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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Romance of Natural History, Second Series + +Author: Philip Henry Gosse + +Release Date: June 13, 2010 [EBook #32800] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK NATURAL HISTORY *** + + + + +Produced by Barbara Tozier, Odessa Paige Turner, Bill +Tozier and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at +http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + +</pre> + + + + + +<h1>THE ROMANCE OF NATURAL HISTORY.</h1> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_i" id="Page_i">[Pg i]</a></span></p> +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 251px;"> +<a href="images/fig004-400dpia1200.jpg"><img src="images/fig004-400dpia400.jpg" width="251" height="400" alt="FASCINATION." title="" /></a> +<span class="caption">FASCINATION.</span><br /> + +<span class="right"> +<i>Front.</i><br /></span> +</div> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_ii" id="Page_ii">[Pg ii]</a></span></p> +<p class="center"> +EDINBURGH:<br /> +PRINTED BY BALLANTYNE AND COMPANY,<br /> +PAUL'S WORK.<br /> +</p> + + + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_iii" id="Page_iii">[Pg iii]</a></span></p> + + + +<h1>THE ROMANCE</h1> + +<p class="center">OF</p> + +<h1>NATURAL HISTORY.</h1> + +<p class="center">BY</p> + <h3>PHILIP HENRY GOSSE, F.R.S.</h3> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_iv" id="Page_iv">[Pg iv]</a></span></p> + +<p class="center">Second Series.</p> + +<p class="center">LONDON: + JAMES NISBET AND CO., 21 BERNERS STREET.</p> + +<p class="center">M.DCCC.LXI.</p> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_v" id="Page_v">[Pg v]</a></span></p> + + +<h2>CONTENTS.</h2> + + +<table class="toc" summary="Contents." cellspacing="8" width="80%"> + +<tr><td class="center"><b><big>I. THE EXTINCT.</big></b></td></tr> +<tr><th> </th><th>PAGE</th></tr> + + +<tr><td>Death of Species—Some Died in Early Historic Ages—Some +Dying Now—Changes of Land and Water—Tertiary State of +Europe—Dinothere of Germany—Sivathere of India—Gigantic +Tortoise—Pachyderms of Siberia—Rhinoceros—Mammoth—Mastodon +of America—Great Quadrupeds of South +America—Sloths—Habits of Mylodon—Macrauchen—Toxodon—Ancient +Australia and its Colossal Birds—Ancient +Britain—Its Flora and Fauna—Irish Elk—Carnivores—Chronology +of the Tertiary Era—Contemporaneous Existence +of Man with the Fossil Fauna—Gigantic Tortoise—Condition +of Siberian Pachyderms—Discovery of the Remains—Contemporary +Fauna of Britain—Chinese and Siberian Traditions—Indian +Traditions of the Mastodon—State of its Remains—Its +Food—Comparative Lateness of Geologic Processes in +America—Possibility that the Mastodon was a Beast of Burden—Darwin +on the South American Sloths—Freshness of +their Remains—Synchronism with Existing Creatures—Birds +of New Zealand—Maori Tales—Evidence of Recent Existence—Story +of an English Seaman—Examination of its Truth—Fossil +Eggs—Comparison of Dimensions—Larger Eggs in +Madagascar—Æpyornis—Its Present Existence Possible—Discovery +of the Notornis—Tertiary Britain—Fossil Man—Worked +Flints—Associated with Fossil Bones—Species—Age +of Man—Alluvium of the Nile—Conclusions from it Delusive—Rates +of Geologic Changes Variable—Examples—Evidence of +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_vi" id="Page_vi">[Pg vi]</a></span>Contemporaneity of Man with the Tertiary Fauna—Irish Elk—State +of its Remains—Traditionary and Documentary Evidence +of its Recent Existence—Slaughtered by Man—Proof +of this Fact—Great Accumulation of Skulls at Lough Gûr—Weapons +found with Elk Relics—Proofs of its having been +Cooked—Manner of Hunting the Elk—Ancient Irish Poem on +Animals—No Allusion to the Elk in it—This Explained—Notices +of Early Oxen—Their Fossil Relics—Cæsar's Account +of the Urus—Wild Oxen in Ancient Greece and Western +Asia—Guy of Warwick and the Dun Cow—The Turnbulls—The +Urus Fossil in Britain—Vast Size of Fossil Oxen—Scanian +Fossil Ox bearing a Spear-wound—Other Ancient +Oxen—European Bison—British Bears—Period of their Extinction—Extinction +of the Wolf—Beaver Extinct in Britain—Almost +Extinct in Europe—Dodo—Accounts of Voyagers—Seen +in London—Museum Relics—Paintings—Stelleria—Cheiromys—Moho—Kaureke—Manu-mea—Nestor +of Norfolk +Island—Great Auk—Its Recent Abundance—Catalogue of +Specimens and Eggs in Cabinets—Falkland Fox—Musk Ox—Hand-tree +of Mexico—Attempt to Estimate the Rate of +Species-extinction—Perhaps One a Year—Question of Continuous +Creation of Species—Causes of Extinction—Thoughts +of Owen and Darwin—Geographic Distribution an Important +Element—Fauna Peculiar to Islands—Red Grouse—Precariousness +of its Existence,</td><td valign="bottom"><a href="#Page_1">1</a></td></tr> + + +<tr><td class="center"><b><big>II. THE MARVELLOUS.</big></b></td></tr> + +<tr><td>Vulgar Love of Marvels—False Causes—Counter Tendency of +Science—Blood-Showers—Traced to Butterfly-discharges—Worms +in Horse Pond—Crimson Snow—Discharges of Birds—Real +Red Rain—Waters turned to Blood—Oscillatoria—Infusoria—"Raining +Cats and Dogs"—Snail-showers—Frog-showers—At +Portobello—At Leeds—On the Continent—Fish-showers—The +Aberdare Shower—Explanations and Criticisms—Veritable +Fish-showers in South America—In India—In +Ceylon—Torpidity of Fishes in Mud—Lepidosiren—Its +Structure—Amphibious Fishes—Climbing Perch—Salarias +of Ceylon—Provisional Structure,</td><td valign="bottom"><a href="#Page_96">96</a></td></tr> + + + +<tr><td class="center"><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_vii" id="Page_vii">[Pg vii]</a></span><b><big>III. MERMAIDS.</big></b></td></tr> + +<tr><td>The Oannes of Berosus—Assyrian Representations of Mermen—Dagon +and Atergatis—Universal Belief in Mermaids—Opinion +of Swainson—Sirens in Dongola—Museum Specimens—Japanese +Ingenuity—Accounts of Living Specimens—Assumed +to be Cow-whales—Indian Accounts—Scandinavian +Myths—Mermaids in Shetland—A Love Story—Cavern in +Skye—Veritable Narratives—Hudson's Report—Steller's +Sea-ape—Rencontre of Weddell's Seaman—Merman seen at +Landscrone—Mermaid Captured by Six Shetlandmen—Comments +on the Story—Critical Examination of it,</td><td valign="bottom"><a href="#Page_125">125</a></td></tr> + + +<tr><td class="center"><b><big>IV. THE SELF-IMMURED.</big></b></td></tr> + +<tr><td>Toads Found in Wood and Stone—Difficulties—Bell's Caution—Current +Explanations—Mr Bartlett's Toad in Fir-tree—His +Letter in Reply—Mr Bree's Toad in Sandstone—Mr Peacock's +Toad in Lias—Toad in Tamarind-wood in India—Comments +on the Report—Toad in Flint at Blois—Toad in Iron Ore—<i>Audi +alteram partem</i>—Mr Plant's Disappointment—Seven +Frogs in Nodules of Limestone—Toad Immured in Old Wall—Frog +in Freestone—Toads deep in Stiff Clay—Experiments—Dr +Buckland Immures Toads in Oolitic Limestone and +Sandstone—Results—Dr Buckland's Conclusions—Toads +Inclosed in Plaster of Paris—Critical Examination of the +Experiments—Objections to the Conclusions—Evidence rather +in Favour of Common Belief—Toad Sixteen Years in Closed-in +Wall—Toad in Mortar under a Horse-block—Indefinite +Torpidity of Wasps—Mr Bartlett Finds a Bat in a Vault +Closed for Twenty Years—Mr Smith Finds a Bat in a Vault +Closed for One Hundred and Six Years,</td><td valign="bottom"><a href="#Page_146">146</a></td></tr> + + +<tr><td class="center"><b><big>V. HYBERNATION OF SWALLOWS.</big></b></td></tr> + +<tr><td>The Question—Popular Belief—Scientific Statements of Swallows' +Torpidity and Submersion—Achard's Statement—White's +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_viii" id="Page_viii">[Pg viii]</a></span>Account—Cases given by Bishop Stanley—Supposed Torpidity +of American Swift—Hybernating Corn-crakes—Barrington's +Reports of Torpid Swallows—Curator Wall's Story—Fitton's +Story—Swallows in Britain during Winter—Cases recorded by +White—Montagu—Yarrell—C. Bree—Bell—Hewitson—Harcourt—Rodd—Hadfield—W. +Bree—Johnston—Gurney—Examination +of the Evidence—Conclusion in Favour of Torpidity,</td><td valign="bottom"><a href="#Page_191">191</a></td></tr> + + +<tr><td class="center"><b><big>VI. THE CRESTED AND WATTLED SNAKE.</big></b></td></tr> + +<tr><td>Seba's Museum—His "Thesaurus"—Figures of Curious Serpents—What +could they have been?—Proofs that they were +Ophidian, not Piscine—Reports of Wonderful Serpent in +Jamaica—Singular Character of its Habitat—Geological and +Botanical Features—Locale of Three-fingered Jack—Crested +Snake Killed here—Negro Stories of its Voice—Heard of in +Hayti—Author's Efforts to obtain a Specimen—Occurrence +of Two Specimens,</td><td valign="bottom"><a href="#Page_211">211</a></td></tr> + + +<tr><td class="center"><b><big>VII. THE DOUBTFUL.</big></b></td></tr> + +<tr><td>Viper Swallowing her Young—Conflicting Statements—Physiologically +not Impossible—Reports of Witnesses—Mr Percival's +Account—Mr Wolley's Corroboration—Mr Bond's Testimony—Case +of the Rattlesnake—Seen by Palisot de Beauvois—Case +of the Common Lizard—Comments on the Evidence.</td><td> </td></tr> + +<tr><td>Madame Merian—Her Truth Impeached—Her Story of the Lantern-fly—Denials +of its Luminosity by Entomologists—Confirmation +of it by Lacordaire—By Spinola—By Wesmael—English +Insects only Occasionally Luminous—Mole-cricket—The +Cause of <i>ignis fatuus</i>—Crane-fly—Luminous Caterpillars—Perhaps +a Disease.</td><td> </td></tr> + +<tr><td>Madame Merian again Arraigned—Her Account of Spiders Preying +on Humming-birds—Mr MacLeay's Denial and Proof of the +Negative—Comment on his Evidence—Langsdorff's Evidence—Ceylon +Spiders—Sir E. Tennent's Criticisms—Collateral +Evidence for the Affirmative—Strong Webs of <i>Nephila</i>—The +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_ix" id="Page_ix">[Pg ix]</a></span>Solfuga of India—Account of its Habits—Attacks and Overcomes +Small Birds—Captain Sherwill Saw a Spider Eating a +Bird in India—Moreau de Jonnès' Direct Confirmation of +Merian—Mr H. Bates's Conclusive Testimony,</td><td valign="bottom"><a href="#Page_220">220</a></td></tr> + + +<tr><td class="center"><b><big>VIII. FASCINATION.</big></b></td></tr> + +<tr><td>Power Attributed to Serpents of Paralysing their Prey—Dr Bird's +Story of Black Snake—Rattlesnake and Squirrel—Cobra and +Lizard—African Snake and Mouse—Snake and Frog—Habits +of the Boomslange—Snake and Shrike—Snake and Mouse—Dr +Evans's Observations on Serpents at the Zoological Gardens—Ringed +Snake and Hedge Sparrow—Snake and Robin—Indian +Serpent and Eel—Attempted Explanations—Mr +Martin's Observations—Barton Attributes the Phenomena to +Maternal Love—Explanation Inadequate—The Power Exercised +by Other Animals—Lizard and Butterfly—Scorpion and +Fly—Stoats and Hares—Foxes and Pullets—Eagle and Rabbit—Attractive +Power of Fire—Entomologist's Bull's-eye Lamp—Yard-fire +in Alabama—Insects come to the Fire—Titmouse +around a Gas-lamp—Bell Rock Lighthouse visited by Herring-gull—Fire +Fascinates Toads in Africa,</td><td valign="bottom"><a href="#Page_242">242</a></td></tr> + + +<tr><td class="center"><b><big>IX. SERPENT-CHARMING.</big></b></td></tr> + +<tr><td>Revulsion Inspired by the Serpent—Persons Professing Immunity +against Venomous Serpents—Scriptural Allusions—The Ancient +Psylli and Marsi—Babylonian Magician—Atyr—Immunity +Distinct from Serpent-charming—Hexagon the Ambassador—Posterity +of Psylli in Sennaar—Bruce's Curious Account—Various +Plants Antidotic to Serpent-venom—Experiments on +<i>Simaba Cedron</i>—Peruvian Serpents and Remedies—Various +South American Antidotes—Vejuco of Venezuela—Grass of +Dahomey—Immunity of Mangouste—Anecdotes—Of Hedgehog—Bruce's +Account of the Cerastes—Hasselquist's Observations—Psyllic +Woman—Power of Spittle—Influence of Music +on Serpents—Proceedings of Egyptian Charmers—Rattlesnake +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_x" id="Page_x">[Pg x]</a></span>Charmed by a Flute—Cobra of India Attracted by Music—Occasional +Failures and Fatalities—Anecdotes—Comments—Psylli +in London—Are the Poison-fangs Extracted?—Power +of Snake-stones—Napier's and Tennent's Accounts—Faraday's +Analysis—Plant-remedies,</td><td valign="bottom"><a href="#Page_263">263</a></td></tr> + + +<tr><td class="center"><b><big>X. BEAUTY.</big></b></td></tr> + +<tr><td>Delight in Beauty—Divine Appreciation of it—Magnificent Flower +in a Thicket—Beauty of Deer—Pet Fawn—Eye of Gazelle—Spotted +Fur—Zebra-stripes—Birds—Spoonbills on the Amazon—Carolina +Parakeet—Cock of the Rock—Soft blending +in the Goatsuckers—Resplendent Trogon—Metallic Colours—Rifle-bird—Plume-birds—Iridescent +Hues—Sun-birds—Humming-birds—Mexican +Names—Jamaican Humming-birds—Mango—Long-tail—Cause +of changeable Lustre—Angle of +Light—Other Examples—Region of the Amazon and Rio Negro—Birds—Fiery +Topaz Humming-bird—Cerro of Potosi—Night-blowing +Cactus—Bar-tail Comet—Pheasant tribe—Chinese +Pheasants—Fire-back of Java—Argus of Malacca—Impeyan +of India—Polyprectons—Peacock—Wild Peacock-shooting—Paradise-birds—Emerald—His +Vanity in Dress—Splendour +of Insects—Metallic Beetles—Soft Refulgence—Gem-scales—Butterflies—Changes +of Hue—Opalescence—Ray +on the "<i>Cui bono?</i>"—Smith on South American Butterflies—Splendour +of Spiders—in Jamaica—in Borneo—Tortoise-beetles—Beauty +of Plants—Mosses—Ferns—Palms—Grasses—Bamboo—in +Jamaica—in Madagascar—Plantains—Scene +in Tahiti—Beauty exceeds our Power of Imbibing it—Flowers—Orchideæ—Sobralia—Cypripedium—Anæctochilus—Dendrobium—Huntleya—Scene +in Guiana—Death of +Reiss—Rhododendrons of Himalayas—of Borneo—Lightning-tree +of Madagascar—Flamboyant—Barbadoes Pride—Burmese +tree—Le Bois Immortel—Scene in Tartary—Microscopic +Beauties of London Pride,</td><td valign="bottom"><a href="#Page_302">302</a></td></tr> + + +<tr><td class="center"><b><big>XI. PARASITES.</big></b></td></tr> + +<tr><td>Fleas on fleas <i>ad infinitum</i>—Intestinal Worms—Economy of +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_xi" id="Page_xi">[Pg xi]</a></span>Creation—Epiphyte Vegetation—Life in a Sea-weed—Orchids +in the Tropics—Parasitic Fig-trees—Lianes—in Ceylon—Parasitism +in Insects—Ichneumons—Kirby's Discovery of Stylops—Economy—Oil-beetle—Medusa +and Shrimp—Medusa parasitic +on Medusa—Fish in Stomach of Starfish—Crab and +Sponge—Hermit Crab and Polype—Parasites in Corals—Ostrich +parasitic on Ostrich—Cuckoo and Cowpen birds—Veneration +of Small Birds for Cuckoo—Slavery among Ants—Nigger-hunting,</td><td valign="bottom"><a href="#Page_359">359</a></td></tr> + + +<tr><td class="center"><b><big>APPENDIX.</big></b></td></tr> + +<tr><td>Sea-serpent—Additional Testimonies to its Existence—Statement +of Consul Grattan—Communication from Mr Stephen Cave,</td><td valign="bottom"><a href="#Page_387">387</a></td></tr> +</table> + + + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_xii" id="Page_xii">[Pg xii]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="LIST_OF_ILLUSTRATIONS" id="LIST_OF_ILLUSTRATIONS"></a>LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.</h2> + +<table class="loi" summary="List of Illustrations." cellspacing="8"> + +<tr><td>PLATE</td><td align="right">PAGE</td></tr> + +<tr><td>I. FASCINATION</td><td align="right">(<i><a href="#Page_i">Frontispiece</a></i>).</td></tr> + +<tr><td>II. ENCOUNTER WITH A MOA,</td><td align="right"><a href="#Fig.2">36</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td>III. SPEARING THE ANCIENT ELK,</td><td align="right"><a href="#Fig.3">56</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td>IV. THE CLIMBING PERCH,</td><td align="right"><a href="#Fig.4">122</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td>V. TOAD IN A HOLE, </td><td align="right"><a href="#Fig.5">158</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td>VI. BIRD-EATING SPIDER,</td><td align="right"><a href="#Fig.6">240</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td>VII. SNAKE-CHARMING,</td><td align="right"><a href="#Fig.7">278</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td>VIII. ANTELOPES,</td><td align="right"><a href="#Fig.8">304</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td>IX. PLUME-BIRD,</td><td align="right"><a href="#Fig.9">310</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td>X. PEACOCK-SHOOTING,</td><td align="right"><a href="#Fig.10">326</a></td></tr> +</table> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_1" id="Page_1">[Pg 1]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="THE_ROMANCE_OF_NATURAL_HISTORY" id="THE_ROMANCE_OF_NATURAL_HISTORY"></a>THE ROMANCE OF NATURAL HISTORY.</h2> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="I" id="I"></a>I.</h2> + +<h2>THE EXTINCT.</h2> + + +<p>If it is a scene of painful interest, as surely it is to a +well-constituted mind, to stand by and watch the death-struggles +of one of the nobler brutes,—a dog or an elephant, +for example,—to mark the failing strength, the +convulsive throes, the appealing looks, the sobs and sighs, +the rattling breath, the glazing eye, the stiffening limbs—how +much more exciting is the interest with which we +watch the passing away of a dying species. For species +have their appointed periods as well as individuals: viewed +in the infinite mind of <span class="smcap">God</span>, the Creator, from the standpoint +of eternity, each form, each race, had its proper +duration assigned to it—a duration which, doubtless, +varied in the different species as greatly as that assigned +to the life of one individual animal differs from that +assigned to the life of another. As the elephant or the +eagle may survive for centuries, while the horse and the +dog scarcely reach to twenty years, and multitudes of +insects are born and die within a few weeks, so one +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_2" id="Page_2">[Pg 2]</a></span>species may have assigned to its life, for aught I know, a +hundred thousand years as its normal period, and another +not more than a thousand. If creation was, with respect +to the species, what I have elsewhere proved it was with +respect to the individual,<a name="FNanchor_1_1" id="FNanchor_1_1"></a><a href="#Footnote_1_1" class="fnanchor">[1]</a>—a violent irruption into the +cycle of life—then we may well conceive this to have taken +place at very varying relative periods in the life-history +of the different species;—that is to say, that at a given date, +(viz., that of creation) one species might be just completing, +<i>ideally</i>, its allotted course, another just commencing, and +a third attaining its meridian.</p> + +<p>Certain it is, that not a few species of animals have +died during the present constitution of things. Races, +which we know on indubitable evidence to have existed +during the dominion of man, have died out, have become +extinct, so that not a single individual survives. The +entire totality of individuals which constituted the species, +have, in these cases, ceased to be. Some of these seem +to have died at a very early era of human history; but +others at a comparatively recent period, and some even +within our own times. Even within the last twenty years +several animals have been taken, of which it is highly probable +that not a single representative remains on the earth; +while there are others yet again, which we know to be +reduced to a paucity so extreme, that their extinction can +scarcely be delayed more than a few years at most. Thus +we may consider ourselves as standing by the dying-beds +of these creatures, with the consciousness that we shall +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_3" id="Page_3">[Pg 3]</a></span>soon see them no more; that the sentence is gone forth +against them; that their sands are running to the last +grains, and that no effort of ours can materially prolong +their existence. The facts from which these conclusions +are drawn are highly curious, and I shall endeavour to +lay them, with as much brevity as they will allow, before +my readers.</p> + +<p>On that prochronic hypothesis, by which alone, as I +conceive, the facts revealed by geological investigation +can be reconciled with the unerring statements of Scripture,—every +word of which is truth, the truth of a "God +that cannot lie,"—we may assume the actual creation of +this earth to have taken place at that period which is +geologically known as the later Tertiary Era, or thereabout. +When, on the third day, "the waters under the heaven +were gathered together into one place, and the dry land +appeared," it is not necessary to suppose that the form +assumed by the emerging land was immediately that which +it now has; we may, on the other hand, I think, assume +as likely, that successive or continuous changes of elevation +followed, which have been protracted, perhaps constantly +decreasing in extent and force, to the present hour.<a name="FNanchor_2_2" id="FNanchor_2_2"></a><a href="#Footnote_2_2" class="fnanchor">[2]</a></p> + +<p>Perhaps between the six days' work of Creation and +the Noachic Flood, Europe became much altered in outline, +and in elevation. It may have been, at first, a great +archipelago, agreeing with the epithet by which it is<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_4" id="Page_4">[Pg 4]</a></span> +designated in early Scripture, "the Isles,"<a name="FNanchor_3_3" id="FNanchor_3_3"></a><a href="#Footnote_3_3" class="fnanchor">[3]</a> and by which +it was subsequently known for ages. The Pyrenees, the +Alps, and the Apennines, already emerged, were slowly +uniting, and the Carpathians, the Balkan, the Taurus, and +the Caucasus, were uprearing, while the vast regions to +the north were still an expanse of open sea. England +was probably united with the newly-formed European +continent, and embraced Ireland in one great mass of +unbroken land, which stretched far away into the Atlantic. +Volcanoes were active in the north of Ireland, and in the +west of Scotland, pouring forth those floods of fiery lava +which have cooled into the columnar forms seen at the +Giant's Causeway and the Cave of Fingal. Slowly the +north of Europe emerged, and the great south-west +expanse of Britain sank beneath the sea, leaving, it may +be, the large island of Atlantis in mid-ocean, to be submerged +by a later catastrophe.</p> + +<p>Probably changes very similar were coevally taking +place in Asia and North America, while the vast flat +alluvial regions of South America were, perhaps, even +still more recently formed, and a great Pacific continent +was in course of subsidence, of which Australasia and +Polynesia are the existing remains.</p> + +<p>Such changes of elevation, and of the continuity of +land, must effect considerable alterations of climate; and, +therefore, it is not surprising to know that, in earliest +ages, animals and plants flourished in regions to which +they would now be altogether unfitted, and that many<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_5" id="Page_5">[Pg 5]</a></span> +races existed then which have since died out; for geological +and climatal modifications are among the most +easily conceivable causes of the decease of species.</p> + +<p>In the great swamps of emerging Germany, and in the, +as yet, only half-drained valleys of Switzerland, lurked +then the heavy Dinothere. Huger than the hugest elephant, +he carried an enormous body of twenty feet in +length, vast and barrel-like, which even his columnar +limbs of ten feet long scarcely sufficed to raise from the +ground. His uncouth head, elephantine in shape, was furnished +with a short proboscis; and two tusks, short and +strong, projected from the lower jaw, not curving upward, +as in the elephant, but downward, as in the walrus. In +the teeming marshes lurked this ungainly beast, half immersed, +digging out with his mighty pickaxe-tusks the +succulent roots that permeated the soft soil, which his +sensitive trunk picked up, and conveyed to his mouth.</p> + +<p>On the southern slopes of the slowly-rising Himalayas, +already clothed with forests of teak, and palm, and bamboo, +revelled the Sivathere, another heavy creature, of the +bulk of a rhinoceros, and therefore not more than half +equalling the German colossus. He too was a strange +subject. With a proportionally enormous head, in form +somewhat between that of the elephant and of the rhinoceros, +minute sunken piggish eyes, and a short proboscis +like that of the tapir, he carried two pairs of dissimilar +horns. On the forehead were placed one pair, seated upon +bony cores, not unlike those of our short-horn oxen. Behind +these there rose another pair, large and massive,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_6" id="Page_6">[Pg 6]</a></span> +which were palmated and branching, like those of the +fallow-deer, but on a gigantic scale. What sort of a +body, and what kind of limbs, furnished the complement +of this curiously-compound head, we do not exactly know; +but surely it must have been a very remarkable form, as +it browsed quietly and blamelessly, among the luxuriant +shrubs of those sun-facing slopes.</p> + +<p>In the same regions a land Tortoise of enormous bulk, +far vaster than the vastest of now existing species, to +which that ponderous one which will march merrily away +with a ton weight on its back, is a mere pigmy, shook the +earth with its waddle, and the forests with its hoarse +bellowing. Broad roads, like our highways, were beaten +by it through the jungle, along which it periodically +travelled to the cool springs, leisurely sauntering, and +tarrying to munch the fleshy gourds and cactuses that +bordered its self-made track.</p> + +<p>The plains of Siberia, stretching away towards the +Arctic Ocean, sheltered countless hosts of huge pachydermatous +quadrupeds. A species of Rhinoceros, not less +bulky than those of the present age, roamed to the very +verge of the Icy Sea; its hide, tough and leathery, was +destitute of folds, but was clothed with tufts of rigid +gray hair,—an ornament which is denied to our existing +degenerates. Two horns, the front one of unusual massiveness +and length, were seated, as in several of the African +kinds, one behind the other, and were wielded by a head +of great strength and development.</p> + +<p>More remarkable still was that great hairy Elephant,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_7" id="Page_7">[Pg 7]</a></span> +called the Mammoth, which appears to have swarmed in +those cold plains by myriads. Of equal dimensions to +the Indian species of the present age, this denizen of the +north had far more enormous curving tusks, and instead +of the naked hide of those we are familiar with, his body +was encased in black hair, with a thick under stratum of +red curled wool, and bore a long mane on the ridge of the +neck.</p> + +<p>There was, at the same time, a quadruped, nearly allied +to the elephants, but differing from them in some technical +characters. With a body equally bulky, but considerably +longer, it had shorter limbs, a broader head, small tusks +in the lower, as well as large curving ones in the upper +jaw, and probably a trunk intermediate between the +elephant's and the tapir's. Truly cosmopolite as this great +Mastodon was, for we dig up his bones from all parts of +the world, he had his head-quarters in North America, +where, from his dimensions and his numbers, he must +have formed a very characteristic feature of the primeval +swamps and forests. There, with his tusks, he grubbed +up the young trees, whose juicy roots he ground down +with his great mammillary molar teeth, or chewed up to +a pulp the sapwood of the recent branches and spicy +twigs. And ever and anon he would resort to the broad +saline marshes,—the "Licks," as they are now called,—to +lick up the crystallised salt on their margins, so grateful to +all herbivorous quadrupeds. Here, in his eagerness to +gratify his palate with the pungent condiment, he would +press farther and farther into the treacherous quagmire,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_8" id="Page_8">[Pg 8]</a></span> +till he began to sink, and then, in his terror, he would +plunge and flounder, getting more and more deeply bemired, +till at length he could struggle no more, and the +bog would close over him, and he would be no more seen +till some spectacled geologist of this nineteenth century, +note-book in hand, would go and dig up his remains, +marvelling at the freshness with which they had been +preserved in the antiseptic peat.</p> + +<p>But let us look at South America, where, as the great +back-bone chain of the Andes is being elevated out of the +sea, the torrents and cataracts are pouring down from its +sides immense quantities of crumbled rock and pasty mud, +which, deposited upon the vast tabular field, brought by +the upheaving just to the level of the sea, forms that +grand alluvial plain unequalled on the face of the globe +for extent, which is clothed with the mighty forests of +Guiana and Brazil, or with the tall grass and thistles of +the Pampas. The torrents still fall; and, meandering +through this glorious plain, unite and form the most +majestic of rivers, ever depositing the rich alluvium, and +thus sensibly augmenting, to this day, the breadth of their +noble continent, and their own length.</p> + +<p>Strange creatures riot here in these primal ages. The +young land, hot and moist,—moist with the unevaporated +water of the depositing rivers, and hot with the influence +of the submarine volcano which is lifting it, as well as +with the beams of the tropical sun,—brings forth from its +steaming bosom, the most gigantic trees in the most profuse +luxuriance. And animal life teems too, in this riant<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">[Pg 9]</a></span> +vegetation. Millions of insects,—ants, and termites, and +beetles,—are busy at work upon the trunks of the great +trees, eating them down, and swarming in their immense +populous nests, beyond all imaginings. Surely they will +soon eat up the entire forest, dense and rapid as it grows, +and there will be nothing left but cities of insects. No +fear! See those great waddling beasts<a name="FNanchor_4_4" id="FNanchor_4_4"></a><a href="#Footnote_4_4" class="fnanchor">[4]</a> with stout short +legs, and enormous hoof-like claws so bent inward that +the creatures are obliged to walk on the edge of their +paws,—they are equally busy with the insects, tearing +apart with their powerful claws the earthy nests as fast as +they are built, and devouring the makers themselves by +wholesale. Here is a wonderful creature, a vast armadillo, +with a body as big as a rhinoceros, covered with a +convex oval shield, formed of hexagonal plates accurately +fitted to each other. See how he approaches a fallen tree, +which his unerring instinct tells him is perforated through +and through, and filled with the swarming millions of ants; +with his powerful jaws he munches up the entire mass; +the thin and papery partitions of the dusty wood are +ground to powder, and the ants are licked in and chewed +into a black pulp between those curious cylinders of +teeth.</p> + +<p>But lo! here are mightier creatures yet! See the vast +Mylodon, the Scelidothere, and the still more colossal +Megathere. Ponderous giants these! The very forests +seem to tremble under their stately stride. Their immense +bulk preponderates behind, terminating in a tail<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">[Pg 10]</a></span> +of wonderful thickness and solidity: the head is mean +and awakens no terror; the eye lacks lustre and threatens +no violence, though the whole form betokens vast power, +and the stout limbs are terminated by the same stout, +inbent, sharp hoof-claws. One of them approaches that +wide-spreading locust-tree; he gazes up at the huge mud-brown +structures that resemble hogsheads affixed to the +forks of the branches, and he knows that the luscious +termites are filling them to overflowing. His lips water +at the tempting sight; have them he must. But how? +that heavy sternpost of his was never made for climbing; +yet see! he rears himself up against the tree; is he about +to essay the scaling? Not he: he knows his powers +better. He gives it one embrace; one strong hug; as if +to test its thickness and hold upon the earth. Now he is +digging away below, scooping out the soft soil from between +the roots,—and it is marvellous to note how rapidly +he lays them bare with those great shovel-like claws of his. +Now he rears himself again; straddles wide on his hind +feet, fixing the mighty claws deep in the ground; plants +himself firmly on his huge tail, as on the third foot of a +tripod, and once more grasps the tree. The enormous +hind quarters, the limbs and the loins, the broad pelvis, +the thick spinal cord supplying abundant nervous energy +to the swelling muscles, inserted in the ridged and +keeled bones, all come into play, as a <i>point d'appui</i> for +the Herculean effort. "And now conceive the massive +frame of the Megathere convulsed with the mighty +wrestling, every vibrating fibre reacting upon its bony<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">[Pg 11]</a></span> +attachment with the force of a hundred giants: extraordinary +must be the strength and proportions of the +tree, if, when rocked to and fro, to right and left, in such +an embrace, it can long withstand the efforts of its +assailant."<a name="FNanchor_5_5" id="FNanchor_5_5"></a><a href="#Footnote_5_5" class="fnanchor">[5]</a> It yields; the roots fly up; the earth is +scattered wide upon the surrounding foliage; the tree +comes down with a thundering crash, cracking and snapping +the great boughs like glass; the frightened insects +swarm out at every orifice; but the huge beast is in +upon them; with his sharp hoofs he tears apart the +crusty walls of the earth-nests, and licks out their living +contents, fat pupæ, eggs and all, rolling down the sweet +morsels, half sucking, half chewing, with a delighted +gusto that repays him for all his mighty toil.</p> + +<p>While the heavy giant is absorbed in his juicy breakfast, +see, there lounges along his neighbour, the Macrauchen. +Equally massive, equally heavy, equally vast, equally +peaceful, the stranger resembles a huge rhinoceros elevated +on much loftier limbs; but his most remarkable feature +is an enormously long neck, like that of the camel, but +carried to the altitude of that of the giraffe. Thus he +thrusts his great muzzle into the very centre of the +leafy trees, and gathering with his prehensile and flexible +lip the succulent twigs and foliage, he too finds abundance +of food for his immense body, in the teeming vegetation, +without intruding upon the supply of his fellows.</p> + +<p>And what enormous mass is suddenly thrust up out of +the quiet water of yonder igaripé? A hoarse, hollow<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">[Pg 12]</a></span> +grunt, as it comes up, tells us that it is alive, and now we +discern that it is the head of an animal—the Toxodon. +Half hidden as it is under the shadow of the fan-palms, +and the broad, arrowy leaves of the great arums that grow +out of the lake, we see the little piggish eyes, set far up +in the great head, and wide apart, peeping with a curious +union of stupidity and shrewdness; the immense muzzle +and lips; the broad cheeks armed with stiff projecting +bristles; and, as the creature opens its cavernous mouth +to seize a floating gourd, an extraordinary array of +incurving teeth, strangely bowed so as to make a series +of arches of immense power. Now, with his strong front +teeth, he tears up the great fleshy arum-roots from the +clay of the bank, and grinds them to pulp; and now, +with another grunt, the vast bristly head sinks beneath +the water, and we see it no more. Hundreds of other +creatures are straying around,—sloths, bats, and monkeys, +and birds of gay plumage, on the trees; ant-eaters and +cavies, lizards and snakes, on the ground; butterflies and +humming-birds hovering in the air; tapirs and turtles and +crocodiles in the waters;—but these are matters of course:—we +are only thinking of such as have passed away and +left no descendants to perpetuate their forms to our own +times.