, and the head is carried high. The males alone in shape, annulated almost to from 18 to 28 inches. Young coloured instead of black, met with in considerable cultivated tracts alternate with much damage to the natives' first execute a series of pro- before finally settling down to prisingly fleet, and can seldom greyhounds, although they down without difficulty by are often called, hunting- The PALLA, which is Eastern Africa from Bechuana- the most graceful of animals, and is never found far from general bright reddish brown, alone carry horns, which are vary from 14 to upwards of finest specimens of the palla southerly and most northerly animals inhabiting the inter- and carrying shorter horns, in herds of from twenty to alarmed, they bound over Photo by Miss . J. Beck. ARABIAN GAZELLE Gazelles are some of the most slenderly built of all antelopes. carry horns, which are spiral the tips, and vary in length bucks and does are fawn- These antelopes are usually herds on open plains in which waste land, and they often do crops. When alarmed, they digious bounds into the air a steady run. They are sur- be overtaken by the fastest can be caught and pulled trained cheetas, or, as they leopards. found in Southern and land to Kordofan, is one of It is a forest-loving species, water. Both sexes are of a with white bellies. The males very graceful in shape, and 20 inches in length. The are met with in the extreme portions of its range, the mediate districts being smaller Pallas are gregarious, living over one hundred. When bushes or any other obstacles with the utmost ease and grace, and appear to get over the ground at a high rate of speed. They are, however, very commonly run down and torn to pieces by wild dogs, which hunt in packs, and are very destructive to African game. Of far less graceful appearance than the two preceding species is the SAIGA, which, though structurally closely allied to the gazelles, has been placed by naturalists in a genus by itself. This curious-looking animal, which is chiefly remarkable for its large swollen-looking nose and light-coloured horns, is an inhabitant of the steppes of South-eastern Europe and Western Asia. In height it stands about 30 inches at the withers, and is of a dull yellowish colour in summer, turning to nearly white in winter. The males alone carry horns, which are sometimes 13 or 14 inches long, and of a peculiar colour which has been likened to pale amber. The Antelopes 247 At the present day the saiga is only found in Europe on the plains between the Don and the Volga, but to the east of the Ural Kiver its range extends over the Kirghiz Steppes and the high plains of all Western Siberia. Living in open country, and having the senses of hearing, sight, and scent all highly developed, the saiga is a difficult animal to approach, and can only be successfully stalked by an expert hunter. In summer it is usually met with in small, scattered bands, which, when driven southwards by snow and cold, are collected into considerable herds in the more southerly portions of its range. In very severe winters whole herds have been known to perish in snow-drifts, and in such inclement seasons large numbers are also killed by the natives. The flesh of the saiga is said to resemble mutton, and is held in much esteem. THE G-AZELLES. We now come to the Gazelles, among which are comprised many of the best known and most beautiful of the small or medium-sized antelopes. In the true gazelles both sexes generally carry horns. Indeed, this rule is universal in those of Africa and Arabia ; and there By permission of fferr Carl Hagenbeck] GOITEED GAZELLES PROM MESOPOTAMIA. These animals are inhabitants of rocky and desert ground. They are often kept tame by the wandering Arabs. [Hamburg. are only four species known all Asiatic in which the females are hornless: viz. the TIBETAN GAZELLE, PREJEVALSKI'S G-AZELLE, the MONGOLIAN GAZELLE, and the PERSIAN GAZELLE. The range of the various species belonging to this large group is very extensive, comprising the whole of Northern and Eastern Africa, Arabia, and Western and Central Asia, as well as Mongolia and India. The gazelles are inhabitants of the open plains and arid desert regions of the Old World, and, although sometimes met with in tracts of country where there is a certain amount of scattered bush or open stunted forest, are never found in any kind of jungle or thick cover. On the sandy plains of North-western Africa are found the BED-FRONTED GAZELLE of Senegal and Gambia ; the little-known MHORR GAZELLE of South-western Morocco ; and the DAMA GAZELLE, a species which has been known to naturalists ever since the time of Buffon. A near ally of the last-named animal is the EED-NECKED GAZELLE of Dongola and Senaar. In North-eastern Africa are found the large and handsome SOEMMERRING'S G-AZELLE; the ISABELLA GAZELLE, of the coastlands of the Eed Sea ; HEUGLIN'S GAZELLE ; PELZELN'S GAZELLE, of the maritime plains of Northern Somaliland ; and SPEKE'S GAZELLE, of the interior of the same country; whilst farther south the group is represented by the large and beautiful GRANT'S 248 The Living Animate of the World ledland, F.Z.S.'} [Sortlt. Fincldey. SPEKE'S GAZELLE. Found in the interior of Northern Somaliland. GAZELLE, with its allies PETERS'S GAZELLE and THOMSON'S GAZELLE. The well-known DORCAS GAZELLE is an inhabitant of Morocco and Algeria, ranging through Egypt into Palestine and Syria ; the MARICA GAZELLE, the MUSCAT GAZELLE, and the ARABIAN GAZELLE inhabit the deserts of Arabia ; the EDMI GAZELLE is found in the mountain-ranges of Morocco, Algeria, and Tunis ; while LODER'S GAZELLE inhabits the sandy tracts of the interior of Algeria and Tunis. In Asia, besides the four species of gazelle already enumerated in which the females are hornless, one other member of the group is met with. This is the INDIAN GAZELLE, a species very closely allied to the Arabian form. Of the whole genus GRANT'S GAZELLE is the most beautiful. This handsome animal, which was first discovered by the explorers Speke and Grant in 1860, is an inhabitant of Eastern Africa, from the neighbourhood of Lake Kudolph southwards to Ugogo. In size the average height at the shoulder of males of this species is about 34 inches. The coat is close and short and of a general fawn colour, the rump and belly pure white, and the face marked with a rufous band from the horns to the nose and with streaks of white on each side. The upper surface of the tail is white, with a black and tufted tip. The horns, which are very elegant in shape, being first curved slightly forwards and then backwards, are much longer and more powerful than in any other gazelle, and attain a length of 30 inches in the males and 17 inches in the females. Grant's gazelles, though they undoubtedly find their most congenial home in open country, have also been met with by recent travellers in bush-sprinkled wastes and stony, rugged hills. They are, however, never found in dense jungles or high mountains. They live in herds of from half a dozen to twenty or thirty individuals, though in certain localities as many as 200 have been seen together. They are fond of consorting with other game, such as Burchell's and Grevy's zebras, Coke's hartebeest, and the beisa oryx, and are often met with at long distances from the nearest water. They are keen-sighted and wary, and from the open character of the country in which they are usually encountered are often difficult to stalk. When in good condition, the meat of this gazelle is said to be excellent. The nearest ally of the true gazelles is undoubtedly the SPRINGBUCK of South Africa. Owing to the protection which it has received of late years, this graceful antelope is now a common animal in many parts of South Africa, and in the north-western portions of the Cape Colony still sometimes collects into prodigious P hoto i y w. p. Dando] [Regent* Park. herds, which travel through the country in dense GAZELLES FROM EGYPT. masses, destroying every Vestige of graSS On the Seen in great numbers when our troops crossed the Bayuda Desert. The Antelopes 249 Photo by W. P. [Regent's Park. BED-FRONTED GAZELLE. Inhabits Dongola and Senaar. line of their advance, and causing considerable anxiety to farmers, whose flocks of sheep and goats are sometimes swept away by the migrating springbucks. In former years the migration of these antelopes in countless thousands from the deserts of Namaqualand to the countries farther south was a common occurrence, an unerring instinct guiding the wandering herds to districts where rain had lately fallen and caused a new growth of green grass. The animals composing these migrating herds were called by the Dutch settlers of the Cape Colony " Trekbokken," or " travelling-bucks." Two other antelopes, the DIBATAG and the GERENUK, are included in the present group; but both, whilst typically gazelline in certain respects, differ so much in other ways from all members of that group that each has been placed in a separate genus. The DIBATAG is a very remarkable- looking antelope, only found in certain districts of Central Somaliland, where it was first discovered by Mr. T. W. H. Clarke in 1890. This species shows the face-markings of the gazelles, whilst the horns, which are only present in the males, much resemble in shape those of a reedbuck. They are rather short, attaining a length of only 11 or 12 inches, and their basal halves are strongly ringed in front. The neck of this antelope is singularly long and thin, and the tail, which is held curved forwards over the back when the animal is in motion, is also much elongated, and only tufted at the tip. The dibatag frequents sandy ground sparsely covered with low thorn-bushes, and lives in small families, being usually met with in twos or threes, whilst it is rare to find more than four or five consorting together. The GERENUK, like the last-named animal, is an East African species, but has a more extended range, being found all over Somaliland, and thence southwards to the Tana Valley and the Kilimanjaro district of British East Africa. The most remarkable external characteristic of this species is the excessively long neck. The males alone carry horns, which attain an average length of 12 or 13 inches, and, though somewhat gazelle-like in shape, are more strongly crooked forwards at the points. The skull of this species is more dense and solid in structure than in the true gazelles, and the cheek-teeth are smaller in size. Coming now to the Sable Antelope group, we find an assemblage of antelopes which are all of large size and handsome appearance, and in all of which both the Photo by W. P. Dando] RED-FRONTED GAZELLE. Another view of the specimen shown above. 32 250 The Living Animals of the World Photo by Percy Ashenden] [Cape Town. MALE SPRINGBUCK. Once the most numerous species in South Africa, where it is still not uncommon. Its migrations, or "treks," at certain seasons were one of the sights of the veldt. males and females are horned. With the single exception of the BEATRIX ORYX, which inhabits Arabia, all these antelopes are denizens of Africa. One species of the group, the BLUEBUCK, which appears to have been entirely confined to the mountainous districts of the Cape Peninsula, became extinct during the first decade of the last century. Little is known as to the life history of this animal, but it was undoubtedly nearly allied to the larger and more handsomely marked KOAN ANTELOPE. This latter animal once had a more extensive range than any other antelope, as it was found in almost every part of Africa south of the Sahara, with the exception of the Congo forest region. It has now been exterminated in the more southerly portions of the country, but from the Limpopo to the Upper Nile, and thence to the Niger, it is still to be found wherever the surroundings are suitable to its requirements. A large bull roan antelope will stand 4 feet 9 inches at the withers. The general colour of the body differs in individuals, even in the same district, varying from a very light shade of brown to dark grey or red-roan. The front and sides of the face are jet-black in the adult male, and dark reddish brown in the female, with two long white tufts of hair under the eyes. The muzzle and extremity of the lower jaw are white. The hair on the under side of the neck is long and coarse, and a stiff mane about 3 inches in length runs from behind the ears to the withers. The ears are very long, and in the females and young males tufted. The horns are curved backwards, and in the male are very stout and strong, attaining The Antelopes 251 a length of from 26 to 34 inches. In the female the horns are shorter and slighter, and not so strongly ringed. Eoan antelope are usually met with in small herds of from six to a dozen members, and never congregate in large numbers. I do not think I have ever counted as many as thirty together. I have found them fairly common in certain districts, but nowhere very plentiful. They frequent open plains and thinly forested country, and are never found far away from water. Bucks often become savage when wounded, and will sometimes charge viciously if approached incautiously. They can use their horns with great dexterity, and play havoc with a pack of dogs. The SABLE ANTELOPE, though considerably smaller than the roan, is yet a handsomer animal. In colour the adult male, when in high condition, is jet-black all over with the exception of the white face-markings and the snow-white of the belly and insides of the thighs. The mane is longer and more bushy than in the roan antelope, and often hangs down on either side over the withers. The horns, too, are much finer, and, sweeping backwards in a bold curve, are commonly upwards of 42 inches long, and have been known to reach 50 inches. The striking colour, large size, and horns of this creature make it one of the most-prized trophies of the sportsman. The skin, when prepared and laid down as a rug in halls or dwelling-rooms, is far more handsome than that of any deer. The female of this species is usually of a rich red-brown in colour instead of black as in the male. South of the Zambesi, how- ever, old cows become almost absolutely black. North of the Zambesi both male and female sable antelopes are dark red in colour rather than black. The horns in the female are slighter and less curved than in the male, and are also consider- ably shorter, as a rule not measuring over 30 inches in length. The range of the sable antelope extends from the northern districts of the Transvaal to German East Africa. In the country be- tween the Limpopo and the Central Zambesi it used to be a very common animal, especially in the northern districts of Mashonaland. It is partial to open forests intersected by grassy, well- watered glades, and is never found on open plains entirely devoid of bush. It is usually met with in herds of from twelve to twenty individuals, but I have often seen as many as fifty, and once Photo ly S. G. Payne, Aylesbury, by permission of the Hon. Walter Rothschild. SABLE ANTELOPE. A near ally of the Boan Antelope, from which it is broadly distinguished by its striking colora- tion black and white. 252 The Living Animals of the World Photo by the Duchea of Bedford} [ Woburn Abbey. KOAN ANTELOPE. In common with the Sable Antelope and the Oryx group, both sexes of this species carry horns. had four valuable hounds killed and four others grievously wounded by one of these animals in less than a minute. I once knew a native hunter who was stabbed through the kidneys and killed by a sable antelope cow. The nearest allies of the sable and roan antelopes are the various species of the genus Oryx. In this group are included the WHITE ORYX, which inhabits the desert regions of the interior of Northern Africa from Dongola to Senegal ; the BEATRIX ORYX of Southern Arabia ; the G-EMSBUCK of South- western Africa ; the BEISA,. which is found in North-east Africa from Suakim south- wards to the river Tana ; and the TUFTED BEISA, which is counted between seventy and eighty together. However large a herd of sable antelopes may be, it is very exceptional to find with it more than one fully adult male, from which fact I should judge that these animals are of a very jealous and pugnacious disposition. ^ When wounded and brought to bay by dogs, a sable antelope defends itself with the utmost fury, using its long scimitar-shaped horns with most wonderful quick- ness and dexterity. If badly wounded it will lie down, other- wise it fights standing. Keeping its face to some of its foes, with a sideways twist of its head it will transfix and throw into the air any dog which attempts to attack it from behind. I have seen a wounded sable antelope, when lying down, drive one of its horns clean through a large dog deep into its own haunch, and I have Photo by Norman B. Smith, Esq.] MALE OP GRANT'S GAZELLE. This fine East African species is one of the handsomest of its kind. The Antelopes 253 very nearly related to the last-named species, whose place it takes south of the Tana River in certain districts of British and German East Africa. In general appearance there is a strong family resemblance between the different species of oryx. In all of them both sexes carry horns, which are considerably longer, though somewhat slighter, in the females than in the males. In the white oryx the horns are curved backwards ; but in the other four species they are straight, or nearly so. In all the faces are conspicuously banded with black and white, and the tails long, with large dark terminal brushes. The two most desert-loving species, the white and the Beatrix oryx, are paler in general body-colour than the other three, and the latter animal is considerably smaller than any other member of the group, standing not more than 35 inches at the withers. The gemsbuck is the largest and undoubtedly the handsomest of the group, standing 4 feet at the shoulders ; the horns of the females are often upwards of 40 inches long, and have been known to attain a length of 48 inches. In habits ail species of oryx seem to be very similar. They are denizens of the arid sun- scorched plains of Africa, which are not necessarily devoid of all kind of vegetation, but are often covered with stunted bush, and carry a plentiful crop of coarse grass after rain. Oryx usually run in herds of from four or five to fifteen or twenty, though the beisa, the most abundant of the group, has been met with in troops numbering 400 or 500 head. All the oryx are shy and wary, and in the open country they usually frequent are difficult to approach on foot. If pursued on horseback, they run at a steady gallop, which they can maintain for long distances, swinging their bushy black tails from side to side, and holding their heads in such a way that their long straight horns are only sloped slightly backwards. Fleet and enduring, however, as oryx undoubtedly are, I am of opinion that in these respects the gemsbuck of South Africa, at any rate, is inferior to all other large antelopes living in the same country, with the single exception of the eland. I have often, when mounted on a fast horse, galloped right up to herds of gemsbuck, and on two occasions have run antelopes of this species to an absolute standstill. Oryx of all species should be approached with caution when badly wounded, as they are liable to make short rushes, and can use their horns with great effect. Nearly related to the antelopes of the Oryx group in many essential characteristics, yet at once distinguishable by its spiral horns and broad reindeer-like feet, the desert-haunting ADDAX has been placed in a separate genus, of which it is the sole representative. This remarkable animal stands about 38 inches in height at the withers, and varies in general colour at different seasons of the year, from brownish grey to a reddish hue. The forehead is covered with a thick growth of bushy black hair, beneath which there is a patch of white extending across the nose to under the eyes. The hindquarters, tail, and legs are white. The horns are spiral, aiid are present in both sexes. In the male they attain GROUP OF BEISA ORYX. This most interesting photograph, taken by Lord Delamere, shows a group of these fine antelopes on the Bast African plains. 