283
" 1 saw him, with that lily cropp'd,
Impatient swim, to meet
My quick approach; and soon he dropped
The treasure at my feet.
" 1 saw him, with that lily cropp'd,
Impatient swim, to meet
My quick approach; and soon he dropped
The treasure at my feet.
Childrens - The Creation
It has a long head and large tail.
The rattlesnake and arma-
dillo, it is said, live often in the same cave, some have supposed on
terms of friendship, and others, in a kind of armed neutrality.
THIRD ORDER. --FERiE. "
TEN GENERA. --MANY SPECIES.
In this order we shall find the most ferocious and harmless animals
together; the character of the teeth determining the order. It com-
? Wild beasts,
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? LETTER XI.
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prises principally, the Lion, Tiger, Leopard, Cat, &c. ; the Hyasna,
Wolf, Fox, and Dog; the Bear, Badger, Raccoon, and Glutton; the
Opossum, Kangaroo, &c. ; the Weasel, Ichneumon, and Civet; the
Otter, Pole-cat, Marten, Mole, &c.
The Lion is the head of the genus Felis. The peculiarities of this
family are, that they have six cutting teeth in each jaw, with three
grinders on each side of the upper jaw, and four on each side of the
lower; the tongue furnished with rough sharp prickles, which point
backward, claws sheathed, hooked, and sharp.
The lion is the king of the beasts, and as such is continually
alluded to in the Scriptures. The lion is found chiefly in Africa,
and also the hottest parts of Asia. The form of this noble animal is
truly majestic, and his voice is as the voice of thunder; his head is
Tery large, and is covered with a long shaggy mane; and when en-
raged, his eyes flash terribly. The general length of the lion, when
full grown, is from six to eight feet, and its tail is about four feet
more: this is terminated by a tuft of dark hair. The muscular
power of the paw is tremendous; with one stroke it will knock the
strongest man to the ground.
The lioness is smaller than the lion, and has no mane. Her young,
when first born, are about the size of a small dog. They are suckled
about twelve months. She is not ferocious except when her young
are attacked, but then her fury is unbounded, she will even die in
their defence.
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THE CREATION.
" Roaring, she frights the herd, and shakes the plain,
Mocks the sling stone, and snaps the spear in twain;
Still guards her young; the hunter's motions thwarts,
And wrenches from her side the reeking darts. "
The strength of the lion is such, that one stroke of his paw will
break the back of a horse; and he seldom bites till he has . struck his
prey dead. At the Cape he has been known to take off a heifer as a
cat does a mouse. Some writers, who have seen a good deal of this
animal, do not speak very highly of his courage, excepting when
impelled by hunger; for instance, if he springs upon an enemy, and
misses his leap, he will give up his prey. In this, my dear children,
we see mercy from Him who gave even this formidable animal this
trait, so beneficial to man and beast.
The lion in general springs on his prey; but sometimes follows it.
Dr. Sparrman gives a most interesting account of the deliverance of a
native of the Cape Country. --" A Hottentot perceiving that he was
followed by a lion, and concluding that the animal only waited the
approach of night to make him his prey, began to consider of the best
mode of providing for his safety, and at length adopted the following:
--Seeing a piece of ground with a precipitate descent on one side,
he sat down by the edge of it, and observed to his great joy that the
lion also halted at a distance from him. As soon as it was dark, the
man sliding gently forward, let himself below the steep, and held up
his cloak and hat a few feet, gently moving them backward and
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forward. The lion, after a while, came creeping forward, and mis-
taking the cloak and hat for the man, he sprang headlong and
precipitated himself over the descent. "
When this king of the forest has become acquainted with man's
power, his courage has been so lost that a shout of the human voice
has been known to drive him away; and the fear of man and the
dread of him has been upon him. Gen. ix. 2.
The lion, with almost all this family, is carnivorous, that is, feeds
on flesh: but this was not his primeval or first state, nor will it be his
last; for the unerring word of prophecy tells of a time when " the
lion shall eat straw like the ox:"* and as this time is a "time of
restitution," it of course implies that at first it did so. Cowper thus
beautifully describes those days of peace:--
" The LioD, the Leopard, and the Bear
Graze with the fearless flock; all bask at noon
Together; or all gambol in the shade
Of the same grove, and drink one common stream.
Antipathies are none. No foe to man
Lurks in the Serpent now; the mother sees
And smiles to see her infant's playful hand
Stretched forth to dally with the crested worm,
To stroke his azure neck, or to receive
The lambent homage of his arrowy tongue. "
* Carnivorous animals, notwithstanding their adapted teeth, claws, intestines,
&c, may be brought up wholly on vegetable produce, just as man can subsist
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THE CREATION.
The Tiger. The Tiger is a native of Asia, and is met with as far
north as Chinese Tartary; but India and the Indian Islands are his
principal home. He is somewhat less than the lion, and decidedly
more ferocious; but of all quadrupeds, he has the most beautiful
skin. --On the face, belly, and throat, it is white; on the back, orange,
marked with long glossy transverse stripes of black.
The disposition of the tiger is most ferocious. It even fears not
the lion ; but will engage with it in single combat, and at times both
die in the struggle.
The strength of this animal will be best illustrated by the following
anecdote. --" A peasant in the East Indies," says Mr. Hamilton,
" had a buffalo fallen into a quagmire; and while he went to call for
assistance, an immense tiger came and immediately drew out the
animal, which the peasant with others to help at first had failed to do.