</p> + +<p>Away to the great Austral land—in our day minished +to the insular Australia and New Zealand and a few satellite +isles—but then, in the morning of creation, possibly +stretching far to the north and on either hand, so as to +include the scattered groups of Polynesia in one great<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">[Pg 13]</a></span> +continent, and even to reach so far as Madagascar on the +west. This was the region of gigantic fowls, and of +marsupial quadrupeds. Kangaroos of eight or nine feet +in stature leaped over the primeval bush, and wombats +and dasyures of elephantine bulk burrowed in the hill +sides, and great lion-like beasts prowled about the plains. +But surely the most characteristic feature of the scene +was impressed by the birds! Vast struthious birds, +which would have looked down with supreme contempt +on the loftiest African ostrich, whose limb-bones greatly +exceeded in bulk those of our dray horses, whose three-toed +feet made a print in the clay some eighteen inches +long, and whose proud heads commanded the horizon +from an elevation of twelve feet above the ground,—terrible +birds, whose main development of might was in +the legs and feet, being utterly destitute of the least trace +of wings—these strode swiftly about the rank ferny +brakes, possessing a conscious power of defence in the +back stroke of their muscular feet, and fearless of man or +beast, mainly nocturnal in their activity, concealing themselves +by day in the recesses of the dense forests, where +the majestic trees were interwoven with cable-like climbers, +or couching in the midst of tall reeds and aroideous +plants that margined the great swampy lakes of these +regions.</p> + +<p>But what of our own land? What of these distant isles +of the Gentiles in that early day, when the enterprising +sons of Cain, migrating from the already straitened land +of Nod, were pushing their advancing columns, with arts<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[Pg 14]</a></span> +and arms, in all directions over the young earth? Did +any of them reach to the as yet insular Europe, settling +themselves along the margins of its deep gulfs and draining +basins? Perhaps they did, and even explored the +utmost limits of the great Atlantic island, on the remains +of which we live. What did they find here? A land of +mountain and valley, of plain and down, of lake and +river, of bog and fell, of forest and field, in some features +much as now: where the oak, and elm, and ash covered +great tracts, and the birch and fir clothed the hills; but +where the yew and the laurel grew side by side with the +custard-apple and the fan-palm, and the ground was overrun +with trailers of the gourd and melon kind, but where +grasses were few and scarce, the exquisite order <i>Rosaceæ</i>, +with its beautiful flowers and grateful fruit, was rarely +seen, and the aromatic <i>Labiatæ</i>—the thyme, and mint, +and sage—were as yet unknown.</p> + +<p>And the beasts that already tenanted this fair land +were for bulk and power worthy of the domain. The +Dinothere and the Mastodon wallowed and browsed where +great London now crowds its princely palaces. Through +the greenwood shades of the forests of oak wandered +hippopotamuses and rhinoceroses of several kinds, the +long-tusked mammoth, and two or three species of horses. +Two gigantic oxen—a bison and a urus—roamed over +the fir-clad hills of Scotland, and a curious flat-headed ox, +of small size and minute horns, made Ireland its peculiar +home. That island, too, was the metropolis of a colossal +fallow-deer, whose remains, ticketed as those of the Irish<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[Pg 15]</a></span> +Elk, astonish us in our museums. It stood seven feet in +height at the withers, and waved its branching antlers, +eleven feet wide, twelve feet and upwards above the +ground;<a name="FNanchor_6_6" id="FNanchor_6_6"></a><a href="#Footnote_6_6" class="fnanchor">[6]</a> yet its magnificent stature could not preserve +it from a not infrequent fate, that of becoming intombed +in the deep bogs of its native isle. Britain had, moreover, +a stag of scarcely less gigantic proportions, with the reindeer +of the north, and the smaller kinds with which we +are now familiar.</p> + +<p>All these herbivores, and numberless smaller genera, +some now extinct, some surviving, were kept in check by +powerful predatory tyrants, for whose representatives we +must now look to the jungles of India or the burning +karroos of Southern Africa. The Lion and the Tiger +stalked over these isles, and a terrible tiger-like creature, +the Machairode, of even superior size and power to the +scourge of the Bengal jungle, with curved and saw-edged +canine-teeth, hung upon the flanks of the cervine and +bovine herds, and sprang upon the fattest of them. Then, +too, there was a vast Bear, huger and mightier than the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[Pg 16]</a></span> +fearful grizzly bear of America, which haunted caves, +and prowling around forced down with its horrid paws +the shaggy bull, and broke his stout neck by main force, +and dragged the body home to devour at leisure. And +many of these caves, the holes and chasms of the limestone +districts, were inhabited by a gigantic species of Hyena, +which seems to have existed in great numbers, so that +the caverns are strewn all over, from end to end, with +thousands of teeth and disjointed bones, both of the +hyenas themselves and of the other carnivores; shewing +that there they lived and died in successive generations; +and, mainly, of other creatures, of very varied species, +great and small, most of them cracked, and crushed, and +gnawed, shewing the plain marks of the powerful conical +teeth of those obscene nocturnal animals.</p> + +<p>Thus I have endeavoured to draw a picture, vague and +imperfect, I know, of some of the more remarkable and +prominent features of the primeval earth, limiting the +sketch to those forms which we know only by their fossil +remains. In endeavouring to paint their contour and +general appearance, and still more their habits and instincts, +conjecture must be largely at work—a conjecture, +however, which takes for its basis the anatomical +exigencies of the osseous structure, and the analogy of +existing creatures the most nearly related to the fossil.</p> + +<p>These forms, many of them so huge and uncouth, are +well known as having tenanted various regions of the +earth during what is known as the Tertiary Era, in its +later periods. They certainly do not exist in those regions<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[Pg 17]</a></span> +now. When did their life—their species-life—terminate? +I have been assuming that they were upon the earth, as +living sentient beings, in the earliest age of what we call +the historic period—that is, according to the chronology +of the Word of God, which must be true, within the last +six thousand years. This assumption is so heterodox, +that unsupported by evidence, it would be generally rejected; +let us then inquire what evidence there is that +man was an inhabitant of the globe contemporaneously +with these huge giants of the bestial creation.</p> + +<p>I do not pretend to offer positive evidence concerning +the synchronism of <i>all</i> the animals I have been describing +with man; but, as there is no doubt that they were all +contemporaneous, <i>inter se</i>, if we can attain to good +grounds for concluding his co-existence with <i>some</i> of +them, it may be no unfair presumption that the case was +so with the others.</p> + +<p>And first, with respect to the <i>Colossochelys Atlas</i>, that +vast fossil land tortoise of the Sewalik hills, in the north +of India, whose carapace may have covered an area of +twelve or fifteen feet in diameter, and whose entire length, +as in walking, when head and tail were protruded, could +not have been much less than thirty feet. The discoverers +of this interesting relic, Dr Falconer and Major +Cauntley, have discussed the question of its probable +cessation of existence with some care; and they have come +to the conclusion "that there are fair grounds for entertaining +the belief, as probable, that the <i>Colossochelys Atlas</i> +may have lived down to an early period of the human<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[Pg 18]</a></span> +epoch, and become extinct since." This they infer on +two grounds: first, from the fact that, in the same strata, +which are not limited to the Sewalik hills, but extend, +with the remains of this immense tortoise, all over the +great Indian area, from Ava to the Gulf of Cambay, other +tortoises, crocodiles, &c., which were contemporary with +the <i>Colossochelys</i>, have survived to the present time; and, +secondly, from mythologic and cosmogonic traditions of +many eastern nations, having reference to a tortoise of +such gigantic size as to be associated in the current +fables with an elephant.<a name="FNanchor_7_7" id="FNanchor_7_7"></a><a href="#Footnote_7_7" class="fnanchor">[7]</a></p> + +<p>Elian, the Greek naturalist, quoting Megasthenes, a +still older authority, who resided several years in India, +and who collected a good deal of interesting information +concerning the country, reports that in the sea around +Ceylon there were found tortoises of such enormous +dimensions that huts were made of their shells, each shell +being fifteen cubits (or twenty-two feet) long; so that +several people were able to find comfortable shelter under +it from the rain and sun.<a name="FNanchor_8_8" id="FNanchor_8_8"></a><a href="#Footnote_8_8" class="fnanchor">[8]</a> And both Strabo and Pliny<a name="FNanchor_9_9" id="FNanchor_9_9"></a><a href="#Footnote_9_9" class="fnanchor">[9]</a> +assert that the Chelonophagi, who inhabited the shores of +the Red Sea and the Persian Gulf, converted the enormous +shells of the turtles which they caught into roofs for their +houses and boats for their little voyages. It has been +suggested that the <i>Colossochelys</i> may have given origin +to these statements; but I rather think the great sea-turtles +of the genus <i>Chelone</i> are referred to, the convex +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[Pg 19]</a></span>shells of which are known in our own day to reach to a +length of eight feet or upwards.</p> + +<p>The circumstances attending the discovery of the +rhinoceros and elephant of Siberia are very curious and +interesting; since of them we have not the fossilised +skeletons, but the carcases preserved in a fresh state, as if +just dead, with (in one case) the flesh upon the bones in +an eatable state, and actually forming the food of dogs +and wolves, the skin entire, and covered with fur, and +even the eyes so perfectly preserved that the pupils could +be distinctly seen.</p> + +<p>In 1771, in the frozen gravelly soil of Wilhuji, in the +northern part of Siberia, an animal was found partially +exposed. It was twelve feet in length; its body was enveloped +in a skin which had the thickness and firmness +of sole-leather, but was destitute of folds. Short hair, +strongly planted in the pores of the skin, grew on the face +in tufts; it was rigid in texture, and of a grey hue, with +here and there a black bristle, larger and stiffer than the +rest. Short ash-grey hair was observed to clothe the +legs, in moderate profusion. The eyelids and eyelashes +were still visible; the remains of the brain were still in +the cavity of the skull, and the flesh of the body, in a +putrefying condition, was still beneath the skin. On the +nose there were indications of a horn having been seated, +around which the integument had formed a sort of fold.</p> + +<p>Thus the creature was known to be a Rhinoceros, and +the head and feet were lifted, and conveyed to St Petersburg, +where they are still preserved in the Imperial<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[Pg 20]</a></span> +Museum. Men of science soon remarked that in very +many points this specimen differed from any species now +known; and, indeed, a hairy rhinoceros was, in itself, an +anomaly. Subsequent investigations have revealed that +the same species, known as <i>Rhinoceros tichorhinus</i>, inhabited +Siberia in great numbers, and is now extinct.</p> + +<p>Nearly thirty years afterwards a still more interesting +revelation occurred. The shores of the Icy Ocean had +yielded a vast number of tusks, not distinguishable from +those of the known elephants, and capable of being +worked up by ivory-manufacturers, so that they occupied +a well-recognised place in the commercial markets, and +they constitute to this day the principal supply of the +Russian ivory-turners. A fisherman living at the mouth +of the Lena, being one day engaged in collecting tusks, +saw among some ice-blocks an uncouth object. The next +year he observed it still further exposed, and in the following +season, 1801, he saw that it was an enormous +animal, having great tusks, one of which, with the entire +side of the carcase, projected from the frozen mass. He +knew it to be a <i>Mammoth</i>, for so the fossil elephants were +called, and observed it with interest. The next season +was so cold that no change took place; but in 1803, the +melting of the ice proceeded so far that the gigantic +animal fell down from the cliff entire, and was deposited +on the sand beneath. The following season the fisherman, +Schumachoff, cut out the tusks, which he sold for +fifty rubles, and two years after this the scene was visited +by Mr Adams, in the service of the Imperial Court, who<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[Pg 21]</a></span> +has given an interesting account of his observations, +made, it must be remembered, in the seventh year after +the first discovery:—</p> + +<p>"I found the Mammoth," observes this gentleman, +"still in the same place, but altogether mutilated ... +the Jakutski of the neighbourhood having cut off the +flesh, with which they fed their dogs during the scarcity. +Wild beasts, such as white bears, wolves, wolverines, and +foxes, also fed upon it, and the traces of their footsteps +were seen around. The skeleton, almost entirely devoid +of its flesh, remained whole, with the exception of one +fore-leg. The head was covered with a dry skin; one of +the ears, well preserved, was furnished with a tuft of hairs. +All these parts have necessarily been injured in transporting +them a distance of 7330 miles (to St Petersburg); +but the eyes have been preserved, and the pupil of one +can still be distinguished.</p> + +<p>"The Mammoth was a male, with a long mane on the +neck. The tail and proboscis were not preserved. The +skin, of which I possess three-fourths, is of a dark-grey +colour, covered with reddish wool and black hairs; but +the dampness of the spot, where it had lain so long, had +in some degree destroyed the hair. The entire carcase, +of which I collected the bones on the spot, was nine feet +four inches high, and sixteen feet four inches long, without +including the tusks, which measured nine feet six +inches along the curve. The distance from the base or +root of the tusk to the point is three feet seven inches. +The two tusks together weighed three hundred and sixty<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[Pg 22]</a></span> +pounds, English weight, and the head alone four hundred +and fourteen pounds.</p> + +<p>"I next detached the skin of the side on which the +animal had lain, which was well preserved. This skin +was of such extraordinary weight that ten persons found +difficulty in transporting it to the shore. After this I dug +the ground in different places, to ascertain whether any +of its bones were buried, but principally to collect all the +hairs which the white bears had trod into the ground while +devouring the flesh. Although this was difficult from +the want of instruments, I succeeded in collecting more +than a pood (thirty-six pounds) of hair. In a few days the +work was completed, and I found myself in possession of +a treasure which amply recompensed me for the fatigues +and dangers of the journey, and the considerable expenses +of the enterprise.... The escarpment of ice was thirty-five +to forty toises high; and, according to the report of the +Tungusians, the animal was, when they first saw it, seven +toises below the surface of the ice, &c. On arriving with +the Mammoth at Borchaya, our first care was to separate +the remaining flesh and ligaments from the bones, which +were then packed up. When I arrived at the Jakutsk, I +had the good fortune to repurchase the tusks, and from +thence expedited the whole to St Petersburg. The skeleton +is now in the Museum of the Academy, and the skin still +remains attached to the head and feet. A part of the +skin, and some of the hair of this animal were sent by +Mr Adams to Sir Joseph Banks, who presented them to +the Museum of the Royal College of Surgeons. The hair<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[Pg 23]</a></span> +is entirely separated from the skin, excepting in one very +small part, where it still remains attached. It consists of +two sorts, common hair and bristles, and of each there are +several varieties, differing in length and thickness. That +remaining fixed on the skin is of the colour of the camel, +an inch and a-half long, very thick-set, and curled in +locks. It is interspersed with a few bristles about three +inches long, of a dark-reddish colour. Among the separate +parcels of hair are some rather redder than the short +hair just mentioned, about four inches; and some bristles +nearly black, much thicker than horse hair, and from twelve +to eighteen inches long. The skin, when first brought to +the Museum, was offensive; it is now quite dry and hard, +and where most compact, is half-an-inch thick. Its colour +is the dull black of the living elephants."<a name="FNanchor_10_10" id="FNanchor_10_10"></a><a href="#Footnote_10_10" class="fnanchor">[10]</a></p> + +<p>To me this narrative possesses an intense interest, and +I have gazed with great curiosity on the bit of dried and +blackened leather that is preserved in the Museum in +Lincoln's-Inn-Fields, knowing it to have presented the +primal freshness of life within the present century. I +cannot help thinking that both the rhinoceros and this +elephant roamed over the plains of Siberia, not only since +the creation of man, but even since the Deluge. The +freshness of their state shews that the freezing up of their +carcases must have been sudden, and immediate upon +death. What supposition so natural as that, perhaps in a +blinding snowstorm, they slipped into a crevice in the ice-cliff, +were snowed up instantly, and thus preserved by the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[Pg 24]</a></span> +antiseptic power of frost to this age? The glaciers of the +north may hold multitudes more of these and kindred +creatures, some of which may yet be disinterred, or thawed +out, and may lift yet more the curtain which so tantalisingly +covers the conditions of their life-history. These +two huge Pachyderms are certainly extinct now; yet their +remains, scattered over so vast an area, are everywhere +associated with those of other animals which were indubitably +contemporary with them, and whose species-life +is continued to our own times. Some of these, as the +great bear and the musk-ox of the sub-polar regions, we +know to be in the habit of migrating northward in spring, +and southward in autumn. That no lack of suitable food +would be found, even in such high latitudes, for browsing +quadrupeds, appears from the fact that, even beyond the +parallel of 75° north, large birch-trees are found embedded +in the cliffs, in abundance sufficient to be largely used as +common fuel, and still retaining their woody fibre, their +bark, branches, and roots. The climate then was not +<i>greatly</i> different from what it is now, when the birch, as +a tree, reaches to about 70°.</p> + +<p>It is interesting to observe that both this elephant and +this rhinoceros were inhabitants of England also; and that +at the same period as the cavern bear, the hyena, the lion, +and the machairode, the baboon, the bison, and the urus, +the Irish elk, and the extinct horse; at the same time too, +as the rein-deer, the stag, the black bear, the wolf and +fox, the beaver, the wild cat, the hare, and rabbit, the +otter and badger, the wild hog, the rat and mouse, all our<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[Pg 25]</a></span> +present shrews, the mole, the stoat and polecat, the noctule +and the horse-shoe bats. And curious it is to note, as we +go over this list, how some of the creatures enumerated +are long extinct everywhere, some have been long extinct +in England, but are still found elsewhere, some have more +recently become extinct here, but at different eras, some +are nearly extinguished, and some are yet abundant in +different degrees.</p> + +<p>I do not attach much importance to the traditions of +the Siberians, that the tusks and skeletons which they +find belonged to a large subterraneous animal, which +could not bear the light; nor to those of the Chinese, +respecting a similar burrowing quadruped of prodigious +bulk, which they call, by a sort of irony, <i>tyn-schu</i>, or the +mouse that hides himself. The fables may have easily +been formed from the observation of the fossil bones, and +do not necessarily imply any memory of the living original.</p> + +<p>The two examples of the exhumation of <i>Pachydermata</i> +in a fresh state, which I have given in detail, are by +no means the only cases that have occurred. It is the +universally-received belief throughout Siberia, that Mammoths +have been found with the flesh quite fresh and +filled with blood; probably meaning that the animal +juices flowed when thawed. Isbrand Ides mentions a +head on which the flesh, in a decaying state, was present; +and a frozen leg, as large as the body of a man; and +Jean Bernhard Müller speaks of a tusk, the cavity of +which was filled with a substance which resembled coagulated +blood.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[Pg 26]</a></span></p> + +<p>Again, in the voyage of Sarytschew, particulars are +given of the discovery of a Mammoth on the banks of the +Alaseia, a river which flows into the Arctic Ocean, beyond +the Indigirska. It had been dislodged by a flood, and +somewhat injured; but the carcase was still almost entire, +and was covered with the skin, to which in some places +long hair remained attached.</p> + +<p>These statements might reasonably have been esteemed +either fables or gross exaggerations, but for the subsequent +discovery of the rhinoceros and elephant whose +remains have been brought to Europe. Read in the light +of these accounts, the earlier stories take the dignity of +authentic history; and it is interesting to note how well +these details agree with those observed by the accurate +Adams;—the long hair, for example, with which the +Alaseia carcase was clothed being the very counterpart +of that upon the Lena elephant; though <i>à priori</i> we +should have looked for a very different condition in the +integument of these huge Pachyderms.</p> + +<p>If we look now at the great Mastodon, that elephantine +beast, which with a stature equal to that of the +tallest African elephant combined a much greater length +of body and bulk of limb, we shall see some reason for +concluding that the period of its decease is not indefinitely +removed from our own era. Its remains occur in +greatest abundance in North America; and it is interesting +to observe that among several of the aboriginal tribes +of Red men there were extant traditions of the Mastodon +as a living creature. Dim, vague, and distorted these<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[Pg 27]</a></span> +traditions are; but so far from our rejecting them <i>in toto</i> +on that account, we ought rather to consider these characters +as evidence of their antiquity. When semi-savage +nations present us with orally-preserved accounts of very +remote objects or actions, we look, as a matter of course, +for a considerable element of the wild, and extravagant, +and absurd in them. If we found nothing but what was +reasonable, and consistent, and intelligible, we should say +in a moment, this account cannot have been transmitted +very far. The question, in the case before us, is not, we +must remember, the precise habits and instincts of the +Mastodon, but whether the Indians knew anything at all +of the Mastodon having ever been a living animal. Now, +as I have observed, they had. M. Fabri, a French officer +who had served in Canada, informed Buffon that the Red +men spoke of the great bones which lay scattered in +various parts of that region as having belonged to an +animal which, after their oriental style, they named <i>Le +Père aux Bœufs</i>. The Shawnee Indians believed that +with these enormous animals there existed men of proportionate +development, and that the Great Being destroyed +both with thunderbolts. Those of Virginia stated that, as +a troop of these terrible quadrupeds were destroying the +deer, the bisons, and the other animals created for the use +of the Indians, the Great Man slew them all with His +thunder, except the big bull, who, nothing daunted, presented +his enormous forehead to the bolts, and shook them +off as they fell, till, being at last wounded in the side, he +fled towards the great lakes, where he is to this day.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[Pg 28]</a></span></p> + +<p>Evidence of the comparatively-recent entombment of +these remains exists, however, of another character. They +do not in general appear to have been rolled, but to have +lived where they are now found; in some instances, as +along the Great Osage River, being imbedded in a vertical +position, as if the animals had been suddenly bogged in +the swampy soil. Nor is there any great accumulation of +earth upon them generally. All along the edges of that +great saline morass called, from the abundance of these +animal relics, Big Bone Lick, and on the borders, the +skeletons are found sunk in the soft earth, many of them +not more than a yard or two below the surface, and some +even scarcely covered. With them are found in large +numbers the bones of the existing bison, the wapiti-stag, +and other herbivores, which still throng to the same place, +for the same reasons, and meet the same fate.</p> + +<p>Comparative anatomy determines, from the structure +of the bones of the head in the Mastodon, that it must +have carried a proboscis like that of the elephant. This, +though wholly fleshy, has left traces of its existence. +Barton reports that, in 1762, out of five skeletons which +were seen by the natives, one skull still possessed what +they described as a "long nose" with the mouth under it. +And Kalm, in speaking of a skeleton, discovered by the +Indians in what is now the State of Illinois, says that the +form of the trunk was still apparent, though half decomposed. +The preservation of these perishable tissues in +this case must doubtless be attributed to the salt with +which the bog-earth is saturated. Still more recently a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[Pg 29]</a></span> +skeleton was found in Virginia, which contained a very +interesting proof of the food of the animal: a mass of +twigs, grass, and leaves, in a half-bruised state, enclosed +in a sort of sac, lay within the cavity of the body, doubtless +the contents of the stomach. Some of the twigs +could be identified as those of existing species of trees and +shrubs, among them a species of <i>rose</i>, still common in the +region.</p> + +<p>All this is very strong evidence that the deposition of +these remains cannot have taken place in a <i>very</i> remote +era,—that, in fact, it must have been since the general +deluge recorded in the Word of God.</p> + +<p>Hugh Miller has an interesting observation concerning +the actual date of geologic phenomena in North America, +compared with that of their counterparts in the Old World. +He says, "The much greater remoteness of the mastodontic +period in Europe than in America is a circumstance +worthy of notice, as it is one of many facts that seem to +indicate a general transposition of at least the later geologic +ages on the opposite sides of the Atlantic. Groups +of corresponding character on the eastern and western +shores of this great ocean were not contemporaneous in +time. It has been repeatedly remarked that the existing +plants and trees of the United States, with not a few of +its fishes and reptiles, bear in their forms and constructions +the marks of a much greater antiquity than those of +Europe. The geologist who set himself to discover similar +types on the eastern side of the Atlantic, would have to +seek for them among the deposits of the later tertiaries.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[Pg 30]</a></span> +North America seems to be still passing through its later +tertiary ages; and it appears to be a consequence of this +curious transposition, that while in Europe the mastodontic +period is removed by two great geologic eras, from the +present time, it is removed from it in America by only +one."<a name="FNanchor_11_11" id="FNanchor_11_11"></a><a href="#Footnote_11_11" class="fnanchor">[11]</a></p> + +<p>Professor Agassiz has expressed opinions of the same +character, adducing the present existence in America of +several forms of animals, which are known in this hemisphere +only in a fossil state.<a name="FNanchor_12_12" id="FNanchor_12_12"></a><a href="#Footnote_12_12" class="fnanchor">[12]</a></p> + +<p>I cannot refrain from adding the following combination +of fact and speculation, from the pen of an accomplished +traveller in Mexico. It opens up a new train of ideas:—</p> + +<p>"Some time before our visit, a number of workmen +were employed on the neighbouring estate of Chapingo, +to excavate a canal over that part of the plain from which +the waters have gradually retired during the last three +centuries. At four feet below the surface, they reached +an ancient causeway, of the existence of which there was +of course not the most remote suspicion. The cedar piles, +by which the sides were supported, were still sound at +heart. Three feet below the edge of this ancient work, in +what may have been the very ditch, they struck upon the +entire skeleton of a Mastodon, embedded in the blue clay. +Many of the most valuable bones were lost by the careless +manner in which they were extricated; others were ground +to powder on their conveyance to the capital, but sufficient +remained to prove that the animal had been of great size.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[Pg 31]</a></span> +My informant measured the diameter [<i>qu.</i> circumference?] +of the tusk, and found it to be eighteen inches.</p> + +<p>"Though I should be very glad to take shelter under +the convenient <i>Quien sabe</i>? the use of which I have +suggested to you, I could not avoid, at the time I was in +Mexico, putting my isolated facts together, and feeling +inclined to believe that this country had not only been +inhabited in extremely remote times, when the valley bore +a very different aspect from that which it now exhibits, or +which tradition gives it, but that the extinct race of +enormous animals, whose remains would seem, in the +instance I have cited, to be coeval with the undated works +of man, may have been subjected to his will, and made +instrumental, by the application of their gigantic force, +to the transport of those vast masses of sculptured and +chiselled rock which we marvel to see lying in positions +so far removed from their natural site.</p> + +<p>"The existence of these ancient paved causeways also, +not only from their solid construction over the flat and +low plains of the valley, but as they may be traced running +for miles over the dry table-land and the mountains, +appears to me to lend plausibility to the supposition; +as one might inquire, to what end the labour of such +works, in a country where beasts of burden were unknown?</p> + +<p>"But I leave this subject to wiser heads and bolder +theorists. Had the Mammoth of Chapingo been discovered +with a ring in his nose, or a bit in his mouth, a +yoke on his head, or a crupper under his tail, the ques<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[Pg 32]</a></span>tion +would have been set at rest. As it is, there is plenty +of room for conjecture and dispute."<a name="FNanchor_13_13" id="FNanchor_13_13"></a><a href="#Footnote_13_13" class="fnanchor">[13]</a></p> + +<p>With respect to the great extinct Mammalia of South +America, we find Mr Darwin, to whom we are indebted +for our knowledge of so many of them, continually expressing +his wonder at the comparatively modern era of +their existence. After having enumerated nine vast +beasts, which he found imbedded in the beach at Bahia +Blanca, within the space of 200 yards square, and remarked +how numerous in kinds the ancient inhabitants of the +country must have been, he observes that "this enumeration +belongs to a very late tertiary period. From the +bones of the <i>Scelidotherium</i>, including even the kneecap, +being entombed in their proper relative positions, +and from the osseous armour of the great armadillo-like +animal being so well preserved, together with the bones +of one of its legs, we may feel assured that these remains +were fresh and united by their ligaments when deposited +in the gravel with the shells. Hence we have good evidence +that the above-enumerated gigantic quadrupeds, +more different from those of the present day than the oldest +of the tertiary quadrupeds of Europe, lived whilst the sea +was peopled with most of its present inhabitants."<a name="FNanchor_14_14" id="FNanchor_14_14"></a><a href="#Footnote_14_14" class="fnanchor">[14]</a></p> + +<p>Of the remains of the Mylodon, and of that strange +semi-aquatic creature the Toxodon, he says, they appeared +so fresh that it was difficult to believe they had +lain buried for ages under ground. The bones were so +fresh, that they yielded, on careful analysis, seven per +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[Pg 33]</a></span>cent. of animal matter, and when heated in the flame of a +spirit-lamp, they not only exhaled a very strong animal +odour, but actually burned with a small flame.