254 The Living Animals of the World r Photo by S:G. Payne, Aylesbury, by permission of the Hon. Walter Rothschild. WHITE ORYX. Found in Northern Africa from Dongola to Senegal. a length of about 28 inches in a straight line, and about 36 inches following the spiral. In the female they are thinner and less spirally curved. The addax is confined to the desert regions of Northern Africa from Dongola to Senegal, and the broad, rounded hoofs, so unlike those of any other antelope, would seem to show that it inhabits countries where the soil is deep, soft sand. Very little is known of the life history or habits of this antelope. It is said to associate in pairs or small herds, and to be entirely independent of water, though it travels great distances over the desert in the track of thunder-storms for the sake of the young herbage which grows so quickly wherever rain falls in those thirsty regions. It is killed in considerable numbers by the Arabs for the sake of its flesh and hide, and is either stalked or hunted on horseback, with the help of greyhounds, by Europeans. The last of the sub-families into which modern naturalists have divided the antelopes of the world comprises some of the handsomest species of the whole group, and includes the largest of all antelopes, the Eland, as well as such small and beautifully marked creatures as the Harnessed Bushbucks. With one exception the Nilgai all the members of this sub-family are denizens of the great African Continent. The NILGAI, or BLUE BULL, is an inhabitant of India, and is found throughout the greater portion of the peninsula, from the base of the Himalaya to the south of Mysore. It is an animal of large size, standing about 4 feet 6 inches at the shoulder. In general colour the male is of a dark iron-grey, the female tawny fawn. White spots on the cheeks and just above the hoofs on the fore and hind feet are the outward signs of its affinity to the African harnessed antelopes. The male alone carries horns, which are nearly straight and very small for the size of the animal, rarely exceeding 9 inches in length. Passing now to the Harnessed Antelopes of Africa, our attention is first claimed by the BUSH- BUCKS. Excluding the Inyala and the Broad- Photo by W. P. Dando] BEISA OKYX. [Regents Park. The beisa is found in North-east Africa ; by some it is believed to have suggested the original idea of the unicorn. The Antelopes 255 horned Antelope, we find several forms of the smaller bushbucks recognised by naturalists : viz. the HARNESSED ANTELOPE of the forest regions of Western Africa; the CAPE BUSHBUCK of South Africa ; CuMMlNG's BUSHBUCK of Eastern Africa; and the DECULA BUSHBUCK of Abyssinia. The various forms of bushbuck vary in general colour from very dark brown to various shades of grey- brown, yellow-brown, and rich red. In all species the young are more or less striped and spotted ; but whereas in some forms the adult animals lose their stripes and spots almost entirely, in others the adults are more richly marked than immature specimens. For my part, I am inclined to believe that, if large series of bush- buck-skins were collected from every district through- out Africa, it would be found that all the varieties of this animal at present accepted as distinct species would be found to grade into one another in such a way that only one true species could be recognised. The bushbucks vary in height at the shoulder from 28 inches to 33 inches, and only the males carry horns, which are nearly straight, with a close spiral twist, and measure in adult animals from 10 inches to 18 inches in length. Bushbucks are not found in open country, but live in forest or thick bush near the bank of a river, stream, or lake, and are never met with far from water. They are very partial to wooded ravines amongst broken, mountainous country, provided such districts are well watered ; and are very solitary in their habits, both males and females being usually found alone, though the latter are often accompanied by a kid or half-grown animal. They are shy and retiring, and should be looked for between daylight and sunrise, or late in the evening, as they are very nocturnal in their habits, and lie concealed in long grass or thick bush during the heat of the day. Their call resembles the bark of a dog, and may often be heard at nights. The BROAD-HORNED ANTELOPE is only found in the forests of the West African coast range, from Liberia to Gaboon. The male of this species is a very handsome animal, standing about 43 inches at the Withers, and is a bright chestnut-red in general colour, with a white spinal stripe extending from the withers to the root of the tail, and fourteen or fifteen white stripes on the shoulders, flanks, and hindquarters. The ears are large and rounded, and the horns very massive, and about 30 inches in length, measured over the single spiral twist. There are two or Plioto by S. Q. Payne, Ayivsbwry, by permission of the Hon. Walter Kotlvtchild. GERENUK. A gazelle : ttke antelope with long neck and legs, inhabiting Xorth-east Africa. 256 FEMALE NILGAI. The largest of the antelopes of India, and a distant cousin of the Kudu. horns, which are only present in the male, attain a length of about 2 feet in a straight line, and 30 inches along their spiral curve. The standing height at the. shoulder of males of this species is about 42 inches. This most beautiful antelope has a very restricted range, being only found in a narrow belt of coastland extending from St. Lucia Bay to the Sabi River, in South-east Africa, and in a still smaller area in the neighbourhood of the Upper Shiri Kiver, in British Central Africa. Before the acquisition of firearms by the natives in South-east Africa, the inyala was very plentiful in Northern Zululand and Amatonga- land, and was then to be met with in herds of from ten to twenty individuals ; whilst the males, which at certain seasons of the year separated from the females, were in the habit of consorting together in bands of from five to eight. Constant persecution by the natives in Amatongaland and the countries farther north very much reduced the numbers of inyalas in those districts a long time ago ; but in Zululand, where this animal has been strictly protected by the British authorities for the last twenty years, it was still plentiful up to 1896, when the rinderpest swept over the country, and committed such sad three large white spots on the cheeks, and a broad white arrow-shaped mark across the nose below the eyes. The female is similar in coloration to the male, but smaller and hornless. Little or nothing is known as to the habits of this very beautiful antelope. Du Chaillu, who met with it in the interior of Gaboon between 1856 and 1859, says that it is "very shy, swift of foot, and exceedingly graceful in its motions " ; but he does not tell us whether it lives in pairs like the bushbucks, or in small herds like some of its other near allies. The INYALA is another bush-loving ante- lope closely allied to the bushbucks. In this species the general colour of the adult male is a deep dark grey, that of the female and young male bright yellow-red, and both sexes are beautifully striped with narrow white bands on the body and haunches. In the male long dark hair hangs from the throat, chest, and each side of the belly, and fringes the front of the thigh almost to the hock, and the back of it up to the root of the tail. The ears are large and rounded ; and the Photo by York 0: Son] [Kottwg Hill. ADDAX. Unfortunately, the specimen from which this photograph was taken had lost its splendid spiral horns. Photo by York & Son, Netting Hill. NORTHERN GIRAFFE. Two distinct types of Giraffe exist ; the northern form, which has a large third horn, may be described as a chocolate-coloured animal marked with a network of fine buff lines ; the southern form, in which the third horn is small, is fawn coloured with irregular brown blotches. The Antelopes 257 ravages amongst all the tragelaphine antelopes that it is to be feared the inyala can now no longer be found anywhere in any considerable numbers. Where I met with these antelopes some years ago, in the country to the south of Delagoa Bay, I found them living either alone or in pairs like bushbucks. They frequented dense thickets in the immediate neighbourhood of a river or lagoon, and I never saw one in anything like open country or far away from water. Their tracks showed me that at night they were accustomed to feed in open spaces in the bush, but they always retired to the jungle again at daylight, as they had become very wary and cunning through constant persecution at the hands of the natives. Closely allied to the bush-antelopes of the present group are the swamp-haunting SITATUNGAS. Three species of these have been described, one from East Africa, named after Captain Speke ; another from tropical West Africa ; and a third from Lake Ngami and the Chobi River, named after the present writer. There is very little difference between the adult males of these three species, except that in the West African form the coat is of a darker colour than in the other two. The main difference consists in the fact that, whereas the female of Selous' sitatunga is light brown in colour like the male, and the newly born young are very dark blackish brown (the colour of a mole), beautifully striped and spotted with pale yellow, the female and young of the other two forms are red in ground-colour, with white spots and stripes. However, personally I am of opinion that there is only one true species of sitatunga in all Africa, and that the differences between the various forms are superficial, and would be found to grade one into the other, if a sufficiently large series of skins of all ages and both sexes could be gathered together from all parts of the continent. In the Barotse Valley, on the Upper Zambesi, my friend Major K. T. Coryndon informs me that both red and brown female -sitatungas are met with. On the Lower Chobi and Lake Ngami region the females are never red, but always of the same brown colour as the males, whilst on the Congo all the females are red. The male sitatunga stands about 3 feet 6 inches at the shoulder, and varies in general colour in different localities from light to dark brown. The adult females are either red with a few faint stripes and spots, or light brown, only retaining very faint traces of any stripes or spots. The young are, both in tropical West and Central East Africa, red, striped, and spotted with white ; but in South-west Africa dark blackish brown, with spots and stripes of yellowish white. The hoofs are excessively long, and the skin which covers the back of the pastern is hairless, and of a very thick and horny consistency. The males alone carry horns, which are of the same character as in the iriyala, but more spiral and longer, having been known to attain & length of 28 inches in a straight line and 35 inches over the curve. The sitatunga is an inhabitant of the extensive swamps which exist in many parts of the interior of Africa. It may be said to live in the water, as it passes its life in flooded beds of ceeds and papyrus, into the muddy bottoms of which its long hoofs, when splayed out, prevent 33 Photo by Mr. W. Rau] A PAIR OP YOUNG PROXGBUCKS. [Philadelphia. From the fact that the horns of the males are annually shed, the prongbuck is assigned to a group apart from the Antelopes. 258 The Living Animals of the World Photo ly the Duchess of Bedford] FEMALE GORAL. [Woburn Abbey. The goral is a Himalayan antelope, with somewhat the habits of a chamois. it from sinking. When forced out into dry ground by heavy floods, the formation of its feet so hinders it in running that it can be overtaken and speared by a native on foot. I was informed by the natives on the Chobi River that, when the floods enabled them to paddle their canoes through the reed-beds, they often killed con- siderable numbers of the sitatungas. These animals, they said, when they saw a canoe approaching, would often not attempt to seek safety by flight, but would sink down in the water, submerging their whole bodies, and leaving only their nostrils above the surface, and in this position were easily speared. The sitatunga is not gregarious, but is met with singly or in pairs. The hair is long, but soft and silky; and the skins are much sought after by the natives for blankets. In addition to the bushbucks and sitatungas, two more very notable spiral-horned African antelopes remain to be mentioned namely, the GREATER KUDU and the LESSER KUDU. The GREATER KUDU is one of the most magnificent-looking of the whole family of antelopes, and is an animal of large size, an adult male standing 4 feet 9 inches and upwards at the withers. The general colour of this species is light brown to dark grey, the old males looking much darker than females or younger animals, because the scanti- ness of their coats shows the dark colour of the skin beneath. On each side of the body and hind- quarters there are several white stripes, which vary in number from four to eight or nine. As in all this group of antelopes, Photo by W. P. Dfindo] [Regent's Park. HARXESSED ANTELOPE. A very beautiful species, in which the pround-colour of the coat is a rich chestnut, while the spots and stripes are pure white. The Antelopes 259 there are two or three cheek-spots, as well as an arrow-shaped white mark across the nose, below the eyes. In the male there is a slight mane on the back of the neck, and a fringe of long white and blackish-brown hair intermixed, extending from the throat to the chest. The ears are very large and rounded, and the male is adorned with magnificent spiral horns, which have been known to attain a length of 48 inches in a straight line from base to tip, and 64 inches over the curve. The greater kudu once had a very wide range, which extended from the central portions of the Cape Colony to Angola on the west, and on the east throughout East Africa up to Abyssinia; but, with the single exception of the buffalo, no species of wild animal suffered more from the terrible scourge of rinderpest which recently swept over the continent than this lordly antelope, and it has almost ceased to exist in many districts of South and South Central Africa, where up to 1896 it was still very numerous. The greater kudu is a bush-loving antelope, and very partial to wooded hills, though it is also plentiful in the neighbourhood of rivers which flow through level tracts of country covered with forest and bush. In my own experience it is never found at any great distance from water. It eats leaves and wild fruits as well as grass, and lives in small herds or families, never, I believe, congregating in large numbers. In Southern Africa, at any rate, it was always exceptional to see more than twenty greater kudus together, and I have never seen more than thirty. At certain seasons of the year the males leave the females, and live alone or several together. I once saw nine magnificently horned kudus standing on the bank of the Chobi, and I have often seen four or five males of this species consorting together. As a rule the greater kudu is met with in hilly country or in bush so dense that a horse cannot gallop through it at full speed ; but if met with in open ground, a good horse can overtake an old male without much difficulty. The females are much lighter and faster, and cannot be overtaken in any kind of ground. The greater kudu is one of the most timid and inoffensive of animals, and when attacked by dogs will not make the slightest attempt to defend itself either with its horns or by kicking. The LESSER KUDU in general colour nearly resembles its larger relative, but is much smaller, the males only standing about 40 inches at the withers, and it lacks the long fringe of hair under the throat. The white stripes on the body and hindquarters are, however, more numerous from eleven to fourteen ; and the horns, which are only present in the males, are less divergent, and with the spiral curvature much closer than in .the greater kudu. The lesser kudu is an inhabitant of Somaliland and the maritime Photo by Percy Ashenden] MALE KUDU. A kudu bull stands about 5 feet or a little more at the withers, being in size only inferior to the eland. The horns form a corkscrew-like spiral. 26o The Living Animals of the World districts of British East Africa. It frequents thick scrubby jungle, and is said to be exceedingly watchful and wary. It lives either in pairs or in small families, but never congregates in large herds. Like all the tragelaphine antelopes, this species is a leaf-eater, and feeds principally during the night, lying up in thick bush during the heat of the day. There remains to be mentioned but one other group of antelopes, the ELANDS, large, heavily built animals, which belong to the present group, but differ from all species of kudu, sitatunga, and bushbuck, inasmuch as both sexes are horned. There are two forms of the COMMON ELAND namely, the grey variety of South-western Africa, and the striped animal, which is found in the countries farther north and east. The two forms grade one into the other, and are absolutely identical in their habits and mode of life, the differences between them being merely superficial. To the south of the twenty-third parallel of south latitude all elands are of a uniform fawn colour, except the old animals, which look dark grey, from the fact that the scantiness of their coats allows the dark colour of the skin to show through the hair. Old males, when standing in the shade of a tree, appear to be of a deep blue-grey in colour, and are known to the colonists of South Africa as " blue bulls." In Ehodesia, South-east Africa, and the countries to the north of the Zambesi, all the elands are bright chestnut-red when young, with a black line down the centre of the back from the withers to the tail, broad black patches on the backs of the fore legs above the knees, and eight or nine white stripes on each side. When they grow old, the ruddiness of the ground-colour gradually fades, the black markings on the fore legs die out, and the white stripes become indistinguishable at a short distance, the old bulls looking deep blue-grey in general colour. Every intermediate stage of colouring between the unstriped and the highly coloured forms of eland is to be found in the district lying between the central portions of the Kalahari Desert and the Zambesi Kiver. Old male elands south of the Zambesi develop a growth of long, bristly black hair on the forehead, which often hangs over their eyes and extends half-way down their noses. North of the Zambesi this growth of hair is not nearly so luxuriant. I have carefully measured the standing height at the withers of many old male elands in the interior of South Africa, and found that it varied from 5 feet 8 inches to 5 feet 10 inches. The horns of bulls in their prime measure from 26 inches to 33 inches in length, but old bulls wear their horns down very much. The cows carry longer, though thinner horns than the bulls. The range of the eland once extended from Cape Agulhas to the White Nile, but it has become extinct in many districts of Southern Africa, and in almost every other portion of its range has, like all other tragelaphine antelopes, suffered so cruelly from the recent visitation of rinderpest that it has now become a scarce animal all over Africa. During the rainy season elands are usually met with in small herds of from four or five Photo by J. W. McLellan] [Highbury. ELAND. A feature of the eland is the large " dewlap." Unlike the kudu, both sexes are horned. Photo by Hie DucJtess of Bedford] ELAND COWS. Female elands carry longer, although more slender horns than the bulls. 261 [ Woburn Abbey. 262 The Living Animals of the World to ten individuals ; but towards the end of the dry season they collect into large herds, and at such times I have often seen from fifty to over two hundred of these animals in one troop. In my experience elands live for two-thirds of the year in forest or bush-covered country, or amongst rugged hills; and in such localities they are difficult to overtake on horseback; but in the middle of the dry season, as soon as they smell the smoke of the grass fires lighted by the natives on the open plateaux, they leave their retreats, and, collecting in herds, wander out on to the treeless plains in search of young grass. They then fall an easy prey to a mounted hunter, especially the heavy old bulls, which can be run to a standstill with ease by a very moderate horse. The flesh of the eland is excellent when the animal is in good condition, as at such a time these animals become very fat, especially the old bulls, whose hearts become encased in a mass of fat which will often weigh 20 Ibs. It is a mistake, however, to think that eland -meat is always good; for towards the end of the dry season, when there is little grass to be got, they feed extensively on the leaves of certain bushes, and their meat at such times becomes very poor and tasteless. Besides the common eland of Southern, Central, and Eastern Africa, another distinct species is met with in Senegal and the Gambia Colony. This is the DERBIAN ELAND, about which animal our knowledge is still very slight, as I believe that it has never yet been shot nor its habits studied by a European traveller. A good many skulls and horns and a few skins have been obtained from natives, from which it appears that in general colour this species is of a rich reddish-fawn colour, becoming nearly white below, the middle of the belly being black. The neck is covered with long hair of a dark brown or black colour, blacker towards the shoulder than in front. A broad black stripe extends all down the centre of the back from the neck to the root of the tail, and there are large black patches on the backs and inner sides of the fore legs above the knees. On each side of the body and haunches there are thirteen or fourteen narrow white stripes. The horns are larger and more massive and divergent than in the common eland. The Derbian eland is said to be a forest - loving animal, never of its own accord coming out into the plains. It lives in small herds, is very shy and not at all abundant, and browses on the leaves and young shoots of various trees and bushes. Photo by W. P. Dando] BULL ELAND. The flesh of the eland is of better flavour than that of most other large game. species will thrive in English parks. {Regent's Park. If sheltered in winter, the Photo by W. P. Dando} THE SOUTHERN GIRAFFE. The tallest mammal ever known to walk the earth. 