When the people returned, the first thing they beheld was the tiger
dragging the buffalo away to his den. When he saw the men, he let
fall his prey, and fled to the woods: but he had previously killed the
buffalo, and sucked its blood. "
Among the escapes from this animal, none, perhaps, is more
worthy of record than that which happened, now more than 100
years since, in Bengal. --A party had gone out, and seated them-
wholly on plants, or wholly on flesh, as he chooses. The prophetic writers of the
Old Testament indicate that this destructive anomaly is not to be perpetual. --
Sharon Turner's Sacred History of Creation, vol. i. p. 373.
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? LETTER XI.
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selves by a river under the shade of some trees. Imagine their
terror and dismay, on seeing, couching for his spring, a ferocious
tiger. Instantly a lady of the party, with amazing presence of
mind, (which is doubtless a direct gift from God,) unfurled a large
umbrella. The animal, confounded by this strange appearance,
shrunk away into the forest; and the party, by this gracious inter-
position of God, escaped.
The Leopard. The Leopard in form is like the tiger; but much
smaller. The colour of its skin is also similar to that animal; only
instead of having its back marked with transverse lines of glossy
black, it is dotted with annular, that is, round spote of that colour.
It inhabits most parts of Africa; and generally watches by the river
for its prey.
Like the tiger, the leopard is fierce and cruel. The eye is restless.
They attack almost everything they meet. Similar to most of this
family, their memory is wonderful, recognising old friends after a
long absence. Travellers say that the flesh of the leopard is better
than the finest veal.
The Hwnting Leopard. This is a native of India, and about the
size of a greyhound. It derives its name from being employed by
man to hunt the deer. It is trained like the falcon and pelican; and
returns with its prey to its keeper.
The Wild Cat. From this animal have sprung all our varieties of
the domestic cat. It is still to be found in some parts of England:
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THE CREATION.
and, at times, even the domestic cat has escaped to the woods, and
become wild. In this state, it is a deadly enemy to all kinds of game
and poultry, and even young kids.
The Domestic Cat. This animal, as a watch and guard against rats
and mice, is invaluable. A curious part of Welsh history records
the value of the cat, in that age. It occurs in the statutes of Howell
Dda (that is, the Good,) a. d. 948, in which, statutes were made to
preserve the lives of animals, among which the cat was specially
included, on account of its scarcity and utility. The statute I allude
to runs thus:--
"If any should kill or steal the cat that guards the prince's
granary, the offender is to forfeit a milch ewe, her fleece, and young;
or sufficient grain to cover the cat suspended by the tail. "
From these circumstances, it has been justly inferred that the cat
is not a native of these islands. The current prices then were--a
kitten, Id. ; a young cat, 2d. ; a full grown one, Ad. , which, in those
days, was a great sum.
The cat is very tender over its young; and in some instances,
when her own kittens have been taken away, has nursed even young
hares and squirrels with equal fondness.
Some children have a wicked, cruel tendency to tie pots, &c. , to
the tails of cats; but it is a barbarous sport; and, as I have once
before remarked, the step between cruelty to the brute, and cruelty
to man, our own species, is very short.
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The Angora Cat is a variety of the domestic species, which,
M. Sonnini says, possesses the animal qualities of the dog, with
the beautiful fur of the cat: at least, this was the description he
gave of the one he possessed, and which he had the same attachment
for, as Cowper had for his hares.
The Dog. This valuable animal stands at the head of the genus
Cants. None of this family can climb. The general characters are
--six cutting teeth, and two canines in each jaw: six grinders on
each side in the upper jaw, and seven on each side in the lower.
To no animal are we more variously indebted than to the dog.
His faithfulness, diligence, and obedience, are unwearied. Both in
the Old and New continents, if man were deprived of his services,
the loss would be very great. " Unlike most other animals," says
Mr. Bingley, he seems only to remember our caresses; and often, in
a few minutes, licks the hands that smote him. " The dog is found
wild in Congo, Lower Ethiopia, and several other parts of the world.
Among those domesticated with us, we have about twenty or thirty
varieties; from the Mastiff and Newfoundland, to the little terrier.
The instances related in different countries of the dog's sagacity, and
love to his owner, would fill volumes: but the following, I think, is
among the most interesting:--
"In the year 1760, a singular incident occurred near Harrowsmith.
--A waterman of that place, named Richardson, was sleeping in his
boat . By some means his boat slipped her moorings; and the tide
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THE CREATION.
carried her down the river across a barge. The boat began to fill
with water; but the dog, instead of seeking his own escape, went to
his master, pawed his face, and pulled him by the coat, until he awoke,
to see his imminent danger,--he had but a moment to escape. "
The extract from Cowper, concerning his little water spaniel, I
must not forget: it is so touching and beautiful.
" It was the time when Ouse displayed
His lilies newly blown;
Their beauties I intent surveyed,
And one I wished my own.
" With cane extended far, I sought
To steer it close to land;
But still the prize, though nearly caught,
Escaped my eager hand.
" Beau marked my unsuccessful pains,
With fixed considerate face;
And puzzling set his puppy brains,
To comprehend the case.
" But with a cherup clear and strong,
Dispersing all his dream,
I thence withdrew, and followed long
The windings of the stream.
" My ramble ended, I returned;
Beau, trotting far before,
The floating w reath again discerned,
And, plunging, left the shore.
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" 1 saw him, with that lily cropp'd,
Impatient swim, to meet
My quick approach; and soon he dropped
The treasure at my feet.
" Charmed with the sight,--the world, I cried,
i Shall hear of this thy deed;
My dog shall mortify the pride
Of man's superior breed.