</p> + +<p>Mr Darwin's interest was excited by the evidences +everywhere present of the immensity of this extinct population. +"The number of the remains imbedded in the +great estuary-deposit which forms the Pampas, and covers +the gigantic rocks of Banda Oriental, must be extraordinarily +great. I believe a straight line drawn in any +direction through the Pampas would cut through some +skeleton or bones.... We may suppose that the whole +area of the Pampas is one wide sepulchre of these extinct +gigantic quadrupeds."<a name="FNanchor_15_15" id="FNanchor_15_15"></a><a href="#Footnote_15_15" class="fnanchor">[15]</a></p> + +<p>The whole plain of South America from the Rio Plata +to the Straits of Magellan has been raised from the sea +within the species-life of the existing sea-shells, the old +and weathered specimens of which, left on the surface of +the plain, still partially retain their colours! Darwin +infers, as certain, from data which he has adduced, that +the Macrauchen, that strange giraffe-necked pachyderm, +lived <i>long after</i> the sea was inhabited by its present +shells, and when the vegetation of the land could not +have been other than it is now. And if the Macrauchen, +then the Toxodon, the Scelidothere, the Megathere, the +Mylodon, the Glyptodon, the Glossothere, and all the rest +of the quaint but mighty host of gone giants, that once +thronged these austral plains.</p> + +<p>Evidence for the recent existence of the colossal ostrich-<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[Pg 34]</a></span>like +birds of New Zealand is stronger still. It is about +twenty-one years since the first intimation was given to +scientific Europe of the remains of such animals, through +some bones sent by the Rev. W. Williams to Dr Buckland. +From these, and a collection soon afterwards sent +home, Professor Owen established the genus <i>Dinornis</i>, +identifying five species, the largest of which, <i>D. giganteus</i>, +he concluded to have stood about ten feet in height. The +remains have since been obtained in great profusion, and +the result of further investigations by the Professor has +been the establishment of three other genera, viz., <i>Palapteryx</i>, +<i>Nestor</i>, and <i>Notornis</i>,—the latter a large bird +allied to the Rails and Coots.</p> + +<p>A very interesting communication from Mr Williams +accompanied one of the consignments, extracts of which +I will quote. It bears date "Poverty Bay, New Zealand, +17th May 1842." "It is about three years ago, on paying +a visit to this coast, south of the East Cape, that the +natives told me of some extraordinary monster, which +they said was in existence in an inaccessible cavern on the +side of a hill near the river Wairoa; and they shewed me +at the same time some fragments of bone taken out of +the beds of rivers, which they said belonged to this creature, +to which they gave the name of <i>Moa</i>. When I +came to reside in this neighbourhood I heard the same +story a little enlarged; for it was said that this creature +<i>was still existing</i> at the said hill, of which the name is +Wakapunake, and that it is guarded by a reptile of the +Lizard species, but I could not learn that any of the pre<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[Pg 35]</a></span>sent +generation had seen it. I still considered the whole +as an idle fable, but offered a large reward to any who +would catch me either the bird or its protector." These +offers procured the collection of a considerable number of +fossil bones, on which Mr Williams makes the following +observations:—</p> + +<p>"1. None of these bones have been found on the dry +land, but are all of them from the banks and beds of +fresh-water rivers, buried only a little distance in the +mud.... All the streams are in immediate connexion +with hills of some altitude.</p> + +<p>"2. This bird was in existence here at no very distant +time, though not in the memory of any of the inhabitants: +for the bones are found in the beds of the present streams, +and do not appear to have been brought into their present +situation by the action of any violent rush of waters.</p> + +<p>"3. They existed in considerable numbers,—(an observation +which has since been abundantly confirmed.)</p> + +<p>"4. It may be inferred that this bird was long-lived, +and that it was many years before it attained its full size. +(The writer grounds this inference on the disparity in +dimensions of the corresponding bones, supposing that +they all belonged to one and the same species; which, +however, was an erroneous assumption.)</p> + +<p>"5. The greatest height of the bird was probably not +less than fourteen or sixteen feet. The leg-bones now +sent give the height of six feet to the root of the tail.</p> + +<p>"Within the last few days I have obtained a piece of +information worthy of notice. Happening to speak to an<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[Pg 36]</a></span> +American about these bones, he told me that the bird is +still in existence in the neighbourhood of Cloudy Bay, in +Cook's Straits. He said that the natives there had mentioned +to an Englishman belonging to a whaling party, +that there was a bird of extraordinary size to be seen +only at night, on the side of a hill near the place, and +that he, with a native and a second Englishman, went to +the spot; that, after waiting some time, they saw the +creature at a little distance, which they describe as being +about fourteen or sixteen feet high. One of the men +proposed to go nearer and shoot, but his companion was +so exceedingly terrified, or perhaps both of them, that +they were satisfied with looking at the bird, when, after a +little time, it took the alarm, and strode off up the side +of the mountain.</p> + +<p>"This incident might not have been worth mentioning, +had it not been for the extraordinary agreement in point +of the size of the bird [with my deductions from the +bones]. <i>Here</i> are the bones which will satisfy you that +such a bird <i>has been</i> in existence; and <i>there</i> is said to be +the <i>living bird</i>, the supposed size of which, given by an +independent witness, precisely agrees."</p> + +<div><a name="Fig.2" id="Fig.2"> </a></div> +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 250px;"> +<a href="images/fig051a-400dpi1200.jpg"><img src="images/fig051a-400dpi400.jpg" width="250" height="400" alt="ENCOUNTER WITH A MOA." title="" /></a> +<span class="caption">ENCOUNTER WITH A MOA.</span> +</div> + +<p>The story told of the whaler appears to me to bear +marks of truth. The bold essay to explore, the terror +inspired by the gigantic figure, especially in the solemnity +of night, the description of the manners of the bird running +and striding, so like those of the Apteryx, with which +its bones shew the Moa to have been closely allied, and the +inglorious return of the party without achieving any +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[Pg 37]</a></span>exploit, are all too natural to permit the thought that no +more than inventive power has been at work.</p> + +<p>And well may the colossus have inspired fear. The +bones sent to London greatly exceed in bulk those of the +largest horse. The leg-bone of a tall man is about one +foot four inches in length, and the thigh of O'Brien, the +Irish giant, whose skeleton, eight feet high, is mounted in +the Museum of the Royal College of Surgeons, is not quite +two feet. But the leg-bone (<i>tibia</i>) of the <i>Dinornis</i> we +know measured as much as two feet ten inches, and we +have no reason to suppose, considering the disparity that +exists in the specimens examined, that we have seen by +any means the largest.</p> + +<p>Additional reason for supposing these magnificent birds +to have existed not long ago, is found in the fact that +specimens of their eggs have been preserved. The circumstances +attendant on the discovery and identification +of these possess a remarkable interest. In the volcanic +sand of New Zealand Mr Walter Mantell found a gigantic +egg, which we may reasonably infer to be that of either +<i>Dinornis</i> or <i>Palapteryx</i>, of the magnitude of which he +gives us a familiar idea by saying that his hat would have +been but just large enough to have served as an egg-cup +for it. This is the statement of a man of science, and +therefore we may assume an approximate degree of precision +in the comparison.</p> + +<p>I do not know the size of Mr Mantell's hat, but I find +that the transverse diameter of my own is six inches or a +little more. If we may take this as the shorter diameter<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[Pg 38]</a></span> +of the ovoid, the longer would probably be about eight +and a half inches; dimensions considerably greater than +those of the Ostrich's egg (which are about six and a +quarter in length), but not what we should have expected +from a bird from twelve to fourteen feet in height. And +this the rather when we consider that the egg of the +New Zealand <i>Apteryx</i>, to which these birds manifest a +very close affinity, is one of dimensions that are quite +surprising in proportion to the bulk of the bird. The +Apteryx is about as big as a turkey, standing two feet in +height, but its egg measures four inches ten lines by +three inches two lines in the respective diameters. The +egg of the <i>Dinornis giganteus</i>, to bear the same ratio to +the bird as this, would be of the incredible length of two +feet and a half, by a breadth of one and three quarters! +Possibly this specimen, though indubitably the egg of one +of this great family of extinct birds, may after all be that +of one of the subordinate species.</p> + +<p>But about the same time as Mr Mantell's discovery, one +of equal interest was made in Madagascar. The master +of a French ship obtained, in 1850, from natives of the +island, three eggs, of far greater size, and fragments of +the leg-bones of an immense bird. These, on their arrival +at Paris, formed the subjects of valuable investigations by +M. Isidore Geoffroy St Hilaire<a name="FNanchor_16_16" id="FNanchor_16_16"></a><a href="#Footnote_16_16" class="fnanchor">[16]</a> and Professor Owen.<a name="FNanchor_17_17" id="FNanchor_17_17"></a><a href="#Footnote_17_17" class="fnanchor">[17]</a></p> + +<p>The native statement was, that one of the eggs had +been found entire in the bed of a torrent, among the +debris of a land-slip; that a second egg, with some frag<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[Pg 39]</a></span>ments +of bone, was subsequently found in a formation +<i>which is stated to be alluvial</i>; a third egg, which the +natives had perforated at one end, and used as a vessel, +was also found. This last egg was broken in the carriage, +the other two arrived in Europe entire.</p> + +<p>These two, though nearly alike in size, differed considerably +in their relative proportions and shape, the one +being shorter and thicker, with more equal ends than the +other. The following table shews the dimensions of both +compared with those of an ostrich's egg:—</p> + + +<table summary="egg-comparison" width="80%"> + +<tr><td> </td><td colspan="3" style="text-align: center">Ovoid egg.</td> <td style="width: 5%;"> </td> <td colspan="3" style="text-align: center;">Ellipsoid egg.</td><td style="width: 5%;"> </td><td colspan="3" style="text-align: center;">Ostrich egg.</td></tr> + +<tr><td> </td> <td>ft.</td> <td>in.</td> <td>li.</td> <td style="width: 5%;"> </td> <td>ft.</td> <td>in.</td> <td>li.</td> <td style="width: 5%;"> </td> <td>ft.</td> <td>in.</td> <td>li.</td></tr> + +<tr><td>Longer circumference</td> <td>2</td> <td>10</td> <td>9</td> <td style="width: 5%;"> </td> <td>2</td> <td>9</td> <td>6</td> <td style="width: 5%;"> </td> <td>1</td> <td>6</td> <td>0</td></tr> +<tr><td>Shorter circumference</td> <td>2</td> <td> 4</td> <td>3</td> <td style="width: 5%;"> </td> <td>2</td> <td>5</td> <td>6</td> <td style="width: 5%;"> </td> <td>1</td> <td>4</td> <td>6</td></tr> +<tr><td>Extreme length</td> <td>1</td> <td> 0</td> <td>8</td> <td style="width: 5%;"> </td> <td>1</td> <td>0</td> <td>5</td> <td style="width: 5%;"> </td> <td>0</td> <td>6</td> <td>4</td></tr> + +</table> + +<p>M. Geoffroy St Hilaire estimates the larger of the two +to contain 10⅛ quarts, or the contents of nearly six eggs +of the Ostrich, or sixteen of the Cassowary, or a hundred +and forty-eight of the Hen, or fifty thousand of the Humming +bird.<a name="FNanchor_18_18" id="FNanchor_18_18"></a><a href="#Footnote_18_18" class="fnanchor">[18]</a></p> + +<p>The fragments of bone indicated a bird of the same +natural affinities as the New Zealand colossi, and of +dimensions not widely remote from theirs. Professor +Owen thinks that it did not exceed in height or size +<i>Dinornis giganteus</i>, and that there is a probability that it +was slightly smaller. The Madagascar bird has been +named <i>Æpyornis maximus</i>.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">[Pg 40]</a></span></p> + +<p>The fragments of the egg of the New Zealand bird +(still uncertain as to the species to which it is to be +referred) shew that the shell was absolutely thinner, and +therefore relatively <i>much</i> thinner than that of the Ostrich's +egg; the air-pores, too, have a different form, being linear, +instead of round, and the surface is smoother. In these +qualities, the New Zealand egg resembles that of the +<i>Apteryx</i>; in the thickness and roughness of the egg of +<i>Æpyornis</i> there is more similarity to those of the Ostrich +and Cassowary. The colour of the Madagascar egg is a +dull greyish yellow; but it is possible that this may be +derived from the soil in which it has long been imbedded. +The fragments of the New Zealand egg are white, like the +eggs of the <i>Apteryx</i> and Ostrich: those of the Emu and +Cassowary are light green.</p> + +<p>The willing fancy suggests the possibility that, in an +island of such immensity as Madagascar, possessing lofty +mountain-ranges, covered with the most magnificent +forests, where civilised man has only yet touched one or +two spots on the seaward borders, but where these slight +explorations have educed so many wondrous animals, so +many strange forms of vegetable life, the noble <i>Æpyornis</i> +may yet be stalking with giant stride along the fern-fringed +hill-sides, or through the steaming thickets; +though in the more contracted area of New Zealand its +equally ponderous cousins, the <i>Dinornis</i> and the <i>Palapteryx</i>, +may have sunk beneath the persevering persecutions +of man.</p> + +<p>Yet another item of evidence bearing on the recent if<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">[Pg 41]</a></span> +not present existence of these great fowls has recently +come to light:—the most interesting discovery that one of +the genera whose fossil remains had been found associated +with theirs is really extant in New Zealand. I refer to +the <i>Notornis</i>.</p> + +<p>At a meeting of the Zoological Society of London, held +on the 13th November 1850, Dr Mantell made the following +communication relative to this discovery:—</p> + +<p>"It was in the course of last year, on the occasion of my +son's second visit to the south of the middle island, that +he had the good fortune to secure the recent <i>Notornis</i>, +which I now submit, having previously placed it in the +hands of the eminent ornithologist Mr Gould, to figure +and describe. This bird was taken by some sealers who +were pursuing their avocations in Dusky Bay. Perceiving +the trail of a large and unknown bird on the snow, with +which the ground was then covered, they followed the +footprints till they obtained a sight of the <i>Notornis</i>, which +their dogs instantly pursued, and, after a long chase, +caught alive in the gully of a sound behind Resolution +Island. It ran with great speed, and on being captured +uttered loud screams, and fought and struggled violently. +It was kept alive three or four days on board the schooner, +and then killed, and the body roasted and eaten by the +crew, each partaking of the dainty, which was declared to +be delicious. The beak and legs were of a bright red +colour. My son secured the skin, together with very fine +specimens of the Kapapo or ground parrot (<i>Strigops</i>), a +pair of Huias (<i>Neomorpha</i>), and two species of Kiwikiwi,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">[Pg 42]</a></span> +namely <i>Apteryx Australis</i>, and <i>A. Oweni</i>. The latter +very rare bird is now added to the collection of the British +Museum."</p> + +<p>"Mr Walter Mantell states, that, according to the native +traditions, a large Rail was contemporary with the Moa, +and formed a principal article of food among their ancestors. +It was known to the North Islanders by the name +'Moho,' and to the South Islanders by that of 'Takahe;' +but the bird was considered by both natives and Europeans +to have been long since exterminated by the wild +cats and dogs; not an individual having been seen or +heard of since the arrival of the English colonists. On +comparing the head of the bird with the fossil cranium, +and mandibles, and the figures and descriptions in the +'Zoological Transactions' (Plate lvi.), my son was at once +convinced of their identity. It may not be irrelevant to +add, that in the course of Mr Walter Mantell's journey +from Banks's Peninsula along the coast to Otago, he +learned from the natives that they believed there still +existed in that country the only indigenous terrestrial +quadruped, except a species of rat, which there are any +reasonable grounds for concluding New Zealand ever possessed. +While encamping at Arowenua, in the district +of Timaru, the Maoris assured them that about ten miles +inland there was a quadruped which they called Káureke, +and that it was formerly abundant, and often kept by +their ancestors in a domestic state as a pet animal. It +was described as about two feet in length, with coarse +grizzly hair; and must have more nearly resembled the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">[Pg 43]</a></span> +otter or badger than the beaver or the Ornithorhynchus, +which the first accounts seem to suggest as the probable +type. The offer of a liberal reward induced some of the +Maoris to start for the interior of the country where the +Káureke was supposed to be located; but they returned +without having obtained the slightest trace of the existence +of such an animal. My son, however, expresses his +belief in the native accounts, and that, if the creature no +longer exists, its extermination is of very recent date. +In concluding this brief narrative of the discovery of a +genus of birds once contemporary with the colossal Moa, +and hitherto only known by its fossil remains, I beg to +remark that this highly interesting fact tends to confirm +the conclusions expressed in my communication to the +Geological Society, namely, that the <i>Dinornis</i>, <i>Palapteryx</i>, +and related forms, were coeval with some of the existing +species of birds peculiar to New Zealand, and that their +final extinction took place at no very distant period, and +long after the advent of the aboriginal Maoris."</p> + +<p>Mr Gould then read a paper pointing out the zoological +characters of the bird discovered by Mr Mantell, which +he had no hesitation in identifying as the species formerly +characterised, from its osseous remains, by Professor +Owen, under the name of <i>Notornis Mantelli</i>. Mr Gould, +in adverting to the extreme interest with which the present +existence of a species which was certainly contemporary +with the Moa must be regarded, pointed out, from +the preserved skin, which was on the table, how accurate +a prevision of its character had been made by Professor<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[Pg 44]</a></span> +Owen, when investigating the fragments from which our +first knowledge of it had been derived.<a name="FNanchor_19_19" id="FNanchor_19_19"></a><a href="#Footnote_19_19" class="fnanchor">[19]</a></p> + +<p>At length I come home to Great Britain and Ireland—the +"nice little, tight little islands" where so many of +our sympathies properly centre, where natural-history +facts and all other facts interest us so much more than +parallel facts elsewhere, and where, above all, there are so +many more lights streaming into the darkness, and bringing +out truth. Let us again look back to the period of +the Bison, and Reindeer, and Elk, of the Elephant, and Hippopotamus, +and Rhinoceros, of the Lion and the Hyena, +and the great Cave Bear, and search among the vanishing +traces of the far past for glimpses of evidence when their +age ceased to be.</p> + +<p>Some dim light falls on the obscurity from the discovery +of the fossil remains of man himself—the human +bones found by Dr Schmerling in a cavern near Liege, +the remains mentioned by M. Marcel de Serres and others +in several caverns in France, associated with fossil relics +of this period. But more from the occurrence of flints, +apparently fashioned by human art, in superficial deposits, +together with the same extinct fossils of the tertiary. +Even at the very moment that I write this sheet, my eye +falls on the report<a name="FNanchor_20_20" id="FNanchor_20_20"></a><a href="#Footnote_20_20" class="fnanchor">[20]</a> of an important meeting of the +Ethnological Society, for the purpose of discussing this +very subject of "The flint implements found associated +with the bones of extinct animals in the Drift." Many +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">[Pg 45]</a></span>of the leading geologists and archæologists were present, +for the matter has become one of absorbing interest, conflicting, +as the facts seem to do, with some assumptions +received as unquestioned verities in Geology.</p> + +<p>These flints, which seem indubitably to have been +chipped into the forms of arrow-heads, lance-heads, and +the like, have been found in France in large numbers, as +also in other parts of the continent, and in England. +They resemble those still used by some savage tribes. In +this very neighbourhood, as in the cavern called Kent's +Hole near Torquay, and in one more recently examined at +Brixham, they are found mixed up with the bones of the +Rhinoceros, of the Cave Bear, and the Hyena, At Menchecourt, +near Abbeville, they occur in a deposit of sand, +sandy clay, and marl, with bones of the same animals, and +others, their contemporaries. Concerning this bed, Mr +Prestwich, in a paper read before the Royal Society, May +26, 1859, says that it must be referred to those usually designated +as post pliocene, but that the period of its deposit +was anterior to that of the surface assuming its present +outline, so far as some of its minor features are concerned. +"He does not, however, consider that the facts +of necessity carry man back in past time more than they +<i>bring forward the great extinct mammals towards our +own time</i>, the evidence having reference only to relative, +and not to absolute time; and he is of opinion that many +of the later geological changes may have been sudden, or +of shorter duration than generally considered. In fact, +from the evidence here exhibited, and from all that he<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">[Pg 46]</a></span> +knows regarding the drift phenomena generally, the +author sees no reason against the conclusion that this +period of man and the extinct mammals—supposing their +contemporaneity to be proved—was brought to a sudden +end by a temporary inundation of the land; on the contrary, +he sees much to support such a view on purely +geological considerations."<a name="FNanchor_21_21" id="FNanchor_21_21"></a><a href="#Footnote_21_21" class="fnanchor">[21]</a></p> + +<p>At the meeting of the Ethnological Society just held, +there seems to have been an increasing tendency to admit +the hypothesis of the continuance of the Mammalia of +the Tertiary into the human era. Mr Evans, who exhibited +specimens taken at a depth of twenty to thirty feet, +from a stratum of coarse fresh-water gravel, lying on chalk, +and containing an entire skeleton of an extinct Rhinoceros, +and overlaid by sandy marl containing existing shells, +shewed that the deposit had certainly not been disturbed +till the present time, so that the gravel, the bones, and the +flints had been deposited coetaneously. He suggested +"that the animals supposed to have become extinct +before man was created might have continued to exist +to more recent periods than had been admitted." And +this opinion found support from other leading geologists.</p> + +<p>That this conclusion would throw the existence of man +to an era far higher than that assigned to him by the +inspired Word, is, I know, generally held; and certain +investigations, made in the alluvial deposit of the Nile,<a name="FNanchor_22_22" id="FNanchor_22_22"></a><a href="#Footnote_22_22" class="fnanchor">[22]</a> +are considered to prove that man has been living in a +state of comparative civilisation in the Nile Valley for +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">[Pg 47]</a></span>the last 13,500 years. But that conclusion absolutely +rests on the supposition that the rate of increase formed +by the annual deposit of the Nile mud has been always +exactly the same as now,—a supposition, not only without +the least shadow of proof, but also directly contrary to +the highest probability, nay, certainty, in the estimation +of those who believe in the Noachian deluge. For surely +the drainage of the entire plain of North Africa after +that inundation must have produced an alluvium of +vast thickness in a very brief time; while beneath that +deposit the works of the antediluvian world might well +be buried. Yet the possibility of there ever having been +any greater rate of deposit than within the last 3000 +years, the recorder of those investigations, in his unseemly +haste to prove the Bible false, strangely leaves wholly out +of his consideration.</p> + +<p>So, doubtless, concerning other deposits containing +fossil remains, whose extreme antiquity is assumed from +the known rate of surface-increase now, we ought to +remember that we have not a tittle of proof that the rate +of increase has not at certain remote periods been suddenly +and immensely augmented. There are many facts +on record which tend to shew that the rate at which +geologic changes take place in certain localities affords no +reliable data whatever to infer that at which phenomena +apparently quite parallel have occurred in other localities. +An upheaval or a subsidence of one part of a country +may rapidly effect a great change in the amount of soil or +gravel precipitated by streams, without destroying or +changing their channels, and yet the deposit may be<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">[Pg 48]</a></span> +made sufficiently gradually to allow the burial of shells +or of bones of creatures which lived and died on the spot.</p> + +<p>The degradation of a cliff, either suddenly or gradually, +might throw a vast quantity of fragments into a rapid +stream, and cause a deposit of gravel of considerable +breadth and thickness in a comparatively short period +of time,—say a century or two.</p> + +<p>Sir Charles Lyell has adduced examples of very rapid +formation of certain stony deposits, which should make +us cautious how we assert that such and such a thickness +<i>must</i> have required a vast number of years. In one of +them there is a thickness of 200 or 300 feet of travertine of +recent deposit, while in another, a solid mass <i>thirty feet thick +was deposited in about twenty years</i>. There are countless +places in Italy where the formation of limestone may be +seen, as also in Auvergne and other volcanic districts.<a name="FNanchor_23_23" id="FNanchor_23_23"></a><a href="#Footnote_23_23" class="fnanchor">[23]</a></p> + +<p>From these and similar considerations it seems to me +by no means unreasonable that the four thousand years +which elapsed between the Creation and the commencement +of Western European history should have been +amply sufficient for many of those geological operations +whose results are seen in what are known as the later +Tertiary deposits,—the crag, the drift, the cavern-accumu<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">[Pg 49]</a></span>lations, +and the like. And, as a corollary to this, that +the great extinct Mammalia may have extended into this +period, and thus have been contemporary with man, for +a greater or less duration, according to the species; some, +probably, having been extinguished at a very early period +of the era, while others lived on to the time I have named, +or even later.</p> + +<p>But have we nothing better for this conclusion than an +assumption of the possibility, and a more or less probable +conjecture? Yes; we have some facts of interest to warrant +it, or I should not have ventured to introduce the +subject in this work. There are facts,—besides the admixture +of human workmanship with the animal remains in +undisturbed deposits—direct evidence, not altogether +shadowy, of the co-existence of the extinct animals with +living men.</p> + +<p>And first, I would mention some circumstances bearing +analogy to the exhumation of the fresh Pachyderms of +Siberia. Some years ago, a portion of the leg of an Irish +Elk, so-called, (<i>Megaceros hibernicus</i>,) with a part of the +tendons, skin, and hair upon it, was dug up with other +remains from a deposit on the estate of H. Grogan Morgan, +Esq., of Johnstown Castle, Wexford, and is now in +that gentleman's possession. This leg was exhibited, and +formed the subject of a lecture at the time by Mr Peile, +veterinary surgeon, Dublin.</p> + +<p>It has been ascertained that the marrow in some of the +bones blazes like a candle; that the cartilage and gelatine, +so far from having been destroyed, were not appar<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">[Pg 50]</a></span>ently +altered by time.<a name="FNanchor_24_24" id="FNanchor_24_24"></a><a href="#Footnote_24_24" class="fnanchor">[24]</a> Archdeacon Maunsell actually +made soup of the bones, and presented a portion thereof +to the Royal Dublin Society (whether they enjoyed it I +have not heard; it must have been "a little high," I +fear). They are frequently used by the peasantry for +fuel. On the occasion of the rejoicings for the victory at +Waterloo, a bonfire was made of these bones, and it was +observed that they gave out as good a blaze as those of +horses, often used for similar purposes.<a name="FNanchor_25_25" id="FNanchor_25_25"></a><a href="#Footnote_25_25" class="fnanchor">[25]</a></p> + +<p>Pepper, in his "History of Ireland," states that the +ancient Irish used to hunt a very large black deer, the +milk of which they used as we do that of the cow, and +the flesh of which served them for food, and the skin for +clothing. This is a very remarkable record; and is +confirmed by some bronze tablets found by Sir William +Betham, the inscriptions on which attested that the +ancient Irish fed upon the milk and flesh of a great black +deer.</p> + +<p>According to the "Annals of the Four Masters," Niel +Sedamin, a king of Ireland before the Christian era, was +so called because "the cows and the female deer were alike +milked in his reign." The art of taming the wild deer +and converting them into domestic cattle is said to have +been introduced by Flidisia, this monarch's mother. Deer +are said to have been used to carry stones and wood for +Codocus when his monastery was built, as also to carry +timber to build the castle of a king of Connaught. These<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">[Pg 51]</a></span> +may have been red deer, but as there is good proof that +the giant deer was really domesticated, it seems more +likely that such offices should have been performed by the +latter than by the former.</p> + +<p>An interesting letter from the Countess of Moira, published +in the "Archæologia Britannica," gives an account +of a human body found in gravel under eleven feet of +peat, soaked in the bog-water; it was in good preservation, +and completely clothed in antique garments of deer-hair, +conjectured to be that of the Giant Elk.</p> + +<p>A skull of the same animal has been discovered in +Germany in an ancient drain, together with several urns +and stone-hatchets. And in the museum of the Royal +Dublin Society there exists a fossil rib bearing evident +token of having been wounded by some sharp instrument +which remained long infixed in the wound, but had not +penetrated so deep as to destroy the creature's life. It +was such a wound as the head of an arrow, whether of +flint or of metal, would produce.</p> + +<p>In the year 1846, a very interesting corroboration of +the opinion long held by some that the great broad-horned +Deer was domesticated by the ancient Irish, was given by +the discovery of a vast collection of bones at Lough Gûr, +near Limerick. The word Gûr is said to mean "an assemblage," +so that the locality is "the Lake of the Assemblage," +commemorating perhaps the gathering of an army +or some other host at the spot. In the midst of the lake +is an island, which is described as being so completely +surrounded with bones and skulls of animals "that one<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">[Pg 52]</a></span> +would think the cattle of an entire nation must have been +slaughtered to procure so vast an assemblage."</p> + +<p>The skulls are described as belonging to the following +animals:—The giant deer (females); a deer of inferior +size; the stag; another species of stag; the fallow deer; +the broad-faced ox; the hollow-faced ox; the long-faced +ox; another species of ox; the common short-horned ox; +the goat; and the hog.</p> + +<p>The principal points of interest centred in the Giant +Deer or so-called Irish Elk. The skulls of these, as of all +the larger animals, "were broken in by some sharp and +heavy instrument, and in the same manner as butchers of +the present day slaughter cattle for our markets, and in +many cases the marrow-bones were broken across, as if to +get at the marrow."</p> + +<p>Of course, if this was indubitable, the conclusion was +inevitable, that the Giant Deer was not only contemporary +with man, but was domesticated by him with other +quadrupeds, and used for food. Professor Owen, however, +contended that the skulls of the Giant Deer were not +females but males, from which the horns had been forcibly +removed, and that the holes in the foreheads were made by +the violent wrenching off of the horns tearing away a +portion of the frontal bone from which they grew.</p> + +<p>In reply to this opinion, Mr H. D. Richardson of +Dublin, whose personal acquaintance with the relics of +this noble species is peculiarly extensive, shewed that +certain variations of proportion on which the learned +Professor relied to prove the skulls to be male, were of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">[Pg 53]</a></span> +no such value, individual animals presenting great discrepancies +in these respects: that the total absence of +cornuous peduncles from the sides of the forehead, and of +the elevated bony ridge, conclusively proved the sex to be +female, which was permanently destitute of horns; and +that in no case could it be said that the ridge was forced +away, since the violence was confined to a <i>small hole</i> in +the centre of the forehead.