263 CHAPTER XVI. THE GIRAFFE AND OKAPI. THE GIRAFFE. BY H. A. BRYDEN. IKAFFES, which are found only in the continent of Africa, are the tallest of all living creatures. They belong to the Ruminants, or Cud-chewers, and naturalists are inclined to place them somewhere between the Deer Family and the Hollow-horned Ruminants, in which latter are to be found oxen, buffaloes, and antelopes. Riitimeyer, the Swiss naturalist, once defined them as " a most fantastic form of deer," w T hich is, perhaps, as good a definition of them as one is likely to hit upon. Fossil discoveries show that, in ages long remote, great giraffe-like creatures, some of them bearing horns or antlers, roamed widely in the south of Europe, Persia, India and even China. Of living giraffes, two species have thus far been identified, the SOUTHERN or CAPE GIRAFFE, with 1 a range extending from Bechua- naland and the Transvaal to British East Africa and the Soudan ; and the NUBIAN or NORTHERN GIRAFFE, found chiefly in East Africa, Somaliland, and the country between Abyssinia and the Nile. The southern giraffe, which, from its recent appearance in the Gardens of the Zoological Society, is now the more familiar of the two animals, has a creamy or yellowish- white ground-colour, marked by irregular blotches, which vary in colour, in animals of different ages, from lemon-fawn to orange-tawny, and in older specimens to a very dark chestnut. Old bulls and occasionally old cows grow extremely dark with age, and at a distance appear almost black upon the back and shoulders. The northern giraffe is widely different, the coloration being usually a rich red-chestnut, darker with age, separated by a fine network of white lines, symmetrically arranged in polygonal patterns. At no great distance this giraffe, instead of having the blotchy or dappled appearance of the southern giraffe, looks almost entirely chestnut in colour. Again, the southern giraffe has only two horns, while the northern species usually develops a third, growing from the centre of the forehead. These horns, which are covered with hair in both species, and tufted black at the tips, are, in the youthful days of the animal, actually separable from the bones of the head. As the animal arrives at maturity, they become firmly 264 Photo by Miss E. J. Beck. SOUTHERN GIRAFFE LYING DOWN. This giraffe was a present to Queen Victoria ; it only lived fourteen days after its arrival. The Giraffe and Okapi 265 united to the skull. A third race or sub-species of giraffe has been identified in Western Africa, mainly from the skull and cannon-bones of a specimen shot in 1897 at the junction of the Binue and Niger Rivers ; but very little is known about this form. Other varieties or sub-species may yet be discovered in other parts of the Dark Continent. It is lacking in the giraffe's long neck. The towering height of the giraffe is entirely attributable to the great length of the neck and limbs. A full-grown bull giraffe will certainly measure occasionally as much as 19 feet in height. I measured very carefully a specimen shot by my hunting friend, Mr. W. Dove, in the forests of the North Kalahari, South Africa, which taped 18 feet 11^ inches. A fine cow, shot by myself in the same country, measured 16 feet 10 inches, and there is no reason to suppose that cow giraffes do not easily reach fully 17 feet in height. These animals feed almost entirely upon the leaves of acacia-trees, the foliage of the kameel-doorn, or giraffe-acacia, affording their most favourite food-supply. It is a most beautiful spectacle to see, as I have seen, a large troop of these dappled giants creatures which, somehow, viewed in the wild state, always seem to me to belong to another epoch quietly browsing, with upstretched necks and delicate heads, among the branches of the spreading mokala, as the Bechuanas call this tree. The giraffe's upper lip is long and prehensile, and covered, no doubt as a protection against thorns, with a thick velvety coating of short hair. The tongue is long some 18 inches in length and is employed for plucking down the tender leafage on which the giraffe feeds. The eyes of the giraffe are most beautiful dark brown, shaded by long lashes, and peculiarly tender and melting in expression. Singularly enough, the animal is absolutely mute, and never, even in its death-agonies, utters a sound. The hoofs are large, elongate, nearly 12 inches in length in the case of old bulls, and look like those of gigantic cattle. There are no false hoofs, and the fetlock is round and smooth. The skin of a full-grown giraffe is extraordinarily tough and solid, attaining in the case of old males as much as an inch in thickness. From these animals most of the sjamboks, or colonial whips, in use all over South Africa, are now made ; and it is a miserable fact to record that giraffes are now slaughtered by native and Boer hunters almost solely for the value of the hide, which is worth from J 3 to 5 in the case of full-grown beasts. So perishes the giraffe from South Africa. Giraffes live mainly in forest country, or country partially open and partially clothed with thin, park-like stretches of low acacia- tree.s. When pursued, they betake themselves to the densest parts of the bush and timber, and, their thick hides being absolutely impervious to the frightful thorns with which all African jungle and forest seem to be provided, burst through every bushy obstacle with the greatest ease. They steer also in the most wonderful manner through the timber, ducking branches and evading tree-boles with marvellous facility. I shall never forget seeing my hunting comrade after his first chase in thick bush. We had ridden, as we always rode hunting, in our flannel shirts, coatless. Attracted by his firing, I came up with my friend, who was sitting on the body of a huge old bull giraffe, which had fallen dead in a grassy clearing. He was looking ruefully at the remains of his shirt, which hung about him, literally in rags and ribbons. Blood was streaming from innumerable wounds upon Photo by W. P. Dando] [Regent's Park. MALE SOUTHERN GIRAFFE. The coloration of these animals harmonises exactly with the dark and light splashes of their surroundings. 34 266 The Living Animals of the World Photo 6y A . S. Kudfond fc -Sons. A GIRAFFE GRAZING. Grazing is evidently not the natural mode of feeding of these animals, which are essentially browsers. his chest, neck, and arms. Always after that we donned cord coats, when running giraffes in bush and forest country. In regions where they have been little disturbed, giraffes no doubt wander across open plains, and are to be seen well away from the denser forests, feeding among scattered islets of acacias, easily exposed to the human eye. But in South Africa they are now seldom to be met with out of the forest region. Once, and once only, have I seen giraffes in the open. This was on the outskirts of the forest, and the great creatures had been tempted to a little knoll of mokala trees, rising like an islet from the sea of grass. One's first impression of these creatures in the wild state is very deceptive. I well remember first setting eyes upon a troop of five or six. As they swung away from the leafage on which they were feeding, my friend and I cantered easily, thinking that we should soon come up with them. "We were completely deceived. With those immense legs of theirs, the great creatures, going with their easy, shuffling, but marvellously swift walk, were simply striding away from us. Discovering our mistake, we rode hard, and the giraffes then broke into their strange, rocking gallop, and a headlong, desperate chase began, to be terminated by the death of a fine cow. Like the camel, the giraffe progresses by moving the two legs upon either side of the body simultaneously. At this strange, rocking gallop these animals move at a great pace, and a good Cape horse is needed to run into them. By far the best plan, if you are bent on shooting these animals, is to press your pony, so soon as you sight giraffes, to the top of its speed, and force the game beyond its natural paces in one desperate gallop of a couple of miles or so. If well mounted, your nag will take you right up to the heels of the tall beasts, and, firing from the saddle, you can, without great difficulty, bring down the game. The giraffe, unlike the antelopes of Africa, is not very tenacious of life, and a bullet planted near the root of the tail will, penetrating the short body, pierce a vital spot, and bring down the tall beast crashing to earth. Having tasted the delights of fox-hunting and many other forms of sport, I can testify that the run up to a good troop of giraffes is one of the most thrilling and exciting of all human experiences. There is nothing else quite like it in the wide range of sporting emotions. Having enjoyed this thrilling pleasure a few times, however, the humane hunter will stay his hand, and shoot only when meat, or perhaps an exceptionally fine specimen, is absolutely needed. Giraffes are, of course, utterly defenceless, and, save for their shy, wary habits and remote, waterless habitat, have nothing to shield them from the mounted hunter. Giraffe-hunting on foot is a very different matter. In that case the giraffe has the better of it, and the stalker is placed at great disadvantage. These animals are in many places found in extremely waterless country, where even the mounted hunter has much trouble to reach them. Like elands and gemsbok and other desert-loving antelopes, they can exist for long periods months together without drinking. In the northern portions of the Kalahari Desert, where I have carefully observed their habits, as well as hunted them, it is an undoubted The Giraffe and Okapi 267 fact that giraffes never touch water during the whole of the dry winter season for several months on end. Gremsbok and elands in the same waterless tract of country are complete abstainers for the same period. The flesh of a giraffe cow, if fairly young, is excellent, tender, and well tasted, with a flavour of game-like veal. The marrow-bones also, roasted over a gentle wood fire, and sawn in half, afford delicious eating, quite one of the supreme delicacies of the African wilderness. THE OKAPI. BY SIR HARRY JOHNSTON, K.C.B., F.Z.S. HEADERS of " The Living Animals of the World " are in all probability readers of newspapers, and it would therefore be affectation on the part of the writer of these lines to assume that they have not heard more or less of the discovery which he was privileged to make of an entirely new ruminant of large size, dwelling in the forests bordering the Semliki Kiver, in Central Africa, on the border- land between the Uganda Protectorate and the Congo Free State. The history of this discovery, stated briefly, is as follows: In 1882-83 I was the guest of Mr. (now Sir Henry) Stanley on the Kiver Congo at Stanley Pool. I was visiting the Congo at that time as an explorer in a very small way and a naturalist. Mr. Stanley, conversing with me on the possibility of African discoveries, told me then that he believed that all that was most wonderful in tropical Africa would be found to be concentrated in the region of the Blue Mountains, south of the Albert Nyanza. This feeling on Stanley's part doubtless was one of the reasons which urged him to go to the relief of Emin Pasha. His journey through the great Congo Forest towards the Blue Mountains of the Albert Nyanza resulted in his discovery of the greatest snow mountain -range of Africa, Euwenzori, and the river Semliki, which is the Upper Albertine Nile ; of Lake Albert Edward, from which it flows round the flanks of Euwenzori; and, amongst other things, in more detailed information regarding the dwarf races of the Northern Congo forests than we had yet received. Stanley also was the first to draw the attention of the world to the dense and awful character of these mighty woods, and to hint at the mysteries and wonders in natural history which they possibly contained. The stress and trouble of his expedition prevented him and his companions from bestowing much attention on natural history ; moreover, in these forests it is extremely difficult for persons who are passing hurriedly through the tangle to come into actual contact with the beasts that inhabit them. Sir Henry Stanley, discussing this subject with me since my return from Uganda, tells me that he believes that the okapi is only one amongst several strange new beasts which will be eventually discovered in these remarkable forests. He describes having seen a creature like a gigantic pig 6 feet in length, and certain antelopes unlike any known type. In regard to the okapi, the only hint of its existence which he obtained was the announcement that the dwarfs knew of the existence of a creature in their forests which greatly resembled an ass in appearance, and which they caught in pits. This tiny sentence in an appendix to his book " In Darkest Africa " attracted my attention some time before I went to Uganda. It seemed to me so extraordinary that any creature like a horse should inhabit a dense Photo by Charles Knight] [Aldershot. A GIRAFFE BROWSING. Here the posture is seen to be thoroughly natural. 268 The Living Animals of the World forest, that I determined, if ever fate should lead me in that direction, I would make enquiries. Soon after reaching the Uganda Protectorate at the end of 1899, I came in contact with a large party of dwarfs who had been kidnapped by a too enterprising German impresario, who had decided to show them at the Paris Exhibition. As the Belgians objected to this procedure, I released the dwarfs from their kidnapper, and retained them with me for some months in Uganda, until I was able personally to escort them back to their homes in the Congo Forest. I had other reasons connected with my Government business for visiting the north-western part of the Congo Free State. As soon as I could make the dwarfs understand me by means of an interpreter, I questioned them regarding the existence of this horse-like creature in their forests. They at once understood what I meant ; and pointing to a zebra-skin and a live mule, they informed me that the creature in question, which was called OK API, was like a mule with zebra stripes on it. When I reached Fort Mbeni, in the Congo Free State, on the west bank of the river Semliki, I put questions to the Belgian officers stationed there. They all knew the okapi, at any rate, when dead. As a living animal they had none of them seen it, but their native soldiers were in the habit of hunting the animal in the forest and killing it with spears, and then bringing in the skin and the flesh for use in the fort. One of the officers declared there was even then a freshly obtained skin lying about in the precincts of the fort. On searching for this, however, it was discovered that the greater part of it had been thrown away, only the gaudier portions having been cut into strips by the soldiers to be made into bandoliers. These strips, together with similar ones obtained from natives in the forest, I sent to England, to Dr. P. L. Sclater, for his consideration. Furnished by the Belgian officers with guides, and taking with me all the dwarfs whom I had brought from Uganda, I entered the forest, and remained there for some days searching for the okapi. All this time I was convinced that I was on the track of a species of horse; and therefore when the natives showed the tracks of a cloven-footed animal like the eland, and told us these were the foot-prints of the okapi, I disbelieved them, and imagined that we were merely following a forest-eland. We never saw the okapi ; and as the life in the forest made the whole expedition extremely ill, and my time was required for official work elsewhere, I was obliged to give up this search. Meantime, I had elicited from the natives, whom I questioned closely, that the okapi was a creature without horns or any means of offence, the size of a large antelope or mule, which inhabited only the densest parts of the forest and generally went about in pairs, male and female. It lived chiefly on leaves. The Belgian officers, seeing that I was disappointed at not obtaining a complete skin, offered to use their best efforts to obtain one for me, and send it on to Uganda after my departure. This promise was eventually redeemed by Mr. Karl Eriksson, a Swedish officer in the Belgian service. Mr. Eriksson sent me a complete skin and two skulls. The skin and the Photo by York .,ltd.] [Aberdeen. varying in tone from a squeal to a roar, MANCHURIAN WAPITI CALLING. i TJ.J.I T^ 6 great si 26 of the fourth tine, characteristic of the species, is very and ending with grunts ; but at a little noticeable. 36 282 The Living Animals of the World distance it is one of the most musical sounds in nature, sounding like some beautiful wind instrument. Nothing makes the heart of a hunter leap and thrill like the challenge of a wapiti bull, as it comes pealing down under the great archways of the mountain pines, through the still, frosty, fall weather ; all the more if it be at night, under the full moon, and if there is light snow on the ground." Wapiti in North America have suffered much from persecution, and it is now difficult indeed to secure fine heads like those that fell to hunters twenty or thirty years since. Twelve or fifteen years ago, during winter-time, bands of wapiti in Colorado, Wyoming, and Montana were to be seen gathered together to the number of thousands ; now a score or two is the rule, where these animals are to be found at all. However, by those who know where to go for their game, and can hold a rifle straight, wapiti are still to be obtained. Mr. Selous, in his " Sport and Travel, East and West," thus describes a recent experience : "After a few seconds of agonising suspense a noble-looking monarch of the mountains walked slowly from the shelter of the pine-trees and followed the ladies of his household, who had now halted about fifty yards down the slope, passing in quite open ground not more than sixty or seventy yards below me ; and as the stag followed them, I waited until he came past, though he had been well within shot ever since he came out from among the trees. As he did not know where I was, and probably had not the least idea why the hinds had trotted off, he came along very leisurely, looking magnificent; for although his antlers were but moderate in size, there were no others of larger proportions near to dwarf them, and even a very ordinary wapiti stag, seen at short range in its native wilds, is a glorious sight to look upon. I let him get a little past me, and then put one of Holland's peg-bullets just behind his shoulder, low down. I saw by the convulsive rush forwards that he made that he was struck through the heart, but I did not expect so large an animal to collapse so quickly. He had not gone twenty paces after being hit, when he fell suddenly right on to the prostrate stem of a large tree, which did not, however, stop him, as the impetus of his fall carried him over it, and he then went sliding at a terrific pace down the steep snow-slope below, and disappeared from sight almost immediately." The dead wapiti was ultimately found 500 feet below, with the antlers, strangely enough, scarcely injured, but the body and quarters much bruised by the fall. He was "a very pretty fourteen-pointer of moderate size." A fight between two wapiti stags is a terrific encounter. " With heads lowered between their fore feet," says Mr. Perry, "the two adversaries walk around, waiting for an opening; and when one is thrown off his guard, the other makes a savage rush ; but his opponent instantly recovers, counters the charge, and as they rush together the antlers strike each other with such terrific force that the report can be heard for a long distance. Slowly retreating, bellowing, grumbling, and grinding their teeth in a paroxysm of rage, they again circle round. . . . Photo by C. Reid] [ Witiwm, ff.f. AN AXIS HIXD. A species spotted at all seasons. By permission of the Neio York Zoological Society. A STAG AXIS, OR INDIAN SPOTTED DEER. One of the most common animals in an Indian jungle scene. 283 284 The Living Animals of the World The challenging wapiti usually does most of the offensive fighting until he finds (if such be the case) that he is the weaker; then he suddenly retires, bellowing as he goes." In the old days the Indians of North America were in the habit of organising great wapiti drives. Entire herds were surrounded by a ring of mounted men, and forced over precipices. In recent years it has been discovered that wapiti are also denizens of certain parts of Asia. At least two sub-species the ALTAI WAPITI and the MANCHURIAN WAPITI have thus far been identified. The former, some- times known as the Thian-shan Stag, is found in the forests of the Altai and Thian-shan Mountains, west of the Mongolian Desert. Compared with its American congener, it is inferior in stature, has shorter legs, a longer body, and pro- portionately larger antlers, though none have yet approached those of the longest American specimens. These splendid stags, of which living specimens have been maintained by the Duke of Bedford at Woburn, are captured alive by the Altai natives, and kept in domestication for the sake of their antlers, which are sold in China for purposes of medicine at as much as the value of 10 apiece. The MANCHURIAN WAPITI, or LUEH- DORF'S STAG, is a well-marked local race of the wapiti, which turns reddish in By ptrmuiion of Professor Bumpus] A SPOTTED ORIENTAL DEEE. One of the numerous Philippine species. [New York. summer. It has received several names, and is well characterised by the form of its antlers. It has been kept alive in the Duke of Bedford's park at Woburn Abbey. It seems probable that the Siberian stags will eventually be referred to the wapiti group. BOKHARA DEER. A fine deer from Kussian Turkestan is at present known as the BOKHARA DEER. It is said to resemble the shou of Northern Bhutan more than any other species, and, standing about 4 feet at the shoulder, is of an ashen-grey colour, tinged with yellow. A living specimen has been exhibited at Moscow, and it is believed that specimens in the collection of the Duke of Bedford belong to this form. SIKAS. The SIKAS, as typified by the JAPANESE DEER, are a group of deer of moderate size, distinguished from the preceding assemblage by antlers of simpler type, each antler having usually four points, and lacking the second, or bez, tine. The coat is spotted with white, and white markings appear about the tail. The tail is much longer than in the red deer group. The Japanese deer, found in Japan and North China, is a beautiful creature, somewhat smaller than the fallow deer of Europe, having a coat of brilliant chestnut, thickly spotted with white in curious longitudinal markings. This is the summer pelage; in winter the colour changes to dark brown, and the spots mostly disappear. When in the velvet, the antlers are of a bright chestnut-red, with black tips, and at this season the bucks look their handsomest. A good head measures from 25 to 31 inches, and carries usually eight points. The MANCHURIAN SIKA may be looked upon as a larger variety of the Japanese deer, with a somewhat darker coat. The Deer Tribe 285 Another closely allied form is the FORMOSAN SIKA, which bears a rather paler summer coat, and carries spots in its winter pelage. This deer is found on the mountains of the island from which it takes its name. The few antlers which have reached this country seem to indicate that in this respect this deer is inferior to the other sikas. The longest pair yet recorded measure not more than 19| inches. The PEKIN SIKA, sometimes known as Dybowski's Deer, is considerably larger in size than the rest of the group, standing well over 3 feet at the shoulder. The horns are large and rugged, and measure as much as 27 inches in length. The coat is thick and shaggy, and well adapted for life in a harsh climate. The habitat of this species is North-eastern Manchuria and the borders of Korea. FALLOW DEER. FALLOW DEER are, perhaps, to English people, the most familiar of all the cervine race, forming as they do, in the semi-domesticated state, the adornments of most of our parks. The flesh of this handsome deer furnishes the well-known venison of this country, and is perhaps the best-tasted of all deer-meat. A good fallow buck stands about 3 feet at the shoulder, and weighs (clean) about 150 Ibs., though specimens have been shot weighing as much as 204 Ibs., Photo by C. Reid] A YOUNG FALLOW BUCK OP THE BROWN BREED. The favourite park-deer of England. [ Wishaw, N.B. but this is exceptional. The horns are strongly palrnated. Originally this deer was not indigenous to Britain, but is often said to have been introduced by the Romans from Eastern Europe. The COMMON FALLOW DEER is found in the wild state in Spain, Portugal, Greece, Austria, Rhodes, Sardinia, Asia Minor, and North Palestine. It is doubtful whether, as has been stated, this deer ever existed