" But chief myself I will employ--
Awake at duty's call--
To show a love as prompt as thine
To Him who gives me all. "
The Wolf. One leaves the character of the dog to trace out that of
the wolf, with no small reluctance. The wolf is one of the most
ferocious of the quadruped family, and insatiate in its appetite: hence
though destructive to man in one way, yet it is benefical in another
by carrying off all kinds of offal that may be left about. England
was, many centuries since, the abode of the wolf; so also was Wales.
Edgar, a. d. 959, when Wales was tributary to this country, con-
verted a heavy tax, which he had required of its prince, into 300
wolves' heads. In Scotland, so late as the sixteenth century, they
were very destructive; but in the next century were quite extirpated.
They are found in all cold regions. The following extract from the
public papers of 1825, will show you, more than any general descrip-
tion, the terrible enemy we are delivered from in this country:--
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THE CREATION.
" In the government of Livonia, (a Russian province on the Baltic,
of 21,000 square miles,) in 1823, the wolves destroyed 1,841 horses,
1,243 foals, 1,807 horned cattle, 723 calves, 15,812 sheep, 726 lambs,
2,545 goats, 183 kids, 4,190 swine, 312 sucking pigs, 703 dogs,
673 geese. "
Now when you look on your map, and see the size of Livonia, this
destruction appears almost incredible; and yet, being in the govern-
ment returns, it is of course true.
The wolf, however, if taken young, is capable of being tamed. It
is also said, that his courage fails if resisted.
HyjEna. This is another genus of the Order Feree, and, indeed,
may well be placed here, for it seems the wildest of the wild. It
inhabits Asiatic Turkey, Syria, Persia, and many parts of Africa.
In size, it equals one of our large dogs; its skin is a pale greyish
brown, marked with several blackish bands; the hair of its neck is
erect, and this is continued in bristles along the back; the head is
broad and flat; the eyes ferocious and wild; the tail short and bushy.
It was for a time thought that this animal could not be tamed, but
experience has proved the contrary. They abound at the Cape of
Good Hope, and will eat any thing; but even their gluttonous and
disgusting habits are overruled for the benefit of man, as they often,
in troops, carry off such animal remains, &c. , as might produce fever;
--nothing is made in vain; even this ferocious animal, which is like
the shark among fish, has its appointed sphere.
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The Spotted Hywna, or Tiger Wolf, is larger than the former, and
marked with numerous black spots. Their habits are much the same
as those of the common hyaena. Their howl at night is terrific. Like
most of the predatory animals, or beasts of prey, night is their time to
go abroad, and then man is at rest. How beautiful is the allusion to
this in Psalm civ. 20--24: " Thou makest darkness, and it is night:
wherein all the beasts of the forest do creep forth. The young lions
roar after their prey, and seek their meat from God. The sun ariseth,
and they gather themselves together, and lay them down in their dens.
Man goeth forth unto his work and to his labour until the evening.
O Lord, how manifold are thy works! in wisdom hast thou made
them all: the earth is full of thy riches. "
The Jackal. This animal in stature is like the fox, but much more
amiable. It is easily tamed, and very fond of being caressed; and
seems in his gratitude more to resemble the dog than the fox. It is
found in all the hot parts of Asia and Africa.
In its wild state, however, the jackal is a beast of prey, in its fullest
sense; though from this family Mr. Pennant thinks the whole canine
race have sprung.
The great peculiarity of the jackal is its howl, which is always at
night; and as they go in herds, from fifty to two hundred at a time, the
noise is dreadful. The timid animals hear it with terror, and the preda-
tory ones rejoice in it, and seize on the weaker as they are fleeing from
it. It is from this circumstance that they are called " the lion's provider. "
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THE CREATION.
The Fox. This well-known animal is a native of almost all quarters
of the globe; and has been permitted to remain in England for the
pleasure of the huntsman: but pleasure, as I have before remarked,
cannot consist, in the Christian's mind, in giving any creature pain.
In countries, such as Livonia, where the wolves committed the depre-
dations they did, the public welfare demands their extirpation; but
this is very different from catching foxes in snares, keeping them alive,
and then letting them out of a bag to be hunted.
The fox is an animal of exceeding cunning and craft, and is a robber
of every thing he can get, and in this character he is frequently
alluded to in Scripture. *
But this animal, like most of the ferocious tribes, is exceedingly
tender to its offspring. Dr. Goldsmith relates a most interesting
account illustrative of this:--" A she fox, that had been discovered
with her cub, instantly, as the dogs pursued, fled before them; but
rather than leave her young behind, she took it up in her mouth.
The chase continued some miles; at last, taking her way through a
? The bite of the fox, as well as the dog, in a rabid or mad state, frequently pro-
duces hydrophobia, which means, "a dread of water. " The late Duke of Richmond
died under this disease, by the bite of a fox, in America. The antagonist powers
in this disease are the virtu, or matter of the malady, and water; and it struck me
forcibly some years since, that if a person so bitten, after having the part cau-
terized, or burnt, was to drink very largelv of water, and also once or twice a-day
spunge the whole body, that it might, under God, be beneficial, and as no remedy
has as yet been discovered, and this proposal is harmless in its nature, it can but
be tried.
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? LETTER XI.
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farm-yard, she was attacked by a mastiff, and was obliged to drop her
cub; but we are happy to add, the affectionate creature escaped. "
The Coatimondi. This animal is especially remarkable for the
beauty of its tail, which has white rings on it. It is, in the fullest
sense, an animal of prey. It is a native of the Brazils.