</p> + +<p>To put the matter to test, Mr Richardson experimented +on two perfect male skulls. In the one instance the force +was applied to the beam of the horns, and the result was +their fracture where they are united to the peduncles. +In the other case the force was applied to the peduncles +themselves, to ascertain whether it was possible to wrench +them and the ridge away from the face, when the consequence +was, that the skull was completely riven asunder. +Indeed to any one who looks at the position of the horns +in this animal, and their implantation, it must be self-evident +that their violent removal must tear away the +entire forehead, and not leave a central hole. Mr Edward +Newman who subsequently examined the specimens speaks +decidedly on this point:—"I have not the least hesitation +in expressing my firm conviction that the fractures were +the result of human hands, and were the cause of the +death of the animals. These two fractured skulls correspond +too exactly with each other, and with that of a +bullock with which I compared them, to have resulted +from accident: the edges of the fractures wore the +appearance of having been coeval with the interment or<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">[Pg 54]</a></span> +submergence of the skulls, and presented a very strikingly +different appearance from a fracture recently made, and +which I had the opportunity of examining. There were +several skulls of the male of the same species, one bearing +enormous antlers, but none exhibiting the slightest trace +of frontal fracture."<a name="FNanchor_26_26" id="FNanchor_26_26"></a><a href="#Footnote_26_26" class="fnanchor">[26]</a></p> + +<p>A circumstance of much importance is that these skulls +were found in company with those of many well-known +domestic animals, as the ox, the goat, and the hog. <i>These +skulls were similarly fractured.</i> As it is evident that +<i>their</i> demolition was produced by the butcher's pole-axe, +why not that of the elk-skulls?</p> + +<p>"At the first cursory glance, it may appear somewhat +strange that the skulls of the males should invariably have +been found entire, and that even the recent discovery at +Lough Gûr should form no exception.</p> + +<p>"I do not, however, find any difficulty here. In the first +place, we may fairly suppose that males, like our bulls, were +not equally prized as food. In the second place, the size, +as well as the position of the antlers, would render it next +to an impossibility to give the desired blow with the pole-axe. +In the third place, the greater strength and thickness +of the skull would almost to a certainty render the +blow unavailing; and in the fourth place, supposing the +females domesticated, and the occasional tenants of sheds +and other buildings, we may well imagine that the males +were excluded from such buildings by the enormous size +of their antlers. Perhaps a few only of the males, as in<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">[Pg 55]</a></span> +our cattle, were suffered to become adult, one male sufficing +for many females. Perhaps the males were allowed +free range, the females only being permitted at stated +seasons to accompany them. In fine, the more we investigate +probabilities, the more we reason from present +experience and knowledge, the less difficulty shall we +find in the way of believing the gigantic deer of Ireland +an animal coeval with man and subservient to his +uses."<a name="FNanchor_27_27" id="FNanchor_27_27"></a><a href="#Footnote_27_27" class="fnanchor">[27]</a></p> + +<p>In a communication subsequently made to the <i>Zoologist</i> +by Mr Richardson, he gives the following additional evidence:—"In +the collection of the late Mr Johnston, of +Down, which had been left by his uncle, an attorney, and +in which everything was labelled with the accuracy and +precision of that profession, is a small brass spear, with a +piece of wood still in the socket, with a label, stating it to +have been found in a marl-pit, among the bones of a deer. +An excise-officer told me that he saw, found in a marl-pit, +at Mentrim in Meath, the skeleton of a deer, and a man, +and a long knife: the latter, I believe, is rather a short +sword, now, I think, in the collection of Mr Petrie, of +Dublin, who told me that some such tradition had accompanied +it into his possession.... Dr Martin informs me +that on the banks of the river Suir, near Portland, Waterford, +and on nearly every farm, are found, near springs, +spaces of frequently seventy feet in diameter, consisting +of stones, broken up as if for roads, and lying together in +a mass. These stones were evidently purposely broken,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">[Pg 56]</a></span> +and all much of one size, and are charred. These spaces +are many feet in depth. The tradition respecting them +is current among the peasantry, that here in olden time, +a great deer was killed and baked in these stone-pits, the +stones having been previously heated like a kiln, and they +also distinguish the animal as the 'Irish Elk.' These +places are called in Irish by a name signifying the 'Buck's +Den.'"</p> + +<div><a name="Fig.3" id="Fig.3"> </a></div> +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 247px;"> +<a href="images/fig073-1200.jpg"><img src="images/fig073-400.jpg" width="247" height="400" alt="SPEARING THE ANCIENT ELK." title="" /></a> +<span class="caption">SPEARING THE ANCIENT ELK.</span> +</div> + +<p>From all these testimonies combined, can we hesitate a +moment in believing that the Giant Deer was an inhabitant +of Ireland since its colonisation by man? It seems to me +that its extinction cannot have taken place more than a +thousand years ago. Perhaps at the very time that Cæsar +invaded Britain the Celts in the sister isle were milking +and slaughtering their female elks, domesticated in their +cattlepens of granite, and hunting the proud-antlered +male with their flint arrows and lances. It would appear, +that the mode of hunting him was to chase and terrify +him into pools and swamps, such as the marl-pits then +were; that, having thus disabled him in the yielding bogs, +and slain him, the head was cut off, as of too little value +to be worth the trouble of dragging home; that the under +jaws and tongue were cut off; and that frequently the +entire carcase was disjointed on the spot, the best parts +only being removed. This would account for the so frequent +occurrence of separate portions of the skeleton, and +especially of skulls, in the bog-earth. No doubt so large +an animal would not long survive in a state of freedom, +after an island so limited in extent as Ireland became +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">[Pg 57]</a></span>peopled throughout; and supposing the females to have +been domesticated, it is quite conceivable that the difficulty +or even danger of capturing or domesticating the +males, may have caused the species soon to become extinct +in captivity, when it no longer continued to exist in a +wild state. Thus we may perhaps account for the +certainly remarkable fact that no native Irish name has +been recognised as belonging to it;—remarkable, because +the Irish tongue is particularly rich in distinctive names +for natural objects. There exists a very curious ancient +poem in that language which professes to enumerate the +whole fauna of the island. It is founded on the legend +that Fian MacCumhaill was made prisoner by Cormac +MacArt, king of Erinn; that the victor promised to give +him freedom on condition that, as a ransom, a pair of each +wild animal found in Ireland were brought before him on +the green of Tara. Cailte MacRonain, the foster-brother +of the captive general undertook the task, and succeeded +in bringing the collection before the king within a twelvemonth; +and in the poem, he is supposed to narrate to St +Patrick the detail and result of his enterprise. Of this +poem, which is considered to be as early as the ninth +century, the reader may like to see the following translation +by Mr Eugene Curry, containing the zoological +portion:—</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> + +<span class="i0">"I then went forth to search the lands,</span><br /> +<span class="i2">To see if I could redeem my chief,</span><br /> +<span class="i0">And soon returned to noble Tara,</span><br /> +<span class="i2">With the ransom that Cormac required.</span><br /> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">[Pg 58]</a></span></div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"I brought with me the fierce <i>Geilt</i>,<a name="FNanchor_28_28" id="FNanchor_28_28"></a><a href="#Footnote_28_28" class="fnanchor">[28]</a></span><br /> +<span class="i2">And the tall <i>Grib</i><a name="FNanchor_29_29" id="FNanchor_29_29"></a><a href="#Footnote_29_29" class="fnanchor">[29]</a> with talons,</span><br /> +<span class="i0">And the two Ravens of Fid-dá-Beann,</span><br /> +<span class="i2">And the two Ducks of Loch Saileann.</span><br /> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Two Foxes from Sliabh Cuilinn,</span><br /> +<span class="i2">Two Wild Oxen<a name="FNanchor_30_30" id="FNanchor_30_30"></a><a href="#Footnote_30_30" class="fnanchor">[30]</a> from Burren,</span><br /> +<span class="i0">Two Swans from the dark wood of Gabhran,</span><br /> +<span class="i2">And two Cuckoos from the wood of Fordrum.</span><br /> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Two <i>Toghmalls</i><a name="FNanchor_31_31" id="FNanchor_31_31"></a><a href="#Footnote_31_31" class="fnanchor">[31]</a> from Fidh-Gaibhle,</span><br /> +<span class="i2">Which is by the side of the two roads,</span><br /> +<span class="i0">And two Otters after them,</span><br /> +<span class="i2">From the brown-white rock of Dobhar.</span><br /> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Two Gulls from Tralee hither,</span><br /> +<span class="i2">Two <i>Ruilechs</i><a name="FNanchor_32_32" id="FNanchor_32_32"></a><a href="#Footnote_32_32" class="fnanchor">[32]</a> from Port Lairge (Waterford),</span><br /> +<span class="i0">Four <i>Snags</i><a name="FNanchor_33_33" id="FNanchor_33_33"></a><a href="#Footnote_33_33" class="fnanchor">[33]</a> from the River Brosna,</span><br /> +<span class="i2">Two Plovers from the rock of Dunán.</span><br /> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">[Pg 59]</a></span></div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Two <i>Echtachs</i><a name="FNanchor_34_34" id="FNanchor_34_34"></a><a href="#Footnote_34_34" class="fnanchor">[34]</a> from the lofty Echtghe,</span><br /> +<span class="i2">Two Thrushes from Letter Longarie,</span><br /> +<span class="i0">Two <i>Drenns</i><a name="FNanchor_35_35" id="FNanchor_35_35"></a><a href="#Footnote_35_35" class="fnanchor">[35]</a> from Dun Aife,</span><br /> +<span class="i2">The two <i>Cainches</i><a name="FNanchor_36_36" id="FNanchor_36_36"></a><a href="#Footnote_36_36" class="fnanchor">[36]</a> of Corraivte.</span><br /> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Two Herons from the hilly Corann,</span><br /> +<span class="i2">The two <i>Errfiachs</i><a name="FNanchor_37_37" id="FNanchor_37_37"></a><a href="#Footnote_37_37" class="fnanchor">[37]</a> of Magh Fobhair,</span><br /> +<span class="i0">The two Eagles of Carrick-na-Cloch,</span><br /> +<span class="i2">Two Hawks from the wood of Caenach.</span><br /> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Two Pheasants from Loch Meilge,</span><br /> +<span class="i2">Two Water-hens from Loch Eirne,</span><br /> +<span class="i0">Two Heath-hens from the Bog of Mafa,</span><br /> +<span class="i2">Two Swift Divers from Dubh Loch.</span><br /> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Two <i>Cricharans</i><a name="FNanchor_38_38" id="FNanchor_38_38"></a><a href="#Footnote_38_38" class="fnanchor">[38]</a> from Cualann,</span><br /> +<span class="i2">Two Titmice from Magh Tualang,</span><br /> +<span class="i0">Two Choughs from Gleann Gaibhle,</span><br /> +<span class="i2">Two Sparrows from the Shannon.</span><br /> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Two Cormorants from Ath Cliath,</span><br /> +<span class="i2">Two <i>Onchus</i><a name="FNanchor_39_39" id="FNanchor_39_39"></a><a href="#Footnote_39_39" class="fnanchor">[39]</a> from Crotta Cliach,</span><br /> +<span class="i0">Two Jackdaws from Druim Damh,</span><br /> +<span class="i2">Two <i>Riabhogs</i><a name="FNanchor_40_40" id="FNanchor_40_40"></a><a href="#Footnote_40_40" class="fnanchor">[40]</a> from Leathan Mhaigh.</span><br /> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Two Rabbits from Dumho Duinn,</span><br /> +<span class="i2">Two wild Hogs from circular Cnoghbha,</span><br /> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">[Pg 60]</a></span><span class="i0">Two <i>Peatáns</i><a name="FNanchor_41_41" id="FNanchor_41_41"></a><a href="#Footnote_41_41" class="fnanchor">[41]</a> from Creat Roe,</span><br /> +<span class="i2">Two wild Boars<a name="FNanchor_42_42" id="FNanchor_42_42"></a><a href="#Footnote_42_42" class="fnanchor">[42]</a> from green-sided Tara.</span><br /> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Two Pigeons out of Ceis Corann,</span><br /> +<span class="i2">Two Blackbirds out of Leitir Finnchoill,</span><br /> +<span class="i0">Two black Birds (?) from the strand of Dabhan,</span><br /> +<span class="i2">Two Roebucks from Luachair Deaghaidh.</span><br /> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Two <i>Fereidhins</i><a name="FNanchor_43_43" id="FNanchor_43_43"></a><a href="#Footnote_43_43" class="fnanchor">[43]</a> from Ath Loich,</span><br /> +<span class="i2">Two Fawns from Moin mor,</span><br /> +<span class="i0">Two Bats out of the Cave of Cnoghbha,</span><br /> +<span class="i2">Two Pigs<a name="FNanchor_44_44" id="FNanchor_44_44"></a><a href="#Footnote_44_44" class="fnanchor">[44]</a> from the lands of Ollarbha.</span><br /> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Two Swallows out of Sidh Buidhe,</span><br /> +<span class="i2">Two <i>Iaronns</i><a name="FNanchor_45_45" id="FNanchor_45_45"></a><a href="#Footnote_45_45" class="fnanchor">[45]</a> from the wood of Luadraidh,</span><br /> +<span class="i0">Two <i>Geisechtachs</i><a name="FNanchor_46_46" id="FNanchor_46_46"></a><a href="#Footnote_46_46" class="fnanchor">[46]</a> from Magh Mall,</span><br /> +<span class="i2">Two charming Robins from Cnamh Choill.</span><br /> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Two Woodcocks from Coillruadh,</span><br /> +<span class="i2">Two Crows from Lenn Uar,</span><br /> +<span class="i0">Two <i>Bruacharans</i><a name="FNanchor_47_47" id="FNanchor_47_47"></a><a href="#Footnote_47_47" class="fnanchor">[47]</a> from Sliabh-da-Ean,</span><br /> +<span class="i2">Two Barnacle-Geese from Turloch Bruigheoil.</span><br /> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Two <i>Naescans</i><a name="FNanchor_48_48" id="FNanchor_48_48"></a><a href="#Footnote_48_48" class="fnanchor">[48]</a> from Dun Daighre,</span><br /> +<span class="i2">Two Yellow-ammers from the brink of Bairne,</span><br /> +<span class="i0">Two <i>Spireogs</i><a name="FNanchor_49_49" id="FNanchor_49_49"></a><a href="#Footnote_49_49" class="fnanchor">[49]</a> from Sliabh Cleath,</span><br /> +<span class="i2">Two Grey Mice from Limerick.</span><br /> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">[Pg 61]</a></span></div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Two Corncrakes from the Banks of Shannon,</span><br /> +<span class="i2">Two Wagtails from the brinks of Birra,</span><br /> +<span class="i0">Two Curlews from the Harbour of Galway,</span><br /> +<span class="i2">Two <i>Sgreachógs</i><a name="FNanchor_50_50" id="FNanchor_50_50"></a><a href="#Footnote_50_50" class="fnanchor">[50]</a> from Muirtheimhne.</span><br /> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Two <i>Geilt Glinnes</i><a name="FNanchor_51_51" id="FNanchor_51_51"></a><a href="#Footnote_51_51" class="fnanchor">[51]</a> from Glenn-a-Smoil,</span><br /> +<span class="i2">Two Jackdaws from great Ath Mogha,</span><br /> +<span class="i0">Two fleet <i>Onchus</i><a name="FNanchor_52_52" id="FNanchor_52_52"></a><a href="#Footnote_52_52" class="fnanchor">[52]</a> from Loch Con,</span><br /> +<span class="i2">Two Cats out of the Cave of Cruachain.</span><br /> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Two Goats from Sith Gabhran,</span><br /> +<span class="i2">Two Pigs<a name="FNanchor_53_53" id="FNanchor_53_53"></a><a href="#Footnote_53_53" class="fnanchor">[53]</a> of the Pigs of Mac Lir,</span><br /> +<span class="i0">A Ram and Ewe both round and red,</span><br /> +<span class="i2">I brought with me from Aengus.</span><br /> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"I brought with me a Stallion and a Mare,</span><br /> +<span class="i2">From the beautiful stud of Manannan,</span><br /> +<span class="i0">A Bull and a white Cow from Druim Cain,</span><br /> +<span class="i2">Which were given me by Muirn Munchain."</span><br /> +</div></div> + + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">[Pg 62]</a></span></p><p>No <i>known</i> allusion occurs in this poem to the Giant +Deer.<a name="FNanchor_54_54" id="FNanchor_54_54"></a><a href="#Footnote_54_54" class="fnanchor">[54]</a> First, however, we must remember that no small +number of the animals mentioned are quite unrecognisable; +and that of those names to which an explanation is +given, many are probably incorrectly rendered. Secondly, +if it could be absolutely shewn that no allusion exists to +that fine beast, it would not at all disprove its existence +a thousand years before. Supposing that the <i>Megaceros</i> +became extinct soon after the colonisation of Ireland, and +that this was several centuries before the Christian era, +the distinctive name by which it had been known might +well have died out and become extinct also, among a +people unacquainted with letters. Or if a dim tradition +of the animal and of its name still lingered here and there, +it might well be omitted from a catalogue which professed +to give the creatures actually collected in a living state at +a given period. It would have been interesting to have +been able to identify the Great Elk, but its introduction +would have been a glaring anachronism.</p> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">[Pg 63]</a></span></p> +<p>The enumeration of nearly a hundred and sixty quadrupeds +and birds either indigenous to or naturalised in +Ireland at so early a period, possesses, I say, a peculiar +interest.</p> + +<p>If the editor's suggestion is correct, that the <i>Echtach</i> +was a bovine animal, then we have three distinct mentions +of this family in the poem,—the Wild Oxen, the +Echtachs, and the Bull and White Cow. The second and +third of these were probably domesticated animals; the +first one expressly "Wild." Now at least five distinct +species of Oxen are known to have inhabited Europe and +the British Isles during the later periods of the Tertiary +era, which have been named respectively, <i>Bison priscus</i>, +<i>Bos primigenius</i>, <i>frontosus</i> and <i>longifrons</i>, and <i>Ovibos +moschatus</i>. Of these, skulls of <i>Bos frontosus</i> and <i>B. +longifrons</i> have been dug up in some numbers in Ireland. +Some of these bear, in the perforation of the forehead, +evident proof of having been slaughtered <i>secundum artem</i>, +and therefore of having been domesticated. But one large +skull of the <i>longifrons</i> type, now in the Museum of the +Royal Irish Academy, has a cut in the forehead, into which +can be accurately fitted several of the narrow bronze +"celts," or arrow-heads so frequently dug up in Ireland; +a pretty fair proof that this animal was killed by the +hunter's arrow, and was therefore wild.</p> + +<p>No bovine animals of the true taurine race are now +known to exist in an aboriginally wild state; but at the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">[Pg 64]</a></span> +epoch of our earliest historical knowledge of central and +western Europe it was far otherwise. Cæsar, describing, +under the name of <i>Urus</i>, certain wild oxen of the great +Hercynian forest, says, "These Uri are little inferior to +elephants in size, but are bulls in their nature, colour, +and figure. Great is their strength, and great their +swiftness, nor do they spare man or beast when once they +have caught sight of him. These, when trapped in pitfalls, +the hunters unsparingly kill. The youths, exercising +themselves by this sort of hunting, are hardened by the +toil, and those among them who have killed most, bringing +with them the horns, as testimonials, acquire great +praise. But these Uri cannot be habituated to man, nor +made tractable, not even when taken young. The great +size of the horns, as well as the form and quality of them, +differs much from those of our oxen."</p> + +<p>It is probable that this race extended widely over +Europe, and even into Asia. Herodotus mentions Macedonian +wild oxen, with exceedingly large (<span title="Greek: hypermegathia">ὑπερμεγαθια</span>) +horns; and Philip of Macedon killed a wild bull in Mount +Orbela, which had made great havoc, and produced much +terror among the inhabitants; its spoils he hung up in the +Temple of Hercules. The Assyrian artists delighted to +sculpture on the royal bas-reliefs of Nineveh the conquest +of the wild bull by the prowess of their Nimrod monarchs, +and the figures, in their minute anatomical characters, +well agree with the descriptions and remains of the European +<i>Urus</i>. The large forest that surrounded ancient +London was infested with <i>boves sylvestres</i> among other<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">[Pg 65]</a></span> +wild beasts, and it is probable that these were <i>Uri</i>. The +legendary exploit of Guy, Earl of Warwick, in freeing the +neighbourhood from a terrible dun cow, whether historically +true or not, shews the existence of formidable wild +bovines in the heart of England, and the terror they +inspired among the people. The family of Turnbull, in +Scotland, are traditionally said to owe their patronymic to +a hero who turned a wild bull from Robert the Bruce, +when it had attacked him while hunting.</p> + +<p>What has become of the terrible Uri which lived in +Europe at the commencement of the Christian era? Advancing +civilisation has rooted them out, so that no living +trace of them remains, unless the cream-white breed which +is preserved in a semi-wild state in some of our northern +parks be their representatives; or, as is not improbable, +their blood may still circulate in our domestic oxen.</p> + +<p>Yet there is no doubt of the identity of a species found +abundantly in Britain in the Tertiary deposits, and named +by Owen <i>Bos primigenius</i>, with the Urus of Cæsar. This +fossil bull was as certainly contemporary in this island +with the elephant, and the hyena, and the baboon, and, +strange to say, with the reindeer, and the musk-ox, too—thus +combining a tropical, a temperate, and an arctic +fauna in our limited island at the same period! What a +strange climate it must have been to suit them all!</p> + +<p>Professor Nilsson, who has paid great attention to fossil +oxen, mentions a skull of this species which must have +belonged to an animal more than twelve feet in length +from the nape to the root of the tail, and six feet and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">[Pg 66]</a></span> +a half in height. Again, the skull of a cow in the British +Museum, figured by Professor Owen, measures thirty +inches from the crown to the tips of the jaws! What a +beast must this have been! Would not the slaughter of +such a "Dun Cow" as this in single combat have been an +exploit worthy of a doughty earl?</p> + +<p>That this ancient fossil bull was really contemporary +with man in Scandinavia is proved by evidence which is +irrespective of the question of its identity with Cæsar's +Urus. For one of Professor Nilsson's specimens "bears +on its back a palpable mark of a wound from a javelin. +Several celebrated anatomists and physiologists, among +whom," he says, "I need only mention the names of John +Müller, of Berlin, and Andreas Retzius, of Stockholm, have +inspected this skeleton, and are unanimous in the opinion +that the hole in question upon the backbone is the consequence +of a wound, which, during the life of the animal, +was made by the hand of man. The animal must have +been very young, probably only a calf, when it was +wounded. The huntsman who cast the javelin must have +stood before it. It was yet young when it died, probably +not more than three or four years old."</p> + +<p>We may, then, assume as certain that the vast <i>Bos +primigenius</i> of Western Europe lived as a wild animal +contemporaneously with man; and as almost certain +(assuming its identity with the <i>Urus</i>) that it continued to +be abundant as late as the Christian era.</p> + +<p>The <i>Bos frontosus</i> is a middling-sized bovine. "Its<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">[Pg 67]</a></span> +remains," says Professor Nilsson, "are found in turf-bogs +in Southern Scandinavia, and in such a state as plainly +shews that they belonged to a more ancient period than +that in which tame cattle existed in Sweden. This species +lived in Scandinavia contemporaneously with the <i>Bos +primigenius</i>, and the <i>Bison Europæus</i>.... If ever it +was tamed, and thereby in the course of time contributed +to form some of the tame races of cattle, it must have +been the small-horned, often hornless, breed, which is to +be found in the mountains of Norway, and which has a +high protuberance between the setting-on of the horns +above the nape."</p> + +<p>This species occurs in a fossil state in some numbers in +Ireland; it has also been found in England. It is by +some supposed to be the origin of, or, at least, to have +contributed blood to, the middling Highland races with +high occiput, and small horns.</p> + +<p>There is more certainty of the co-existence of the small +<i>B. longifrons</i> with man. Some of the evidence I have +already adduced. "Within a few years," says a trustworthy +authority, "we have read in one of the scientific +periodicals,—but have just now sought in vain for the +notice,—of a quantity of bones that were dug up in some +part of England, together with other remains of what +seemed to be the relics of a grand feast, held probably +during the Roman domination of Britain, for, if we mistake +not, some Roman coins were found associated with them. +<i>There were skulls</i> and other remains of <i>Bos longifrons</i><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">[Pg 68]</a></span> +quite undistinguishable in form from the antique fossil, +whether wild or domesticated, which, of course, remains a +question."<a name="FNanchor_55_55" id="FNanchor_55_55"></a><a href="#Footnote_55_55" class="fnanchor">[55]</a></p> + +<p>Professor Owen conjectures that this species may have +contributed to form the present small shaggy Highland +and Welsh cattle,—the kyloes and runts; and a similar +breed in the northern parts of Scania may have had a +similar origin.</p> + +<p>In the <i>Bison priscus</i>, the fossil remains of which occur +in many parts of Europe, and more sparsely in Great +Britain,<a name="FNanchor_56_56" id="FNanchor_56_56"></a><a href="#Footnote_56_56" class="fnanchor">[56]</a> we have an example of a noble animal, which, +contemporary with all those which have been engaging +our attention, survives to the present hour, but is dying +out, and would have long ago been extinguished, probably, +but for the fostering influence of human conservation. For +the species is considered as absolutely identical with the +<i>Bison Europæus</i> of modern zoology, the Bison or Wisent +of the Germans, the Aurochs of the Prussians, the Zubr +of the Poles, that formidable creature, which is maintained +by the Czar in an ever-diminishing herd in the vast forests +of Lithuania,<a name="FNanchor_57_57" id="FNanchor_57_57"></a><a href="#Footnote_57_57" class="fnanchor">[57]</a> and which, perhaps, still lingers in the +fastnesses of the Caucasus. This, the largest, or at least +the most massive of all existing quadrupeds, after the +great Pachyderms, roamed over Germany in some numbers +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">[Pg 69]</a></span>as late as the era of Charlemagne. Considerably later +than this it is reckoned among the German beasts of +chase, for in the <i>Niebelungen Lied</i>, a poem of the twelfth +century, it is said,</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> + +<span class="i0">"Dar nach schlouch er schiere, einen wisent und einen elch,</span><br /> +<span class="i0">Starcher ure viere, und einen grimmen schelch."</span><br /></div> +<div class="stanza"> + +<span class="i0">"After this he straightway slew a bison and an elk,</span><br /> +<span class="i0">Of the strong uri four, and a single fierce schelch."<a name="FNanchor_58_58" id="FNanchor_58_58"></a><a href="#Footnote_58_58" class="fnanchor">[58]</a></span><br /> +</div></div> + +<p>It is a formidable beast, standing six feet high at the +shoulders, where it is protected by a thick and profuse +mane. Specimens have been known to reach a ton in +weight. It manifests an invincible repugnance to the +ox.</p> + +<p>There are several other animals of note which, like the +Bison, were once common inhabitants of these islands, +but have long been extinct here, though more genial +circumstances have preserved their existence on the continent +of Europe. Of the great Cave Bear, no evidence +of its period exists, that I know of, except that which +may be deduced from the commixture of its remains with +those of other animals of whose recent date we have proof. +But there is another kind of Bear, whose relics in a fossil +state are not uncommon in the Tertiary deposits, viz., +the common Black Bear (<i>Ursus arctos</i>) of Europe.</p> + +<p>This savage animal must have early succumbed to man.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">[Pg 70]</a></span> +The "Triads"<a name="FNanchor_59_59" id="FNanchor_59_59"></a><a href="#Footnote_59_59" class="fnanchor">[59]</a> mention bears as living here before the +Kymri came. The Roman poets knew of their existence +here: Martial speaks of the robber Laureolus being +exposed on the cross to the fangs of the <i>Caledonian</i> +Bear; and Claudian alludes to British bears. The Emperor +Claudius, on his return to Rome after the conquest +of this island, exhibited, as trophies, combats of British +bears in the arena. In the Penitential of Archbishop +Egbert, said to have been compiled about <span class="smcap">A.D.</span> 750, bears +are mentioned as inhabiting the English forests, but they +must have gradually become rare, for the chase-laws of +Canute, at the beginning of the eleventh century, are +silent about them. In Doomsday Book, we find incidental +notice of this animal, for the city of Norwich is said to +have been required to furnish a bear annually to Edward +the Confessor, together with "six dogs for the bear,"—no +doubt for baiting him. This seems to have been the +latest trace on record of the bear in Britain; unless the +tradition may compete with it, which states that one of +the Gordon family was empowered by the king of Scotland +to carry three bears' heads on his banner, as a reward +for his prowess in slaying a fierce bear.</p> + +<p>In Ireland it seems to have become extinct even yet +earlier. Bede says the only ravenous animals in his day +were the wolf and the fox; Donatus, who died in <span class="smcap">A.D.</span> 840, +distinctly says it was not a native of the island in his +time; and Geraldus Cambrensis does not enumerate it as +known in the twelfth century. Neither is it included in<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">[Pg 71]</a></span> +the ransom-beasts of Cailte's collection. Yet a native +Irish name for the bear—Mathghambain—occurs in an +old glossary<a name="FNanchor_60_60" id="FNanchor_60_60"></a><a href="#Footnote_60_60" class="fnanchor">[60]</a> in the Library of Trinity College, Dublin; +and the late Wm. Thomson says that a tradition is current +of its having once been an Irish animal; and it is +associated with the wolf as a native beast in the stories +handed down from generation to generation to the present +time.</p> + +<p>The wolf, however, survived in both islands to a much +later era. In the days of the Heptarchy it was a terrible +pest; King Edgar commuted the punishment of certain +offences into a requisition for a fixed number of wolves' +tongues; and he converted a heavy tax on one of the +Welsh princes into an annual tribute of three hundred +wolves' heads. These laws continued to the time of +Edward I., when the increasing scarcity of the animal +doubtless caused them to fall into disuse. Mr Topham, +in his Notes to Somerville's "Chase," says, that it was in +the wolds of Yorkshire that a price was last set on a +wolf's head. The last record of their occurring in formidable +numbers in England is in 1281; but for three +centuries after this, the mountains and forests of Scotland +harboured them; for Hollinshed reports that in +1577 the wolves were very troublesome to the flocks of +that country. Nor were they entirely destroyed out of +this island till about a century afterwards, when the last +wolf fell in Lochaber, by the hand of Sir Ewen Cameron +of Lochiel. In Ireland the last wolf was slain in 1710.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">[Pg 72]</a></span></p> + +<p>Thus here we are able to lay our finger on the exact dates +when a large and rapacious species of animal actually +became extinct so far as the British Isles are concerned. +And if the species had been confined in its geographical +limits, as many other species of animals are, to one group +of islands, we should know the precise date of its absolute +extinction.</p> + +<p>The Beaver was once an inhabitant of British rivers. +Its remains are found in Berkshire, Cambridgeshire, +Yorkshire, and elsewhere, associated with the other Mammalia +of the fresh-water deposits and caves, but not in +any abundance. No record of its actual existence, however, +in these counties exists, nor anywhere else but in +Wales and Scotland, whose mountain streams and rugged +ravines afforded it shelter till after the Norman Conquest. +It was very rare even then, and for a hundred years before; +for the laws of Howel Dda, the Welsh king, who died in +948, in determining the value of peltry, fix the price +of the beaver's skin at a hundred and twenty pence, when +the skins of the stag, the wolf, the fox, and the otter, were +worth only eightpence each, that of the white weasel or +ermine at twelvepence, and that of the marten, at twenty-four +pence. The appropriate epithet of Broad-tail (Llostllyddan) +was given it by the Welsh. Giraldus Cambrensis, +who travelled through Wales in 1188, gives, in his Itinerary, +a short account of the beaver, but states that the river +Teivy in Cardiganshire, and one other river in Scotland, +were the only places in Great Britain, where it was then +found. In all probability it did not long survive that<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">[Pg 73]</a></span> +century, for no subsequent notice of it as a British animal +is extant. Tradition, however, still preserves the remembrance +of its presence in those indelible records, names of +places. "Two or three waters in the Principality," says +Pennant, "still bear the name of <i>Llyn yr afangc</i>,—the +Beaver Lake.... I have seen two of their supposed +haunts: one in the stream that runs through Nant Francon; +the other in the river Conwy, a few miles above +Llanrwst; and both places, in all probability, had formerly +been crossed by beaver-dams."