so much address and assiduity, that not one person was wounded. An Asiatic prince and his slaves were deaf to the cries of nature, while the heart of the beast relented; he, more worthy than his rider to elevate his front towards the heavens, heard and obeyed the gentle impulse.

"The following instance of the sagacity of these animals, was mentioned to Dr. Darwin by some gentlemen of distinct observation, and undoubted veracity, who had been much conversant with our eastern settlements. The elephants that are used to carry the baggage of our ar mies, are put each under the care of one of the natives of Indostan, and whilst this person and his wife go into the woods to collect leaves and branches of trees for his food, they fix him to the ground by a length of chain, and frequently leave a child yet unable to walk, under his protection and the intelligent animal not only defends it, but, as it creeps about, when it arrives near the extremity of his chain, he wraps his trunk gently round its body, and brings it again into the centre of his circle.

"During one of the wars in India, many Frenchmen had an opportunity of observing one of the elephants that had received a flesh-wound from a cannon-ball: after having been twice or thrice conducted to the hospital, where he extended himself to be dressed, he afterwards used to go alone. The surgeon did whatever he thought necessary, applying sometimes even fire to the wound; and though the pain made the animal often utter the most plaintive groans, he never expressed any other tokens than those of gratitude to this person, who by momentary torments endeavoured, and in the end, effected his

cure.

"In the last war, a young elephant received a violent wound in its head, the pain of which rendered it so frantic and ungovernable, that it was found impossible to persuade the animal to have it dressed. Whenever any one approached it, it ran off with fury, and would suffer no person to come within several yards of it. The man who had the care of it at length hit upon a contrivance for securing it: by a few words and signs he gave the mother of the animal sufficient intelligence of what was wanted, the sensible creature immediately seized

her young one with her trunk, and held it firmly down, though groaning with agony, while the surgeon completely dressed the wound: and she continued to perform this service every day till the animal was perfectly recovered." p. 146–148.

"In the Philosophical Transactions, a story is related of an elephant having such an attachment for a very young child, that he was never hap py but when it was near him. The nurse used, therefore, very frequently to take the child in its cradle, and place it betwixt his feet, and this he became at length so much accustomed to, that he would never eat bis food except when it was present. When the child slept he used to drive off the flies with his proboscis, and when it cried he would move the cradle backwards and forwards, and thus again rock it to sleep.

"A centinel belonging to the present menagerie at Paris was always very careful in requesting the spectators not to give the elephants any thing to eat. This conduct particu larly displeased the female, who be held him with a very unfavourable eye, and had several times endeavoured to correct his interference by besprinkling his head with water from her trunk. One day, when several persons were collected to view these animals, a bye-stander offered the female a bit of bread, the centinel perceived it, but the moment he opened his mouth to give his usual admonition, she, placing herself immediately before him, discharged in his face à considerable stream of water. A general laugh ensued; but the centinel, having calmly wiped his face, stood a little to one side, and continued as igilant as before. Soon afterwards he found himself under the necessity of repeating his admonition to the spectators, but no sooner was this uttered than the female laid hold of his musket, twirled it round with her trunk, trod it under her feet, and did not restore it till she had twisted it into the form of a screw.

"M. Navarette says that, at Macasar, an elephant-driver had a cocoanut given him, which he, out of wantonness, struck twice against his elephant's forehead to break. The day following the animal saw some cocoanuts exposed in the street for sale, and taking one of them up with his

shewed him a penny, and pointed to his master, who stood at the street'door, and saw what was going on.

150.

The next circumstance which engages our attention is the following account of the escape of a boat's crew from an attack of a herd of walruses.

"In the year 1766 some of the sloops' crew, who annually sail to the north, to trade with the Esquimaux, were attacked by a great number of these animals; and, notwithstanding their utmost endeavours to keep them off, one, more daring than the rest, though a small one, got in over the stern, and after sitting and looking at the people some time, he again plunged into the water to his companions. At that instant, another of an enormous size was get ting in over the bow; and every other means proving ineffectual to prevent such an unwelcome visit, the bowman took up a gun, loaded with goose-shot, put the muzzle into the animal's mouth, and shot him dead: he immediately sunk, and was followed by all his companions. The people then made the best of their way to the vessel, and just arrived before the creatures were ready to make their second attack, which, in all probability, would have been infinitely worse than the first, as they seemed highly enraged at the loss of their companion." p. 167 This is an extract from Hearne, and it is proper to inform our readers that these animals are sometimes eighteen feet long, and ten or twelve in circumference.

In the description given of the dogtribe we find the following extraordinary instances of the sagacity, and other traits peculiar to this species. "There is a dog, (says Mr. Smellie), at present belonging to a grocer in Edinburgh, who has for some time amused and astonished the 'people in the neighbourhood. A man who goes through the streets ringing a bell and selling penny pies, happened one day to treat this dog with a pye. The next time he heard the pyeman's bell, he ran to him with impetuosity, seized him by the coat, and would not suffer him to pass. The pyeman, who understood what the animal wanted, VOL. I.

his master by many humble ges⚫tures and looks. The master put a penny into the dog's mouth, which he instantly delivered to the pyeman, and received his pye. This 'traffic between the pyeman and the grocer's dog has been daily practised for months past, and still con'tinues.'