The Civet. This is a light active creature, and, in a state of nature,
very fierce. It is peculiar for the perfume which is deposited in a
kind of little pouch near the tail. The civet, though a native of
Africa and India, yet bears the cold of our climate; and great num-
bers are kept at Amsterdam, as the Dutch delight in this perfume,
which is more odoriferous than musk. As it emits it stronger when
angry, it was doubtless given to it as a protection; it being over-
powering in large quantities.
The Marten. This animal is about eighteen inches long, and
abounds in the northern regions of America, and is sometimes seen in
England. Its skin is very valuable, being of a dark chesnut colour;
and it forms an extensive article of commerce from Hudson's Bay and
Canada.
The Sable. This valuable animal inhabits the countries of North
America, Silesia, Kamtschatka, and Asiatic Russia. In size it re-
sembles the marten. The peculiarity of the sable fur is, that the hair
will turn either way. The sable hair is used by the artist for his
best brushes.
In the dark days of the Russian Empire, the captives of
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THE CREATION.
Siberia were obliged to send a return of sable skins to the
government.
The Weasel. This singular family is among the inferior beasts
of prey; though its fondness for blood is proverbial. It has a long
and slender body, with short legs; sharpened visage; and a longish
tail; six sharp cutting teeth; and the canine teeth something longer.
The Common Weasel. This animal is well known in our own
country. It is about seven inches long, exclusive of the tail; but
though so small, is as much a beast of prey as the lion. Some naturalists
have related an anecdote of an eagle who seized one of this tribe, and
mounted with it in the air, but was soon perceived to be fluttering in
pain, and at last fell to the ground:--the weasel had reached its neck,
and so bit it, that the vital blood escaped: and so the weasel got free,
and the eagle lay dead on the ground.
The Striated Weasel is a native of America. Its chief peculiarity
is the foetid smell which it has the power of emitting to an amazing
degree.
The Honey Weasel. This creature is, by its fondness for honey, a
continual enemy to bees. At sunset he watches the return of the
bee, and is also especially observant of the flight of a little bird, called
Cuculus Indicator, which acts as his pilot; and if he finds a bee's nest
any where within his reach, the prize is sure; for his skin is so tough,
that the little weapon of the bee cannot perforate it: but when the bee
builds high in a tree, the nest is safe, and the weasel gnaws the tree in
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anger. This Dr. Sparrman had from many experienced Hottentot
farmers.
The Ichneumon. This singular animal is a native of Egypt, Bar-
bary, and the Cape of Good Hope. Its length, from the nose to the
extremity of the tail, is from two to three feet: its colour is a pale reddish
grey, mottled with brown; its eyes are red; ears, naked; nose, long and
slender; tail, tufted at the end; hair, coarse; legs, short. In Egypt, the
Ichneumon is justly esteemed, as an especial blessing, being an in-
veterate enemy to the crocodile, serpents, and all noxious reptiles. It
even attacks that most dreaded enemy to man, the Hooded Snake, and
if wounded, retires, it is said, to some medicinal herbs in nature's great
dispensary, and returns to the attack; and is almost always victorious.
It glides about on the ground like a serpent, and springs always at
the throat; and as Lucan eloquently describes it,
" The gasping snake expires beneath the wound;
His gushing jaws with pois'nous floods abound,
And shed the fruitless mischief on the ground. "
The Ichneumon is easily domesticated; and in Egypt is like the
cat in a house.
The Ferret. This destructive little animal came originally from
Africa, but is now naturalized in England. Like others of the weasel
family, it emits a very foetid smell, if angry. It is generally from
ten inches to a foot in length; the white individuals have red eyes.
o
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THE CREATION.
The Stoat, or Ermine. This beautiful little creature, whose fur is
used by royalty, for its richest robes, is found in the north. Its coat,
in the summer, is brown; but when winter comes, then it changes its
colour; and this is the season in which it is sought for, being then pure
white.
The Otter. The animals of this family have all webbed feet, and
live near the water; they prey almost entirely on fish--thus their
homes are generally by the banks of rivers. The otter is a native of
almost all parts of Europe, and is still found, though rarely, in
England. The body of the otter is long and round; the legs are so
placed as to be capable of being brought into a line with the body;
and thus, in swimming, they act as fins. The otter seems the link
between the seal and the quadruped.
The otter is capable of being tamed, and then is employed to fish
for his master. " I have seen," says Dr. Goldsmith, " an otter go at
the word of command--drive the fish to the extremity of the pond;
and bring out the largest, and lay it at its master's feet. "
The Sea Otter. This animal is found near the Straits of Behring,
which divide Asia from America. In length it is about four feet.
Of all the great family of this day's creation, none are so attached to
their young. It is even said, that when deprived of them, they will
starve to death, and try to breathe their last where their young have
been destroyed. As I have before remarked, my dear children, the
contemplation of the animal creation abounds with instruction to us.
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The Bear. The bear has six front teeth in each jaw. It has also
five or six grinders on each side; but the canine teeth are solitary.
The tongue is smooth, and the snout prominent. The eyes are
furnished with a winking membrane. Some of this family use their
fore paws as hands; and they all climb.
The Common Bear. This animal is found in the Northern king-
doms of Europe; and also in some of the Indian Islands. They
vary in colour; some being black, some brown, and others grey.
The black live principally on animal food : and the brown on
vegetable: but all of them are passionately fond of honey; and as
they can climb well, they frequently plunder the wild hives. The
affection between the mother and cub is proverbial in this family.
No sooner is the latter wounded, than, like the lioness, the she-bear
becomes infuriate; and seizes the enemy, if within reach, and
squeezes him to death. Should the mother be wounded, the young
do not flee from her; but stay around, moaning piteously, and share
her fate.