</p> + +<p>If, as naturalists of the highest eminence believe, there +is specific difference between the beaver of Europe and +that of America, then we may say that our species is fast +passing away from the earth. A few colonies yet linger +along the banks of the Danube, the Weser, the Rhone +and the Euphrates, but they consist of few individuals, +ever growing fewer; and the value of their fur exciting +cupidity, they cannot probably resist much longer the +exterminating violence of man.</p> + +<p>The causes which led to the extinction of these animals +in our islands are then obvious, and are thus playfully +touched by the late James Wilson:—"The beaver might +have carried on business well enough, in his own quiet +way, although frequently incommoded by the love of +peltry on the part of a hat-wearing people; but it is clear +that no man with a small family and a few respectable +farm servants, could either permit a large and hungry +wolf to be continually peeping at midnight through the +keyhole of the nursery, or allow a brawny bruin to snuff<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">[Pg 74]</a></span> +too frequently under the kitchen door (after having +hugged the watch-dog to death) when the servant-maids +were at supper. The extirpation then of at least two of +these quondam British species became 'a work of necessity +and mercy,' and might have been tolerated even on a +Sunday, (between sermons,) especially as naturalists have +it still in their power to study the habits of similar wild +beasts, by no means yet extinct, in the neighbouring countries +of France and Germany."<a name="FNanchor_61_61" id="FNanchor_61_61"></a><a href="#Footnote_61_61" class="fnanchor">[61]</a></p> + +<p>Perhaps the example of recent extinction most popularly +known is that of the Dodo, a very remarkable bird, +which about two centuries ago existed in considerable +abundance, in the isles of Mauritius, Bourbon, and Rodriguez. +It was a rather large fowl, incapable of rising +from the ground, by reason of the imperfect development +of its wings, of massive, uncouth figure, predisposed to +fatness, and noted for the sapidity of its flesh. Two +skulls and two unmatched feet of this strange bird are +preserved in European museums; and these shew that +its nearest affinities were with the pigeon-tribe, of which +we know some species of terrestrial habits, but none approaching +this bird in its absolute confinement to the +earth.</p> + +<p>In the reports of numerous voyagers who visited these +islands from the end of the fifteenth century to the middle +of the seventeenth, we have many accounts of the appearance +and habits of this bird, evidently sketched from the +life. Some of the descriptions, as also the figures by which<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">[Pg 75]</a></span> +they are illustrated, are quaint enough; as, for example, +that graphic sketch hit off by old Sir Thomas Herbert, +who saw the bird in his travels in 1634:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"The Dodo," he says, "comes first to our description. +Here and in Dygarrois (and nowhere else that +I c<sup>d</sup> ever see or heare of) is generated the Dodo. (A +Portuguize name it is, and has reference to her simplenes) +a bird which for shape and rareness might be +call'd a Phœnix (wer't in Arabia); her body is round +and extreame fat, her slow pace begets that corpulencie; +few of them weigh lesse than fifty pound: +better to the eye than the stomack: greasie appetites +may perhaps commend them, but, to the indifferently +curious, nourishment, but prove offensive. Let's take +her picture: her visage darts forth melancholy, as sensible +of nature's injurie in framing so great and massive +a body to be directed by such small and complementall +wings, as are unable to hoise her from the +ground, serving only to prove her a bird; which otherwise +might be doubted of: her head is variously drest, +the one halfe hooded with downy blackish feathers; the +other perfectly naked; of a whitish hue, as if a transparent +lawne had covered it; her bill is very howked +and bends downwards, the thrill or breathing place is +in the midst of it; from which part to the end, the +colour is a light greene mixt with a pale yellow; her +eyes be round and small, and bright as diamonds; her +cloathing is of finest downe, such as ye see in goslins; +her trayne is (like a China beard) of three or foure +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">[Pg 76]</a></span>short feythers; her legs thick, and black, and strong; +her tallons or pounces sharp; her stomack fiery hot, +so as stones and yron are easilie digested in it; in that +and shape, not a little resembling the Africk oestriches: +but so much, as for their more certain dyfference I +dare to give thee (with two others) her representation."<a name="FNanchor_62_62" id="FNanchor_62_62"></a><a href="#Footnote_62_62" class="fnanchor">[62]</a></p></div> + +<p>It is pretty certain that a living specimen was about +the same time exhibited in England. Sir Hamon L'Estrange +tells us distinctly that he <i>saw</i> it. His original +MS. is preserved in the British Museum, and with some +blanks caused by the injury of time, of no great consequence, +reads as follows:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"About 1638, as I walked London streets, I saw the +picture of a strange fowl hong out upon a cloth. + vas and myselfe with one or two more Gen. in +company went in to see it. It was kept in a chamber, +and was a greate fowle somewhat bigger than the largest +Turky Cock and so legged and footed but stouter and +thicker and of a more erect shape, coloured before like +the breast of a yong Cock Fesan and on the back of dunn +or deare coulour. The keeper called it a Dodo and in the +ende of a chimney in the chamber there lay an heap of +large pebble stones whereof hee gave it many in our sight, +some as bigg as nutmegs and the keeper told us shee eats +them conducing to digestion and though I remember not +how farre the keeper was questioned therein yet I am confident +that afterwards shee cast them all agayne."<a name="FNanchor_63_63" id="FNanchor_63_63"></a><a href="#Footnote_63_63" class="fnanchor">[63]</a></p></div> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">[Pg 77]</a></span></p> +<p>It is probable that this very specimen passed into the +museum of Tradescant, who, in the Catalogue of "The +Collection of Rarities preserved at Lambeth," dated 1656, +mentions the following: "Dodar from the Island Mauritius: +it is not able to flie being so bigg." Willoughby the +ornithologist, a most unexceptionable testimony, says that +he saw this specimen in Tradescant's museum: it is mentioned +also by others;—as by Llhwyd in 1684, and by +Hyde in 1700. It passed, with the rest of the Tradescant +Collection, to Oxford, and thus became part of the Ashmolean +Museum,—and being in a decayed condition, was +ordered to be destroyed by the authorities, who had no +apprehension of its value, in 1755. The skull and one +foot, however, were preserved, and are still in the Museum +at Oxford. Remains of the Dodo have been dug up in +the Mauritius, and are in the Paris Museum, and in that +of the Zoological Society of London. The bird certainly +does not exist there now, nor in either of the neighbouring +islands.</p> + +<p>In the British Museum there is a fine original painting, +once the property of George Edwards, the celebrated bird +painter, representing the Dodo surrounded by other minor +birds and reptiles. Edwards states that "it was drawn +in Holland, from a living bird brought from St Maurice's +Island, in the East Indies. It was the property of Sir +Hans Sloane at the time of his death, and afterwards +becoming my property, I deposited it in the British +Museum as a great curiosity."</p> + +<p>Professor Owen has discovered another original figure<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">[Pg 78]</a></span> +of this interesting form in Savary's painting of "Orpheus +and the Beasts," at the Hague. The figure, though small, +displays all the characteristic peculiarities, and agrees +well with Edwards' painting, while evincing that it was +copied from the living bird.</p> + +<p>It is possible that there were two species of Dodo; +which would explain certain discrepancies in the descriptions +of observers. At all events we have here one, if +not more, conspicuous animal absolutely extinguished +within the last two hundred years.</p> + +<p>Just about a century ago a great animal disappeared +from the ocean, which, according to Owen, was contemporary +with the fossil elephant and rhinoceros of Siberia +and England. Steller, a Russian voyager and naturalist, +discovered the creature, afterward called <i>Stelleria</i> by +Cuvier, in Behring's Straits; a huge, unwieldy whale-like +animal, one of the marine pachyderms, allied to the +Manatee, but much larger, being twenty-five feet long, +and twenty in circumference. Its flesh was good for food, +and from its inertness and incapacity for defence, the +race was extirpated in a few years. Steller first discovered +the species in 1741, and the last known specimen was +killed in 1768. It is believed to be quite extinct, as it +has never been met with since.</p> + +<p>Nearly a century ago, Sonnerat found in Madagascar, a +curious animal, (<i>Cheiromys</i>,) which in structure seems to +connect the monkeys with the squirrels. So rare was it +there that even the natives viewed it with curiosity as +an animal altogether unknown to them; and, from their<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">[Pg 79]</a></span> +exclamations of astonishment rather than from its cry, +the French naturalist is said to have conferred upon it +the name of Aye-aye, by which it is now known. <i>Not a +specimen, as I believe, has been seen since Sonnerat's day</i>, +so that, if not actually obliterated, the species must be +on the verge of extinction.</p> + +<p>Species are dying out in our own day. I have already +cited the interesting case of the Moho, that fine Gallinule +of New Zealand, of which a specimen—probably the last +of its race,—was obtained by Mr Walter Mantell; and that +of the Káureke, the badger-like quadruped of the same +islands, which was formerly domesticated by the Maoris, +but which now cannot be found.</p> + +<p>The Samoa Isles in the Pacific recently possessed a +large and handsome kind of pigeon, of richly-coloured +plumage, which the natives called <i>Manu-mea</i>, but to which +modern naturalists have given the name of <i>Didunculus +strigirostris</i>. It was, both by structure and habit, essentially +a ground pigeon, but not so exclusively but that it +fed, and roosted too, according to Lieut. Walpole, among +the branches of tall trees. Mr T. Peale, the naturalist of +the U. S. Exploring Expedition, who first described it, informs +us that according to the tradition of the natives, it +once abounded; but some years ago these persons, like +more civilised folks, had a strong desire to make pets of +cats, and found, by means of whale-ships, opportunities of +procuring a supply; but the consequence of the introduction +of "pussy,"—for under this familiar old-country +title were the exotic tabbies introduced—was the rapid<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">[Pg 80]</a></span> +diminution of the handsome <i>Manu-mea</i>. Pussy did not +fancy yams and taro—the vegetable diet on which the +natives regaled—and took to the woods and mountains to +search for something better. There she met with the +feeble-winged <i>Didunculus</i> scratching the soft earth for +seeds, and with a purr and a mew soon scraped acquaintance +with the stranger. Pussy declared she loved him well, +and so she did—too well, in fact; she felt "as if she could +eat him up,"—<i>and did</i>. The news soon spread among the +tabbies that there were sweet birds in the woods, and the +result is the almost total disappearance of poor <i>Manu-mea</i>. +Like the Dodo, it has ceased to be, but at the hand of a +more ignominious foe. The Samoan may truly say to his +former pet, "<i>Cecidisti, O Manu-mea, non manu meâ, sed +ungue felino</i>." So rare had the bird become, that during +the stay of the Expedition only three specimens could be +procured, and of these two were lost by shipwreck. I do +not know whether another has been met with since. Probably +they are all gone; for that was twenty years ago.</p> + +<p>When Norfolk Island,—that tiny spot in the Southern +Ocean since so stained with human crime and misery—was +first discovered, its tall and teeming forests were +tenanted by a remarkable Parrot with a very long and +slender hooked beak, which lived upon the honey of +flowers. It was named <i>Nestor productus</i>. When Mr +Gould visited Australia in his researches into the ornithology +of those antipodeal regions, he found the Nestor +Parrot absolutely limited to Philip Island, a tiny satellite +of Norfolk Island, whose whole circumference is not more<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">[Pg 81]</a></span> +than five miles in extent. The war of extermination had +been so successful in the larger island that, with the exception +of a few specimens preserved in cages, not one was +believed to survive. Since then its last retreat has been +harried, and Mr J. H. Gurney thus writes the dirge of the +last of the Nestors:—</p> + +<p>"I have seen the man who exterminated the <i>Nestor +productus</i> from Philip Island, he having shot the last of +that species left on the island; he informs me that they +rarely made use of their wings, except when closely pressed; +their mode of progression was by the upper mandible; +and whenever he used to go to the island to shoot, he +would invariably find them on the ground, except one, +which used to be sentry on one of the lower branches of +the <i>Araucaria excelsa</i>, and the instant any person landed, +they would run to those trees and haul themselves up by +the bill, and, as a matter of course, they would there +remain till they were shot, or the intruder had left the +island. He likewise informed me that there was a large +species of hawk that used to commit great havoc +amongst them, but what species it was he could not tell +me."<a name="FNanchor_64_64" id="FNanchor_64_64"></a><a href="#Footnote_64_64" class="fnanchor">[64]</a></p> + +<p>I have before mentioned that Professor Owen had +recognised the species in fossil skulls from New Zealand, +associated with remains of <i>Dinornis</i>, <i>Palapteryx</i>, and +<i>Notornis</i>. Thus it appears that the long-billed Parrot is +an ancient race, whose extreme decrepitude has just survived +to our time;—that it first became extinct from New<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">[Pg 82]</a></span> +Zealand, then from Norfolk Island, and lastly from Philip +Island. Peace to its ashes!</p> + +<p>Mr Yarrell, in his "History of British Birds,"<a name="FNanchor_65_65" id="FNanchor_65_65"></a><a href="#Footnote_65_65" class="fnanchor">[65]</a> commences +his account of one of them in these words:—"The +Great Auk is a very rare British Bird, and but few +instances are recorded of its capture. The natives in the +Orkneys informed Mr Bullock, on his tour through these +islands several years ago, that only one male had made its +appearance for a long time, which had regularly visited +Papa Westra for several seasons. The female, which the +natives call the queen of the Auks, was killed just before +Mr Bullock's arrival. The king or male, Mr Bullock had +the pleasure of chasing for several hours in a six-oared +boat, but without being able to kill him, for though he +frequently got near him, so expert was the bird in its +natural element that it appeared impossible to shoot him. +The rapidity with which he pursued his course under +water was almost incredible. About a fortnight after Mr +Bullock had left Papa Westra, this male bird was obtained +and sent him, and at the sale of his collection, was purchased +for the British Museum, where it is still carefully +preserved."</p> + +<p>This fine bird, which was larger than a goose, is believed +to be extinct. Mr Bullock's specimen was taken in 1812; +another was captured at St Kilda in 1822, another was +picked up dead near Lundy Island in 1829, and yet +another was taken in 1834, off the coast of Waterford.</p> + +<p>On the north coast of Europe the bird is equally rare;<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">[Pg 83]</a></span> +not more than two or three, at the utmost, having been +procured during the present century. During that period, +however, it has haunted one or two breeding-rocks on the +south coast of Iceland, in some abundance. In the years +1830 and 1831, as many as twenty-seven were obtained +there, and from that time till 1840, about ten more. The +last birds obtained on the Iceland coast were a pair, which +were shot on their nest in 1844. The last taken in any +locality, so far as is known, was one shot in 1848, by a +peasant, on the Island of Wardoe, within the Arctic +Circle.</p> + +<p>Two centuries ago, the Great Auk was not uncommon +on the shores of New England; and, off the great fishing-banks +of Newfoundland, it appears to have been very +abundant. "Its appearance was always hailed by the +mariner approaching that desolate coast as the first indication +of his having reached soundings on the fishing-banks. +During the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries these +waters, as well as the Iceland and Faroe coasts, were +annually visited by hundreds of ships from England, +France, Spain, Holland, and Portugal; and these ships +actually were accustomed to provision themselves with +the bodies and eggs of these birds, which they found +breeding in myriads on the low islands off the coast +of Newfoundland. Besides the fresh birds consumed by +the ship's crew, many tons were salted down for further +use. In the space of an hour, these old voyagers tell us, +they could fill thirty boats with the birds. It was only +necessary to go on shore, armed with sticks to kill as many<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">[Pg 84]</a></span> +as they chose. The birds were so stupid that they allowed +themselves to be taken up, on their own proper element, +by boats under sail; and it is even said that on putting +out a plank it was possible to drive the Great Auks up +and out of the sea into boats. On land the sailors formed +low enclosures of stones, into which they drove the Penguins +[or Auks], and, as they were unable to fly, kept them +there enclosed till they were wanted for the table."</p> + +<p>"In 1841, a distinguished Norwegian naturalist, (too +early, alas! lost to science,) Peter Stuwitz, visited Tunk +Island, or Penguin Island, lying to the east of Newfoundland. +Here, on the north-west shore of the island, he +found enormous heaps of bones and skeletons of the Great +Auk, lying either in exposed masses or slightly covered +by the earth. On this side of the island the rocks slope +gradually down to the shore; and here were still standing +the stone fences and enclosures into which the birds were +driven for slaughter."<a name="FNanchor_66_66" id="FNanchor_66_66"></a><a href="#Footnote_66_66" class="fnanchor">[66]</a></p> + +<p>It is just possible that the bird may yet haunt the inaccessible +coast of East Greenland, but ships sailing between +that country and Iceland never meet with it at sea. +Nor did Graah observe it during his toilsome researches +east of Cape Farewell. The numerous fishing craft that +every season crowd the shores of Newfoundland and +Labrador forbid the notion that it yet lingers there; for +the great market-value set upon the bird and its eggs +for collections would prevent its existence there from +being overlooked. The numerous Polar voyages of dis<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">[Pg 85]</a></span>covery, +and the annual fleets of whalers, would certainly +have discovered it, if it still haunted the more northern +regions. It is possible that a few isolated individuals +may still survive; but it is the habit of the bird, as of +most sea-fowl, to breed in society in bare seaward rocks, +and the circumstance that no breeding station is known +to be now frequented by the Great Auk renders it but +too probable that it also must be classed among the +species that were.</p> + +<p>The interest attached to this now extinct bird has induced +some correspondents of the <i>Zoologist</i> to attempt +an enumeration of the specimens, both of the bird and of +its eggs, (which from their great size, as well as from their +rarity, have always had a value with collectors,) known to +be preserved in cabinets. The result is that English collections +contain 14 birds and 23 eggs; those of continental +Europe, 11 birds and 20 eggs; the United States, +1 bird and 2 eggs:—the total being 26 birds and 45 +eggs.</p> + +<p>It would appear that the rock off the south of Iceland +which was the chief breeding resort of the Great Auk, +and which from that circumstance bore the name or +"Geir-fulga Sker," sank to the level of the sea during a +volcanic disturbance in or about the year 1830. "Such +disappearance of the fit and favourable breeding-places of +the <i>Alca impennis</i>," observes Professor Owen, "must +form an important element in its decline towards extinction." +One might think that there would be rocks +enough left for the birds to choose a fresh station; but<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">[Pg 86]</a></span> +really we do not know what are the elements of choice in +such a case: some peculiarities exist which make one particular +rock to be selected by sea-fowl, when others apparently +to us as suitable are quite neglected; but we do not +know what they are. Possibly when Geir-fulga Sker +sank, there was no other islet fit to supply the blank. +Possibly, too, the submersion took place during the breeding +season, drowning the eggs or young. If this was the +case, it would indeed be "a heavy blow and great discouragement" +to the dwindling Alcine nation.</p> + +<p>Mr Darwin speaks of a large wolf-like Fox (<i>Canis antarcticus</i>) +which at the time of his voyage was common to +both the Falkland Islands, but absolutely confined to +them. He says, "As far as I am aware, there is no other +instance in any part of the world, of so small a mass of +broken land, distant from a continent, possessing so +large an aboriginal quadruped peculiar to itself. Their +numbers have rapidly decreased; they are already banished +from that half of the island which lies to the eastward +of the neck of land between St Salvador Bay and +Berkeley Sound. Within a very few years after these +islands shall have become regularly settled, in all probability +this fox will be classed with the Dodo, as an animal +which has perished from the face of the earth."<a name="FNanchor_67_67" id="FNanchor_67_67"></a><a href="#Footnote_67_67" class="fnanchor">[67]</a></p> + +<p>The Musk Ox (<i>Ovibos moschatus</i>), a long-haired ruminant, +resembling what you would suppose a cross between +a bull and a sheep might be,—formerly an inhabitant of +Britain with the Elephant and the Hyena, but now found<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">[Pg 87]</a></span> +only on the polar margins of North America,—is becoming +very scarce; and it is probable that before long its last +representative will leave its bones with those of the lamented +Franklin and his companions.</p> + +<p>From the more perishable character of vegetable tissues +we have far less data for determining the extinction of +plant species; but analogy renders it highly probable that +these also have died out, and are dying in a corresponding +ratio with animals. I am not aware that a single +example can be adduced of a plant that has certainly +ceased to exist during the historic era. But Humboldt +mentions a very remarkable tree in Mexico, of which it is +believed only a single specimen remains in a state of +nature. It is the Hand-tree (<i>Cheirostemon platanoides</i>), +a sterculaceous plant with large plane-like leaves, and with +the anthers connected together in such a manner as to +resemble a hand or claw rising from the beautiful purplish-red +blossoms. "There is in all the Mexican free +States only one individual remaining, one single primeval +stem of this wonderful genus. It is supposed not to be +indigenous, but to have been planted by a king of Toluca +about five hundred years ago. I found that the spot +where the Arbol de las Manitas stands is 8825 feet above +the level of the sea. Why is there only one tree of the +kind? Whence did the kings of Toluca obtain the young +tree, or the seed? It is equally enigmatical that Montezuma +should not have possessed one of these trees in his +botanical gardens of Huaxtepec, Chapoltepec, and Iztapalapan, +which were used as late as by Philip the Second's<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">[Pg 88]</a></span> +physician, Hernandez, and of which gardens traces still +remain; and it appears no less striking that the Hand-tree +should not have found a place among the drawings of +subjects connected with Natural History, which Nezahual +Coyotl, king of Tezcuco, caused to be made half a century +before the arrival of the Spaniards."</p> + +<p>There is an example of this interesting plant growing +in one of the conservatories at Kew, but I do not know +whence it was obtained. It has been asserted that it +grows wild in the forests of Guatemala.</p> + +<p>Leaving plants out of consideration from lack of adequate +data, we find that a considerable number of species +of animals have certainly ceased to exist since man inhabited +the globe. There have been, doubtless, many others +that have shared the same fate, which we know nothing +about. It is only within the last hundred years that we +have had anything approaching to an acquaintance with +the living fauna of the earth; yet, during that time some +seven or eight creatures we know have been extinguished. +Fully half of these,—the Auk, the Didunculus, the +Notornis, and the Nestor,—within the last ten years! It +would really seem as if the more complete and comprehensive +an acquaintance with the animals of the world +became, the more frequently this strange phenomenon of +expiring species was presented to us. Perhaps it is not +extravagant to suppose that—including all the invertebrate +animals, the countless hosts of insects, and all the +recondite forms that dwell in the recesses of the ocean—a +species fades from existence every year. All the examples<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">[Pg 89]</a></span> +that have been given were either Mammalia or Birds, (<i>the +Colossochelys</i> only excepted:) now these, though the most +conspicuous and best known, are almost the least populous +classes of living beings. There is no reason whatever for +concluding that the law of mortality of species does not +extend to all the other classes, vertebrate and invertebrate, +in an equal ratio, so that my estimate will appear, I think, +a very moderate one. Yet it is a startling thought, and +one which the mind does not entertain without a measure +of revulsion, that the passing of every century in the +world's history has left its fauna <i>minus</i> a hundred species +of animals that were denizens of the earth when it began. +I was going to say "left the fauna so much <i>poorer</i>;" but +that I am not sure of. The term would imply that the +blanks are not filled up; and that, I repeat, I am not +sure of. Probability would suggest that new forms are +continually created to supply the lack of deceased ones; +and it may be that <i>some</i>, at least, of the creatures ever +and anon described as new to science, especially in old +and well-searched regions, may be newly called into being, +as well as newly discovered. It may be so, I say; I +have no evidence that it is so, except the probability +of analogy; we know that the rate of mortality among +<i>individuals</i> of a species, speaking generally, is equalled +by the rate of birth, and we may suppose this balance +of life to be paralleled when the unit is a species, and +not an individual. If the Word of God contained anything +either in statement or principle contrary to such +a supposition, I would not entertain it for a moment, but<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">[Pg 90]</a></span> +I do not know that it does. I do not know that it is anywhere +implied that God created no more after the six +days' work was done. His Sabbath-rest having been +broken by the incoming of sin, we know from John v. 17, +that He continued to work without interruption; and we +may fairly conclude that progressive creation was included +as a part of that unceasing work.</p> + +<p>I know not whether my readers will take the same +concern as I do in this subject of the dying-out of species, +but to me it possesses a very peculiar interest. Death is +a mysterious event, come when and how it will; and +surely the departure from existence of a species, of a type +of being, that has subsisted in contemporary thousands of +individuals, for thousands of years, is not less imposingly +mysterious than that of the individual exemplar.</p> + +<p>We do not know with any precision what are the immediate +causes of death in a species. Is there a definite +limit to life imposed at first? or is this limit left, so to +speak, to be determined by accidental circumstances? +Perhaps both: but if the latter, what are those circumstances?</p> + +<p>Professor Owen says:—"There are characters in land +animals rendering them more obnoxious to extirpating +influences, which may explain why so many of the larger +species of particular groups have become extinct, whilst +smaller species of equal antiquity have survived. In proportion +to its bulk is the difficulty of the contest which +the animal has to maintain against the surrounding agencies +that are ever tending to dissolve the vital bond, and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">[Pg 91]</a></span> +subjugate the living matter to the ordinary chemical and +physical forces. Any changes, therefore, in such external +agencies as a species may have been originally adapted to +exist in, will militate against that existence in a degree +proportionate to the size which may characterise the +species. If a dry season be gradually prolonged, the large +mammal will suffer from the drought sooner than the +small one; if such alteration of climate affect the quantity +of vegetable food, the bulky herbivore will first feel the +effects of stinted nourishment; if new enemies be introduced, +the large and conspicuous animal will fall a prey +while the smaller kinds conceal themselves and escape. +Small quadrupeds, moreover, are more prolific than large +ones. Those of the bulk of the mastodons, megatheria, +glyptodons, and diprotodons, are uniparous. The actual +presence, therefore, of small species of animals in countries +where larger species of the same natural families +formerly existed, is not the consequence of degeneration—of +any gradual diminution of the size—of such species, +but is the result of circumstances which may be illustrated +by the fable of 'the Oak and the Reed;' the +smaller and feebler animals have bent and accommodated +themselves to changes to which the larger species have +succumbed."<a name="FNanchor_68_68" id="FNanchor_68_68"></a><a href="#Footnote_68_68" class="fnanchor">[68]</a></p> + +<p>"We do not steadily bear in mind," remarks Mr Darwin, +"how profoundly ignorant we are of the condition of +existence of every animal; nor do we always remember +that some check is constantly preventing the too rapid<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">[Pg 92]</a></span> +increase of every organised being left in a state of nature. +The supply of food, on an average, remains constant; yet +the tendency in every animal to increase by propagation +is geometrical; and its surprising effects have nowhere +been more astonishingly shewn, than in the case of the +European animals run wild during the last few centuries +in America. Every animal in a state of nature regularly +breeds; yet in a species long established, any <i>great</i> increase +in numbers is obviously impossible, and must be checked +by some means. We are nevertheless seldom able with +certainty to tell in any given species, at what period of +life, or at what period of the year, or whether only at +long intervals, the check falls; or again, what is the precise +nature of the check. Hence probably it is, that we +feel so little surprise at one, of two species closely allied +in habits, being rare and the other abundant in the same +district; or again, that one should be abundant in one +district, and another, filling the same place in the economy +of nature, should be abundant in a neighbouring district, +differing very little in its conditions. If asked how this +is, one immediately replies that it is determined by some +slight difference in climate, food, or the number of enemies: +yet how rarely, if ever, we can point out the precise +cause and manner of action of the check! We are, +therefore, driven to the conclusion that causes generally +quite inappreciable by us, determine whether a given +species shall be abundant or scanty in numbers.</p> + +<p>"In the cases where we can trace the extinction of a +species through man, either wholly or in one limited dis<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">[Pg 93]</a></span>trict, +we know that it becomes rarer and rarer, and is then +lost; it would be difficult to point out any just distinction +between a species destroyed by man or by the increase of +its natural enemies. The evidence of rarity preceding extinction, +is more striking in the successive tertiary strata, +as remarked by several able observers; it has often been +found that a shell very common in a tertiary stratum is now +most rare, and has even long been thought to be extinct. +If, then, as appears probable, species first become rare and +then extinct—if the too rapid increase of every species, +even the most favoured, is steadily checked, as we must +admit, though how and when it is hard to say—and if we +see, without the smallest surprise, though unable to assign +the precise reason, one species abundant, and another +closely-allied species rare in the same district—why should +we feel such great astonishment at the rarity being carried +a step further to extinction? An action going on, on +every side of us, and yet barely appreciable, might surely +be carried a little further, without exciting our observation. +Who could feel any great surprise at hearing +that the Megalonyx was formerly rare compared with the +Megatherium, or that one of the fossil Monkeys was few +in number compared with one of the now living Monkeys? +and yet, in this comparative rarity, we should have the +plainest evidence of less favourable conditions for their +existence. To admit that species generally become rare +before they become extinct—to feel no surprise at the +comparative rarity of one species with another, and yet to +call in some extraordinary agent and to marvel greatly<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">[Pg 94]</a></span> +when a species ceases to exist, appears to me much the +same as to admit that sickness in the individual is the prelude +of death—to feel no surprise at sickness—but when +the sick man dies to wonder, and to believe that he died +through violence."