"In the year 1760, the following incident occurred near Hammersmith:-Whilst a man of the name of Richardson, a waterman of that place, was sleeping in his boat, the vessel broke from her moorings, and was carried by the tide, under a west-country barge. Fortunately for the man his dog happened to be with him, and the sagacious animal awaked him by pawing his face, and pulling the collar of his coat, at the instant the boat was filling with water: he seized the opportunity, and thus saved himself from otherwise inevitable death.

"A dog that had been the favourite of an elderly lady, some time after her death, discovered the strongest emotions on the sight of her picture, when taken down to be cleaned. Before this instant he had never been observed to notice the painting. Here was evidently a case either of passive remembrance, or of the involuntary renewal of former impressions.

"Another dog, the property of a gentleman that died, was given to a friend in Yorkshire. Several years afterwards, a brother from the West Indies, paid a short visit at the house where the dog then was. He was instantly recognized, though an entire stranger, in consequence, most probably, of a strong personal likeness. The dog fawned upon and followed him with great affection to every place where he went.

"During M. Le Vaillant's travels in Africa, he one day missed a favourite little bitch that he had taken out with him. After much shouting and firing of guns, in order, if possible, to make her hear where the party was, he directed one of his Hottentots to mount a horse and return some distance in search of her. In about four hours the man returned 4 P

different animals, among which the cat was included, as being, at that early period, of great importance, on account of its scarcity and utility. The price of a kitten before it could see, was fixed at one penny; till proof could be given of its having caught a mouse, two-pence; after which it was rated at four-pence; a great sum in those days, when the value of specie was extremely high. It was likewise required, that it should be perfect in its senses of hearing and seeing, should be a good mouser, have its claws whole, and, if a female, be a careful nurse. If it failed in any of these qualities, the seller was to forfeit to the buyer the third part of its value. If any one should steal or kill the cat that guarded the Prince's granary, he was either to forfeit a milch ewe, her fleece, and lamb, or as much wheat as, when poured on the cat, suspended by its tail, (its head touching the floor) would form a heap high enough to cover the tip of the tail.-From these circumstances we may conclude, that cats were not originally natives of these islands; and from the great care taken to improve and preserve the breed of this prolific creature, we may with propriety suppose, that they were but little known at that period." p. 291, 292.

As a proof, that although education may tame, yet it does not destroy innate dispositions to voracity, is instanced in the following account of an ichneumon which had been tamed.

"I had (says M. D'Obsonville, in his Essays on the Nature of various foreign Animals,) an ichneumon very young, which I brought up: I fed it at first with milk, and afterwards with baked meat, mixed with rice. It soon became even tamer than a cat, for it came when called, and followed me, though at liberty, into the country.

"One day I brought to him a small water serpent alive, being desirous to know how far his instinct would carry him against a being with which he was hitherto totally unacquainted. His first emotion seemed to be astonishment mixed with anger, for his hair became erect; but, in an instant after, he slipped behind the reptile, and with a remarkable swiftness and agility leaped upon its head, seized

it, and crushed it between his teeth. This essay, and new aliment, seemed to have awakened in him his innate and destructive voracity, which, till then, had given way to the gen tleness he had acquired from his edu cation. I had about my house several curious kinds of fowls, among which he had been brought up, and which, till then, he had suffered to go and come unmolested and unregarded; but, a few days after, when he found himself alone, he strangled them every one, ate a little, and, as appeared, had drank the blood of two." p. 297, 298.

The utility of otters to catch fish is exemplified in the following mstances:

"A person of the name of Collins, who lived at Kilmerston, near Wooler, in Northumberland, had a tame otter, which followed him wherever he went. He frequently took it to fish in the river; and, when satiated, it never failed to return to its master. One day, in the absence of Collins, being taken out to fish by his son, instead of returning as usual, it refused to come at the accustomed call, and was lost. The father tried every means to recover it; and, after several days search, being near the place where his son lost it, and calling to it by its name, to his inexpressi ble joy, it came creeping to his feet, and shewed many marks of affection and firm attachment.

"Some years ago, James Campbell, near Inverness, had a young otter, which he brought up and tamed. It would follow him wherever he chose; and, if called on by its name, would immediately obey. When apprehensive of danger from dogs, it sought the protection of its master, and would endeavour to fly into his arms for greater security. It was frequently employed in catching fish, and would sometimes take eight or ten salmon in a day. If not prevented, it always made an attempt to break the fish behind the fin next the tail; and, as soon as one was taken away, it immediately dived in pursuit of more. When tired, it would refuse to fish any longer; and was then rewarded with as much as it could devour. When satisfied with eating, it always curled itself round, and fell asleep; in which state it was generally carried home.—The same