in modern times in the wild state in North Africa. This is a highly gregarious species, delighting to move in considerable herds. In some parts of Scotland fallow deer have reverted completely to the wild state, and afford excellent sport. And even park- 286 The Living Animals of the World deer, once they are shot at, exhibit extraordinary wariness and cunning, so much so that curious tricks and disguises have often to be resorted to when a fat buck has to be shot for venison. The beautiful MESOPO- TAMIAN FALLOW DEER, found in the mountains of Luristan, in Mesopotamian Persia, is somewhat larger than the common species, while its coat is much more brightly coloured. The antlers bear little resemblance to those seen in the park-deer of this country, being far less palmated and spreading, and more vertical. The enormous horns of the extinct deer once known as IRISH ELK are now con- sidered by naturalists to be those of a gigantic species of fallow deer. By the kind- ness of Mr. J. Gr. Millais, I am enabled to give the dimensions of a pair of antlers of one of these wonderful beasts from his museum. These antlers measure in spread, from tip to tip, 9 feet 4 inches ; length round inside of right horn, 6 feet; round left horn, 5 feet 8 inches, a marvellous trophy, truly. This specimen was dug up in County Waterford. These colossal fallow deer, which roamed the wastes of Ireland in prehistoric times, must have afforded fairly exciting sport to the feebly armed human beings who then existed. THE SAMBAR, OR KUSINE DEER. SAMBAR may be shortly described as large deer, having rough, shaggy coats, and big. rugged antlers of simple type, usually displaying but three tines. They belong to the group known as Typical Deer, although they are but distantly connected with the red deer. The colour of the coat is usually dark umber-brown, marked with chestnut about the rump and under-parts. The well-known sambar of India stands as much as 5 feet 4 inches at the withers, and weighs, before being cleaned, some 600 Ibs. The longest pair of antlers yet recorded (Eowland Ward's " Kecords of Big Game ") measure 48 inches in length over the outer curve. Usually to be found among jungly, wooded hills and mountains in many parts of India and Ceylon, this fine stag affords first-rate sport, and is much sought after by shikaris. It is to be met with in small Plioto by Miss E. J. Beck. A SAMBAK STAG. The only Indian deer of which the fawns are unspotted. The Deer Tribe 287 troops of from four to a dozen, or singly, while during the rutting-season the animab rove in more considerable herds. In jungle and thickly forested regions it is a hard matter to come up with the sambar on foot, and it is there usually shot from elephant- back, by the aid of beaters. In more open hill country it affords good stalking, hi Ceylon it is hunted with hounds, and yields in this way also capital sport. These animals seem to revel in heat, and love to shelter themselves in hot, stifling valleys ; they drink only once in two or three days. Lt is a noticeable feature in connection with the antlers of the sambar that they are not invariably shed annually, as with most of the deer kind. In Ceylon, accord- ing to Sir Samuel Baker, they are shed "with great irregularity every third or fourth year." Lieutenant-Colonel Reginald Heber Percy thus Writes concerning the sambar, or sam- bur : " Compared with the Kashmir stag, red deer, or wapiti, he looks an ugly, Photo by the Duchess of Bedford] [ Woburn Abbey. JAVAN RUSA STAG. This deer is a near relative of the sambar, but has a somewhat different type of antler. Photo by Miss E. J. Beck. FORMOSAN SIKA STAG. Like its Japanese kindred, this deer is spotted only in summer. coarse, underbred brute. ... As the sambur is almost entirely nocturnal in its habits, it is most commonly shot in drives, and in many places it is almost impossible to obtain sambur otherwise; but where it can be managed, stalking is, of course, far better fun. The sportsman should be on his ground just before daylight, and work slowly through the forest at the edge of the feeding-grounds, taking the bottom of the hill if there are crops on the plain below, or, failing these, the edges of the open glades in the forest. Presently, if there are any sambur about, he will hear their trumpet-like call, and, creep- ing on, see two or three dark forms moving among the trees. In the grey of the morn- ing it is often very hard to distinguish a stag from a hind, and the writer has on several occasions had to wait, after viewing the herd, till there was light enough to pick his stag. Even in broad daylight it is difficult to judge the size of a stag's horns as he stands motionless in the deep gloom of the forest, and what little can be seen 288 The Living Animals of the World [ Woburn Abbey. of them makes them look three times their real size the beam is so massive and the tines so long. The stag, too, is such a big beast, standing nearly a hand taller than a barasingh, that if seen in the open he looks as big as our Irish elk. . . . All driving should be done during the heat of the day, when the animals are lying down ; trying to drive when beasts are naturally on the move generally results in the game leaving the beat before the men are in their places. It may sound ridiculous for a man to get up a tree in a sambur drive, but he is far more likely to get an easy shot in this position, as the deer will neither see nor wind him ; he commands more ground, and he runs no risk of heading back the wary old hind which often leads the herd, the chances being that if he is rightly posted the herd will come right under his tree. Another advantage is that, his fire being plunging, he can shoot all round without danger to the beaters. In some parts of the Himalaya native shikaris declare that they often shoot sambur by selecting a likely path and improvising a salt-lick, after the fashion of Laplanders when they want to catch their tame reindeer." The flesh of this deer is coarse and only moderately good eating. The MALAYAN SAMBAR, found from Assam, through Burma, to the Malay Peninsula, and in Siam, Hainan, Borneo, and perhaps Sumatra, is slightly less in size than its Indian prototype ; the antlers vary somewhat, and are shorter and stouter. The longest antlers yet recorded measure 30f inches over the outer curve; these come from Borneo. The FORMOSAN SAMBAR, sometimes called Swinhoe's Deer, is, again, closely connected with the Malayan sambar, and may be looked upon as purely a local race. The antlers appear to run smaller, the best recorded examples only extending to 19| inches. The LUZON SAMBAR (Philippines), a small sub-species, and the SZECHUAN SAMBAR (North- west China), are also local races of the same species. This last seems thus far to occupy the most northerly habitat of this group. The BASILAN SAMBAR (Philippines) is, like its congener of Luzon, a small sub-species, standing no more than from 24 to 26 inches at the shoulder, of slender build, and with the hindquarters higher than the withers. The best antlers yet recorded measure no more than 15| inches. It is interesting to note that as the island of Basilan is the smallest of the Philippines, so is this sambar by far the smallest of its group. Its restricted habitat has no doubt conduced, during long ages, to bring about this result. The JAVAN SAMBAR, or KUSA, is a distinct species, found, as its name implies, in the island of Java. The antlers are somewhat slender, but are, next to those of the sambar of India, the longest of the group. The best recorded pair measure 35 inches, while another pair from Mauritius, where this animal has been introduced, measure half an inch longer. This sambar is smaller than the great sambar of India, and is about on a par with a good red deer. The MOLUCCAN RUSA, a sub-species somewhat smaller than the Javan deer, is found in Plwto by the Duchess of MetJj'ord] HOG-DEER. The smallest Indian representative of the samhar group. Photo by The Duchexs of Hertford, Woburn Abbey. FALLOW DEER. There are two breeds of these beautiful deer in the British Isles ; in the one the summer coat is fawn * dappled with white; in the other the colour is dark brown at all seasons. The Deer Tribe 289 Celebes and certain islands Boru, Batchian, and Amboina in the Moluccan group ; while the TIMOR EUSA, a closely allied congener, is found on the islands of Timor, Semao, and Kambing. It is possible nay, even probable that the Malays may, in times gone by, have introduced certain of these rusine deer from one habitat to another. Such, at least, seems to be the presumption among naturalists. Dr. Guillemard, in that charming book " The Cruise of the Marchesa " (p. 357), gives some interesting information concerning Moluccan sambar in the little-known island of Batchian. The inhabitants, " living for the most part in the hills, kill and smoke the deer, and bring the meat into the villages for sale. We were fortunate enough to assist at one of their hunts, in which no other weapon than the spear is used. The side of a large ravine, which had been partially cleared, and presented a confused jumble of fallen trees and low brushwood, was assigned to us as our post, and, from the extensive view it commanded, we were able later in the day to watch one run almost from start to finish, although at first the sport appeared to be successful in every direction but our own. At length a stag broke covert about five hundred yards above us, and descended the slopes of the ravine, but shortly afterwards turned and made for the forest again. He was met by some of the hunters and driven back ; but the dogs were now in full cry, and pressed him hard, the hunters meanwhile racing at their utmosl speed above, in order to prevent his regaining the jungle. He now altered his direction, and turned down once more towards us; but the fallen trees were so thick that the dogs gained rapidly on him. He made one more effort for his life by doubling, but it was too late, and in another minute the dogs and hunters had fairly run him down." Deer were probably the earliest animals of the chase. Their bones are found in the cave- dwellings of prehistoric man, and some of the earliest efforts at drawing represent these animals. tnoto by the Ducliess of Bedford] YOUNG MALE SWAMP-DEER. This species is the Barasingh of the natives of India. It is by no means addicted to swampy localities. [ Woburn Abbey. 37 290 Animals of the World Photo by Tort Son] [Netting Hill. INDIAN MUNTJAC. Sometimes called the Barking-deer. The Indian species stands only 2 feet high. OTHER TYPICAL DEER. So numerous are the typical deer that they are not concluded even by the long list of animals already enumerated. We proceed now to glance briefly at the remainder of this important group. The PHILIPPINE SPOTTED DEER, or PRINCE ALFRED'S DEER, is a small but extremely handsome species, found in the islands of Samar and Leyte. The height is under 30 inches; the colour very dark brown, spotted with white, the under-parts, chin, and upper portion of the legs also white. Another small cervine from the Philippine group is the CALAMIANES DEER, a darkish brown beast, found in the island of that name. The little BAVIAN DEER, another island-deer, from the Bavian group, between Borneo and Java, should also be mentioned. Very little is known of the habits of these three deer, and few specimens even of their skins and horns have reached Europe. The HOG-DEER, allied to the last-named species, is an animal much better known, found as it is in many parts of India and Burma. This handsome little deer stands from 24 to 28 inches at the shoulder, and carries antlers which average from 10 to 15 inches, and reach occasionally as much as 21 or 22 inches one specimen is recorded measuring 23^ inches. It has a yellowish or reddish-brown coat, minutely speckled with white. The summer coat is paler and marked with white or palish-brown spots. This sturdy little cleer is found usually in long grass, and affords excellent snap-shooting ; it is also run into with dogs and speared by mounted sportsmen. Major Fitz- Herbert thus describes a chase of this kind : " He [the little stag] stood at bay, with head down and bristles raised like a miniature red deer of Landseer's, but broke away when I came up. Once he charged the bitch and knocked her over. He stood at bay two or three times ? :butf I could never get a spear into him for fear of hurting the dogs. At last one time, as he was break- ing bay, I came up, and he charged me with such force as to break one of his horns clean off against the spear. However, I struck him in the spine, and rolled him over." These little deer have quite extraordinary pluck, and have been known even to charge and wound a horse. The CHITAL, or INDIAN SPOTTED DEER, often called the Axis Deer, a very beautiful species, is the common jungle-stag of India. Standing about 3 feet or a little over, its lovely coat of bright reddish fawn is thickly spotted with white at all seasons of the year. The horns are somewhat of the sambar type, and measure as much as 36 or 38 inches in length in fine specimens. These exquisite deer are often found in considerable herds, and are a forest-loving species. Photo by the Duchess of Bedford, Woburn Abbey. YOUNG MALE CHINESE WATER-DEER. One of the few deer which have no antlers. The Deer Tribe 291 .. J Photo by the Duchess of Bedford} [Wobur/i Abbey. MALE SIBERIAN EOE. A very large species of roebuck, with more rugged antlers than the European-roe. The SWAMP-DEER, the true Barasingh of India, as distinguished from the Kashmir stag, which is often loosely called Barasingh, is a plain-loving species, found in various parts of India, and characterised by hand- some antlers, bearing as many as from 10 to 16 points. This is a big, heavy deer, stand- ing nearly 4 feet at the withers, and weigh- ing as much as 40 stone. The summer coat is light rufous, more or less spotted with white. The winter coat is yellowish brown. A near relative to this deer is SCHOMBURGK'S DEER, found in Northern Siam. The antlers of this stag are most curiously forked and bifurcated. The THAMIN, or ELD'S DEER, sometimes called the Brow-antlered Deer, is another plains-deer, found chiefly from Manipur, through Burma, to the Malay Peninsula. It is a good-sized species, standing about 3 feet 9 inches at the shoulder, and weighing as much as 17 stone. The large antlers are simple in type, the brow-tines curving down curiously over the forehead ; the tail is sharp, and the neck provided with a mane, the young being spotted. A Siamese race of Eld's deer, found in Siam and Hainan, differs somewhat from the Burmese type. THE MUNTJACS. The MUNTJACS, or BARKING-DEER, are a group of small deer found in India, Burma, and the Malay region. The INDIAN MUNTJAC stands about 2 feet in height, and weighs some 28 Ibs. The antlers, which average 5 or 6 inches in length, bear two points brow-tine and beam ; the lower portions, or pedicles, are curiously covered with hair, and the front of the face is ribbed or ridged in V fashion. The general colour is a golden bay, the face and limbs brown, and the lower parts white. The buck has sharp tusks in the upper jaw, and, at a pinch, knows how to make use of them. A shy, stealthy little creature, the muntjac loves dense cover, and the sportsman usually obtains but a quick snapshot at this active and wary little deer as it flashes across him much as does a bolting rabbit scuttling across a narrow drive. Local Indian names for the barking-deer are Jungle- sheep, Ked Hog-deer, and Eib-faced Deer. Other muntjacs, varying somewhat from the photo by the Duchess of Bedford} [Wobum Abbey. Indian form, are the HAIRY-FRONTED, the TENAS- FEMALE SIBERIAN ROE. SERIM, the TIBETAN, and the CHINESE MUNTJACS. The absence of a tail, characteristic of all roes, is well shown. 292 The Living Animals of the World [Hamburg. TurrED DEER. Near relatives of the odd little muntjacs are the TUFTED DEER, of which two species, the TIBETAN and MICHIE'S, are known to naturalists. The former, found in Eastern Tibet, is about the size of the Indian muntjac, and has a coat of dark chocolate-brown, curiously speckled on the face, neck, and fore parts ; the frontal tuft is nearly black. The antlers of the bucks of both this and Michie's deer are extremely small, scarcely observable at a first glance. Both species have long curving tusks projecting from the upper jaw. Michie's tufted deer is of a greyish-black or iron-grey colour, the face and neck dark grey. This animal is found in the reed-beds bordering the Ningpo and other rivers in Eastern China. WATER-DEER. The CHINESE WATER-DEER is another diminutive deer, standing no more than 20 inches at the shoulder. The body-colouring is pale rufous yellow, the head and the back of the ears being darker in hue than the rest of the body. The males carry no antlers. This tiny deer is found in North-east China, and is well known on the islands of the Yangtse-kiang Eiver. It loves thick cover, especially reeds and long grass. So apt is it at concealment, that at Woburn Abbey, where specimens are kept in a paddock of long tussocky grass, hours may be spent without catching a glimpse of it. When disturbed, it scurries off with short, quick leaps, very much after the manner of the hare. The males of the Chinese deer, like the muntjacs, carry long curved tusks in the upper jaw. ROE DEER. The EUROPEAN EOE, one ot the handsomest of all the smaller deer, is still happily found in many parts of Scotland. In England, where it had at one time become well-nigh extinct, it has been here and there reintroduced with some success. In Ireland it seems never to have been found. On the Continent its range is wide, extending from the south of Sweden, through France and Germany, to Italy, Greece, Turkey, Austria-Hungary, and Spain. Found in Southern Russia and the Caucasus, it makes its way eastward as far as North Palestine and Persia. The roe stands, in good adult specimens, 26 inches at the shoulder, and weighs about 60 Ibs. The handsome arid very characteristic horns measure in good specimens from 10 to 13 inches over the outer curve. The summer coat of this beautiful little deer is a bright rufous brown ; in winter a darker and duller brown, with a notable white patch about the tail. The roe is always more or less a wood-loving creature. In winter, especially, it seldom cares to quit the shelter of the forest ; in summer, however, the deer wander into more open localities. The fawns are born generally towards the end of May, and two young are usually produced. In the rutting-season the males fight savagely with one another. Mr. J. G. Millais gives an instance of a buck^ killed in one of these desperate battles, in which one antler of the victor, having penetrated the brain of the vanquished buck, had been By permission oj Hen- Carl Hagenbeck] SIBERIAN ROEBUCK. Shows a magnificent pair of antlers. Photo by Ottomar Anschutz] FEMALE EUROPEAN ROE DEER. Though common in the Scotch woods, these deer are rarely seen, keeping close in cover all day. 293 294 The Living Animals of the World broken clean off and remained embedded in the skull, firmly wedged between the ears and the antlers. "When wounded and brought to bay by a dog," says Mr. Millais, "a roebuck brings into play both head and fore legs in his defence, using his horns as described, and striking out with his legs, more as if to push off his antagonist than to cause a forcible blow, for he gives no shock, as a hind can. A doe, too, uses her fore legs and boxes with her head ; and Mr. Steel, who has had wide experience in roe-shooting, tells me that he has seen a doe use her hind legs as well. The bark of the buck is loud, sharp, and deep in tone, not unlike what a single call might be from an old collie. At this season, too, the female gives an amorous call when she wishes the male to come to her. If he is within hearing, he puts his neck out straight and comes full speed to her. In Germany many roebucks are shot by alluring them in this manner, and calls exactly imitating her voice are made for the sportsman's use. One who has shot roe in this manner tells me it is most exciting sport, for the buck comes straight Photo ly the Duchess of Bedford] [ Woburn Abbey. PERE DAVID'S DEEK. Nineteen of these deer are at Woburn Abbey ; three are at Berlin. It is believed that these are the only deer of this species in existence. for the sound at full speed, and will only stop startled for a second when he discovers the fraud, and as often as not he passes right on without giving a chance." Eoe have a curious trick of chasing one another in play, and certain roe-rings in the woods near Cawdor Castle, according to Mr. Millais, demonstrate the fact that for ages the deer have been in the habit of disporting themselves in these strange circles over the same pieces of ground. The fact is very singular. " These curious circles are most used in early summer ; and Sutherland, the head keeper, tells me," says Mr. Millais, " that hardly a morning passes without there being one or two roe playing in the rings, and sometimes there is quite a party of them." Koe feed chiefly on grass ; they will eat also rowan (mountain-ash) berries, of which they are especially fond, as well as turnips, grain, heather tops, and various other roots and plants. Certain fungi, to which they are partial, they take much pains to dig out with their sharp hoofs. "A roebuck that I once kept," says Mr. Millais, "was a good Scotchman, though he had a beastly temper, for he liked nothing so much as oatmeal porridge." Roe make delightful pets, but the bucks are not to be trusted after the third year. One of these animals, supposed The Deer Tribe 295 Photo by the Duchess of Bedford] [Woburn Abbey. GROUP OP VIRGINIAN DEER (TWO BUCKS, FOUR DOES). These are the common deer of the Eastern United States. to be tame, has been known to kill a lad. In Scotland and on the Continent roe deer are usually killed by driving, and large bags are often made. Even within recent times, as many as sixty-five roebucks and thirteen hinds have been shot at Beaufort, Lord Lovat's place in Inverness- shire, during a day's driving. Shot-guns are employed for this kind of sport. Stalking the roe is not so much pursued in Scotland as it might be. It is a first-rate and most interesting form of sport, and in certain districts the rifle might very well be substituted for the shot- gun. " Roe-stalking," says Mr. Millais, "possesses many charms of its own. In the first place, you can enjoy it at a season when there is no other shooting going on; secondly, it takes you out in the early morning, when