<a name="FNanchor_69_69" id="FNanchor_69_69"></a><a href="#Footnote_69_69" class="fnanchor">[69]</a></p> + +<p>Geographical distribution is an important element in +this question of extinction. A species that is spread over +a wide region is far more likely to survive than one which +is confined to a limited district; and extraneous influences +acting prejudicially will exterminate a species which is +confined to an island much sooner than if it had a continent +to retire upon. We have seen how the <i>Nestor</i> Parrot +became extinct in New Zealand, while it survived in +Norfolk Island, because the former was colonised by the +Maori race, while the latter remained in its virginity. +But how quickly did the poor Parrot succumb as soon as +man set his foot on Norfolk and Philip Islands! And +how brief was the lease of life accorded to the <i>Didunculus</i>, +when once the "Pussies" found their way to the little +Samoa isles!</p> + +<p>Very many islands have a fauna that is to a great +extent peculiar to themselves. I know that, in Jamaica, +the Humming-birds, some of the Parrots, some of the +Cuckoos, most of the Pigeons, many of the smaller birds, +and, I think, all of the Reptiles, are found nowhere else. +Nay, more, that even the smaller islands of the Antilles +have each a fauna of its own, unshared with any other +land;—its own Humming-birds, its own Lizards and +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">[Pg 95]</a></span>Snakes; its own Butterflies and Beetles, its own Spiders, +its own Snails, its own Worms. How likely are some of +these very limited species to become extinguished! By +the increasing aggressions of clearing and cultivating +man; by slight changes of level; even by electric and +meteoric phenomena acting very locally. I find that, in +Jamaica, many of the animals peculiar to the island are +not spread over the whole surface, limited as that is, but +are confined to a single small district. In some cases, +the individuals are but few, even in that favoured locality; +how easily we may conceive of a season drier than ordinary, +or wetter than ordinary, or a flood, or a hurricane of +unusual violence, or a volcanic eruption, either killing +outright these few individuals, or destroying their means +of living, and so indirectly destroying them by starvation. +And then the species has disappeared!</p> + +<p>The common Red Grouse, so abundantly seen during +the season hanging at every poulterer's and game-dealer's +shop in London, is absolutely unknown out of the British +Isles. It could not live except in wide, unenclosed, uncultivated +districts; so that when the period arrives that +the whole of British land is enclosed and brought under +cultivation, the Grouse's lease of life will expire. We +owe it to our hard-worked members of Parliament to +hope that this condition of things may be distant.</p> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">[Pg 96]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="II" id="II"></a>II.</h2> + +<h2>THE MARVELLOUS.</h2> + + +<p>The vulgar mind is very prone to love the marvellous, +and to count for a prodigy every unusual phenomenon, +every occurrence not perfectly accountable on any hypothesis +which is familiar to them. The poetical period of +history in every country is full of prodigies; for in the +dawn of civilisation the physical laws of nature are little +understood, and multitudes of natural phenomena are +either referred to false causes, or, being unreferrible to any +recognised cause, are set down as mere wonders. It is +the province of science to dispel these delusions, to expose +the undiscovered, but by no means undiscoverable, origins +of unusual events, and thus to be continually narrowing +the limits of the unknown. These limits, however, have +not even yet quite reached the minuteness of a mathematical +point; and there are a few marvels left for the +indefatigable rummagings of modern science to explain.</p> + +<p>Perhaps the predominant tendency of uneducated minds +in the present day is rather to attribute effects to <i>false</i> +causes, than to leave them without any assignable cause. +It is much easier for an unreasoning person to say that +Tenterden steeple is the cause of Goodwin Sands, than to +leave Goodwin Sands quite unaccounted for; or to say,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97">[Pg 97]</a></span> +the plant-lice suddenly appear crowding the rose-twigs, +"the east wind has cast a blight," or "it is something in +the air," than "I do not know how to account for their +appearance." To a reflecting person, indeed, who weighs +forces, the east wind appears as incompetent to the production +of living animals as the tall tower to the origination +of a sand-bank; and this, though he might be able +to suggest nothing a whit more competent. What should +he do in such a case? Manifestly this—test the actual +existence and conditions of the phenomenon; see that it +really has occurred; and, if the fact cannot be denied, +admit it as a fact, and wait further light as to its causation.</p> + +<p>I do not by any means presume to declare the universal +"why and because" of every familiar or unfamiliar +occurrence: I leave that to more pretentious philosophers; +smiling occasionally in my sleeve at the egotism +which cannot see its own <i>non-sequiturs</i>. But still less +can I consent to set aside every phenomenon which I +cannot explain, with the common resource,—"Pooh! +pooh! there must be some mistake!" Rather would I +say, "There must still be some ignorance in me: near as I +have reached to the summit of the ladder of knowledge, +there must be still one or two rongs to be mounted before +I can proclaim my mastery of all, absolutely <i>all</i>, the +occult causes of things. Therefore, till then I must be +content with the lowlier task of patiently accumulating +evidence."</p> + +<p>At various times and in various places popular super<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98">[Pg 98]</a></span>stition +has been excited by the occurrence of what have +been called showers of blood. The destruction of cities +and of kingdoms has been, according to historians, preceded +by this awful omen. Yet this has been explained +by a very natural and accountable phenomenon. In the +year 1553, the hedges and trees, the stones of the pathway, +and the clothes of many persons, were sprinkled +copiously with drops of red fluid, which was supposed to +be blood, till some observant person noticed the coincident +appearance of unusual swarms of butterflies, and marked +that the coloured drops proceeded from them. Again, at +Aix la Chapelle in 1608, the same awful appearance occurred, +especially on the walls of a particular churchyard. +M. Peiresc, an able naturalist, residing at Aix, traced the +phenomenon here to the same cause. Just before, he had +found a large chrysalis, which he had enclosed in a box, +in order to identify the species to which it belonged. A +few days after, hearing a rustling, he opened the box, and +discovered a beautiful butterfly evolved from the pupa, +which had left upon the floor of its prison a large red +stain. He saw that the character of this deposit agreed +exactly with that of the ominous drops abroad, and remarking +an unusual abundance of the same kind of butterfly, +he conceived that he had revealed the cause of the +terrific phenomenon. He was confirmed in this belief by +the circumstance that the supposed blood-drops were not +found in the streets of the town, nor upon the roofs of +the houses, where they must have occurred had they +fallen from the sky; and, moreover, that it was rare to see<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">[Pg 99]</a></span> +any on the exposed parts of stones, walls, &c.; but rather +under the protection of angles, and in slight cavities—which +agrees well with the habits of the insects in question. +No doubt this was the true explanation of the +phenomenon, but it does not say much for the powers of +observation which could have attributed it to blood, for +the colour is by no means that of blood, especially <i>dried</i> +blood, but much more crimson; and the earthy deposit, +resembling chalk, which copiously remains after the fluid +part has evaporated, would in a moment convince any one +who was in the habit of comparing things which differ, that, +whatever the substance was, blood it certainly was not.</p> + +<p>I myself not long ago met with an appearance which +bore a much closer resemblance to drops of blood than +this, and which yet was referrible to a widely different +origin. In the neighbourhood of Ashburton, in Devon, a +quarter of a mile or so from the town, there is a shallow +horse-pond, the bottom of which consists of an impalpable +whitish mud, much indented with hoof-holes and other +irregularities. In these, the water being dimly clear from +settlement, I observed what looked exactly like blood, in +numerous patches, the appearance being as if two or three +drops of blood had fallen in one spot, half-a-dozen in +another, and so on. The colour was true, and even when +I alighted, and looked carefully on the spots, they had +just that curdled appearance that drops of blood assume +when they fall into still water. But there appeared on +minute examination a constant intestine motion in each +spot, which caused me to bring my eye closer, when I<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">[Pg 100]</a></span> +discovered that I had been egregiously deceived. Each +apparent drop of blood was formed of a number of slender +worms, about as thick as a hog's bristle, and an inch and +a half long, of a red hue, which protruded the greater +part of their length from the mud, in a radiating form, +each maintaining a constant undulatory movement. There +were more or fewer centres of radiation, the circles frequently +interrupted by, and merging into, others, just as +drops of blood crowded together would do. On the +slightest disturbance the little actors shrank out of sight +into the soft mud; but by scooping up a little of this I +contrived to get a number of them into a phial, which, as +the sediment settled, were seen at the bottom playing as if +in their pond. On examination of the specimens with a +microscope I found them to be minute Annelids, such as +I have described, apparently of the genus <i>Lumbriculus</i> of +Grube, with two rows of bristle-pencils, and two bristles +in a pencil. The body was transparent and colourless, +and the red hue was given by the great and conspicuous +longitudinal blood-vessels, and by the lateral connecting +vessels, which viewed sidewise took the form of loops. +The animals soon died in captivity, but I kept some for +three or four days alive.</p> + +<p>I have elsewhere referred to the curious phenomenon of +crimson snow, and to the uncertainty which still hangs +over its cause. I have lately met with another explanation, +which seems sufficiently guaranteed to be depended +on, though, as the red snow occurs in places where this +cause cannot operate, it only shews that similar results<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101">[Pg 101]</a></span> +may be produced by diverse agencies. A certain resemblance +between the facts and those adduced by M. Peiresc +will warrant my quoting them. Mr Thomas Nicholson, +in a visit to Sowallik Point, in Prince Regent's Inlet, thus +describes what he saw:—"The summit of the hill forming +the point is covered with huge masses of granite, while +the side, which forms a gentle declivity towards the bay, +was covered with crimson snow. It was evident, at first +view, that this colour was imparted to the snow by a substance +lying on the surface. This substance lay scattered +here and there in small masses bearing some resemblance +to powdered cochineal, surrounded by a lighter shade, +which was produced by the colouring matter being partly +dissolved and diffused by the deliquescent snow. During +this examination our hats and upper garments were observed +to be daubed with a substance of a similar red +colour; and a moment's reflection convinced us that this +was the excrement of the little Auk, myriads of which bird +were continually flying over our heads, having their +nests among the loose masses of granite. A ready explanation +of the origin of the red snow was now presented to +us, and not a doubt remained in the mind of any of us +that this was the correct one. The snow on the mountains +of higher elevation than the nests of these birds was +perfectly white; and a ravine at a short distance, which +was filled with snow from top to bottom, but which +afforded no hiding-place for these birds to form their +nests, presented an appearance uniformly white."<a name="FNanchor_70_70" id="FNanchor_70_70"></a><a href="#Footnote_70_70" class="fnanchor">[70]</a></p> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102">[Pg 102]</a></span></p> +<p>After all, however, real <i>bonâ fide</i> rain does sometimes +descend, which, if not blood-red, is at least red. "M. +Giovanni Campani, Professor of Chemistry at the University +of Siena, has just published a letter, addressed to Professor +Matteucci, on a most singular phenomenon which +occurred at Siena in December last. On the 28th of that +month, about seven <span class="smcap">A.M.</span>, the inhabitants of the northwestern +part of the city witnessed with surprise the curious +phenomenon of a copious fall of rain of a reddish hue, +which lasted two hours; a second shower of the same +colour occurred at eleven <span class="smcap">A.M.</span>, and a third at two <span class="smcap">P.M.</span>, +but that of the deepest red fell the first time. But what +adds to the strangeness of the occurrence is that it was +entirely confined to that particular quarter of the town, +and so nicely was the line drawn that the cessation of the +red colour was ascertained in one direction to be at about +two hundred mètres from the meteorological observatory, +the pluviometer of which received colourless rain at exactly +the same time. The temperature during the same interval +varied between 8 deg. and 10 deg. Centigrade (46 and +50 Fahrenheit). The wind blew from the S.W. at the +beginning of the phenomenon, and afterwards changed to +W.S.W. None of the rural population in the immediate +vicinity of Siena remarked the occurrence, so that most +probably the rain that fell round the town was colourless. +The same phenomenon, strange to say, recurred in exactly +the same quarter of the town on the 31st of December, +and again on the 1st of January, the wind being W.N.W., +and the temperature respectively 35 and 39·42 deg.,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103">[Pg 103]</a></span> +Fahrenheit. Each time, however, the red colour diminished +in depth, its greatest strength having at no time +exceeded that of weak wine and water. A similar occurrence +is recorded as having taken place in 1819 at +Blankenburg, when MM. Meyer and Stopp found the +water to contain a solution of chloride of cobalt. Professor +Campani, who is now engaged, in conjunction with his +colleague, Professor Gabrielli, in analyzing the red water +collected, has ascertained that in this instance it contains +no chloride of cobalt, and, moreover, that the colour must +be owing to some solution, since the water has deposited +no sediment."<a name="FNanchor_71_71" id="FNanchor_71_71"></a><a href="#Footnote_71_71" class="fnanchor">[71]</a></p> + +<p>The occasional occurrence of large masses of water +stained of a vivid red hue, and for the most part suddenly, +and without any ostensible cause, has not unreasonably +been recorded as a prodigy, rivalling one of +the plagues of Egypt—the turning of the waters into +blood.</p> + +<p>"I remember," says Mr Latrobe, "the report reaching +Neufchatel, through the medium of the market-people +passing from the one lake to the other, (some time during +the winter,) that the waters of the lake of Morat had +suddenly become the colour of blood, though I could +meet with no one whose testimony was sufficiently clear +and unequivocal to establish the fact. This, joined to +my not having the leisure then to go and see for myself, +caused the matter to slip from my memory entirely, +till I found myself in the neighbourhood. Here the cir<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_104" id="Page_104">[Pg 104]</a></span>cumstance +was fully confirmed to me in a manner not +to be questioned; and having since met with a paper, +written by M. de Candolle, of Geneva, on the subject, I +shall take what is there stated as my best guide in +mentioning the facts as they occurred:—</p> + +<p>"It appears that this singular phenomenon began to +excite the attention of the inhabitants of Morat as early +as November last year, and that it continued more or less +observable during the whole of the winter.</p> + +<p>"Mr Trechsel, a gentleman resident at Morat, to whom +M. de Candolle applied, on hearing the report, for information +and specimens of the colouring matter, stated—That +during the early hours of the day no extraordinary +appearance was observable in the lake; but that a little +later, long parallel lines of reddish matter were seen to +extend along the surface of the water, at some short distance +from the banks. This, being blown by the wind +towards the more sheltered parts of the shore, collected +itself about the reeds and rushes, covering the surface of +the lake with a light foam; forming as it were different +strata of various colours, from greenish black, grey, yellow, +and brown, to the most delicious red. He adds, that this +matter exhaled a pestiferous odour during the day, but +disappeared at the approach of night. It was further +observed, that during tempestuous weather it vanished +altogether. Many small fishes were seen to become intoxicated +while swimming amongst it, and after a few +convulsive leaps, to lie motionless on the surface.</p> + +<p>"The naturalists of Geneva decided, from the specimens<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_105" id="Page_105">[Pg 105]</a></span> +sent, that it was an animal substance, which, if not the +<i>Oscillatoria subfusca</i>,<a name="FNanchor_72_72" id="FNanchor_72_72"></a><a href="#Footnote_72_72" class="fnanchor">[72]</a> was nearly allied to it.</p> + +<p>"Soon after the beginning of May it disappeared +entirely. It is not known that this phenomenon has +appeared before in the lake of Morat within the memory +of man. Tradition states the same to have happened the +year preceding the great battle."<a name="FNanchor_73_73" id="FNanchor_73_73"></a><a href="#Footnote_73_73" class="fnanchor">[73]</a></p> + +<p>A few years ago, in one of my tanks of sea-water, there +occurred a phenomenon much like this. Patches of a +rich crimson-purple colour formed here and there on the +surface, which rapidly grew on all sides till they coalesced. +If allowed to be a few days undisturbed, the entire surface +of the water became covered with a pellicle of the +substance, which spread also over the stones and shells of +the bottom, and the sides of the vessel. It could be lifted +in impalpable laminæ on sheets of paper. I found it difficult +to keep it within bounds, and impossible to get quite +rid of it, till, after some months, I lost it by the accidental +breaking of the vessel. Under the microscope, this proved +an <i>Oscillatoria</i>, which I could not identify with any of +the described species in Harvey's <i>Phytologia</i>: the filaments +creeping and twining with the peculiar vermicular +movements of the genus.</p> + +<p>Blood-like waters are sometimes produced by a rapid +evolution of infusorial animalcules. Of these the most +effective are <i>Astasia hæmatodes</i>, and <i>Euglena sanguinea</i>; +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106">[Pg 106]</a></span>both of them minute spindle-shaped creatures of a pulpy +substance, and sanguine hue. They are produced occasionally +in incalculable numbers, increasing with vast +rapidity by means of spontaneous division. Ehrenberg +suggests that the miracle of blood-change performed on +the Nile and on all other collections of water in Egypt by +Moses (Exod. vii. 17-25) may have been effected by the +agency of these animalcules. Of course it would require +Divine power as much to educe uncounted millions of +animalcules at the word of command, as to form real +blood, so that no escape from the presence of Deity would +be gained by admitting the supposition; but the words of +the inspired narrative seem to render it untenable.</p> + +<p>To return to showers. "If it should rain cats and +dogs,"—is a phrase which is in many mouths; but probably +no one has heard it transferred from the subjunctive +to the indicative mood. Why not, however, if it +rains snails, frogs, fishes, and feathers? That these +animals and animal products are really poured down +from the atmosphere, I can adduce some evidence; the +value of which my readers may weigh when they have +heard the pleadings.</p> + +<p>In that venerable newspaper, <i>Felix Farley's Journal</i>, +for July 1821, there was "an account of a wonderful +quantity of snail-shells found in a piece of land of several +acres near Bristol, that common report says fell in a +shower." This shell-storm attracting much attention at +the time, Mr Wm. Baker, of Bridgewater, asked information +from the Curator of the Bristol Institution, who thus<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107">[Pg 107]</a></span> +cleared up the mystery:—"The periwinkles are indeed +wonderful. They descended, forsooth, in a heavy rain-like +shower on the field of Mr Peach, as a due punishment +for his disrespect to the virtues of our late queen. +The shower was so intense, that the umbrella of an old +lady passing by was broken to pieces, and the fragments +lifted in the air by the whirlwind, which picked up all the +periwinkles on the neighbouring hills, and dropped them +three inches thick on Mr Peach's field! But you know +the story of 'The Three Black Crows;' and thus the +whole is reduced to no periwinkle rain, no whirlwind; +but turns out to be our old friend <i>Helix virgata</i>, making +its annual pilgrimage in search of a mate, and occurring +one in almost every square inch in the field in question."</p> + +<p>Provincial newspapers seem to have a special power of +reporting such natural history facts, which rarely survive +investigation. The <i>Stroud Free Press</i>, for May 23, +1851, tells us that "an extraordinary scene was witnessed +at Bradford, about twelve miles from Bristol, on Saturday +week, when that village was visited by a heavy shower of +snails. They might have been gathered by bushels." Mr +J. W. Douglas, the eminent entomologist, immediately +asked some pertinent questions anent the shower; but +whether it was that the witnesses were grieved at his profanely +comparing such prodigies to Professors Morison and +Holloway's cures, or whether they had no more definite +intelligence to communicate, <i>certes</i> echo answered not.</p> + +<p>We fear we must give up snails. But frogs! everybody +knows that toads and frogs fall from the sky. According<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108">[Pg 108]</a></span> +to travellers in tropical America, the inhabitants of Portobello +assert that every drop of rain is changed into a toad; +the more instructed, however, believe that the spawn of +these animals is raised with the vapour from the adjoining +swamps, and being driven in the clouds over the city, the +ova are hatched as they descend in rain. 'Tis certain that +the streets after a night of heavy rain are almost covered +with the ill-favoured reptiles, and it is impossible to walk +without crushing them.<a name="FNanchor_74_74" id="FNanchor_74_74"></a><a href="#Footnote_74_74" class="fnanchor">[74]</a> But heretic philosophers point to +the mature growth of the vermin, many of them being six +inches in length, and maintain that the clever hypothesis +just mentioned will scarcely account for the appearance of +these.</p> + +<p>In the <i>Leeds Mercury</i> for June 1844, there occurred +the following statement:—"In the course of the afternoon +of Monday last, during the prevalence of rather heavy +rain, the good people of Selby were astonished at a remarkable +phenomenon. It was rendered forcibly apparent, +that, with the descent of the rain, there was a shower of +another description, viz. a shower of frogs. The truth of +this was rendered more manifest by the circumstance that +several of the frogs were caught in their descent by holding +out hats for that purpose. They were about the size +of a horse-bean, and remarkably lively after their aerial +but wingless flight. The same phenomenon was observed +in the immediate neighbourhood."</p> + +<p>The editor of the <i>Zoologist</i> immediately asked for confirmation +of the stated facts, from resident persons of +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_109" id="Page_109">[Pg 109]</a></span>science; but notwithstanding the circumstantiality of the +account, and especially the reported actual capture of the +little sprawlers in hats, no one replied to the demand, +and we are compelled to conclude that the report would +not bear critical investigation.</p> + +<p>Yet incredulity may be pushed too far even here. For, +in the continental journals many more such statements +occur than in those of this country, and some of them +vouched by apparently indisputable authority. If my +readers will refer to <i>L'Institut.</i> tom. ii. (1834) pp. 337, +346, 347, 353, 354, 386, 409; tom. iv. (1836) pp. 221, +314, 325; tom. vi. (1838) p. 212, they will find mention +made of this phenomenon,—showers of toads. In two or +three of these cases, the toads were not only observed in +countless numbers on the ground, during, and after, heavy +storms of rain, but were seen to strike upon the roofs of +houses, bounding thence into the streets; they even fell +upon the hats, umbrellas, and clothes of the observers, who +were out in the storm, and, in one instance, were actually +received into the outstretched hand.<a name="FNanchor_75_75" id="FNanchor_75_75"></a><a href="#Footnote_75_75" class="fnanchor">[75]</a></p> + +<p>Much more recently, namely, early in 1859, the newspapers +of South Wales recorded a shower of fish in the +Valley of Aberdare. The repeated statements attracted +more notice than usual, and the Rev. John Griffith, the +vicar of the parish, communicated the following results of +his inquiries to the <i>Evening Mail</i>:—</p> + +<p>"Many of your readers might, perhaps, like to see the +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110">[Pg 110]</a></span>facts connected with this phenomenon. They will be +better understood in the words of the principal witness, as +taken down by me on the spot where it happened. This +man's name is John Lewis, a sawyer in Messrs Nixon and +Co.'s yard. His evidence is as follows:—'On Wednesday, +February 9, I was getting out a piece of timber for the +purpose of setting it for the saw, when I was startled by +something falling all over me—down my neck, on my +head, and on my back. On putting my hand down my +neck I was surprised to find they were little fish. By this +time I saw the whole ground covered with them. I took +off my hat, the brim of which was full of them. They were +jumping all about. They covered the ground in a long +strip of about eighty yards by twelve, as we measured afterwards. +That shed (pointing to a very large workshop) +was covered with them, and the shoots were quite full of +them. My mates and I might have gathered bucketfuls +of them, scraping with our hands. We did gather a great +many, about a bucketful, and threw them into the rain-pool, +where some of them now are. There were two +showers, with an interval of about ten minutes, and each +shower lasted about two minutes or thereabouts. The +time was eleven <span class="smcap">A.M.</span> The morning up-train to Aberdare +was just then passing. It was not blowing very +hard, but uncommon wet, just about the same wind as +there is to-day (blowing rather stiff), and it came from +this quarter (pointing to the S. of W.). They came down +with the rain in "a body, like."' Such is the evidence. +I have taken it for the purpose of being laid before Pro<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111">[Pg 111]</a></span>fessor +Owen, to whom, also, I shall send to-morrow, at the +request of a friend of his, eighteen or twenty of the little +fish. Three of them are large and very stout, measuring +about four inches. The rest are small. There were some—but +they are since dead—fully five inches long. They +are very lively.—Your obedient servant,</p> + +<p class="right"> +<span style="margin-right: 3em;">"<span class="smcap">John Griffith</span>,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-right: 1em;">"Vicar of Aberdare and Rural Dean.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-right: 10em;">"<span class="smcap">Vicarage, Aberdare</span>, <i>March 8</i>."</span><br /> +</p> + +<p>The specimens which were forwarded to Professor Owen +were exhibited in a tank at the Zoological Gardens in the +Regent's Park: they consisted of minnows (<i>Leuciscus +phoxinus</i>) and Smooth-tailed sticklebacks (<i>Gasterosteus +leiurus</i>.) A <i>savant</i> thus endeavoured to "enlighten" the +uninitiated on the matter:—"On reading the evidence +it appears to me most probably only a practical joke of +the mates of John Lewis, who seem to have thrown a +pailful of water with the fish in it over him, and he appears +to have returned them to the pool from which they +were originally taken. The fish forwarded are very unlike +those taken up in whirlwinds in tropical countries, and we +must make allowance for unintentional exaggerations of +quantity, &c., in an account given a month after the event +had occurred."</p> + +<p>This "appears to me" a beautiful example of critical +acumen. My readers will do well to look at it for a +moment; as they may thus learn how to sift the grain +of truth out of the bushel of chaff. <i>Reverentèr procedamus!</i><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_112" id="Page_112">[Pg 112]</a></span></p> + +<p>The main (is it not the only?) objection to the honest +sawyer's statement is that "the fish are very unlike those +taken up in whirlwinds in tropical countries." That is, +that, seeing the phenomenon occurs in Great Britain, it +is most unfortunate that the fishes are British species. +Now, in India, when such things occur, it is always +<i>Indian</i> species that are taken up; <i>ergo</i>, it ought to be +Indian species <i>here</i>. But these are "very unlike" the +Indian fishes; <i>ergo</i>, it is manifestly a humbug.</p> + +<p>Then, does it not strike one as palpably probable, when +once one's dull intellect has been "enlightened" by the +brilliant suggestion,—that the worthy sawyer who had +a pail of water soused upon him, thought it was a heavy +shower of rain? <i>Very</i> heavy, no doubt; indeed he says +it was "uncommon wet." To be sure, he thought there +were <i>two</i> showers, each lasting about two minutes, with +an interval of ten minutes between them; but this little +error might be easily made, for doubtless a bucket of +water poured on one's head might well be equivalent to +two showers of rain, or even ten, for that matter. To be +sure, moreover, there was a considerable quantity of +fish:—"The whole ground was covered with them: they +were jumping all about: they covered the ground in a +long strip of about eighty yards by twelve, <i>as we measured</i> +afterwards: the shed was covered with them, and +the shoots were quite full of them.... My mates and +I might have gathered bucketfuls of them: we did gather +about a bucketful." Yes, yes: but all were originally in +the pail of water thrown over you, John. How stupid<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_113" id="Page_113">[Pg 113]</a></span> +you were, not to perceive <i>that</i>! How there was room for +any water at all in the pail, seeing there were so many +fish, you say you don't know; but that is your stupidity, +John! There <i>must</i> have been room for water, for it was +"uncommon wet;" and the water was in the pail, for the +Doctor says so. Uncommon fishy, too, I should think; +but let that pass. Where the mates collected the pail of +live fishes for their pleasant and profitable hoax, and how, +and when,—the sceptic might wonderingly ask; but a +hoax it was. <i>Ipse dixit.</i></p> + +<p>However, the verdict did not obtain universal assent; +and an excellent and well-known naturalist, Mr Robert +Drave, residing in the vicinity, ventured modestly to indicate +a dissent. "I think actual fact will excuse the +otherwise apparently unbecoming assumption in me, of +opposing such high authority by a contrary opinion, for +from information <i>obtained from many sources, and very +careful and minute</i> inquiry, I am quite convinced that a +great number of fish did actually descend with rain <i>over +a considerable tract of country</i>. The specimens I obtained +<i>from three individuals</i>, resident some distance +from each other, were of two species, the common minnow +and the three-spined stickleback; the former most +abundant, and mostly very small, though some had attained +their full size."<a name="FNanchor_76_76" id="FNanchor_76_76"></a><a href="#Footnote_76_76" class="fnanchor">[76]</a></p> + +<p>If now we look to other lands, we shall find that the +descent of fishes from the atmosphere, under conditions +little understood, is a phenomenon which rests on indubi<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_114" id="Page_114">[Pg 114]</a></span>table +evidence. Humboldt has published interesting +details of the ejection of fish in large quantities from +volcanoes in South America. On the night between the +19th and 20th of June, 1698, the summit of Carguairazo, +a volcano more than 19,000 feet in height, fell in, and all +the surrounding country for nearly thirty-two square miles +was covered with mud and fishes. A similar eruption of +fish from the volcano of Imbaburu was supposed to have +been the cause of a putrid fever which raged in the town +of Ibarra seven years before that period.</p> + +<p>These facts are not inexplicable. Subterraneous lakes, +communicating with surface-waters, form in deep cavities +in the declivities, or at the base of a volcano. In certain +active stages of ignition, these internal cavities are burst +open, and their contents discharged through the crater. +Humboldt ascertained that the fishes in question belonged +to a curious and ill-favoured species of the <i>Siluridæ</i>,—the +<i>Pimelodes Cyclopum</i>.