The modes of catching bears are very varied, and some of them
very barbarous, especially in Russia and Siberia.
dillo, it is said, live often in the same cave, some have supposed on
terms of friendship, and others, in a kind of armed neutrality.
THIRD ORDER. --FERiE. "
TEN GENERA. --MANY SPECIES.
In this order we shall find the most ferocious and harmless animals
together; the character of the teeth determining the order. It com-
? Wild beasts,
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prises principally, the Lion, Tiger, Leopard, Cat, &c. ; the Hyasna,
Wolf, Fox, and Dog; the Bear, Badger, Raccoon, and Glutton; the
Opossum, Kangaroo, &c. ; the Weasel, Ichneumon, and Civet; the
Otter, Pole-cat, Marten, Mole, &c.
The Lion is the head of the genus Felis. The peculiarities of this
family are, that they have six cutting teeth in each jaw, with three
grinders on each side of the upper jaw, and four on each side of the
lower; the tongue furnished with rough sharp prickles, which point
backward, claws sheathed, hooked, and sharp.
The lion is the king of the beasts, and as such is continually
alluded to in the Scriptures. The lion is found chiefly in Africa,
and also the hottest parts of Asia. The form of this noble animal is
truly majestic, and his voice is as the voice of thunder; his head is
Tery large, and is covered with a long shaggy mane; and when en-
raged, his eyes flash terribly. The general length of the lion, when
full grown, is from six to eight feet, and its tail is about four feet
more: this is terminated by a tuft of dark hair. The muscular
power of the paw is tremendous; with one stroke it will knock the
strongest man to the ground.
The lioness is smaller than the lion, and has no mane. Her young,
when first born, are about the size of a small dog. They are suckled
about twelve months. She is not ferocious except when her young
are attacked, but then her fury is unbounded, she will even die in
their defence.
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THE CREATION.
" Roaring, she frights the herd, and shakes the plain,
Mocks the sling stone, and snaps the spear in twain;
Still guards her young; the hunter's motions thwarts,
And wrenches from her side the reeking darts. "
The strength of the lion is such, that one stroke of his paw will
break the back of a horse; and he seldom bites till he has . struck his
prey dead. At the Cape he has been known to take off a heifer as a
cat does a mouse. Some writers, who have seen a good deal of this
animal, do not speak very highly of his courage, excepting when
impelled by hunger; for instance, if he springs upon an enemy, and
misses his leap, he will give up his prey. In this, my dear children,
we see mercy from Him who gave even this formidable animal this
trait, so beneficial to man and beast.
The lion in general springs on his prey; but sometimes follows it.
Dr. Sparrman gives a most interesting account of the deliverance of a
native of the Cape Country. --" A Hottentot perceiving that he was
followed by a lion, and concluding that the animal only waited the
approach of night to make him his prey, began to consider of the best
mode of providing for his safety, and at length adopted the following:
--Seeing a piece of ground with a precipitate descent on one side,
he sat down by the edge of it, and observed to his great joy that the
lion also halted at a distance from him. As soon as it was dark, the
man sliding gently forward, let himself below the steep, and held up
his cloak and hat a few feet, gently moving them backward and
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forward. The lion, after a while, came creeping forward, and mis-
taking the cloak and hat for the man, he sprang headlong and
precipitated himself over the descent. "
When this king of the forest has become acquainted with man's
power, his courage has been so lost that a shout of the human voice
has been known to drive him away; and the fear of man and the
dread of him has been upon him. Gen. ix. 2.
The lion, with almost all this family, is carnivorous, that is, feeds
on flesh: but this was not his primeval or first state, nor will it be his
last; for the unerring word of prophecy tells of a time when " the
lion shall eat straw like the ox:"* and as this time is a "time of
restitution," it of course implies that at first it did so. Cowper thus
beautifully describes those days of peace:--
" The LioD, the Leopard, and the Bear
Graze with the fearless flock; all bask at noon
Together; or all gambol in the shade
Of the same grove, and drink one common stream.
Antipathies are none. No foe to man
Lurks in the Serpent now; the mother sees
And smiles to see her infant's playful hand
Stretched forth to dally with the crested worm,
To stroke his azure neck, or to receive
The lambent homage of his arrowy tongue. "
* Carnivorous animals, notwithstanding their adapted teeth, claws, intestines,
&c, may be brought up wholly on vegetable produce, just as man can subsist
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THE CREATION.
The Tiger. The Tiger is a native of Asia, and is met with as far
north as Chinese Tartary; but India and the Indian Islands are his
principal home. He is somewhat less than the lion, and decidedly
more ferocious; but of all quadrupeds, he has the most beautiful
skin. --On the face, belly, and throat, it is white; on the back, orange,
marked with long glossy transverse stripes of black.
The disposition of the tiger is most ferocious. It even fears not
the lion ; but will engage with it in single combat, and at times both
die in the struggle.
The strength of this animal will be best illustrated by the following
anecdote. --" A peasant in the East Indies," says Mr. Hamilton,
" had a buffalo fallen into a quagmire; and while he went to call for
assistance, an immense tiger came and immediately drew out the
animal, which the peasant with others to help at first had failed to do.
When the people returned, the first thing they beheld was the tiger
dragging the buffalo away to his den. When he saw the men, he let
fall his prey, and fled to the woods: but he had previously killed the
buffalo, and sucked its blood. "
Among the escapes from this animal, none, perhaps, is more
worthy of record than that which happened, now more than 100
years since, in Bengal. --A party had gone out, and seated them-
wholly on plants, or wholly on flesh, as he chooses. The prophetic writers of the
Old Testament indicate that this destructive anomaly is not to be perpetual. --
Sharon Turner's Sacred History of Creation, vol. i. p. 373.