all nature is full of life and beauty, and before the heat of the day commences ; and, thirdly, where the chase of the animal is systematically conducted, as with red deer, the nature of the sport is everything that can be desired. I would therefore put forward a plea that tenants and owners of part-wood, part-forest lands in Argyll, Inverness, Ross, and Aberdeen should turn their attention to stalking the roe in preference to killing them during the usual winter wood-shoots." Roe deer are exceedingly abundant in the great forest regions of Germany and Austria- Hungary. In Austria alone, not including Hungary, during the year 1892, no less than 68,110 of these beautiful little deer were shot on various estates. The SIBERIAN ROE, found from the mountains of the Altai and Turkestan to Siberia, is a somewhat larger species than its European cousin, measuring from 28 to 34 inches at the shoulder. The antlers are also larger, extending to as much as 16 and even 18 inches in measurement. As beseems its habitat, the coat of this species is also thicker and rougher than is the case with the European roe. Mr. Lydekker gives some interesting particulars regarding this animal : " When the snows of November fall, the roe themselves commence to collect in herds, which may number from 300 to 500 head, and soon after migrate southwards into Manchuria, whence they return about the end of March or beginning of April. On the Ussuri, which they must cross, they are at this season slaughtered in thousands by the hunters, without regard to age or sex." One other species, the MANCHURIAN ROE, found chiefly in mountainous habitats, whence it never descends, should be noted. This is a smaller deer than the Siberian roe, and approximates in size and length of horn to the European race. PERE DAVID'S DEER. This remarkable animal, which apparently bears little or no resemblance to any of the other deer of the Old World, has been placed by some naturalists between the roe deer and the American deer. Its habitat is North China, and, strangely enough, it seems to be unrecognised 296 The Living Animals of the World By permission of Professor Bv.mpu*] A MULE-DEER FAWX. York. in the wild state, being apparently only known in China in the Imperial Park at Pekin. This deer approaches in size the red deer of Europe. The general colouring is greyish brown, white about the eyes, ears, rump, and under- parts ; the horns, which lack the brow-tine, are very singular in shape, and measure as much as 32 inches in length ; the tail is long, reaching to the hocks ; the gait is " lolloping " and mule-like. This is a marsh-loving species, and at Woburn Abbey, where specimens are kept, "they may be seen wading far into the lakes and even swimming in the deeper water." THE AMERICAN DEER. Excepting always the elk, wapiti, and reindeer, which have been already described, the deer of North and South America stand quite apart from those of the Old World, and are placed in a genus of their own. Usually the tail is long, and the brow-tine is always wanting. The most familiar species is the common AMERICAN DEER, of which the VIRGINIAN or WHITE-TAILED DEER is the type. This deer is found in varying forms in both continents, and was regularly hunted by the ancient Mexicans with trained pumas. The well-known VIRGINIAN DEER, found in Eastern North America, and believed to range as far south as Louisiana, stands a trifle over 3 feet in height, and weighs, clean, about 12 stone 7 Ibs. The coloration is chestnut in summer, bluish grey in winter. The antlers are of good size, and measure as much as 27| inches in length. As a sporting animal the white-tailed deer is not popular. Mr. Clive Phillipps-Wolley describes him as " an exasperating little beast," possessing every quality which a deer ought not to, from the sportsman's point of view. "His haunts are river-bottoms, in choking, blinding bush, and his habits are beastly. No one could ever expect to stalk a white-tail ; if you want to get one, you must crawl." Mr. Selous, in 1897, bagged one of these deer somewhat curiously. "He was coming," he writes, "through the scrubby, rather open bush straight, towards me in a series of great leaps, rising, 1 think, quite four feet from the ground at every bound. I stood absolutely still, thinking to fire at him just as he jumped the stream and passed me. However, he came so straight to me that, had he held his course, he must' have jumped on to or over me. But when little more than the width of the stream separated us when he was certainly not more than ten yards from me he either saw or winded me, and, without a moment's halt, made a prodigious leap sideways. I fired at him when he was in the air, and I believe quite six feet above the ground." The deer, an old buck with a good head, was afterwards picked up dead. In different parts of America, as far south as Peru and Bolivia, various local races of this deer are to be found. TRUE'S DEER is a small species, not unlike the Virginian deer, found from South Mexico to Costa Eica. The antlers are "in the form of simple spikes directed backwards," and the body-colouring is in summer light chestnut, in winter brownish grey. Little is at present known of this species. The MULE-DEER, found in most parts of North America west of the Missouri, as far south The large ears, from which the American species takes its name, are noticeable even in the young. The Deer Tribe 297 as Southern California, stands about 3 feet 3 inches at the shoulder, and weighs over 17 stone clean. It carries good antlers, measuring as much as 30 inches, and in colour is tawny red in summer, brownish grey in winter. It is a far better sporting animal than the sneaking white- tailed deer, and affords excellent stalking. These deer are still abundant in many localities. Mr. Phillipps-Wolley writes thus of them in " Big Game Shooting " : " Some idea of the number of these deer in British Columbia may be gathered from the fact that in one district I have had a chance of killing seventeen separate stags in an hour's still hunt, whilst one settler in the Similkameen country fed his hogs on deer-meat through a whole winter." Four races of mule-deer the TYPICAL, the CALIFORNIAN, the LA PAZ, and the WESTERN DESERT race have been identified by naturalists. The BLACK-TAILED DEER is another well-known cervine of Western North America, closely allied to the mule-deer, but distinguished from that species by its inferior size and its much blacker tail. The antlers, as a rule, run somewhat smaller than in the case of the mule-deer. This, too, is a very abundant species, affording fairly good sport (considering its liking for timber and dense bush) and excellent venison. In South America are to be found several kinds of marsh-deer, of which the best known is the handsome MARSH-DEER, having its range from Brazil to the forest country of the Argentine Republic. Little is known of this and other South American deer by British sportsmen. The marsh-deer is almost equal in size to the red deer of Scotland, but somewhat less stout of build ; the colouring is bright chestnut in summer, brown in winter ; the coat is long and coarse, as befits a swamp-loving creature ; the antlers usually display ten points, and measure in fine specimens as much as 23 or 24 inches. The PAMPAS-DEER, a species closely allied to the marsh-deer, is of small size, standing about 2 feet 6 inches at the shoulder. The antlers, usually three-pointed, measure no more than from 12 to 14 inches in fine specimens. This deer is found from Brazil to Northern Patagonia. The PERUVIAN and CHILIAN GUEMALS are small deer, found on the high Andes, and are somewhat inferior in size to the Virginian deer. The males carry simple antlers forming a single fork, and measuring about 9 inches. The coat, yellowish brown in hue, is coarse, thick. ermission of Professor Bumpus\ VIRGINIAN DEER. This deer is the best-known representative of a species displaying extraordinary local variation in size and colour. [New York. 38 298 The Living Animals of the World and brittle. The Chilian guemal is found also in most parts of Patagonia ; unlike its congener of Peru, which delights in altitudes of from 14,000 to 16,000 feet, its habitat lies chiefly in deep valleys, thick forest, and even the adjacent plains, to which it resorts in winter. The BROCKETS, of which seven species are found in South and Central America and Trinidad, are small deer, having spike-like antlers and tufted crowns. The largest is the KED BROCKET, found in Guiana, Brazil, and Paraguay, which stands 27 inches at the shoulder. The body-colouring is brownish red. Like most of the group, this brocket is extremely shy ; although fond of dense covert, it is found also on open campos. The PYGMY BROCKET, a tiny dark brown deerlet, less than 19 inches in height, found in Central Brazil, is the smallest of these very small deer. Two other diminutive deer, known as PUDUS, closely allied to the brockets, are found in South America. These are the CHILIAN and ECUADOR PUDUS, of which the former is no more than 13| inches in height, the latter about 14 or 15 inches. Little is known of the history and life habits of these charming little creatures, one of which, the Chilian species, has occasionally been seen in the Zoological Society's Gardens. THE MUSK-DEER. This brief account of the deer of the world closes with the MUSK-DEER, which differ from almost all others of their kind the Chinese water-deer being the sole exception in the absence of antlers. In place of these defensive and offensive weapons, nature has provided the musk-deer with long canine tusks, projecting downwards from the upper jaw. The musk, from which these curious deer take their name, is secreted during the rutting-season in the male only in a pouch or gland contained in the skin of the stomach. The well-known HIMALAYAN MUSK-DEER is a stout, heavily made deer for its size, measuring 20 inches at the shoulder, about 2 inches higher at the rump, and having a coat of coarse, brittle hair of a dark brown colour. This musk-deer, which is nowadays by no means common is found in the forests of the Himalaya, Tibet, Siberia, and Western China, often at altitudes of about 8,000 feet. These animals are extraordinary mountaineers, active, daring, and apparently quite unconscious of or indifferent to danger. Another species, the KANSU MUSK-DEER, found in the province of Kansu, China, has only been discovered within the last ten years. Concerning this deer very little is at present known. In general characteristics it resembles its more familiar congener of the Himalaya. permission of the New York Zoological Society. MULE-DEER STAG. Shows the large blackish-brown patch on the forehead, so distinctive of the species. The Deer Tribe 299 A WORD should be said upon the subject of the acclimatisation of various members of the Deer Tribe in countries which are distant from their native ground, but in which they are found to thrive and breed, some with greater and some with less success. It will be seen that several of the illustrations in this chapter are taken from deer living in natural conditions at Woburn Abbey, the seat of the Duke of Bedford. Others were photographed out of doors in zoologi- cal parks or private menageries. There is a considerable degree of transferability among deer, not only among Photo by the Duchess of Bedford] [ Woburn Abbey. YOUNG MARSH-DEER. A very elegant South American species. The main colour is a bright chestnut, with the lower part of the legs black. The insides of the ears are filled with white hair, looking like silver filigree. those found in temperate or northern regions, but also those which inhabit the tropical jungles of Southern India. The Axis, or Chital Deer of India, is the most striking example. It lives in the hot jungles, where it is the usual food of the tiger. Yet it has been transferred to the forests of France and to English parks, and not only lives, but breeds and increases in numbers. It is kept in this country mainly at "Woburn Abbey, and at Haggerston Castle, in Northumberland. In France and Germany herds of axis deer have been maintained long enough to observe a curious and noteworthy incident in acclimatisation. The axis deer breeds naturally in October, after the Indian rainy season. This habit, if persisted in in Europe, would expose the fawn to the rigours of the French or English winter. Gradually and after some time the herds become irregular in the time of reproduction, and later produce the fawns in June, at the time which is best suited to their survival. This is a real instance of acclimatisation. The Japanese Deer, or Sika, was introduced into the park at Powerscourt by Viscount Powerscourt some thirty years ago. Now it is one of the commonest of recently introduced park-deer both in this country and in France. The venison is excellent, and the herds are prolific. The stags are small, but very strong, and at Powerscourt always get the better of the red deer stags, and sometimes carry off their hinds. Wapiti Deer are kept in several English parks, but so far the Sambar has proved a failure. Hog-deer and Chinese Water-deer do very well both in England and France. But it is in New Zealand that the best results have been obtained with imported deer. The English Ked Deer, some of which were originally sent out by the Prince Consort, reinforced by some of the same species bred in Australia, have become indigenous. They grow far faster and to a larger size than those on the Scotch moors, and rival the great stags of the Carpathians. The antlers also increase in size at an abnormal rate. Licences are regularly issued to stalk and shoot these deer, which, like the brown trout and the pheasant, are now among the stock of established wild fauna. Moose and a few Sambar stags and herds have also been turned out in New Zealand. The latter are said to be doing well. 300 The Living Animals of the World There is no particular reason why the deer of cold countries should not be inter- changed ; they seem to have the natural adaptability of oxen. But it is not a little surprising that the species from warm climates should nourish in damp and cold ones. The axis deer would be a real addition to the fauna of the great European forests, if it is found that it survives the winter snows without some form of artificial shelter. No one seems to have considered the advisa- bility of introducing the mule-deer into the Central European woods. It is a much finer animal than the fallow buck, and the venison is excellent. In those woods where fallow deer are preserved in a wild state, as on many of the German Emperor's sporting- estates, the mule-deer would be a far more ornamental animal. Few people know what immense herds of red and fallow deer, as well as of wild boars, still exist, under careful preservation, in the forests of the great German, Austrian, and Russian princes, and in the royal forests of their respective countries. When the Kaiser holds his great Court hunting-parties, to which the guests all come dressed in the uniform of the Order of St. Hubert, as many as 200 deer are shot in a day. They are driven past the guns by beaters. After the day's sport is over all the antlers are wreathed with boughs of spruce fir, and the stags laid out like rabbits after an English battue. It is rather surprising that only one species of deer has been entirely domesticated viz. the Reindeer. Deer's meat is as highly prized as that of any other game, perhaps even more so. There is almost no part of the animal which is not useful. The horns are valuable for knife-handles, and always command a good price ; they were prized even by prehistoric man, who converted them into pick-axes, and made spear-heads and daggers of them. The leather of the hide makes the softest and best of all hunting-garments : the American Indian or trapper always wears, or used to wear, a deer-skin shirt and deer-skin leggings, made as exquisitely soft as chamois leather by a process known to the squaws. At the present time all the best gloves are made of doe-skin ; they are far the most costly of any gloves. Doe-skin breeches are also a luxurious garment to ride in. For ornamental rugs few skins beat those of the Dappled Deer, laid on the floor of some finely furnished hall or room. Thus we have the curious spectacle of the wild men of the Far North, the Lapps and Ostiaks, taming and keeping in domestication great herds of deer, milking them, using them as beasts of draught, and feeding on their flesh, while far more civilised races in the South have not taken the trouble to do so. The reason is not easy to surmise, unless it be that the idea of making use of the Deer Tribe solely as beasts of the chase was so rooted in the European ruling races, and their kings and nobles, that the agriculturist never had a chance of trying to tame and use them for other purposes. It is certain that during the yMiddle Ages law and custom made any such attempt quite impossible. The deer were a valuible sporting asset, so hedged round with an atmosphere of feudal privilege, that to convert/them into something useful to the common people would have been regarded as an insult t/ the powers that were. Photo by the Duchess of Bedford] [ Woburn Abbey, YOUNG HIMALAYAN MUSK-DEER. The male carries a pouch on the abdomen, from which the musk is obtained. There are no antlers. * 3C1 CHAPTER XVIII. Photo by E. Landor] WHITE CAMEL. A light sandy is the common colour, though white, grey, brown, and black occur ; but black camels are held by the Arabs to be worthless. THE CAMEL TRIBE AND THE CHEVROTAINS. BY W. P. PYCRAFT, A.L.S., P.Z.S. r I THE Camels and Llamas, constituting the _L present group, form a very distinct section of the great assemblage of animals known as the Ruminants, or Cud- chewers. The Camel Tribe are peculiar amongst the Ruminants in that they never possess horns, and in that the stomach is only divided into three instead of four com- partments this division into compartments being intimately connected with the ruminat- ing habit. Furthermore, the upper jaw bears cutting-teeth, or "front teeth," as they are popularly called : though the full set (three pairs) is only complete in the young, in the adult but one pair remains, the others being shed. The canine or " eye " teeth are also peculiar in their position, those of the lower jaw being separated from the cutting-teeth by a very considerable gap. In the structure of the feet the Camel Tribe are no less peculiar; indeed, it is on this character that the scientific name of the group is founded. Only two toes are present; these are of equal size, and, instead of being protected by hoofs, are provided with a hardened skin, covering a cushion-like pad, which expands when the weight of the body is thrown upon the foot, as in walking. This is an admirable adaptation for walking on soft and yielding sands. Hoofs are represented only by a pair of broad nails. The three-chambered stomach is remark- able because the chamber known as the "paunch" lodges in its walls a large collec- tion of "water-cells," in which can be stored as much as a gallon and a half of water. This faculty of storing water is invaluable to an animal which has often to subsist for days on absolutely waterless deserts. Note the slit-like nostrils in the illus- tration of the Bactrian Camel on page 306. These can be closed at the will of the animal, a useful precaution against the entrance of sand during the violent sand-storms which often arise in the desert. The True Camels are distinguished by the possession of a hump or humps : there are never more than two. It is in these humps that the camel was popularly supposed Photo ly Cliarles K [Aldershot. ARABIAN CAMEL. This individual belongs to the heavy breed employed for carrying merchandise and baggage. 