</p> + +<p>Showers of fishes, however, do occur, which cannot be +connected with volcanic agency. Dr Buist, in an interesting +paper published in the <i>Bombay Times</i> in 1856, +has collected a number of authentic examples of this +phenomenon. The author, after enumerating the cases +just cited, and others of similar character, in which fishes +were said to have been thrown out from volcanoes in +South America, and precipitated from clouds in various +parts of the world, adduces the following instances of +similar occurrences in India:—"In 1824," he says, "fishes +fell at Meerut, on the men of her Majesty's 14th Regi<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_115" id="Page_115">[Pg 115]</a></span>ment, +then out at drill, and were caught in numbers. In +July 1826, live fish were seen to fall on the grass at +Moradabad during a storm. They were the common +<i>Cyprinus</i>, so prevalent in our Indian waters. On the 19th +of February 1830, at noon, a heavy fall of fish occurred +at the Nokulhatty factory, in the Daccah Zillah; depositions +on the subject were obtained from nine different +parties. The fish were all dead; most of them were +large; some were fresh, others were rotten and mutilated. +They were seen at first in the sky, like a flock of birds, +descending rapidly to the ground; there was rain drizzling, +but no storm. On the 16th and 17th of May, 1833, +a fall of fish occurred in the Zillah of Futtehpoor, about +three miles north of the Jumna, after a violent storm of +wind and rain. The fish were from a pound and a-half +to three pounds in weight, and of the same species as +those found in the tanks in the neighbourhood. They +were all dead and dry. A fall of fish occurred at Allahabad, +during a storm in May 1835; they were of the +chowla species, and were found dead and dry after the +storm had passed over the district. On the 20th of September +1839 after a smart shower of rain, a quantity of +live fish, about three inches in length, and all of the same +kind, fell at the Sunderbunds, about twenty miles south +of Calcutta. On this occasion it was remarked that the +fish did not fall here and there irregularly over the ground, +but in a continuous straight line, not more than a span +in breadth. The vast multitudes of fish, with which the +low grounds round Bombay are covered, about a week or<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_116" id="Page_116">[Pg 116]</a></span> +ten days after the first burst of the monsoon, appear to be +derived from the adjoining pools or rivulets, and not to +descend from the sky. They are not, as far as I know, +found in the higher parts of the island. I have never seen +them, though I have watched carefully, in casks collecting +water from the roofs of buildings, or heard of them on +the decks or awnings of vessels in the harbour, where they +must have appeared had they descended from the sky. +One of the most remarkable phenomena of this kind +occurred during a tremendous deluge of rain at Kattywar, +on the 25th of July 1850, when the ground around Rajkote +was found literally covered with fish; some of them +were found on the top of haystacks, where probably they +had been drifted by the storm. In the course of twenty-four +successive hours twenty-seven inches of rain fell, +thirty-five fell in twenty-six hours, seven inches in one +hour and a-half, being the heaviest fall on record. At +Poonah, on the 3d of August 1852, after a very heavy +fall of rain, multitudes of fish were caught on the ground +in the cantonments, full half a mile from the nearest +stream. If showers of fish are to be explained on the +assumption that they are carried up by squalls or violent +winds, from rivers or spaces of water not far away from, +where they fall, it would be nothing wonderful were they +seen to descend from the air during the furious squalls +which occasionally occur in June."</p> + +<p>Sir E. Tennent adds the following examples:—"I had +an opportunity, on one occasion only, of witnessing the +phenomenon which gives rise to this popular belief. I<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_117" id="Page_117">[Pg 117]</a></span> +was driving in the cinnamon gardens near the fort of +Colombo, and saw a violent but partial shower descend +at no great distance before me. On coming to the spot, +I found a multitude of small silvery fish from one and a +half to two inches in length, leaping on the gravel of the +high road, numbers of which I collected and brought away +in my palankin. The spot was about half a mile from the +sea, and entirely unconnected with any watercourse or pool.</p> + +<p>"Mr Whiting, who was many years resident at Trincomalee, +writes me that he 'had been often told by the +natives on that side of the island that it sometimes rained +fishes; and on one occasion (he adds) I was taken by them, +in 1849, to a field at the village of Karrancotta-tivo, near +Batticaloa, which was dry when I passed over it in the +morning, but had been covered in two hours by sudden +rain to the depth of three inches, in which there was then +a quantity of small fish. The water had no connexion +with any pond or stream whatsoever.' Mr Cripps, in +like manner, in speaking of Galle, says: 'I have seen in +the vicinity of the fort, fish taken from rain-water that +had accumulated in the hollow parts of the land that in +the hot season are perfectly dry and parched. The place +is accessible to no running stream or tank; and either +the fish, or the spawn from which they were produced, +must of necessity have fallen with the rain.'"<a name="FNanchor_77_77" id="FNanchor_77_77"></a><a href="#Footnote_77_77" class="fnanchor">[77]</a></p> + +<p>Mr J. Prinsep, the eminent secretary to the Asiatic +Society of Bengal, found a fish in the pluviometer at +Calcutta, in 1838.<a name="FNanchor_78_78" id="FNanchor_78_78"></a><a href="#Footnote_78_78" class="fnanchor">[78]</a></p> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_118" id="Page_118">[Pg 118]</a></span></p> +<p>It is a highly curious fact that the pools, reservoirs, +and tanks in India and Ceylon are well provided with +fish of various species, though the water twice every year +becomes perfectly evaporated, and the mud of the bottom +becomes converted into dust, or takes the condition of +baked clay, gaping with wide and deep clefts, in which +not the slightest sign of moisture can be detected. This +is the case with temporary hollows in the soil, which have +no connexion with running streams or permanent waters, +from which they might be supposed to receive a fresh +stock of fish.</p> + +<p>Two modes of accounting for this strange phenomenon +have obtained currency. The one is that received by +those Europeans who are content with any solution of a +difficulty, without too closely testing it; viz., that the +fishes fall with the rains from the air. The actual occurrence +of such showers rests, as we have just seen, on good +evidence; but, admitting the fact, it must be a rare phenomenon, +whereas the presence of fish in the new-made +pools is universal. Again, if the rains brought them in +such abundance as to stock all the pools, an equal number +would fall on the dry ground, which is not pretended to +be the case. The other accepted solution is that which +has received the sanction of Mr Yarrell, who observes—"The +impregnated ova of the fish of one rainy season are +left unhatched in the mud through the dry season, and +from their low state of organisation <i>as ova</i>, the vitality is +preserved till the occurrence and contact of the rain and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_119" id="Page_119">[Pg 119]</a></span> +the oxygen of the next wet season, when vivification takes +place from their joint influence."<a name="FNanchor_79_79" id="FNanchor_79_79"></a><a href="#Footnote_79_79" class="fnanchor">[79]</a></p> + +<p>This may be fully allowed, yet it does not meet the +exigences of the case. Sir E. Tennent and others have +shewn that it is not young fishes just escaped from the +egg which appear in the new-formed pools, but full-grown +fishes, fit for the market; a fact well known to the +Singalese fishermen, who resort to the hollows as soon as +the monsoon has brought rain; and they invariably take +in these pools, which a day or two before were as dry as +dust, plenty of fishes fully grown, a foot or eighteen inches +long, or longer.</p> + +<p>Neither of these hypotheses, then, will account for the +fact: and we must admit that the fishes of these regions +have the instinct to burrow down in the solid mud of the +bottom, at the approach of the dry season, and the power +of retaining life, doubtless in a torpid condition, until the +return of the periodic rains, as Theophrastus long ago +observed.<a name="FNanchor_80_80" id="FNanchor_80_80"></a><a href="#Footnote_80_80" class="fnanchor">[80]</a></p> + +<p>The <i>Lepidosiren</i>, a very remarkable genus of animals +from Africa and South America, affords a curious illustration +of this power. It is altogether a highly singular +creature, and has attracted a great deal of notice because +its organisation belongs to two types: it is, so to speak, +placed midway between the great classes of Reptiles and +Fishes, the characters which identify it with either being +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_120" id="Page_120">[Pg 120]</a></span>almost equally balanced. Professor Owen and other eminent +physiologists regard it as a fish, while Professor Bischoff, +with others equally learned, consider it an Amphibian +reptile.</p> + +<p>It is the habits of this strange creature, however, which +induce me to notice it here. An inhabitant of rivers and +ponds, which are swollen by periodic rains, and subject +to entire or partial desiccation by long droughts, it is +liable to be left by the retreating waters, exposed to the +burning sun, under which it would presently die, but for +a special provision.</p> + +<p>The animal has the instinct to bury itself in the mud +of the bottom, on the approach of the droughts, penetrating +to a depth of several feet. There it coils itself +into a ball, with the tail folded over the nose, but so as +to leave the nasal apertures uncovered; and, probably +by its wrigglings, it forms a cavity or chamber in the +clay, which becomes lined with a membranous slough +thrown off from its body. Meanwhile the water evaporates, +the mud dries, bakes, and cracks under the torrid +heat of the dry season, thus allowing air to penetrate +down to the retreat of the torpid mud-fish, in sufficient +quantity for its very sluggish respiration. Here it lies +inactive for five or six months, until the wet season again +sets in, and the returning floods cover the old beds, soften +the baked clay, revivify the imprisoned animal, and restore +it to liberty and aquatic locomotion.</p> + +<p>To meet these strange conditions of life, the <i>Lepidosiren</i> +is furnished with a twofold apparatus for respira<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_121" id="Page_121">[Pg 121]</a></span>tion; +the one aquatic, consisting of gills, ordinarily contained +in a branchial chamber, (but in one species, at +least, external,) suited for the separation of oxygen from +the water, and the other aerial, consisting of true lungs, +closely resembling those of serpents, though manifestly +only a modification of the well-known swim-bladder of +many fishes,—by means of which the animal breathes +atmospheric air, during its periodic captivity.</p> + +<p>The same emergency is met by other species in another +way. It does not appear that the <i>Lepidosiren</i> has the +power of voluntarily forsaking the water, or of travelling +on land, notwithstanding its twofold respiration; but +some of the fishes of the tropics certainly resort to this +mode of evading the fatal contingency of being baked +out by the evaporating power of the periodical dry +season.</p> + +<p>Theophrastus, the contemporary of Aristotle, mentions +fishes found in the Euphrates which in the dry seasons +leave the vacant channels and crawl over the ground in +search of water, moving along by fins and tail.<a name="FNanchor_81_81" id="FNanchor_81_81"></a><a href="#Footnote_81_81" class="fnanchor">[81]</a> Pallegoix +gives three kinds of fish in Siam, which leave the tanks +and channels and travel through the grass;<a name="FNanchor_82_82" id="FNanchor_82_82"></a><a href="#Footnote_82_82" class="fnanchor">[82]</a> and Sir +John Bowring states that in ascending the river Meinam +to Bangkok, he was amused with the sight of fish leaving +the stream, gliding over the wet banks, till they disappeared +among the trees of the jungle.<a name="FNanchor_83_83" id="FNanchor_83_83"></a><a href="#Footnote_83_83" class="fnanchor">[83]</a> The <i>Hydragyræ</i> +of Carolina in like manner leave the drying pools, and +seek the nearest water in a straight line, though at a +considerable distance. And Sir R. Schomburgk tells us +that certain species of <i>Dora</i> in Guiana have the same +habit, and are occasionally met with in such numbers in +their terrestrial travels that the negroes fill baskets with +them.<a name="FNanchor_84_84" id="FNanchor_84_84"></a><a href="#Footnote_84_84" class="fnanchor">[84]</a></p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_122" id="Page_122">[Pg 122]</a></span></p><p>These fishes, provincially called Hassars, project themselves +on their bony pectoral fins, aiding their advance +by the elastic spring of the tail exerted sidewise, proceeding +in this manner nearly as fast as a man can walk. +The strong scaly bands which envelop the body facilitate +the march, in the same way as the transverse plates (<i>scuta</i>) +on the belly of serpents, which take hold of the ground, +as the ribs perform the office of feet. The Indians know +that these fishes have the power of carrying a supply of +water in a reservoir, for the keeping of the gills in a moist +condition. If they fail in finding water, they are said to +burrow in the still soft mud, and pass the dry season in +torpidity like the <i>Lepidosiren</i>.</p> + +<p>The common eel is well known to have this habit of +travelling with us; I well remember my surprise, when a +boy, at finding an eel in a grassy meadow one dewy summer +evening, at a considerable distance from water. Since +then I have seen a small species of <i>Antennarius</i>, running +quickly to and fro on the surface of the great beds of +floating sea-weed in the Gulf stream, progressing by means +of its pectorals and ventrals quite out of water, with the +utmost facility.</p> + +<div><a name="Fig.4" id="Fig.4"> </a></div> +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 250px;"> +<a href="images/fig141-1200.jpg"><img src="images/fig141-400.jpg" width="250" height="400" alt="THE CLIMBING PERCH." title="" /></a> +<span class="caption">THE CLIMBING PERCH.</span> +</div> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_123" id="Page_123">[Pg 123]</a></span></p> +<p>The most celebrated example of this faculty, however, +is the climbing perch (<i>Anabas scandens</i>) of India. The +vagaries of this little fish have been recorded from the +earliest times, and numerous modern witnesses have borne +record to its powers. Mr E. Layard once encountered +several travelling along a hot dusty gravel-road in the +mid-day sun.<a name="FNanchor_85_85" id="FNanchor_85_85"></a><a href="#Footnote_85_85" class="fnanchor">[85]</a> Daldorf, a Danish zoologist of reputation, +asserts that he has seen this species in the act of climbing +palm-trees, effecting its ascent by means of fins and tail, +with the aid of its spinous gill-covers. There is, however, +some doubt whether he was not under mistake in +this, though the fact of its crawling up the banks and +living out of water is abundantly known.</p> + +<p>On the coasts of Ceylon, according to its accomplished +historian,—on the rocks which are washed by the surf, +there are multitudes of a curious little fish, (<i>Salarias +alticus</i>,) which possesses the faculty of darting along the +surface of the water, and running up the wet stones, with +the utmost ease and rapidity. By aid of its pectoral and +ventral fins and gill-cases, it moves across the damp sand, +ascends the roots of the mangroves, and climbs up the +smooth face of the rocks in search of flies; adhering so +securely as not to be detached by repeated assaults of the +waves. These little creatures are so nimble, that it is +almost impossible to lay hold of them, as they scramble +to the edge, and plunge into the sea on the slightest +attempt to molest them. They are from three to four +inches in length, and of a dark-brown colour, almost indistinguishable +from the rocks they frequent.<a name="FNanchor_86_86" id="FNanchor_86_86"></a><a href="#Footnote_86_86" class="fnanchor">[86]</a></p> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_124" id="Page_124">[Pg 124]</a></span></p> +<p>In all these cases probably, the power of sustaining a +protracted privation of water depends on a peculiar structure +of the pharynx, which is divided by membranous +plates into cells which the fish can fill at pleasure with +water, and by ejecting small portions at a time can +moisten its gills, and thus preserve the filaments of these +organs in a fit condition to maintain the circulation and +oxygenation of the blood. These labyrinthal water-chambers +are particularly numerous and complicated in +the <i>Anabas</i> just mentioned. This, however, has no analogy +with the lung of the <i>Lepidosiren</i>.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_125" id="Page_125">[Pg 125]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="III" id="III"></a>III.</h2> + +<h2>MERMAIDS.</h2> + + +<p>According to Berosus there came up from the Red Sea, +on the shore contiguous to Babylonia, a brute creature +named Oannes, which had the body of a fish, above whose +front parts rose the head of a man; it had two human +feet, which projected from each side of the tail; it had +also a human voice and human language. This strange +monster sojourned among the rude people during the day, +taking no food, but retiring to the sea again at night; +and continued for some time, teaching them the arts of +civilised life. Other ancient authors, as Polyhistor and +Apollodorus, allude to the same tradition; and we gather +that the portrait of the learned stranger (not painted <i>from +the life</i>, we may presume, considering the condition of the +people when he appeared, unless we may suppose it to +have been the effort of one of his pupils in the pictorial +art under his instruction) was preserved at Babylon to the +historic period.</p> + +<p>In an elaborate sculpture of the later Assyrian period, +discovered by M. Botta at Khorsabad, a maritime expedition +is portrayed, and the sea around the ships is filled +with various marine animals, and among them the compound +mythic forms of winged bulls and bull-lions, in<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_126" id="Page_126">[Pg 126]</a></span> +which the Assyrians delighted, together with a figure +composed of the body and tail of a fish extended horizontally, +and the perpendicular trunk and foreparts of a man, +crowned with the sacred cap, possibly representing the +traditional Oannes.</p> + +<p>The god Dagon of the Philistines, and the goddess +Atergatis of the Syrians were worshipped under the +same combination of the human and piscine forms, and +the Tritons of classical mythology perpetuated the idea.</p> + +<p>It is curious that in almost all ages and in almost all +countries there should have prevailed a belief in the +actual living existence of creatures like this. Was the +mythological symbol the origin of the persuasion? Or +is there any marine animal uniting so much of the general +form of the fish with that of man as to have given the +conception of the idol? A naturalist of deserved eminence +has maintained, on purely scientific grounds, that +such an animal must exist,—that the laws of nature absolutely +require such a being; and though the amount of +force which his reasoning, possesses will be estimated +differently according as we reject or accept the hypothesis +of the circularity of the great plan of nature, we may as +well see what he has to say for a marine primate,—be he +man or ape, mermaid or mermonkey.</p> + +<p>"There is yet," says Mr Swainson, "another primary +type necessary to complete the circle of the quadrumanous +animals, and it is that which we have elsewhere distinguished +as the natatorial; but of such an animal we have +only vague and indefinite accounts. It will be seen that,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_127" id="Page_127">[Pg 127]</a></span> +throughout the whole class of quadrupeds, the aquatic +types are remarkably few, and in general scarce; and +that they contain fewer forms or examples than any other, +and are often, in the smaller groups, entirely wanting. +To account for this is altogether impossible; we can only +call attention to the fact, as exemplified in the aquatic +order of <i>Cetacea</i>, in that of the <i>Feræ</i>, in the <i>Pachydermata</i>, +in the circle of the <i>Glires</i>, and in all the remaining +natatorial types of the different circles of quadrupeds. +We do not implicitly believe in the existence of mermaids +as described and depicted by the old writers—with a +comb in the one hand and a mirror in the other; but it is +difficult to imagine that the numerous records of singular +marine animals, unlike any of those well known, have +their origin in fraud or gross ignorance. Many of these +narratives are given by eye-witnesses of the facts they +vouch for—men of honesty and probity, having no object +to gain by deception, and whose accounts have been confirmed +by other witnesses equally trustworthy. Can it +be supposed that the unfathomable depths of ocean are +without their <i>peculiar</i> inhabitants, whose habits and +economy rarely, if ever, bring them to the surface of the +watery element? As reasonably might a Swiss mountaineer +disbelieve in the existence of an ostrich, because it +cannot inhabit his Alpine precipices, as that we should +doubt that the rocks and caverns of the ocean are without +animals destined to live in such situations, and such +only. The natatorial type of the <i>Quadrumana</i>, however, +is most assuredly wanting. Whatever its precise con<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_128" id="Page_128">[Pg 128]</a></span>struction +may or might have been, it would represent and +correspond to the seals in the circle of the <i>Feræ</i>, or rapacious +quadrupeds; while a resemblance to the <i>Simiadæ</i>, +or monkeys, must be considered an essential character of +any marine animal which is to connect and complete the +circular series of types in the <i>Quadrumana</i>."</p> + +<p>Mr Swainson absolutely excludes Man from the zoological +circle, on grounds which few naturalists are disposed +to think sufficient; else we might suggest that man himself +is the natatorial type of the <i>Primates</i>. Taking this +author's own selection<a name="FNanchor_87_87" id="FNanchor_87_87"></a><a href="#Footnote_87_87" class="fnanchor">[87]</a> of the characters which mark the +natatorial types of animals, for our guide, we find that the +largest size, the smallest fore-limbs, the most obtuse +muzzle, the most carnivorous appetite, and the most +natatory habits (for I do not know that the Apes, or the +Sapajous, or the Lemurs, or the Bats, ever take to the +water voluntarily, whereas savage Man is always a great +swimmer), belong to Man, and so, <i>Swainsonio ipso judice</i>, +constitute <i>him</i> the true aquatic primate. But if so, we +do not want a merman or mermonkey; nay, we should +not know where to insert him in the zoological circle if +we found him; he would be awkwardly <i>de trop</i>.</p> + +<p>But yet nature <i>has</i> an awkward way of mocking at our +impossibilities; and it <i>may be</i> that green-haired maidens +with oary tails lurk in the ocean caves, and keep mirrors +and combs upon their rocky shelves. Certainly the belief +in them is very widely spread, and occasionally comes to +us from quarters where we should hardly have looked for +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_129" id="Page_129">[Pg 129]</a></span>it. A negro from Dongola assured Prince Puckler Muskau +that in the country of Sennaar there was no doubt +that Sirens (mermaids) still existed, for that he himself +had seen more than one.<a name="FNanchor_88_88" id="FNanchor_88_88"></a><a href="#Footnote_88_88" class="fnanchor">[88]</a></p> + +<p>In my boyhood I well recollect being highly excited by +the arrival in our town, at fair-time, of a "show," which +professed to exhibit a mermaid, whose portrait, on canvas +hung outside, was radiant in feminine loveliness and +piscine scaliness. I fondly expected to see the very counterpart +within, how disposed I did not venture to imagine, +but alive and fascinating, of course. Had I not seen her +picture? I joyfully paid my coppers, but oh! woful disappointment! +I dimly saw, within a dusty glass case, in a +dark corner, a shrivelled and blackened little thing which +might have been moulded in mud for aught I could see, +but which was labelled, "MERMAID!" So great was +my disgust, so bitter my feelings of shame and anger at +having been so grossly taken in, that I did not care to +observe what might have been noteworthy in it. I read +afterwards that it was a very ingenious cheat; the trunk +and head of a monkey had been grafted on to the body +and tail of a large salmon-like fish, and the junction had +been so cleverly effected, that only a very close examination +detected the artifice. It professed to have been +brought from China, but possibly was an importation even +thither, if Steinmetz is correct. According to this writer, +"A Japanese fisherman contrived to unite the upper half +of a monkey to the lower half of a fish, so neatly as to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_130" id="Page_130">[Pg 130]</a></span> +defy ordinary inspection. He then gave out that he had +caught the creature alive in his net, but that it had died +shortly after being taken out of the water; and he derived +considerable pecuniary profit from his cunning in more +ways than one. The exhibition of the sea-monster to +Japanese curiosity paid well; but yet more productive +was the assertion that the half-human fish, having spoken +the few minutes it existed out of its native element, had +predicted a certain number of years of wonderful fertility, +and a fatal epidemic, the only remedy for which would be +possession of the marine prophet's likeness. The sale of +these pictured mermaids was immense. Either this composite +animal, or another, the offspring of the success of +the first, was sold at the Dutch factory, and transmitted +to Batavia, where it fell into the hands of a speculating +American, who brought it to Europe, and here, in the +years 1822-3, exhibited his purchase as a real mermaid +at every capital, to the admiration of the ignorant, the +perplexity of the learned, and the filling of his own purse. +Indeed, the mermaids exhibited in Europe and America, +to the great profit of the enterprising showmen, have all +been of Japanese manufacture."<a name="FNanchor_89_89" id="FNanchor_89_89"></a><a href="#Footnote_89_89" class="fnanchor">[89]</a></p> + +<p>This, however, will not account for the frequent reports +of the living creatures having been seen, and unbelievers +have to form some other hypothesis. In the tropical seas +the cow-whales, uncouth marine <i>pachydermata</i>, have been +assumed to be the originals of these stories. Megasthenes +reported that the sea which washed Taprobane, the modern<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_131" id="Page_131">[Pg 131]</a></span> +Ceylon, was inhabited by a creature having the appearance +of a woman; and Ælian improves the account by +stating that there are whales having the form of satyrs. +'Tis true the Manatee and the Dugong are rather mer-swine +than mer-maids; but there is something in the +bluff round head which may remind a startled observer of +the human form divine. Sir Emerson Tennent considers +that this rude approach to the human outline, and the +attitude of the mother while suckling her young, pressing +it to her breast with one paw, while swimming with the +other, the head of both being held perpendicularly above +water, and then, when disturbed, suddenly diving and displaying +her broad fin-like tail,—these, together with her +habitual demonstrations of strong maternal affection, may +probably have been the original from which the pictures +of the mermaid were portrayed, and thus that earliest +invention of mythical physiology may be traced to the +Arab seamen and to the Greeks, who had watched the +movements of the Dugong in the Red Sea and Indian +Ocean.</p> + +<p>The early Portuguese settlers in India had no doubt +that true mermen were found in those seas; and the +annalist of the exploits of the Jesuits narrates that seven +of these monsters, male and female, were captured at +Manaar in 1560, and carried to Goa, where they were dissected +by Demas Bosquez, physician to the Viceroy, and +"their internal structure found to be in all respects conformable +to the human." Making allowance for the very +limited acquaintance which the worthy physician was<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_132" id="Page_132">[Pg 132]</a></span> +likely to have made with human anatomy by actual +autopsy, this statement goes for little:—the real resemblance, +assuming them to have been Dugongs, was about +the same as that presented by the hog, whose inwards are +popularly believed by our own country people to be in +very close accordance with those of "Christians."</p> + +<p>Sir E. Tennent has embellished his book with a very +taking portrait of the mermaid on the Dugong hypothesis; +shewing two females, each holding a baby [is it right to +say <i>merbaby</i>?], emerging from the sea-wave; they do look, +to be sure, sufficiently human, but the well-known monogram +of our clever friend Wolf in the corner of the cut +suggests shrewd doubts that the portraits were not "<i>ad +viv</i>."</p> + +<p>It is, perhaps, among the Scandinavian races that the +belief in the merman has reached its culminating point. +So many particulars are inculcated concerning the mode +and conditions of life of these submarine beings, that the +most intimate relations appear to have subsisted between +the terrestrial and the aquatic peoples. According to the +creed of the Norsemen, there exists, far beneath the +depths of the ocean, an atmosphere adapted to the breathing +organs of beings resembling in form the human race, +endowed with surpassing beauty, with limited supernatural +powers, but liable to suffering, and even to death. +Their dwelling is in a vast region, situate far below the +bottom of the sea, which forms a canopy over them, like +the sky over us, and there they inhabit houses constructed +of the pearly and coralline productions of the ocean.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_133" id="Page_133">[Pg 133]</a></span> +Having lungs not adapted to a watery medium, but +formed for breathing atmospheric air, it would be impossible +for them to pass through the volume of waters that +separates our world from theirs, if it were not that they +possess the power of entering the skin of some marine +animal, whose faculties they thus temporarily acquire, or +of changing their own form and structure so as to suit +the altered condition through which they are to travel. +The most ordinary shape they assume is, as everybody +knows, that of man (that is, their own proper form) from +the waist upward, but below that of a fish. Whether they +now breathe by gills or lungs, the anatomists, it seems, +have not yet determined; we must presume the former +alternative, since else it is not apparent what they have +gained by their piscine metamorphosis of tail; though +where the branchiæ are situate we are a little at a loss to +imagine. These, however, are matters which doubtless +the scientific world will one day determine: it seems certain +that they do thus acquire an amphibious nature, so +as not only to exist submerged in the waters, but to land +on the shores of our sunny world, where they frequently +doff their fishy half, resume their proper human form, and +pass muster while they pursue their investigations here.<a name="FNanchor_90_90" id="FNanchor_90_90"></a><a href="#Footnote_90_90" class="fnanchor">[90]</a></p> + +<p>Unfortunately, but one of these resources can ever be +availed of by any individual mer-man or -maid, nor can any +"son or daughter of the ocean borrow more than one sea-dress +of this kind for his own particular use; therefore if +the garb should be mislaid on the shores he never can re<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_134" id="Page_134">[Pg 134]</a></span>turn +to his submarine country and friends. A Shetlander, +having once found an empty seal-skin on the shore, took +it home and kept it in his possession. Soon after, he met +the most lovely being who ever stepped on the earth, +wringing her hands with distress, and loudly lamenting, +that, having lost her sea-dress, she must remain for ever +on the earth. The Shetlander, having fallen in love at +first sight, said not a syllable about finding this precious +treasure, but made his proposals, and offered to take her +for better or for worse, as his future wife! The merlady, +though not, as we know, much a woman of the world, +very prudently accepted the offer! I never heard what +the settlements were, but they lived very happily for some +years, till one day, when the green-haired bride unexpectedly +discovered her long-lost seal-skin, and instantly +putting it on, she took a hasty farewell of everybody, and +ran towards the shore. Her husband flew out in pursuit +of her, but in vain! She sprang from point to point, and +from rock to rock, till at length, hastening into the ocean, +she disappeared for ever, leaving the worthy man, her +husband, perfectly planet-struck and inconsolable on the +shore!"