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? LETTER XI.
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selves by a river under the shade of some trees. Imagine their
terror and dismay, on seeing, couching for his spring, a ferocious
tiger. Instantly a lady of the party, with amazing presence of
mind, (which is doubtless a direct gift from God,) unfurled a large
umbrella. The animal, confounded by this strange appearance,
shrunk away into the forest; and the party, by this gracious inter-
position of God, escaped.
The Leopard. The Leopard in form is like the tiger; but much
smaller. The colour of its skin is also similar to that animal; only
instead of having its back marked with transverse lines of glossy
black, it is dotted with annular, that is, round spote of that colour.
It inhabits most parts of Africa; and generally watches by the river
for its prey.
Like the tiger, the leopard is fierce and cruel. The eye is restless.
They attack almost everything they meet. Similar to most of this
family, their memory is wonderful, recognising old friends after a
long absence. Travellers say that the flesh of the leopard is better
than the finest veal.
The Hwnting Leopard. This is a native of India, and about the
size of a greyhound. It derives its name from being employed by
man to hunt the deer. It is trained like the falcon and pelican; and
returns with its prey to its keeper.
The Wild Cat. From this animal have sprung all our varieties of
the domestic cat. It is still to be found in some parts of England:
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THE CREATION.
and, at times, even the domestic cat has escaped to the woods, and
become wild. In this state, it is a deadly enemy to all kinds of game
and poultry, and even young kids.
The Domestic Cat. This animal, as a watch and guard against rats
and mice, is invaluable. A curious part of Welsh history records
the value of the cat, in that age. It occurs in the statutes of Howell
Dda (that is, the Good,) a. d. 948, in which, statutes were made to
preserve the lives of animals, among which the cat was specially
included, on account of its scarcity and utility. The statute I allude
to runs thus:--
"If any should kill or steal the cat that guards the prince's
granary, the offender is to forfeit a milch ewe, her fleece, and young;
or sufficient grain to cover the cat suspended by the tail. "
From these circumstances, it has been justly inferred that the cat
is not a native of these islands. The current prices then were--a
kitten, Id. ; a young cat, 2d. ; a full grown one, Ad. , which, in those
days, was a great sum.
The cat is very tender over its young; and in some instances,
when her own kittens have been taken away, has nursed even young
hares and squirrels with equal fondness.
Some children have a wicked, cruel tendency to tie pots, &c. , to
the tails of cats; but it is a barbarous sport; and, as I have once
before remarked, the step between cruelty to the brute, and cruelty
to man, our own species, is very short.
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The Angora Cat is a variety of the domestic species, which,
M. Sonnini says, possesses the animal qualities of the dog, with
the beautiful fur of the cat: at least, this was the description he
gave of the one he possessed, and which he had the same attachment
for, as Cowper had for his hares.
The Dog. This valuable animal stands at the head of the genus
Cants. None of this family can climb. The general characters are
--six cutting teeth, and two canines in each jaw: six grinders on
each side in the upper jaw, and seven on each side in the lower.
To no animal are we more variously indebted than to the dog.
His faithfulness, diligence, and obedience, are unwearied. Both in
the Old and New continents, if man were deprived of his services,
the loss would be very great. " Unlike most other animals," says
Mr. Bingley, he seems only to remember our caresses; and often, in
a few minutes, licks the hands that smote him. " The dog is found
wild in Congo, Lower Ethiopia, and several other parts of the world.
Among those domesticated with us, we have about twenty or thirty
varieties; from the Mastiff and Newfoundland, to the little terrier.
The instances related in different countries of the dog's sagacity, and
love to his owner, would fill volumes: but the following, I think, is
among the most interesting:--
"In the year 1760, a singular incident occurred near Harrowsmith.
--A waterman of that place, named Richardson, was sleeping in his
boat . By some means his boat slipped her moorings; and the tide
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THE CREATION.
carried her down the river across a barge. The boat began to fill
with water; but the dog, instead of seeking his own escape, went to
his master, pawed his face, and pulled him by the coat, until he awoke,
to see his imminent danger,--he had but a moment to escape. "
The extract from Cowper, concerning his little water spaniel, I
must not forget: it is so touching and beautiful.
" It was the time when Ouse displayed
His lilies newly blown;
Their beauties I intent surveyed,
And one I wished my own.
" With cane extended far, I sought
To steer it close to land;
But still the prize, though nearly caught,
Escaped my eager hand.
" Beau marked my unsuccessful pains,
With fixed considerate face;
And puzzling set his puppy brains,
To comprehend the case.
" But with a cherup clear and strong,
Dispersing all his dream,
I thence withdrew, and followed long
The windings of the stream.
" My ramble ended, I returned;
Beau, trotting far before,
The floating w reath again discerned,
And, plunging, left the shore.
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" 1 saw him, with that lily cropp'd,
Impatient swim, to meet
My quick approach; and soon he dropped
The treasure at my feet.
" Charmed with the sight,--the world, I cried,
i Shall hear of this thy deed;
My dog shall mortify the pride
Of man's superior breed.
" But chief myself I will employ--
Awake at duty's call--
To show a love as prompt as thine
To Him who gives me all. "
The Wolf. One leaves the character of the dog to trace out that of
the wolf, with no small reluctance. The wolf is one of the most
ferocious of the quadruped family, and insatiate in its appetite: hence
though destructive to man in one way, yet it is benefical in another
by carrying off all kinds of offal that may be left about. England
was, many centuries since, the abode of the wolf; so also was Wales.