302 The Camel Tribe and the Chevrotains 303 to store water ; in reality they are huge masses of fat, serving as a reserve store of food. The accumulation of fat for this purpose is a common feature amongst the Mammalia. Most animals which hibernate, or lay up and sleep during the winter, store up fat; but, except in the camel, it is distributed more or less evenly over the body. With hard work or bad feeding the camel's hump dwindles almost to nothing. When on the eve of a long journey, the Arab looks anxiously to the state of this hump, for on the size of this depends the animal's condition and ability to undertake the march. The Arabian camel as a wild animal has long since been extinct. Of the hordes of so-called wild camels which abound in the desert regions of Central Asia (Gobi Steppe), some are probably descendants of domesticated animals which have escaped from captivity, but others may be aboriginally wild. From the evidence of fossil camels, there seems little doubt that this animal originated in North America one branch of the family (the Llamas) migrating into South America, and the other (the Camels) crossing Bering Sea into the Old World. THE TRUE CAMEL. Before proceeding further, it may be well to refer to the confusion which exists in the use of the names Camel and Dromedary. The latter name seems popularly to be applied to the two-humped species, the name Camel being reserved for the one with a single hump. This is a mistake. The DROMEDARY is a swift breed of riding-camel of the one- humped species, and is so called to distinguish it from its slower brother, the Pack-camel, or Photo by York & Son} [Sotting Hill. A CAMEL. A half-breed between the Arabian and Bactrian species. Photo by W. Reid] A STRING OP CAMELS NEAR PORT SAID. These are the typical desert-camels of the East. 304 The Living Animals of the World Baggage-camel. The pack-camel, it is interesting to note, has been introduced into Australia, where it has proved invaluable in crossing the vast waterless deserts, on account of its power to exist for long periods without drinking. The TRUE or ARABIAN CAMEL is found in a domesticated state in Africa and Asia, and, as we have just indicated, belongs to the one-humped species. It is a long-limbed, short>haired animal, standing as much a* 7 feet high. \s a wild animal it is extinct. Much mystery, indeed, surrounds the question of its origin. It has been suggested that the Arabian camel, or its immediate parent, may have sprung from an Indian ancestor, and thence made its way through Arabia and Syria into Northern Africa. Not only is the camel indispensable as a beast of burden, but it is esteemed also for its (jRj hair, its flesh, bones, and milk. The hair is woven into cloth. In some parts of India the bones are used instead of ivory for inlaid work. The milk is unusually thick and rich, so much so that it cannot be used for tea or coffee, as it curdles when mixed with either. The camel is popularly supposed to be *. very docile animal; but those who speak from experience declare it to be stupid, surly, and vicious to the last degree. It is, however, not entirely void of understanding, and apparently cherishes feelings of revenge, as the following story shows : " A camel, working in an oil-mill, was severely beaten by its driver. Perceiving that the camel had treasured up the injury, and was only waiting a favourable opportunity for revenge, he kept a strict watch upon the animal. Time passed away ; the camel, perceiving it was watched, was quiet and obedient, and the driver began to think the beating was forgotten, when one night, after the lapse of several months, the man was sleeping on a raised platform in the mill, whilst the camel, as is customary, was stabled in a corner. Happening to awake, the driver observed by the bright moonlight that, when all was quiet, the animal looked cautiously round, rose softly, and, stealing towards a spot where a bundle of clothes and a bernous, thrown carelessly on the ground, resembled a sleeping figure, cast itself with violence upon them, rolling with all its weight, and tearing them most viciously with its teeth. Satisfied that revenge was complete, the camel was returning to its corner, when the driver sat up and spoke. At the sound of his voice, perceiving the mistake it had made, the animal was so mortified at the failure and discovery of its scheme, that it dashed its head against the wall and died on the spot." It is said that when camels pass a mounted man in a narrow path they will turn their heads suddenly round and endeavour to inflict a bite on the rider's arm or shoulder. This is naturally much dreaded, as a camel's bite is particularly severe. Much care has been spent in the breeding of the camel. " In the Sahara Desert," says Canon Tristram, " the Tourareg is as careful in the selection of his breeding mahari (a fine race of the dromedary) as the Arab is in that of his horse. The pedigrees are handed down, and many a dromedary can boast a genealogy far longer than the descendants of the Darley Arabian" (page 202). THE BACTRIAN CAMEL. This species is often called the Dromedary ; but, as we have already remarked, this is an error. The dromedary is a swift breed of the Arabian camel. The BACTRIAN CAMEL may be Photo l>y the Duchess of Bedford] [iroburn Alley. HEAD OF BACTRIAN CAMEL. The hair of this species is used to felt into material for tents. It is longest on the top of the head, neck, humps, and parts of the fore limbs. Photo by the Duchess of Bedford] [ Woburn Abbey. AN OLD MALE BACTKIAN CAMEL. This animal is a magnificent representative of the two-humped species, so widely distributed in Central Asia. 305 39 306 The Living Animals of the World distinguished from its Arabian relative by the fact that it has two humps, is shorter in the leg and heavier, and has longer hair and stouter and harder feet. The shorter legs are distinctly advantageous, enabling the animal to get about with ease and safety over rocky and hilly ground. The hordes of wild camels found in Turkestan, in the neighbourhood of Kashgar, are believed by Major C. S. Cumberland to be descended from camels which escaped when the district known as Takla Makan was buried in a great sand-storm 200 years ago. From the fury of that storm it is said no human being escaped alive. Some camels apparently did, perhaps owing their survival to the power they possess of closing the nostrils, and thereby keeping out the sand. The Bactrian camel lives upon the salt and bitter plants of the steppes, which are rejected by almost all other animals. It is further able to drink brackish water from the salt lakes by which it is surrounded. When pressed by hunger, it will even eat felt blankets, bones and skins of other animals, and fish ! t Photo by Scholastic Photo. Co.J [Parson's Green. YOUNG BACTBIAN CAMEL. The two humps are just beginning to grow. Photo by Charles Kniyht] [AMtfthot, BACTRIAN CAMEL. The most useful transport animal of Central Asia. THE LLAMAS. THE LLAMAS are humpless camels, and confined to the western and southernmost parts of South America. Two wild and two domesticated species are known. The name Llama, it should be mentioned, properly belongs to the domesticated animal of that^name. THE VicutfA. This is the smaller of the two wild species. Vicunas live in herds in the mountain-ranges of Peru, dwelling during the wet season high up amid rocks and precipices, near the region of perpetual snow. In the dry season they descend to the higher valleys. Their capture is a matter of great difficulty; for, apart from the inaccessible nature of their haunts, they are exceedingly shy and vigilant. They are clothed in a woolly coat of extremely delicate texture, much in demand for weaving purposes. The baby vicuna, it is interesting to note, is able to run swiftly directly after its birth, and possesses great powers of The Camel Tribe and the Chevrotains 307 endurance. This is the more noteworthy since the young of the camel are exceedingly helpless. Vicunas are hunted by the Indians and captured by driving them into an enclosure of perhaps half a mile in diameter. This is hung round with bits of coloured rag, which, fluttering in the wind, appear to deter the captives from breaking through. THE GrUANACO. This is larger than the vicuna, and is described as an elegant animal, being possessed of a long, slender, gracefully curved neck and fine legs. It ranges from the highlands of the Andes to the plains of Patagonia and the islands of Tierra del Fuego. As Mr. Darwin points out, the behaviour of guanaco when alarmed is very contradictory. At one time they will sound the danger-signal, and put themselves out of harm's way long before the enemy has perceived them ; at another they exhibit the most extraordinary curiosity, and pay the death- penalty in consequence. " That they are curious is certain ; for if a person lies on the ground and plays strange antics, such as throwing up his feet in the air, they will almost always approach by degrees to reconnoitre him. It was an artifice that was repeatedly practised by our sportsmen with success, and it had, moreover, the advantage of allowing several shots to be fired, which were all taken as part of the performance. On the mountains of Tierra del Fuego, I have more than once seen a guanaco, on being approached, not only neigh and squeal, but prance and leap about in the most ridi- culous manner, apparently in defiance, as a challenge. ft.. Photo by J. W. McLdlan] [Highbury. GUANACO. The wild original of the llama and alpaca. These animals are very easily domesticated, and I have seen some thus kept in Northern Patagonia near a house, though not under any restraint. They are in this state very bold, and readily attack a man by striking him from behind with both knees. The wild guanacos, however, have no idea of defence ; even a single dog will secure one of these large animals till the huntsmen can come up. In many of their habits they are like sheep in a flock. Thus, when they see men approaching in several directions on horseback, they soon become bewildered, and know not which way to run. This greatly facilitates the Indian method of hunting, for they are thus easily driven to a central point, and are encompassed." Guanacos readily take to the water, and have been frequently seen swimming from one island to another. Here again the llamas differ from the camels, for these can swim but little, if at all. Like the Bactrian camel, the guanaco can drink salt water with impunity. One of the most remarkable traits of the guanaco is that which induces it, when it feels its end to be near, to seek out the dying-place of the tribe, and there breathe out its last. " The guanacos," says Mr. Darwin, " appear to have favourite spots for lying down to die. On the banks of the St. Cruz, in certain circumscribed places, which were generally bushy and all near the river, the ground was actually white with bones. On one such spot I counted 308 The Living Animals of the World between ten and twenty heads. . . . The animals in most cases must have crawled, before dying, beneath and amongst the bushes." THE LLAMA. This is the first of the two domesticated offshoots of the guanaco, the other being the Alpaca. The LLAMA is a larger beast than the guanaco, and variable in colour. The ancient Peruvians bred it as a beast of burden or for riding, and before the Spanish conquest kept it in enormous numbers. Soon after the Spanish conquest " it was not uncommon to meet droves of from 300 to 500, or even 1,000 llamas, each laden with silver ingots, and the whole in charge of a single native. ... Only the male llamas were used as beasts of burden, while the smaller females were kept for their milk and flesh. In travelling along the roads, the droves marched in single file, under the guidance of a leader; and such a line would traverse the highest passes of the Cordillera, and skirt the most stupendous precipices with perfect safety. . . . The Spanish conquerors of Peru spoke of llama-flesh as being fully equal to the best mutton, and they established shops in the towns for its regular sale. At the time of the conquest it is estimated that upwards of 300,000 llamas were employed in the transport of the product of the mines of Potosi alone." THE ALPACA. This animal is bred solely for the sake of its wool, which is of great length and fineness. From it is made the well-known fabric which bears, in consequence, the name " alpaca." The alpaca is kept in herds on the high grounds of Bolivia and South Peru, whence it is annually driven down to be sheared. The Incas dyed the wool wnich is of two qualities, a fine and a coarse with bright colours, and made it up into cloth or blankets, as the occasion served. The earliest account of this animal is by Augustin de Zarate, the Treasurer-General of Peru in 1544. He speaks of the beast as a sheep ; but since he describes it as camel-like in shape, though devoid of a hump, there can be no doubt that it is the llama he is describing. Photo by the Duches of Bedford] LLAMAS. Largely used as beasts of burden in Peru, where these and the alpaca were formerly the only domesticated ruminants. [ Woburn Abbey. The Camel Tribe and the Chevrotains 309 He says : " In places where there is no snow the natives want water, and to supply this they fill the skins of sheep with water, and make other living sheep carry them; for, it must be remarked, these sheep of Peru are large enough to serve as beasts of burden. They can carry about 100 Ibs. or more, and the Spaniards used to ride them, and they would go four or five leagues a day. When they are weary, they lie down on the ground; and as there are no means of making them get up, either by beating or assisting them, the load must of necessity be taken off. When there is a man on one of them, if the beast be tired and urged to go on, he turns his head round and discharges his saliva, which has an unpleasant odour, into the rider's face. These animals are of great use and profit to their masters, for their wool is very good and fine . . . and the expense of their food is trifling, as a handful of maize suffices them, and they can go four or five days without water. Their flesh is as good as that of the fat sheep of Castile. There are now public shambles for the sale of their flesh in all parts of Peru, which was not the case when the Spaniards came first." The particularly offensive habit of spitting in the face of people who may be obnoxious to it is well known to those who are in the habit of seeing much of this animal. Photo by Miss E. J. Beck. LLAMA. The larger of the two domesticated forms descended from the guanaco. THE CHEVEOTAINS. MENTION must be made, before passing to the Pig Tribe, of the smallest of hoofed mammals, the Eoyal Antelope excepted the CHEVROTAINS. These little animals are horn- less, and intermediate in character between the Deer, Camels, and Pigs. The males have large canine teeth, like those of>the Musk-deer, with which the Chevrotains have long been confounded. The range of these animals, of which there are five species known, extends from India and Ceylon, through the Malayan countries, as far east as the island of Palawan, in the Philippine group. One species, the largest of the group, occurs on the west coast of Africa. Photo by G. W. Wilson & Co., Ltd.] [Aberdeen. ALPACA. A domesticated form, bred solely for its wool, which is of a dark brown or black colour. CHAPTER XIX. THE PIG AND HIPPOPOTAMUS. THE PIG TRIBE. BY H. A. BEYDEN. MANY species and varieties of swine are found in different parts of the world, most of them exhibiting strong traces of a general family resemblance, although widely sundered as to habitats and often markedly differing in outward appearance. All are omnivorous ; all have the stomach simpler in type than in the Ruminants ; and all have front or incisor teeth in the upper jaw. The two great families of swine proper are the Pigs and Peccaries. There has been much discussion among scientists as to the early origin of the various breeds of domestic swine found in different parts of the world. There can be little doubt that, although selective breeding has produced extraordinary differences in outward appearance, even among the domestic pigs of our own islands, the origin of the numerous tame races is to be sought in the ancestry of the wild breeds of the countries in which they are found. Darwin has some very apposite remarks on the differences to be observed in domesticated swine. " The peculiar form of the skull and body in the most highly cultivated races is," he observes, "not characteristic of any one race, but is common to all when improved up to Photo ly W. Reid] [Withaic, N.B. A DOMESTICATED SOW AND HER PROGENY. The absence of stripes and spots on the young is a feature in which they differ from those of nearly all wild swine. 310 The Pig and Hippopotamus Photo by Ottomar Amchiitz] {Berlin. WILD BOAK. In its long, bristly hair and powerful lower tusks, the wild boar is a very different animal from its domesticated descendants. the same standard. Thus the large-bodied, long-eared English breed, with a convex back, and the small-bodied, short-eared Chinese breeds, with a concave back, when bred to the same state of perfection, nearly resemble each other in the form of the head and body. This result, it appears, is partly due to similar causes of change acting on the several races, and partly to man breeding the pig for one sole purpose namely, for the greatest amount of flesh and fat; so that selection has always tended towards one and the same end. With most domestic animals the result of selection has been divergence of character; here it has been convergence." THE TRUE PIGS. True pigs are found only in the Old World, and even there in very widely different forms. Typical of these quadrupeds is the well-known WILD BOAR, found abundantly in many parts of Europe, North Africa, Asia Minor, and Central Asia. In the British Islands the wild boar must once have been extraordinarily plentiful, especially in Ireland, where its tame descendants still so greatly flourish. In the days of the Plantagenets wild swine fed and sheltered in the woodlands close to London. James I. hunted them near Windsor in 1617, and even down to the year 1683 these animals still had their haunts in the more secluded parts of England. Although now extinct in these Islands, the wild boar is to be found plentifully at the present day in France, Germany, Austria, Russia, and Spain, Greece, Albania, and other countries of the Mediterranean. In most parts of Europe the wild boar is shot during forest drives, but in the Caucasus and round the Black Sea the hardy peasants lie in wait for these animals by the fruit-trees on autumn nights or waylay them going to the water and shoot them single-handed. Many an old Cossack, writes Mr. Clive Phillipps-Wolley, bears the scars of some desperate encounter with these formidable foes. In Spain, where in the old days the boar was pursued by cavaliers with spear and pike, it is still, in the forests of Estremadura, followed with horse and hound, usually, says Mr. Abel Chapman, " during the stillness of a moonlight night, when the acorns are falling from the oaks in the magnificent Estremenian woods." 312 The Living Animals of the World Photo by J. Turner-Turner, Eq. DIVING-PIGS. Half-wild pigs, found in Florida, -where they live on refuse fish. (See next page.) In India the wild boar of Europe and North Africa is replaced by a closely allied species (distinguished by a crest of long black bristles upon the neck and back), which furnishes some of the finest and most exciting sport in the world to mounted hunters armed with a sharp spear. There is not a pluckier or more fearless beast living than the boar ; and as he carries long and extremely sharp tusks, and never scruples to use them, he is an exceedingly dangerous opponent when wounded and enraged. Severe and even fatal accidents have happened in the pursuit of this determined beast of chase. When at bay, the boar is absolutely reckless of life; and although pierced and mortally wounded by the spear, will yet force himself up the shaft, and with his dying effort inflict gaping wounds on the horse bearing his attacker. Indian shikaris, to illustrate the courage of the wild boar, say that he has the hardihood to drink at a river between two tigers; and Colonel K. Heber Percy mentions, in the Badminton volumes on "Big Game Shooting," that "several cases are on record in which an old boar has beaten off a tiger, and some in which the latter has been killed by a boar. The boar's extraordinary activity and sharp tusks make him no mean adversary, and his short neck makes it difficult for a tiger to seize it and give it that fatal wrench with which he likes to polish off his victims." A wild boar will stand as much as 3 feet at the shoulder some sportsmen affirm considerably more and weigh more than 300 Ibs. The finest boar's tusk known is one mentioned in Eowland Ward's "Kecords of Big Game." This measures 11| inches over the curve. It came from the Caucasus, and is in the possession of Colonel Veernhof. It is worthy of note that, while the full-grown individuals of the various species of wild swine are uniformly coloured, their young are longitudinally striped and spotted. In India, besides the common boar, a tiny wild swine, known as the PYGMY HOG, is found in the Bhutan Terai and the forests of Nepal and Sikhitn. This pig, which is little bigger than a fox-terrier, runs in considerable troops, or sounders, and is said to attack intruders into it> domain much in the same fearless way in which the peccary of America defends its sanctuaries. The height of this diminutive species is given as from 8 to 10 inches the weight at 10 Ibs. The Pig and Hippopotamus 313 Photo by Scholastic Photo. Co., Panon's drr JAVAN WILD PIG. One of several nearly allied species inhabiting the Malay Islands. Wild swine are nocturnal in their habits, frequenting moist and marshy country, loving the shade of forests, and making their lairs in tall grass, reed-beds, and similar covert. They go far afield for their food-supplies, and do a great deal of damage to crops in cultivated districts. The European wild sow produces from six to ten young, and at least two litters are usually brought forth in the year. It is remarkable how quickly pigs, as well as other domesticated animals, revert to a semi-feral state of existence, and develop habits suited to a fresh environ- ment. Mr. J. Turner-Turner sends us the following interesting note in connection with this trait: "DrviNG- PIGS. These pigs live in an almost wild condition on certain of the islands off Florida, and subsist chiefly upon the refuse fish cast away by the netsmen. To obtain this, the pigs dive under water, walking on the land at a depth of 5 feet below the surface." Among other Asiatic wild swine are to be mentioned the COLLARED PIG, found in Java, Sumatra, and Borneo ; the WHITE-WHISKERED JAPANESE PIG; the PAPUAN and FORMOSAN PIGS ; the WARTY PIG of Java and Borneo ; the CERAM PIG ; the CELEBES PIG ; and the BEARDED PIG of Borneo, a species distinguished by a quantity of long hair carried upon the cheeks. In the Andaman Islands a small, shaggy wild pig, standing about 20 inches at the shoulder, is found in the forests. Although distinguished from the well-known wild boar of India by certain peculiarities, there is a strong family resemblance to that well-known species in most of these various Asiatic species and races. Among the many kinds of domesticated swine found in Asia, perhaps the strangest and most curio as is the JAPANESE MASKED PIG. This animal is described by Darwin as having "an extraordinary appearance, from its short head, broad forehead and nose, great fleshy ears, and deeply furrowed skin. Not only is the face furrowed, but thick folds of skin, which are harder than the other parts, almost like the plates on the Indian rhinoceros, hang about the shoulders and rump. It is coloured black, with white feet, and breeds true. That it has long been domesticated there can be little doubt; and this might have been inferred even from the circumstance that its young are not longitudinally striped." In Africa, besides the Euro- pean wild boar, which there extends its range to Algeria and Morocco, a little-known wild pig is the SENAAR BOAR, found in Senaar, Kordofan, and the Soudan region. In the late Dr. Gray's " Catalogue of Carnivora " this wild pig is described as having the fur dense and bristly, and 40 Photo by Scholastic Photo. Co.] MALE AND FEMALE BABIRUSA. [Parson's Green. The chief characteristic of this pig is the peculiar and enormous development of the tusks in the male, the upper pair of which grow through the lips and curve backwards. 