Edgar, a. d. 959, when Wales was tributary to this country, con-
verted a heavy tax, which he had required of its prince, into 300
wolves' heads. In Scotland, so late as the sixteenth century, they
were very destructive; but in the next century were quite extirpated.
They are found in all cold regions. The following extract from the
public papers of 1825, will show you, more than any general descrip-
tion, the terrible enemy we are delivered from in this country:--
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THE CREATION.
" In the government of Livonia, (a Russian province on the Baltic,
of 21,000 square miles,) in 1823, the wolves destroyed 1,841 horses,
1,243 foals, 1,807 horned cattle, 723 calves, 15,812 sheep, 726 lambs,
2,545 goats, 183 kids, 4,190 swine, 312 sucking pigs, 703 dogs,
673 geese. "
Now when you look on your map, and see the size of Livonia, this
destruction appears almost incredible; and yet, being in the govern-
ment returns, it is of course true.
The wolf, however, if taken young, is capable of being tamed. It
is also said, that his courage fails if resisted.
HyjEna. This is another genus of the Order Feree, and, indeed,
may well be placed here, for it seems the wildest of the wild. It
inhabits Asiatic Turkey, Syria, Persia, and many parts of Africa.
In size, it equals one of our large dogs; its skin is a pale greyish
brown, marked with several blackish bands; the hair of its neck is
erect, and this is continued in bristles along the back; the head is
broad and flat; the eyes ferocious and wild; the tail short and bushy.
It was for a time thought that this animal could not be tamed, but
experience has proved the contrary. They abound at the Cape of
Good Hope, and will eat any thing; but even their gluttonous and
disgusting habits are overruled for the benefit of man, as they often,
in troops, carry off such animal remains, &c. , as might produce fever;
--nothing is made in vain; even this ferocious animal, which is like
the shark among fish, has its appointed sphere.
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The Spotted Hywna, or Tiger Wolf, is larger than the former, and
marked with numerous black spots. Their habits are much the same
as those of the common hyaena. Their howl at night is terrific. Like
most of the predatory animals, or beasts of prey, night is their time to
go abroad, and then man is at rest. How beautiful is the allusion to
this in Psalm civ. 20--24: " Thou makest darkness, and it is night:
wherein all the beasts of the forest do creep forth. The young lions
roar after their prey, and seek their meat from God. The sun ariseth,
and they gather themselves together, and lay them down in their dens.
Man goeth forth unto his work and to his labour until the evening.
O Lord, how manifold are thy works! in wisdom hast thou made
them all: the earth is full of thy riches. "
The Jackal. This animal in stature is like the fox, but much more
amiable. It is easily tamed, and very fond of being caressed; and
seems in his gratitude more to resemble the dog than the fox. It is
found in all the hot parts of Asia and Africa.
In its wild state, however, the jackal is a beast of prey, in its fullest
sense; though from this family Mr. Pennant thinks the whole canine
race have sprung.
The great peculiarity of the jackal is its howl, which is always at
night; and as they go in herds, from fifty to two hundred at a time, the
noise is dreadful. The timid animals hear it with terror, and the preda-
tory ones rejoice in it, and seize on the weaker as they are fleeing from
it. It is from this circumstance that they are called " the lion's provider. "
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THE CREATION.
The Fox. This well-known animal is a native of almost all quarters
of the globe; and has been permitted to remain in England for the
pleasure of the huntsman: but pleasure, as I have before remarked,
cannot consist, in the Christian's mind, in giving any creature pain.
In countries, such as Livonia, where the wolves committed the depre-
dations they did, the public welfare demands their extirpation; but
this is very different from catching foxes in snares, keeping them alive,
and then letting them out of a bag to be hunted.
The fox is an animal of exceeding cunning and craft, and is a robber
of every thing he can get, and in this character he is frequently
alluded to in Scripture. *
But this animal, like most of the ferocious tribes, is exceedingly
tender to its offspring. Dr. Goldsmith relates a most interesting
account illustrative of this:--" A she fox, that had been discovered
with her cub, instantly, as the dogs pursued, fled before them; but
rather than leave her young behind, she took it up in her mouth.
The chase continued some miles; at last, taking her way through a
? The bite of the fox, as well as the dog, in a rabid or mad state, frequently pro-
duces hydrophobia, which means, "a dread of water. " The late Duke of Richmond
died under this disease, by the bite of a fox, in America. The antagonist powers
in this disease are the virtu, or matter of the malady, and water; and it struck me
forcibly some years since, that if a person so bitten, after having the part cau-
terized, or burnt, was to drink very largelv of water, and also once or twice a-day
spunge the whole body, that it might, under God, be beneficial, and as no remedy
has as yet been discovered, and this proposal is harmless in its nature, it can but
be tried.
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? LETTER XI.
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farm-yard, she was attacked by a mastiff, and was obliged to drop her
cub; but we are happy to add, the affectionate creature escaped. "
The Coatimondi. This animal is especially remarkable for the
beauty of its tail, which has white rings on it. It is, in the fullest
sense, an animal of prey. It is a native of the Brazils.
The Civet. This is a light active creature, and, in a state of nature,
very fierce. It is peculiar for the perfume which is deposited in a
kind of little pouch near the tail. The civet, though a native of
Africa and India, yet bears the cold of our climate; and great num-
bers are kept at Amsterdam, as the Dutch delight in this perfume,
which is more odoriferous than musk. As it emits it stronger when
angry, it was doubtless given to it as a protection; it being over-
powering in large quantities.
The Marten. This animal is about eighteen inches long, and
abounds in the northern regions of America, and is sometimes seen in
England. Its skin is very valuable, being of a dark chesnut colour;
and it forms an extensive article of commerce from Hudson's Bay and
Canada.
The Sable. This valuable animal inhabits the countries of North
America, Silesia, Kamtschatka, and Asiatic Russia. In size it re-
sembles the marten. The peculiarity of the sable fur is, that the hair
will turn either way. The sable hair is used by the artist for his
best brushes.
In the dark days of the Russian Empire, the captives of
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THE CREATION.
Siberia were obliged to send a return of sable skins to the
government.
The Weasel. This singular family is among the inferior beasts
of prey; though its fondness for blood is proverbial. It has a long
and slender body, with short legs; sharpened visage; and a longish
tail; six sharp cutting teeth; and the canine teeth something longer.
The Common Weasel. This animal is well known in our own
country. It is about seven inches long, exclusive of the tail; but
though so small, is as much a beast of prey as the lion. Some naturalists
have related an anecdote of an eagle who seized one of this tribe, and
mounted with it in the air, but was soon perceived to be fluttering in
pain, and at last fell to the ground:--the weasel had reached its neck,
and so bit it, that the vital blood escaped: and so the weasel got free,
and the eagle lay dead on the ground.
The Striated Weasel is a native of America. Its chief peculiarity
is the foetid smell which it has the power of emitting to an amazing
degree.
The Honey Weasel. This creature is, by its fondness for honey, a
continual enemy to bees. At sunset he watches the return of the
bee, and is also especially observant of the flight of a little bird, called
Cuculus Indicator, which acts as his pilot; and if he finds a bee's nest
any where within his reach, the prize is sure; for his skin is so tough,
that the little weapon of the bee cannot perforate it: but when the bee
builds high in a tree, the nest is safe, and the weasel gnaws the tree in
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anger. This Dr. Sparrman had from many experienced Hottentot
farmers.
The Ichneumon. This singular animal is a native of Egypt, Bar-
bary, and the Cape of Good Hope. Its length, from the nose to the
extremity of the tail, is from two to three feet: its colour is a pale reddish
grey, mottled with brown; its eyes are red; ears, naked; nose, long and
slender; tail, tufted at the end; hair, coarse; legs, short. In Egypt, the
Ichneumon is justly esteemed, as an especial blessing, being an in-
veterate enemy to the crocodile, serpents, and all noxious reptiles. It
even attacks that most dreaded enemy to man, the Hooded Snake, and
if wounded, retires, it is said, to some medicinal herbs in nature's great
dispensary, and returns to the attack; and is almost always victorious.
It glides about on the ground like a serpent, and springs always at
the throat; and as Lucan eloquently describes it,
" The gasping snake expires beneath the wound;
His gushing jaws with pois'nous floods abound,
And shed the fruitless mischief on the ground. "
The Ichneumon is easily domesticated; and in Egypt is like the
cat in a house.
The Ferret. This destructive little animal came originally from
Africa, but is now naturalized in England. Like others of the weasel
family, it emits a very foetid smell, if angry. It is generally from
ten inches to a foot in length; the white individuals have red eyes.
o
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THE CREATION.
The Stoat, or Ermine. This beautiful little creature, whose fur is
used by royalty, for its richest robes, is found in the north. Its coat,
in the summer, is brown; but when winter comes, then it changes its
colour; and this is the season in which it is sought for, being then pure
white.
The Otter. The animals of this family have all webbed feet, and
live near the water; they prey almost entirely on fish--thus their
homes are generally by the banks of rivers. The otter is a native of
almost all parts of Europe, and is still found, though rarely, in
England. The body of the otter is long and round; the legs are so
placed as to be capable of being brought into a line with the body;
and thus, in swimming, they act as fins. The otter seems the link
between the seal and the quadruped.
The otter is capable of being tamed, and then is employed to fish
for his master. " I have seen," says Dr. Goldsmith, " an otter go at
the word of command--drive the fish to the extremity of the pond;
and bring out the largest, and lay it at its master's feet. "
The Sea Otter. This animal is found near the Straits of Behring,
which divide Asia from America. In length it is about four feet.
Of all the great family of this day's creation, none are so attached to
their young. It is even said, that when deprived of them, they will
starve to death, and try to breathe their last where their young have
been destroyed. As I have before remarked, my dear children, the
contemplation of the animal creation abounds with instruction to us.
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The Bear. The bear has six front teeth in each jaw. It has also
five or six grinders on each side; but the canine teeth are solitary.
The tongue is smooth, and the snout prominent. The eyes are
furnished with a winking membrane. Some of this family use their
fore paws as hands; and they all climb.
The Common Bear. This animal is found in the Northern king-
doms of Europe; and also in some of the Indian Islands. They
vary in colour; some being black, some brown, and others grey.
The black live principally on animal food : and the brown on
vegetable: but all of them are passionately fond of honey; and as
they can climb well, they frequently plunder the wild hives. The
affection between the mother and cub is proverbial in this family.
No sooner is the latter wounded, than, like the lioness, the she-bear
becomes infuriate; and seizes the enemy, if within reach, and
squeezes him to death. Should the mother be wounded, the young
do not flee from her; but stay around, moaning piteously, and share
her fate.
The modes of catching bears are very varied, and some of them
very barbarous, especially in Russia and Siberia.