314 The Living Animals of the World Photo by Miss E. J. Beck. WART-HOG. Shows the great size of the head in proportion to the body. being in colour dull olive-black, varied with yellow. Possibly this little-known swine may prove to be merely a sub-species of the common wild boar of Europe and North Africa. Now that the Soudan regions have once more been opened up to Europeans, we may expect shortly to hear more of this wild swine, as well as of other rare and interesting animals. Still dealing with the true pigs, we come now to the BUSH-PIGS of Africa and Madagascar. These differ somewhat from the typical wild boars of Europe and India in the structure of the teeth, the long pencilled ear-tufts, the elongated snout, and other characteristics. The tusks are considerably smaller, and seldom exceed 6 or 7 inches in length. The BED EIVEE-HOG, or WEST AFRICAN BUSH-PIG, is decidedly the most striking of this group. Smaller than the bush-pig of South Africa, and- seldom exceeding 2 feet in height at the shoulder, the colour of this animal is a brilliant reddish brown, with tints of yellow. Noticeable streaks of white are found round the eyes and on the cheeks. The ear-tufts, forehead, and limbs are blackish; more white markings are seen at the tips of the ear-tufts, along the thick mane, and round the margins of the ears. The under-parts are whitish grey in colour. This very handsome pig runs in considerable herds, and is found chiefly in forest and jungle near the banks of the various rivers in West Africa. Its range extends from Angola to Senegambia, and eastwards into the continent as far as Monbuttu. The well-known BUSH-PIG OF SOUTH AFRICA, the BOSCH-VARK of the Boers, is a fine species, having a wide range over much of the southern and south-eastern parts of the continent, extending as far north as Central Africa. In the Eastern Transvaal and Swaziland these animals attain their greatest size, an adult boar standing from 2 feet 4 inches to 2 feet 7 inches in height, and weighing as much as from 150 to 170 Ibs. The usual colour is brownish red, the face and mane greyish ; but in different specimens and at different ages great variations are to be noticed. Pale greyish brown or mottled brown are colours often to be found. These bush-pigs are formidable-looking creatures, with thick bristling manes, small deep-set eyes, and sharp if somewhat short tusks, which they know well how to use. Among the old-fashioned Boers cured hams from these animals were, when they were more plentiful in Cape Colony, often to be found in up-country farmhouses. The bosch-vark is a beast of shy, nocturnal habit, and, loving as it does the shade and protection of dense covert and bush, is, unless carefully sought for, not often seen by sportsmen. The herds range usually from half a dozen to as many as twenty in number. When once encountered and set up at bay, this wild swine Photo by Scholastic Photo. Co.] i's Green. S WART-HOG. Displays the broad muzzle and huge tusks, which are nearly as large in the sows as in the boars. The Pig and Hippopotamus 315 will be found a most tough and courageous adversary, capable and willing to defend itself stoutly against all foes. " They are," says Mr. F. Vaughan Kirby, who has had much experience in hunting these animals, "expert swimmers and swift of foot, and can get over the roughest ground at a great pace. There is no pluckier beast in Africa than a bush-pig, and even a leopard will hesitate before attacking a full-grown boar. Like all wild creatures, they have an instinctive dread of man, and will always make their escape from him if possible ; but if surrounded or wounded and brought to bay, they appear to accept the situation with stolid imperturbability, and die fighting with rare pluck, against all odds, grim and silent to the last. . . . Face to face in the middle of a 'fast' bush, and only a Swazi ' stabbing-assegai ' with which to kill him, ... I have seen an old boar, after receiving nine thrusts from those terrible weapons, two of which were still fast in him, make a charge that scattered us like chaff, and in three consecutive lunges lame one of our number for life, and disembowel two of the finest ' pig-dogs ' I ever hunted with. In such encounters a boar inflicts terrible wounds with his teeth, as well as with his tusks." Few men care to face a wart-hog on foot. Another bush-pig is found in Madagascar, and is known as EDWARDS' BUSH-PIG. Its habits are very similar to those of its brethren in the neighbouring continent of Africa. THE BABIRUSA. Quitting the true pigs, we come now to perhaps the very strangest and most singular of all the great tribe of swine. This is the BABIRUSA, that curious and grotesque creature found in the island of Celebes, in the Malay Archipelago. The name Babirusa signifies pig- Photo ly Scllolaitic P/loto Co>] deer. It is 01 course a HEAD OF MALE WART-HOG. misnomer, and tne animal p ro fii e showing the large conical warty growths on the side of the face so characteristic of has no kinship whatever with these animals, the cervine race. The babi- rusa is a wild swine, having a dark slate-grey skin, very sparsely covered with hair along the ridge of the spine. This skin is very extraordinarily wrinkled. The ears are much smaller than is the case with other members of the swine group, while the tail is short, straight, and lacks any semblance of tuft. The females have small tusks. In the boars the tusks are most singularly and abnormally developed. From the upper jaw, instead of curving from the side of the lips, the tusks grow from the centre of the muzzle, penetrate right through the skin, and curve backwards often till they touch the forehead. The lower tusks have also a strong curve, but are not so long as those of the upper jaw. Although thus superabundantly provided with tushes, the babirusa is, as regards the rest of its teeth, less well off, having only thirty-four, as against the forty-four of the European wild boar. In their habits these singular pigs much resemble other wild swine, going in herds and frequenting forest, jungle, and the banks of rivers. They are excellent swimmers. The young are, unlike other wild swine in the infant state, unstriped. These animals are often found domesticated about the dwellings of native chiefs in Celebes. The weight of a good male is as much as 128 Ibs. ; height at shoulder, 27 inches. The longest tusk recorded measures 17 inches [Parson's Green. 316 The Living Animals of the World Photo ly If. P. Dando] [Regent's Park. COLLARED PECCARY. Peccaries are the New World representatives of the Swine, and are characterised by a large gland on the back. over the curve. These animals are driven into nets and speared by the natives of Celebes, and afford excellent sport, the boars especially charging viciously at their assailants. THE WART-HOGS. If the babirusa of the Malay Archipelago is a sufficiently bizarre-looking creature, the wart-hog of Africa yields to none of the wild pigs in sheer, downright hideousness of aspect. The WART-HOG OF SOUTH AFRICA, the VLAKTE-VARK (Pig of the Plains) of the Boers, has long been familiar to hunters and naturalists. Standing some 30 inches in height, this wild swine is distinguished by the disproportionate size of the head, extreme length, breadth, and flatness of the front of the face and muzzle, smallish ears, huge tusks, and the strange wart-like protuberances from which it takes its name. Three of these wen-like growths are found on each side of the face. The tusks of the upper jaw, unlike the teeth of the true pigs, are much larger than those protruding from the lower jaw. The lower tusks seldom exceed 6 inches in length ; those of the upper jaw occasionally reach as much as 20 inches over the curve. A pair from North-east Africa (Annesley Bay, on the Abyssinian littoral) measure respectively 27 and 26 inches truly gigantic trophies. The skin of this wild hog is nearly naked, except upon the neck and back, where a long, coarse main of dark bristly hair is to be observed. Wart-hogs, as their Dutch name implies, in the days when game was plentiful, were often found in open country, on the broad grass-plains and karroos. At the present day they are less often seen in the open. They run in small family parties, usually two or three sows and their litters. The old boars, throughout a great part of the year, prefer a more solitary existence. These animals, when pursued, usually betake themselves to an open earth, not of their own making, and, slewing round sharply just as they enter, make their way in hind end first. They afford no great sport to the hunter, and are usually secured with a rifle-bullet. The flesh is fairly good eating, especially that of a young and tender specimen. Speaking generally, wart-hogs are nothing like such fierce and determined opponents as the wild boars of Europe and India, or even the bush-pig. They will, however, charge occasionally, and have been known to attack and rip up a horse. A northern species ^ELIAN'S WART-HOG is found in Abyssinia, Somaliland, and other parts of East Africa, where especially in Abyssinia it roams the mountains and their vicinity, occasionally to a height of 9,000 or 10,000 feet. There is little difference between this and the southern form. Wart-hogs produce usually three or four young, and the sow makes her litter in a disused burrow. Unlike those of the majority of wild swine, the young of the wart-hog are uniformly coloured, having no white stripes or spots. The Pig and Hippopotamus 317 THE PECCARIES. Peculiar to the American Continent, the PECCARIES differ considerably from the wild swine of the Old World. They are of small size ; the dentition is not the same, the stomach is more complicated in structure, and the hind feet have three instead of four toes. In general appearance peccaries are not unlike small dark-coloured pig, well covered with bristles, and having, as well as a prominent mane, a deep fringe of hair beneath the throat. They are essentially forest-loving animals, roaming over large tracts of country and making considerable migrations in search of food. Two species have been distinctly identified by naturalists the COLLARED PECCARY, and the WHITE-LIPPED PECCARY. Of these, the former species is found from Texas, in North America, as far south as the Kio Negro, in Patagonia. The habitat of the white-lipped peccary is more circumscribed, and the animal is seldom found except in that part of South and Central America lying between British Honduras and Paraguay. No members of the Pig Family are fiercer or more tenacious of their sanctuaries than the white- lipped peccary, which roams the dense forests of Brazil and Paraguay in large herds. A human being, attacked and surrounded by a herd of these savage little creatures, would indeed stand but a poor chance of his life, and many a hunter and traveller has been compelled to seek refuge in a tree and sustain some hours of siege. Of the two species, the white-lipped peccary is somewhat the larger, standing from 15 to 17 inches in height. The collared peccary averages from 13| to 15^ inches. The flesh of these wild swine is not in much repute, and unless the back-gland is at once cut out a freshly killed specimen will become quickly spoiled as a human food-supply. Young peccaries appear to be easily tamed, fierce as is their nature in the wild state. In contrast with the abundant litters of other pigs, wild and domesticated, only one offspring is ordinarily produced at birth. In fighting, the peccary does not rip like the wild boar, but inflicts savage and severe bites. "Untrained dogs," says President Roosevelt, "even those of a large size, will speedily be killed by a single peccary, and if they venture to attack a herd will be literally torn into shreds. A big trained dog, however, can, single-handed, kill a peccary, and I have known the feat performed several times." Azara, the eminent Spanish naturalist of the end of the eighteenth century, had considerable experience of the peccaries of Central and Southern America, where the Indians are much addicted to taming wild animals, and keep both the peccary and the tapir in a state of semi-domestication. The peccary he found to be domesticated more easily than might be expected. Though so fierce in its wild state, it soon becomes trouble- some from its familiarity. Mr. Schomburgk, the explorer of Central America, whose travels were so constantly quoted during the Venezuelan arbitration, saw much of the white-lipped species in the forests. He found the animals in large troops under the leadership of an old boar. When attacked, they were ready to surround man, dog, or jaguar; and if there were no means of escape, the enemy was certain to be cut to pieces. He himself had a narrow escape from an infuriated herd, the leader of which he shot in the act of rushing at him. As the herd approached the sound was like that of a whirlwind through the bushes. ass Photo by Scholastic Photo. Co.] [Parson's Green. A YOUXG COLLARED PECCARY. In this specimen the white collar from which the species takes its name is very clearly displayed. 318 The Living Animals of the World By penniision offferr Carl Hagenbeck, Hamburg. A THREE- YEAR-OLD HIPPOPOTAMUS. In this specimen the great lower tusks are not yet developed. THE HIPPOPOTAMUS. BY F. C. SELOUS. Two species of the Hippopotamus Family exist on the earth to-day, both of which are inhabitants of Africa, and are not found in any other country ; but the remains of many extinct forms of this genus which have been discovered in various parts of Europe and Asia show that in Pleistocene and Pliocene times these strange and uncouth animals must have been widely distributed throughout the greater part of the Old World. The fossil remains of the large form of hippopotamus which once frequented the lakes and rivers of England and Western Europe cannot be distinguished from the bones of the common African species of to-day, which latter is possibly the only animal in the world which has undergone no change in form or structure since the prehistoric savages of the Thames Valley threw stone-headed spears at their enemies. The COMMON HIPPOPOTAMUS, though it has long been banished from the Lower Nile, and has more recently been practically exterminated in the British colonies south of the Limpopo, was once an inhabitant of every lake and river throughout the entire African Continent from the delta of the Nile to the neigh- bourhood of Cape Town. Now it is not found below Khartum, on the Nile ; but in Southern Africa a few hippopotamuses are said still to exist in the lower reaches of the Orange River. When Van Riebeck first landed at the Cape, in 1652, he found some of these animals in the swamp now occupied by Church Square, in the centre of Cape Town, and the last in the district was only killed in the Berg River, about seventy miles north of that city, as recently as 1874. This animal, which had been protected for some years, was at last shot, as it had become very savage, and was in the habit of attacking any one who approached it. In my own experience I have met with the hippopotamus in all the large rivers of Africa where I have travelled, such as the Zambesi, Kafukwe, Chobi, Sabi, Limpopo, and Usutu, and also in most of the many large streams which take their rise on the plateau of Matabililand and Mashonaland, and flow north, south, and east into the Zambesi, the Limpopo, or the Sabi. I have also seen them in the sea, at the mouth of the Quillimani River, and have heard from natives that they will travel by sea from the mouth of one river to another. Hippopotamuses live either in families of a few individuals or in herds that may number from twenty to thirty members. Old bulls are often met with alone, and cows when about to calve will sometimes leave their companions and live for a time in seclusion, returning, however, to the herd soon after the birth of their calves. Although, owing to the shortness of its legs, a hippopotamus bull does not stand very high at the shoulder about 4 feet 8 inches being the average height yet its body is of enormous bulk. A male which died some years ago in the Zoological Gardens of London measured 12 feet in length from the nose to the root of the tail,' and weighed 4 tons ; and these dimensions are probably often exceeded in a wild state. The huge mouth of the hippopotamus (see Coloured Plate), which the animal is fond of opening to its widest extent, is furnished with very large canine and incisor teeth, which are kept sharp by constantly grinding one against another, and thus enable their possessor Photo by J. IF. McLellan] [Highbury. HIPPOPOTAMUS DRINKIXG. The enormous breadth of the muzzle, as well as the small nostrils, which can be closed at will, are clearly displayed in this posture. 319 320 The Living Animals of the World to rapidly cut down great quantities of the coarse grass and reeds upon which these animals exclusively feed when living in uninhabited countries. When, however, their haunts are in the neighbourhood of native villages, they often commit great havoc in the corn-fields of the inhabitants, trampling down as much as they eat; and it was their fondness for sugar-cane which brought about the destruction of the last herd of hippopotamuses surviving in Natal. The lower canine teeth or tusks of the hippopotamus grow to a great size, and in bulls may weigh from 4 Ibs. to 7 Ibs. each. They are curved in shape, and when extracted from the jaw form a complete half-circle, and have been known to measure upwards of 30 inches over the curve. In life, however, not more than a third of their length protrudes beyond the gums. During the daytime hippopotamuses are seldom met with out of the water. They lie and doze all day long in the deep pools of the rivers they frequent, with only their eyes, ears, and nostrils above the surface, or else bask in the sun on the tail of a sandbank, looking like so many gigantic pigs with their bodies only partially submerged. Sometimes they will lie and sleep entirely out of water amongst reeds. I have seen them feeding in the reed-beds of the great swamps of the Chobi just at sundown, but as a rule they do not leave the water until after dark. At night they often wander far afield, especially in the rainy season, in search of suitable food ; and after having been fired at and frightened, I have known a herd of hippopota- muses to travel at least five- and-twenty miles along the course of a river during the ensuing night, in order to reach a larger and deeper pool than the one in which they had been molested. Although the hippopota- mus is thoroughly at home in the hottest parts of Africa, and appears to thrive in the tepid waters of all the rivers which flow through the malarious coast regions of the tropical portions of that continent, it is also found at a considerable altitude above the sea, and in quite small streams where the temperature of the water during the winter months cannot be many degrees above freezing-point. I have personally met with hippopotamuses in the Manyami River, not far from the present town of Salisbury, in Mashonaland. The country there has an altitude of about 5,000 feet above sea-level ; and the water was so cold on the last occasion on which I came across the animals in question July, 1887 that, if a basinful was left out during the night, ice quite an eighth of an inch in thickness would be formed over it before morning. There was, however, never any ice on the river itself. During the rainy season, when the grass and reeds are green and succulent, hippopotamuses become enormously fat, especially in the higher and colder portions of their range, and retain a good deal of their fat right through the driest season of the year. Old bulls are usually very lean ; but I have seen cows the greater part of whose carcases, after the skin had been stripped off, was covered with a layer of fat from 1 inch to 2 inches in thickness. The meat of these animals is dark red in colour, and more like beef than pork. To my mind, that of a young animal is most excellent in flavour, and far preferable to that of a lean antelope. The fat, when prepared, is as good as the best lard, from which, indeed, it is hardly distinguishable. The skin of the Photo by Lord Delamere] [NortJiwich. HIPPOPOTAMUSES BATHING. A. hippopotamus stays under water for about 2J minutes at a time, and then just shows part of its head above water while it draws a fresh breath. Photo by J. W. McLellan, Highbury A HIPPOPOTAMUS GAPING The position of the animal displays the enormous capacity, and likewise the powerful lower tusks ; the shortness of the limbs is also well exhibited. The Pig and Hippopotamus 321 By permission of Herr Carl Hagenbeck] [Hamburg. BABY HIPPOPOTAMUS, AGED SIX MONTHS. The flesh of a, young hippopotamus is said to have an excellent flavour. Natives often follow shooting expeditions in order to secure some of its meat. hippopotamus is smooth and hairless, and in adult animals quite 1 inch in thickness on the upper parts of the body. Hippopotamuses are said to be capable of remaining under water for. ten or twelve minutes. Should, however, a herd of these animals be watched but not fired at from the bank of a river in which they are passing the day, they will all sink below the surface of the water as soon as they become aware of and more or less alarmed by the presence of the intruder, but each member of the herd will come up to breathe at intervals of from one to two minutes. I have seen hippopotamuses so tame and unsuspicious of danger that they allowed me the first human being probably with any kind of hat or clothes on him that they had ever seen to take up a position within fifty yards of them on the edge of the deep rock-bound pool in which they were resting without showing any signs of alarm. They simply stared at me in an inquisitive sort of way, raising their heads higher out of the water, and constantly twitching their little rounded ears ; and it was not until a number of natives came up and began to talk loudly that they took alarm, and, sinking out of sight, retreated to the farther end of the pool. I once took the length of time with my watch for more than an hour that a hippopotamus which I was trying to shoot remained under water. This animal, a cow with a new-born calf, had made an attack upon one of my canoes. It first came up under the canoe, tilting one end of it into the air and almost filling it with water. Then it made a rush at the half-swamped craft, and, laying its huge head over it, pressed it down under the water and sank it. There were four natives in the canoe at the time of the attack, all of whom swam safely to an island in the river the Zambesi. After the accident which caused me a good deal of loss and inconvenience I tried to shoot this unprovoked aggressor, but unsuccessfully, as the river was too broad to allow me to get anything but a long shot at her. The shortest time she remained under water during the seventy minutes I was paying attention 41 322 The Living Animals of the World to her was forty seconds, and the longest four minutes and twenty seconds the usual time being from two to two and a half minutes. She always remained a long time under water after having been fired at. The capsizing of canoes by these animals is quite a common occurrence on most African rivers, and the great pains the natives will take in certain districts to give these animals a wide berth seem to prove that they have good reason to dread them. Solitary bulls and cows with young calves are the most feared. Such animals will sometimes, I have been assured by the natives, tear out the side of a canoe with their teeth, and even crunch up some of its occupants whilst they are trying to save themselves by swimming. Sipopo, a chief of the Barotse tribe, who was deposed by his nephew Mona Wena in 1876, was said to have been attacked and killed by a hippopotamus whilst lying wounded amongst the reeds on the southern bank of the Zambesi, but I cannot vouch for the truth of the story. Bull hippopotamuses must be rather quarrelsome, as I have shot several whose hides were deeply scored with wounds, no doubt inflicted by the tusks of their rivals. Once I killed a hippopotamus in a shallow lagoon amongst the swamps of the Chobi, whose enormously thick hide had been literally cut to pieces from head to tail. The entire body of this animal was covered with deep white scores, and we were unable to cut a single sjambok from its skin. We found, on examination, that this poor beast had been wounded by natives, and then in its distress most cruelly set upon by its fellows, and finally expelled from their society. It was in the last stage of emaciation, and a bullet through the brain must have been a welcome relief. On another occasion a hippopotamus bull, which I had wounded in the nose, became so furious that it dived down and attacked one of its fellows which had already been killed and was lying dead at the bottom of the pool. Seizing this latter animal by the hind leg, it brought it to the surface of the water with such a furious rush that not only half the body of the dead animal it had attacked was exposed, but the whole of its own head and shoulders came above the water. A bullet through the brain killed it instantly, and it sank to the bottom of the pool, still holding its companion's hind leg fast in its jaws. When a hippopotamus is killed in the water, the carcase sinks to the bottom, and in the cold water of the rivers of Mashonaland will not rise to the surface till six hours after death. In the warmer water of the Lower Zambesi a dead hippopotamus will come up in about half that time. When it rises, the carcase comes up like a submerged cork, with a rush as it were, and then settles down, only a small piece of the side showing above the surface. As decom- position sets in, it becomes more and more swollen, and shows higher and higher above the water. When the body of a dead hippopotamus has been taken by the wind or current to the wrong side of a river, I have often climbed on to it and paddled it with a stout stick right across the river to a spot nearer camp. A dead hippopotamus is not the easiest or the DENTAL OPERATIONS ON A HIPPOPOTAMUS KO. I. This and the next two photographs probably constitute the most remarkable series of animal photographs ever seen. No 1 shows a hippopotamus about to be trapped, preparatory to having its teeth attended to. The Pig and Hippopotamus 323 DENTAL OPERATIONS ON A HIPPOPOTAMUS NO. II. This shows the process of filing one of the lower tusks. pleasantest thing to sit on in deep water with crocodiles about, especially in a wind, as it is very much like sitting on a floating barrel, and unless the balance is exactly maintained one is bound to roll off. Although it is often necessary for an African traveller to shoot one or more of them in order to obtain a supply of meat for his native followers, there is not much sport attached to the killing of these animals. The modern small-bore rifles, with their low trajectory and great pene- tration, render their destruction very easy when they are encountered in small lakes or narrow rivers, though in larger sheets of water, where they must be approached and shot from rickety canoes, it is by no means a simple matter to kill hippopotamuses, especially after they have grown shy and wary through persecution. As these animals are almost invariably killed by Europeans in the daytime, and are therefore encountered in the water, they are usually shot through the brain as they raise their heads above the surface to breathe. By the natives hippopotamuses are killed in various ways. They are sometimes attacked first with harpoons, to which long lines are attached, with a float at the end to mark the position of the wounded animal, and then followed up in canoes and finally speared to death. Sometimes they are caught in huge pitfalls, or killed by the fall of a spear-head fixed in a heavy block of wood, which is re- leased from its position when a line, attached to the weight and then pegged across a hippopotamus's path a few inches above the ,/' } '-^^^^^ If "^H. f7 "''' r - i* 1 ' 7 -'^' ground, is suddenly pulled by the feet of -^ K i*'* ** '"'' * ''" one of these animals striking against it. A friend of mine once had a horse killed under him by a similar trap set for buffaloes. His horse's feet struck the line attached to the heavily weighted spear-head, and down it came, just missing his head and entering his horse's back close behind the saddle. Where the natives have guns mostly old muzzle- loading weapons of large bore they often shoot hippopotamuses at close quarters when they are feeding at night. The most destruc- tive native method, however, of killing these monsters with which I am acquainted is one DENTAL OPERATIONS ON A HIPPOPOTAMUS NO. in. which used to be practised by the natives sawing off one of the lower tusks. of Northern Mashonaland namely, fencing in 324 The Living Animals of the World Photo by York the dugong and manatees differ as widely almost as in their appearance ; for the former is a creature of open coasts, whereas the manatees hug river- estuaries'? and even travel many miles up the rivers. Of both it has been said that they leave the water at night, and the manatees have even been accused of plundering crops near the banks. The few, however, which have been under observation in captivity have always been manifestly uncomfortable whenever, by accident or otherwise, the water of their tank was run off, so that there is not sufficient reason for believing this assertion. This group of animals cannot be regarded as possessing any high commercial value, though both natives and white men eat their flesh, and the afore-mentioned rhytina was, in fact, exterminated solely for the sake of its meat. There is also a limited use for the bones as ivory, and the leather is employed on a small scale, a German writer has, in fact, been at great pains to prove that the Tabernacle, which was 300 cubits long, was roofed with dugong- fikin, and the Eed Sea is certainly well within the animal's range. The Dugong, Manatees, Whales, Porpoises, and Dolphins 329 THE WHALES, PORPOISES, AND DOLPHINS. Although anatomists have good reason for suspecting that all the members of the Whale Tribe are directly descended from river-dwelling forms, if not indeed, more remotely, from some land animal, there is something appropriate in the fact of the vast ocean, which covers something like three-quarters of the earth's surface, producing the mightiest creatures which have ever lived. There should also be some little satisfaction for ourselves in the thought that, their fish-like form notwithstanding, these enormous beings really belong to the highest, or mammalian, class of animal life. One striking feature all these many-sized cetaceans have in common, and that is their similarity of form. Though they may vary in length from 70 to 7 feet, their outline shows a remarkable uniformity. Important internal and even external differences there may be. A whale may be toothed or toothless ; a dolphin may be beaked or round-headed ; either may be with or without a slight ridge on the back or a distinct dorsal fin ; but no cetacean could well be mistaken for an animal of any other order. It is as well to appreciate as clearly as possible this close general resemblance between the largest whale and the smallest dolphin, as the similarity is one of some interest ; and we may estimate it at its proper worth if we bear in mind that two species of cetaceans, outwardly alike, may not, perhaps, be more closely allied than such divergent ruminant types as the elephant, the giraffe, and the gazelle. Reference has already been made to the fact that the whales are true mammals, and we must now clearly set before us the justification for separating them from the Fishes to which any one with a superficial knowledge of their habits and appearance would unhesitatingly assign them and raising them to the company of other mammals. Let us first separate them from the Fishes. The vast majority of fishes, with some familiar exceptions like the conger-eel, are covered with scales : whales have no scales. The tail of fishes, often forked like that of whales, is set vertically : in whales the tail is set laterally, and for this a good reason will presently be shown. Fishes have anal fins : whales not only have no anal fins, but their so-called pectoral fins differ radically from the fins of fishes. Fishes breathe with the aid of gills : whales have Photo by A. S. Rudland & Sons. NARWHAL. An Arctic whale, with one or rarely two long spears of bone projecting from the head. 42 330 The Living Animals of the World no gills. Fishes, in the vast majority of cases, reproduce their young by spawning, the eggs being left to hatch out either in gravel-beds or among the water-plants, lying on the bottom (as in the case of the herring), or floating near the surface (as in that of the plaice) : whales do not lay eggs, but bear the young alive. This brings us to the simple points of resemblance between them and other mammals. When the young whale is born, it is nourished on its mother's milk. This alone would constitute its claim to a place among the highest class. Whales breathe atmospheric air by means of lungs. Hair is peculiarly the covering of mammals, just as scales are characteristic of fishes and feathers of birds. Many whales, it is true, have no Photo by A, S. liudland d- Song. GRAMPUS, OE KILLER. A carnivorous cetacean with large teeth, often found in British seas. hair ; but others, if only in the embryonic stage, have traces of this characteristic mammalian covering. It must, moreover, be remembered that in some other orders of mammals the amount of hair varies considerably as, for instance, between the camel and rhinoceros. Having, then, shown that whales are mammals, we must now determine the chief features of the more typical members of the order. The extremities of whales are characteristic : a large head, occupying in some species as much as one-third ' of the total length ; and the afore-mentioned forked, or lobed, tail set laterally. The flippers, which bear only a slight resemblance to the pectoral fins in fishes, are in reality hands encased in swimming- gloves. In some whales these hands are five-fingered, in others the fingers number only four. The Dugong, Manatees, Whales, Porpoises, and Dolphins 331 but many of the fingers contain more bones than the fingers of man. In some whales we find a dorsal fin, and this, as also the flippers, acts as a balancer. In no whale or porpoise is there any external trace of hind limbs, but the skeleton of some kinds shows in varying stages of degradation a rudimentary bone answering to this description. Perhaps however, the most distinctive feature of whales is the blow-hole, situated, like the nostrils of the hippopotamus, on the upper surface of the head, and similarly enabling the animal to breathe the air without exposing much of its head above the surface of the water. The blow-hole (or blow-holes, for whalebone-whales have two) may be said to take the place of nostrils as regards the breathing, though perhaps no sense of smell is included in its functions. In the Sperm-whale, or Cachalot, there is a single c/)-shaped blow-hole near the end of -the snout. The well-known spouting of whales is merely the breathing out of warm vapour, which, on coming in contact with the colder air and it should be remembered that most whaling is carried on in the neighbourhood of icebergs condenses in a cloud above the animal's head. I have seen many a sperm-whale spout, and the cloud of spray, often mixed with a varying volume of water if the whale commences to blow before its blow-hole is clear of the surface, drifts forward over the forehead. This is due to the forward position of the blow-hole. I never to my knowledge saw a whalebone-whale spouting, but its double jet is said to ascend vertically over its back, and this would in like manner be accounted for by the more posterior position of the blow-holes. Having filled its lungs, which are long and of simple structure, with fresh air, in enormous draughts that fill the great cavities of its chest, the whale sinks to the depths. There, in ordinary circumstances, it will lie for a quarter of an hour or more, but the pain of the harpoon and the knowledge that there is danger at the surface may keep it below for as much as an hour. When it has to breathe again, a few powerful strokes from the laterally set tail suffice to bring it quickly to the surface. This is not the place for a detailed anatomy of the whale;* but no one can fail to notice with admiration such parts of its equipment for the battle of life as the structure of its windpipe, which enables it to breathe with comfort with its mouth full of water, the complicated network of blood-vessels that ensures the slow and thorough utilising of all the oxygen in its lungs while it remains at the bottom, and the elastic cushion of blubber that makes this gigantic animal indifferent to extremes of pressure and temperature. Thanks mainly to its coat of blubber, the whale exists with equal comfort at the surface or hundreds of fathoms below it ; in the arctic or in tropical seas. It is not perhaps in keeping with the plan of this work that we should consider in detail the soft parts of the whale's inside. One or two parts of its feeding and digestive mechanism may, however, offer some points of passing interest. The complex stomach, which is divided into chambers, like that of the ruminants already described, has suggested that the latter function Photo by A. S. Rudland it- Song. SHOKT-BEAKED KIVEK-DOLPHIN. In this type the head is produced into a beak, supported in the upper jaw by a mass of ivory-like bone. 332 The Living Animals of the World may in a modified process be performed by whales. It is, however, evident that the teeth of toothed whales are in no way adapted to the act of mastication, which is inseparable from any conception of ruminating, while the toothless whales have as complicated a stomach as the rest. Mr. Beddard, writing on the subject in his interesting " Book of Whales," takes the more reasonable view that the first chamber of the stomach of whales should be regarded rather as a storehouse in which the food is crushed and softened. The teeth of whales, the survival of which in the adult animal offers the simplest basis of its classification under one or other of the two existing groups, or sub-orders, are essentially different from the teeth of many other kinds of mammals. It cannot, perhaps, be insisted that the distinctive terms employed for these two categories of whales are wholly satisfactory. For instance, the so-called " toothless " whales have distinct teeth before birth, thus claiming descent from toothed kinds. On the other hand, the so-called ' ; toothed " whales are by no means uniformly equipped in this respect, some of the porpoises having as many as twenty-six teeth, distributed over both jaws, while the bottlenoses have no more than two, or at most four, and these in the lower jaw only. Only the lower jaw, in fact, of the great sperm-whale . bears teeth that are of any use, though there are smaller and functionless teeth in the gums of the upper. The teeth of whales, by the way, are not differentiated like our canines and molars, but are- all of one character. Although, in " toothless " whales, the fetal teeth disappear with the coming of the baleen, or whalebone, the latter must not, in either struc- ture or uses, be thought to take their place. The plates of whalebone act rather as a hairy strainer. Unless we seek a possible analogy at the other end of the mammalian scale, in the Australian duck- bill, the feeding of the whalebone-whales is unique. They gulp in the water, full of plank- ton, swimming open- mouthed through the streaks of that substance. Then the huge jaws are closed, and the massive tongue is moved slowly, so as to drive the water from the angles of the mouth through the straining-plates of baleen, the food remaining stranded on these and on the tongue. The size and number of the baleen-plates appear to vary in a degree not yet definitely established ; but there may, in a large whale, be as many as between 300 and 400- on either side of the cavernous mouth, and they may measure as much as 10 or 12 feet in length and 7 or 8 feet in. width. An enumeration of such whales and porpoises and dolphins as have at one time or other been stranded on the shores of the British Isles may serve as an epitome of the whole order. Only one interesting group, in fact the Eiver-dolphins of the Ganges and Amazons is unrepresented in the British list. Whales, either exhausted or dead, are periodically thrown, up on our coasts, even on the less-exposed portions one of the most recent examples in the writer's memory being that of a large specimen, over 60 feet long, stranded on the sands near Boscombe, in Hampshire, and the skeleton of which at present adorns Boscombe Pier. It was one of the rorquals, or finbacks, probably of the species called after Rudolphi; but the skeleton is imperfect, though its owner, Dr. Spencer Simpson, appears to have preserved some details of its earlier appearance. It should be remembered that many of the following can only be regarded as " British " with considerable latitude, the records of their visits being in. Photo by A. S. Rudtand a,- Soitx. SOWERBY'S BEAKED WHALE. One of the rarest of British whales, and very scarce elsewhere. It probably inhabits the open seas. The Dugong, Manatees, Whales, Porpoises, and Dolphins 333 some cases as rare as those of the rustic bunting and red-necked nightjar among birds, or of the derbio and spotted dragonet among fishes. British zoologists, however, usually include the following : WHALEBONE-WHALES : Southern Right-whale ; Humpback ; Finbacks, or Rorquals. TOOTHED WHALES : Sperm-whale, or Cachalot ; Narwhal ; Beluga, or White Whale ; Grampuses ; Beaked Whale ; Broad-fronted Whale ; Cuvier's Whale ; Sowerby's Whale ; Pilot-whale ; Porpoise ; Dolphin ; White-sided Dolphin ; W'hite-beaked Dolphin ; Bottlenose. A selection may therefore be made of five of the most representative of these species the SOUTHERN WHALE, the CACHALOT, the NARWHAL, the PORPOISE, and the DOLPHIN. The SOUTHERN WHALE, which, in common with the closely allied polar species, whaling- crews call "right," seeing that all other kinds are, from their point of view, "wrong," is probably the only right-whale which has ever found its way to our shores. Some writers include the Greenland Right-whale, but their authority for this is doubtful. It is said to grow to a length of at any rate 70 feet, though 55 feet would perhaps be more common for even large specimens. In colour it is said to be dark above, with a varying amount of white or grey on the flippers and under-surface. The head and mouth are very large, occupying in some cases one-third of the total length, and the baleen-plates measure as much as 8 or 10 feet in length and 5 or 6 feet in width. The species has no back-fin, but there is a protuberance on the snout, known technically as the " bonnet." This whale appears to give birth to its single calf some time in the spring months, and the mother shows great affection for her offspring. The HUMPBACK is distinguished from the right-whales externally by its longer flippers and the prominence on its back, and internally by the fluted skin of the throat. The FINNERS, or RORQUALS, have a distinct back-fin. They feed on fishes and cuttles, and I have more than once known a rorqual, which looked fully 50 feet long (comparing it roughly with my 24-foot boat), to swim slowly round and round my lugger, down on the Cornish coast, puffing and hissing like a torpedo-boat on its trial trip, rounding up the pilchards in a mass, and every now and then dashing through them open-mouthed with a terrific roar, after several of which helpings it would sink out of sight and not again put in an appearance. The SPERM-WHALE, or CACHALOT, may serve as our type of the toothed whales. It attains to the same great dimensions as the largest of the whalebone group. A more active Photo by A. S. liudiand .1- Sons. COMMON POEPOISE. From 4 to 5 feet long. It lives in " schools," or companies, and pursues the herrings and mackerel. 334 The Living Animals of the World animal for its size could scarcely be conceived ; and I have seen one, in the Indian Ocean, fling itself three or four times in succession out of water like a salmon, striking the surface each time as it fell back with a report like that of a gun. No one appears to have explained whether performances of this sort are due to mere playfulness, or, as seems more probable, to the attacks of parasites or such larger enemies as sharks or "killers." I have also seen four thresher-sharks leaping out of water, and , falling with a loud blow on the whale's back ; but the victim lay quite still in. this case, and may in fact have been worn out before we came upon the scene. I wish to add that I took the word of the skipper, himself an old whaling- captain, for their identity as threshers. The dazzling sun shone full on them, and on the sea between, and it was impossible, even with the ship's telescope, to recognise them with any accuracy. The cachalot has a very different profile from what any one who had seen only its skull in a museum would be led to expect, for the sperm- cavity in the forehead is not indicated in the bones. The structure of the head enables the animal to drop the lower jaw almost at right angles to the upper ; and Mr. Frank Bullen quotes, in his fascinating " Cruise of the Cachalot," the current belief that it does so to attract its prey by the whiteness of its teeth and palate. Although both fishes and cephalo- pods are very curious, even to their own destruc- tion, it is doubtful whether the whale could not catch its food more Photo by A. S. Kudliuid