<a name="FNanchor_91_91" id="FNanchor_91_91"></a><a href="#Footnote_91_91" class="fnanchor">[91]</a></p> + +<p>Nor are there lacking in the rocky cliffs of our own +northern islands fit lodgings for these sea kings and +queens. The gifted pen of Sir Walter Scott has sketched +one of these from his own observation: "Imagination +can hardly conceive anything more beautiful than the extraordinary +grotto discovered not many years since upon<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_135" id="Page_135">[Pg 135]</a></span> +the estate of Alexander MacAllister, Esq. of Strathaird [in +Skye]. The first entrance to this celebrated cave is rude +and unpromising: but the light of the torches with which +we were provided, was soon reflected from the roof, floor, +and walls, which seemed as if they were sheeted with +marble, partly smooth, partly rough with frostwork and +rustic ornaments, and partly seeming to be wrought into +statuary. The floor forms a steep and difficult ascent, +and might be fancifully compared to a sheet of water, +which, while it rushed whitening and foaming down a +declivity, had been suddenly arrested and consolidated by +the spell of an enchanter. Upon attaining the summit of +this ascent, the cave opens into a splendid gallery, adorned +with the most dazzling crystallizations, and finally descends +with rapidity to the brink of a pool, of the most limpid +water, about four or five yards broad. There opens beyond +this pool a portal arch, formed by two columns of +white spar, with beautiful chasing upon the sides, which +promises a continuation of the cave. One of our sailors +swam across, for there is no other mode of passing, and +informed us (as indeed we partly saw by the light he +carried) that the enchantment of MacAllister's cave terminates +with this portal, a little beyond which there was +only a rude cavern, speedily choked with stones and earth. +But the pool on the brink of which we stood, surrounded +by the most fanciful mouldings, in a substance resembling +white marble, and distinguished by the depth and purity +of its waters, might have been the bathing grotto of a +naiad. The groups of combined figures projecting or em<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_136" id="Page_136">[Pg 136]</a></span>bossed, +by which the pool is surrounded, are exquisitely +elegant and fanciful. A statuary might catch beautiful +hints from the singular and romantic disposition of those +stalactites. There is scarce a form or group on which +active fancy may not trace figures or grotesque ornaments, +which have been gradually moulded in this cavern by the +dropping of the calcareous water hardening into petrifactions. +Many of these fine groups have been injured +by the senseless rage for appropriation of recent tourists; +and the grotto has lost, (I am informed,) through the +smoke of torches, something of that vivid silver tint which +was originally one of its chief distinctions. But enough +of beauty remains to compensate for all that may be +lost."<a name="FNanchor_92_92" id="FNanchor_92_92"></a><a href="#Footnote_92_92" class="fnanchor">[92]</a></p> + +<p>But these tales are the <i>nugæ canoræ</i> of the naturalist. +Once more,—Is there any substratum of truth underlying +these fancies? or must they be unhesitatingly dismissed +to the region of fable? Certainly, if there were not two +or three narratives which have an air of veracity and dependableness, +bearing out the belief to some slight extent, +I should not have noticed it here.</p> + +<p>How simple and circumstantial is this story told by old +Hudson, the renowned navigator! a man whose narrative +is more than usually dry and destitute of everything like, +not only imagination, but even an imaginative aspect of +ordinary circumstances. On the 15th of June, when in +lat. 75°, trying to force a passage to the pole near Nova +Zembla, he records the following incident: "This morn<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_137" id="Page_137">[Pg 137]</a></span>ing +one of our company looking overboard saw a mermaid; +and calling up some of the company to see her, one +more came up, and by that time she was come close to +the ship's side, looking earnestly on the men. A little +after, a sea came and overturned her. From the navel +upward, her back and breasts were like a woman's, as +they say that saw her; her body as big as one of us; her +skin very white; and long hair hanging down behind, of +colour black. In her going down they saw her tail, which +was like the tail of a porpoise, and speckled like a +mackerel. Their names that saw her were Thomas Hilles +and Robert Rayner."<a name="FNanchor_93_93" id="FNanchor_93_93"></a><a href="#Footnote_93_93" class="fnanchor">[93]</a></p> + +<p>Whatever explanation be attempted of this apparition, +the ordinary resource of seal or walrus will not avail here. +Seals and walruses must have been as familiar to these +Polar mariners as cows to a dairy-maid. Unless the whole +story was a concerted lie between the two men, reasonless +and objectless,—and the worthy old navigator doubtless +knew the character of his men,—they must have seen, in +the black-haired, white-skinned creature, some form of +being as yet unrecognised.</p> + +<p>Steller, a zoologist of some repute, who examined the +natural history of the Siberian seas, reports having seen, +near Behring's Straits, a strange animal, which he calls a +Sea-ape. "It was about five feet long, with a head like +a dog's; the ears sharp and erect, and the eyes large; on +both lips it had a kind of beard; the form of the body +was thick and round, but tapering to the tail, which was +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_138" id="Page_138">[Pg 138]</a></span>bifurcated, with the upper lobe longest; the body was +covered with thick hair, grey on the back, and red on the +belly. Steller could not discover any feet or paws. It +was full of frolic, and sported in the manner of a monkey, +swimming sometimes on one side of the ship and sometimes +on the other, and looking at it with seeming surprise. +It would come so near the ship that it might be +touched with a pole; but if any one stirred, it would immediately +retire. It often raised one third of its body +above the water, and stood upright for a considerable +time; then suddenly darted under the ship, and appeared +in the same attitude on the other side; this it would +repeat for thirty times together. It would frequently +bring up a sea plant, not unlike a bottle-gourd, which it +would toss about and catch again in its mouth, playing +numberless fantastic tricks with it."</p> + +<p>There is nothing in this description which would exclude +it from well-recognised zoological classification. It +is highly probable that it was one of the seal tribe, but +of a species, perhaps a genus, not yet identified. All +analogy would suggest that fore-paws must have been +present in an animal with a dog-like head, and clothed +with hair; but they were perhaps small,—smaller even +than in other <i>Phocadæ</i>, and may have been so concealed +in the long hair, or held so closely pressed to the body, +as not to be visible. The only other difficulty is in the +posterior extremity. This is described by Steller in terms +that imply a true piscine tail, expanded in a direction +vertical to the plane of the body, and of that peculiar<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_139" id="Page_139">[Pg 139]</a></span> +form called <i>heterocercal</i>, which distinguishes the cartilaginous +families of Fishes, the Sharks and Rays. But +the animal was indubitably a Mammal; and therefore we +may almost with certainty assume that, if the body terminated +in a natatory expansion, it would be, as in the +whales, and manatees, a horizontal expansion, and not a +vertical one. But if the strange creature was indeed, as +I conclude, of the Phocine type, we have only to suppose +the tail, which is usually very small in this family, to have +been so greatly developed, as to exceed the united hind +feet, which may have been small, and the appearance, +seen momentarily, and in the wash of the waves, might +well seem that of a heterocercal tail.</p> + +<p>Captain Weddell, well known for his geographical discoveries +in the extreme south of the globe, relates the +following story: "A boat's crew were employed on Hall's +Island, when one of the crew, left to take care of some produce, +saw an animal whose voice was even musical. The +sailor had lain down, and about ten o'clock he heard a +noise resembling human cries; and as daylight in these +latitudes never disappears at this season, he rose and looked +around; but, on seeing no person, returned to bed; presently +he heard the noise again; rose a second time, but +still saw nothing. Conceiving, however, the possibility +of a boat being upset, and that some of the crew might +be clinging to some detached rocks, he walked along the +beach a few steps, and heard the noise more distinctly, +but in a musical strain. Upon searching round he saw +an object lying on a rock a dozen yards from the shore,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_140" id="Page_140">[Pg 140]</a></span> +at which he was somewhat frightened. The face and +shoulders appeared of human form, and of a reddish +colour; over the shoulders hung long green hair; the +tail resembled that of the seal, but the extremities of the +arms he could not see distinctly. The creature continued to +make a musical noise while he gazed about two minutes, +and on perceiving him it disappeared in an instant. Immediately +when the man saw his officer, he told this +wild tale, and to add weight to his testimony, (being a +Romanist,) he made a cross on the sand which he kissed, +as making oath to the truth of his statement. When I +saw him, he told the story in so clear and positive a +manner, making oath to its truth, that I concluded he +must really have seen the animal he described, or that it +must have been the effects of a disturbed imagination."<a name="FNanchor_94_94" id="FNanchor_94_94"></a><a href="#Footnote_94_94" class="fnanchor">[94]</a></p> + +<p>The <i>green</i> hair in this description is the most suspicious +element; it is so exactly that attributed to the poetical +mermaids, and so entirely without precedent in the whole +range of known zoology,—that, if taken literally, I fear it +would condemn the narrative. But among the Antarctic +seals, both golden yellow fur, and black fur, are found; +and if hairs of these two colours were about equally intermingled, +the result would be an olive-green, as we see in +some of the monkeys; and then some allowance must +doubtless be made for imagination, in one little accustomed +to precise observation, and "somewhat frightened" +withal. I should say, with little hesitation, that this +creature was of the seal family, only that the seaman's +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_141" id="Page_141">[Pg 141]</a></span>daily habits brought him into the most familiar contact +with various kinds of seals; and, unless the animal in +question had differed notably from such as he was +acquainted with, he would not have been so affected by +the phenomenon. In such stories, the sorts of creatures +familiar to the observation of the narrator, and the amount +of surprise produced in his mind by the stranger,—must +always be carefully estimated, as important elements in +the formation of our judgment.</p> + +<p>To come nearer home, Pontoppidan records the appearance +of a merman, which was deposed to on oath by the +observers: "About a mile from the coast of Denmark, +near Landscrona, three sailors, observing something like a +dead body floating in the water, rowed towards it. When +they came within seven or eight fathoms, it still appeared +as at first, for it had not stirred; but at that instant it +sunk, and came up almost immediately in the same place. +Upon this, out of fear, they lay still, and then let the boat +float, that they might the better examine the monster, +which, by the help of the current, came nearer and nearer +to them. He turned his face and stared at them, which +gave them a good opportunity of examining him narrowly. +He stood in the same place for seven or eight minutes, +and was seen above the water breast high. At last they +grew apprehensive of some danger, and began to retire; +upon which the monster blew up his cheeks, and made a +kind of lowing noise, and then dived from their view. In +regard to his form, they declare in their affidavits, which +were regularly taken and recorded, that he appeared like<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_142" id="Page_142">[Pg 142]</a></span> +an old man, strong-limbed, with broad shoulders, but his +arms they could not see. His head was small in proportion +to his body, and had short curled black hair, which +did not reach below his ears; his eyes lay deep in his +head, and he had a meagre face, with a black beard; +about the body downwards this merman was quite pointed +like a fish."<a name="FNanchor_95_95" id="FNanchor_95_95"></a><a href="#Footnote_95_95" class="fnanchor">[95]</a></p> + +<p>But the most remarkable story that I know of in recent +times, is that adduced by Dr Robert Hamilton, in his +able History of the Whales and Seals, in the <i>Naturalist's +Library</i>, he himself vouching for its general truth, from +personal knowledge of some of the parties: "It was reported +that a fishing-boat, off the island of Yell, one +of the Shetland group, had captured a mermaid by its +getting entangled in the lines!! The statement is, that +the animal was about three feet long, the upper part +of the body resembling the human, with protuberant +mammæ like a woman; the face, the forehead, and neck, +were short and resembling those of a monkey; the arms, +which were small, were kept folded across the breast; the +fingers were distinct, not webbed; a few stiff long bristles +were on the top of the head, extending down to the shoulders, +and these it could erect and depress at pleasure, +something like a crest. The inferior part of the body +was like a fish. The skin was smooth, and of a grey +colour. It offered no resistance, nor attempted to bite, +but uttered a low plaintive sound. The crew, six in +number, took it within their boat, but superstition +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_143" id="Page_143">[Pg 143]</a></span>getting the better of curiosity, they carefully disentangled +it from the lines, and a hook which had accidentally +fastened in its body, and returned it to its +native element. It instantly dived, descending in a +perpendicular direction.</p> + +<p>"After writing the above, (we are informed) the narrator +had an interview with the skipper of the boat and one of +the crew, from whom he learned the following additional +particulars. They had the animal for three hours within +the boat; the body was without scales or hair; was of a +silvery grey colour above, and white below, like the human +skin; no gills were observed; nor fins on the back or +belly. The tail was like that of the dog-fish: the mammæ +were about as large as those of a woman; the mouth +and lips were very distinct, and resembled the human.</p> + +<p>"This communication was from Mr Edmonston, a well-known +and intelligent observer, to the distinguished Professor +of Natural History in the Edinburgh University, +and Mr E. adds a few reflections, which are so pertinent, +that we shall avail ourselves of them. That a very peculiar +animal has been taken, no one can doubt. It was +seen and handled by six men, on one occasion, and for +some time, not one of whom dreams of a doubt of its +being a mermaid. If it were supposed that their fears +magnified its supposed resemblance to the human form, it +must at all events be admitted that there was some ground +for exciting these fears. But no such fears were likely to +be entertained; for the mermaid is not an object of terror +to the fisherman; it is rather a welcome guest, and danger<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_144" id="Page_144">[Pg 144]</a></span> +is to be apprehended only from its experiencing bad treatment. +The usual resources of scepticism, that the seals +and other sea-animals, appearing under certain circumstances, +operating on an excited imagination, and so producing +ocular illusion, cannot avail here. It is quite impossible +that, under the circumstances, six Shetland fishermen +could commit such a mistake."<a name="FNanchor_96_96" id="FNanchor_96_96"></a><a href="#Footnote_96_96" class="fnanchor">[96]</a></p> + +<p>There is, no doubt, much in this account which signally +distinguishes it from all other statements with which it +can be compared, except that of Hudson's sailors, with +which it well coincides. The protuberant mammæ, resembling +those of a woman; the human, or at least simian +face, forehead, and neck, and especially the mouth and +lips; the distinct unwebbed fingers; the erectile crest of +bristles; the nature of the surface,—without scales or +hair; the colour; and the tail,—like that of a fish;—are +all very remarkable points; and unless we conclude the +entire story to be a lie, a mere barefaced hoax,—must +necessarily indicate a creature of which scientific zoology +knows absolutely nothing.</p> + +<p>It is observable that, here again, the tail is said to have +been piscine and heterocercal, "like that of the dog-fish:" +while the naked skin, and the colour—silvery grey above +and white below,—will well agree with the characteristics +common to the smaller <i>Squalidæ</i>.</p> + +<p>It is a pity that an account like this, avouched by six +witnesses, was not thoroughly sifted. I have no doubt +that, if a person tolerably conversant with zoology, and accustomed<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_145" id="Page_145">[Pg 145]</a></span> +to the habit of cross-examination, had examined +these six eye-witnesses <i>separately</i>, making full notes of +what each could remember to have observed, and had then +checked each deposition by all the others, a mass of testimony +would have been accumulated that would in an +instant have convinced any candid inquirer what measure +of truth lay in the story. Points in which the whole six, +or even three or four, agreed, might unhesitatingly have +been set down as correct: suggestive questions, (not, however, +suggesting the sort of answer,) as, "Had the creature +so and so, or so and so?" could not have received the +same reply from all the deponents, without being worthy +of credence: even the points on which they would have +differed might themselves have been instructive to an +intelligent inquirer. I do not know that any such precautionary +measures were resorted to in this case, and the +tale must remain as we get it; but I make these observations +for the purpose of suggesting, in the event of any +similar occurrence, the advantage of <i>separate</i> examination +in getting at the truth. On a review of the whole evidence, +I do not judge that this single story is a sufficient +foundation for believing in the existence of mermaids; +but, taken into combination with other statements, it induces +a strong suspicion that the northern seas may hold +forms of life as yet uncatalogued by science.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_146" id="Page_146">[Pg 146]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="IV" id="IV"></a>IV.</h2> + +<h2>THE SELF-IMMURED.</h2> + + +<p>Turning from reputed beings of which the very existence +is the subject of doubt, let us consider one or two +well-known and homely creatures, about which a certain +degree of romantic interest hovers, because conditions of +life are attributed to them by popular faith, which the +general verdict of science denies.</p> + +<p>One of the most remarkable examples in this category +of <i>dubitanda</i>, is the oft-repeated case of Toads and similar +animals found inclosed within the solid wood of living +trees, or even within blocks of stone, with no discernible +communication with the external air, or at least no aperture +by which they could have entered their prison, yet, in +every instance, alive. That insuperable difficulties stand +<i>a priori</i> in the way of our believing in such conditions, +no one familiar with animal physiology can deny; for, as +Mr Bell observes, to believe that a Toad inclosed within +a mass of clay, or other similar substance, shall exist +wholly without air or food, for hundreds of years, and at +length be liberated alive and capable of crawling, on the +breaking up of the matrix,—now become a solid rock,—is +certainly a demand upon our credulity which few will be +ready to answer.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_147" id="Page_147">[Pg 147]</a></span></p> + +<p>Yet, after all, it is a question that must not be decided +<i>a priori</i>: it must rest upon evidence. It may be that +here, too, fact is stranger than fiction; and we must not +shut our eyes and ears to concurrent credible testimony, +if it happen to bear witness to facts which we cannot +account for. Truth will certainly be upon us, even +though, ostrich-like, we thrust our head into a bush, and +maintain that we cannot see it.</p> + +<p>The learned historian of British Reptiles speaks with +his characteristic candour upon the point. He admits +that the many concurrent assertions of credible persons, +who declare themselves to have been witnesses of the +emancipation of imprisoned Toads, forbid us hastily to +refuse our assent, or at least to deny the possibility of +such a circumstance; while he demands better and more +cautious evidence to authorise our implicit faith in these +asserted facts.<a name="FNanchor_97_97" id="FNanchor_97_97"></a><a href="#Footnote_97_97" class="fnanchor">[97]</a></p> + +<p>The ordinary mode of accounting for the phenomena, +supposing them to be narrated in good faith, is that the +animal "fell into the hollow where the men were at work, +and was taken up by them in ignorance of the mode in +which it had come there," or that "it may have hidden +in the hollow of a tree during the autumn and winter, +and on the return of spring found itself so far inclosed +within its hiding-place as to be unable to escape." This +latter suggestion would be more worthy of attention were +the winter season the period in which, in our climate, +periodical additions are made to the living wood, so as to +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_148" id="Page_148">[Pg 148]</a></span>narrow the entrance, or in which augmentations of bulk +occurred to Toads, so as to prevent them from getting out +where they got in;—but unfortunately the reverse of +both suppositions is true. As to the former suggestion, +while it may possibly serve to dismiss a few of the published +statements, there are others which it would be +absurd to explain thereby.</p> + +<p>True to its principles of never shutting the door to the +investigation of any natural history subject, the <i>Zoologist</i> +has, during the eighteen years of its existence, been a +medium for collecting and preserving facts bearing on +this question. The pages of this periodical form an +invaluable storehouse to the philosophic naturalist, who +wishes to pursue his science undeterred by the ridicule of +sciolism or the frown of authority. Let us search its +treasures, then, expecting to find stories of diverse grades +of credibility, of which the editor wisely leaves his readers +to judge for themselves.</p> + +<p>In May 1844, the Rev. J. Pemberton Bartlett of Kingston, +in Kent, an experienced naturalist, mentions the +following fact as having just come under his own notice:—"Only +a few weeks since, in cutting down a fir-tree +here, the workman discovered, completely imbedded in the +centre, a Toad, which had doubtless been there some +years, as the tree had completely grown over it; it must +have been kept alive by absorbing the moisture of the +tree. It was not in a completely torpid state, and after +being exposed to the air a few hours, it crawled in true +toad-like style. The age of the tree in which it was<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_149" id="Page_149">[Pg 149]</a></span> +found was, as far as I could judge from the number of +circles, about twenty-five years."<a name="FNanchor_98_98" id="FNanchor_98_98"></a><a href="#Footnote_98_98" class="fnanchor">[98]</a></p> + +<p>In reply to an inquiry whether he himself saw the Toad, +and counted the timber-rings, Mr Bartlett favours me +with the following note:—</p> + +<p class="right"> +<span style="margin-right: 2em;"> +"<span class="smcap">Exbury Parsonage, near Southampton</span>,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-right: 6em;"><i>February 22, 1861</i>.</span><br /> +</p> + +<p>"<span class="smcap">Dear Sir</span>,— ... <i>I</i> quite believe that Toads <i>do</i> live +in stone, but I have found it very difficult to get the facts +from eye-witnesses. The imbedded Toad in the fir-tree, +mentioned by me in the <i>Zoologist</i>, I saw, and, as stated +there, I counted the rings of the tree. I believe it to +have been the common Toad; but it looked rather more +flabby, and not quite so round in its proportions, as toads +generally do; in fact, instead of being 'puffed up' as +they commonly are, it was considerably <i>down in the +mouth</i>, from its close imprisonment! The cavity in +which it was fixed appeared to have been originally a +crack or fissure in the side of the tree; whether caused by +decay, or made by a nuthatch or some other bird, I cannot +say. The wound appeared to have healed, as the bark +had apparently closed over it. The question now arises, +Was the Toad <i>young</i> when it got into the hollow? and did +it grow after it became a prisoner? Or had it come to +years of discretion, when it took that unfortunate step, or +rather crawl, into the cavity where it was so long to be imprisoned? +And <i>why did</i> it remain there so quietly, while +the bark gradually grew over its prison-house? The<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_150" id="Page_150">[Pg 150]</a></span> +answer that I should give to the first of these questions +would be, that probably it had arrived at a state of <i>toadhood</i> +when it took refuge in the tree, and <i>did not</i> grow +afterwards. My theory why it remained ensconced there +so quietly is this, that probably it might have been accustomed +for some time to take refuge by day in this hole, +from whence it would set out on its nocturnal rambles, +and probably 'not go home till morning;' that on some +occasion, 'when daylight did appear,' it returned to its +accustomed haunt, and there squatted, winking and puffing, +after its night's exploits, as toads are wont to do; +that, on that luckless day, some felled tree or trees were +laid up against the fir-tree that contained its abode, and +that the tree or trees remained there till the bark closed +so as to prevent its escape. What makes this idea the +more probable is that the place where the fir-tree grew +had, for probably years, been used as a place to store +felled timber, as it was used for that purpose at the time +I saw the Toad.</p> + +<p>"After the discovery of this Toad in the fir-tree, I tried +several experiments on Toads, by burying them in closely-sealed +flower-pots, at a depth of nearly three feet. I much +regret that I cannot find my notes on the subject; but I +remember perfectly the main facts of one. The Toad was +placed in a flower-pot, with another turned over it, and +well cemented together—the two holes in both pots being +also closely cemented up. It was buried between two and +three feet deep in the garden. At the end of three months +I took it up, and weighed the Toad, and found it had lost<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_151" id="Page_151">[Pg 151]</a></span> +a very little in weight. This I did again at the end of +three months more; it was then quite lively, and had lost +again but little in weight. I replaced it as before, and +on taking it up the third time, I found the pots had, probably +the cement not having been dry when buried, +slipped on one side, and the moisture had got in, and consequently +the poor Toad was dead, as well as buried! +Now, surely if a Toad could live <i>six months</i> hermetically +<i>sealed</i> in a flower-pot, without air or food—why not a +much longer time?...—Believe me, yours faithfully,</p> + +<p class="right"> +<span style="margin-right: 2em;"> +"<span class="smcap">J. Pemberton Bartlett</span>."</span><br /> +</p> + +<p>The Rev. W. J. Bree of Allesley, also an excellent +zoologist, alluding to some queries by Mr E. Newman, +communicated the following facts:—"I quite agree with +you that the statements about Toads found in solid stone +are mostly very unsatisfactory. One instance of the kind +I have seen, as briefly stated, <i>Mag. Nat. Hist.</i>, ix. 316. +The Toad appeared to me neither more nor less than our +common species, although I certainly did not examine it +scientifically. The stone was the new red sandstone of +geologists; and was brought up, as I was told, some yards +from below the surface. I understood the Toad, and the +two portions of stone in which it was found inclosed, +were deposited in some medical museum at Birmingham. +The animal would not have been discovered but for an +accident: the workmen were carting the stone away, and +the block containing the Toad happened to be placed on +the top of a great load, and accidentally fell from the cart<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_152" id="Page_152">[Pg 152]</a></span> +to the ground, and, breaking by the fall, brought to light +the incarcerated reptile, which, I conclude, was somewhat +injured by the fall, as there was a fresh wound on one +side of the head, and it appeared to be blind of one eye. +The Toad died, I was informed, the second day after it +was discovered, partly, in all probability, in consequence +of the injury. When I say the block of stone was <i>solid</i>, +this statement requires some qualification: the two parts +of the stone fitted together exactly, and quite close, except +where the cavity was in which the Toad lay; but from +this cavity there was evidently a flaw on one side towards +the extremity, and a discolouring of the substance of the +sandstone, so that although the two portions fitted together, +they might not have been (on one side of the +cavity) very firmly united. This circumstance, perhaps, +may detract from the value of the example; nevertheless, +it is unaccountable how the animal could have got into +the position in which it was found: it is not conceivable, +I think, that it should have been there ever since the first +formation of the rock, and there certainly appeared to be +no means by which it could have entered the rock in its +present state, even admitting (what we know to be the +fact) that Toads have the power of getting in and out of +a very small orifice."</p> + +<p>The author of the next account, signed "E. Peacock," +is unknown to me; and it does not appear whether he +speaks from personal observation or not. He says, "A +few days ago, two labourers, employed at a stone quarry +at Frodingham, near Brigg, Lincolnshire, found, at a depth<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_153" id="Page_153">[Pg 153]</a></span> +of five feet below the surface of the ground, and between +two blocks of stone (lias), a living Toad: the interstice +between the stones was filled with yellow clay, and there +did not appear the least possible aperture by which anything +could have passed."<a name="FNanchor_99_99" id="FNanchor_99_99"></a><a href="#Footnote_99_99" class="fnanchor">[99]</a></p> + +<p>Even from remote India we have reports of the same +phenomenon. A correspondent from Serampore sends +the <i>Zoologist</i> the following:—"Last Wednesday, Feb. 7, +1849, on severing the branch of a tree, apparently of +the tamarind species, I found a Toad in the centre of the +wood, entirely excluded from light and air. The appearance +of the animal was rather extraordinary. The body +seemed full of air, and the skin soft and puffy, and of a +light yellowish colour, with the exception of the extremities +of the feet, which were hard and dark. The creature +when exposed to the air seemed rather uncomfortable, and +drew in its head just like a turtle when alarmed. It was +thrown into a tank, when the water around, to the space +of about a foot on either side, became perfectly white, +like milk. It jumped out of the water immediately, +apparently not liking the coldness. I did not have opportunity +of observing it further, which I regret, as the +animal got concealed in the long grass on the side of the +tank, and was thus lost. The general supposition as to the +mode by which animals get inclosed within trees, is their +taking shelter in the cavity of a tree when very young, and +the growth of the tree filling up the cavity, and thus imprisoning +the animal. But this supposition, if true in the +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_154" id="Page_154">[Pg 154]</a></span>present case, makes the circumstance now related the more +extraordinary. The tree is an old one, upwards of fifty feet +high, and having a trunk more than three feet in diameter; +and the height from the ground at which the Toad was +found was about twelve feet. We must suppose the Toad +to have got into the tree when within a foot from the +ground: how many years old then must the animal be?"</p> + +<p>The mention of the whitening of the water in which +the Toad was immersed is to my mind a strong corroboration +of the veracity of the preceding narrative. It is not +a circumstance at all likely to occur to a mere inventor, +as it does not in the least bear on the question of incarceration, +and there is no attempt to explain it. I have +occasionally seen fluids rendered partially opaque by the +outflow of a milky secretion from animals immersed in +them, as in the case of the curious <i>Peripatus</i> of Jamaica, +which, when put alive into spirits, discharges a considerable +quantity of white fluid, which diffuses in the alcohol. +The Toad was probably distinct from our common English +species, but we know that the latter secretes a yellow +acrid fluid in some abundance in the follicles of its skin, +and this might be poured out under the excitement of +alarm or anger.</p> + +<p>In the summer of 1851, the Académie des Sciences +was interested (according to the public papers) with this +question. In digging a well at Blois, in June of that +year, "some workmen drew up from about a yard beneath +the surface a large flint, weighing about fourteen pounds, +and on striking it a blow with a pickaxe, it split in two,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_155" id="Page_155">[Pg 155]</a></span> +and discovered, snugly ensconced in the very centre, a +large Toad. The Toad seemed for a moment greatly +astonished, but jumped out, and rather rapidly crawled +away. He was seized and replaced in the hole, when he +settled himself down very quietly. The stone and Toad, +just as they were, were sent to the Society of Sciences at +Blois, and became immediately the subject of curious +attention. First of all, the flint, fitted together, with the +Toad in the hole, was placed in a cellar, and imbedded in +moss. There it was left for some time. It is not known +if the Toad ate, but it is certain that he made no discharge +of any kind. It was found that if the top of the stone +were cautiously removed in a dark place he did not stir, +but that if the removal were effected in the light, he immediately +got out and ran away. If he were placed on +the edge of the flint, he would crawl into his hole, and fix +himself comfortably in. He gathered his legs beneath +his body; and it was observed that he took especial care +of one of his feet, which had been slightly hurt in one +of his removals. The hole is not one bit larger than the +body, except a little where the back is. There is a sort +of ledge on which his mouth reposes, and the bones of the +jaws are slightly indented, as if from long resting on a +hard substance. Not the slightest appearance of any +communication whatsoever between the centre and the +outside of the stone can be discovered, so that there is no +reason to suppose that he could have drawn any nourishment +from the outside. The committee, consisting of +three eminent naturalists, one of whom has made Toads<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_156" id="Page_156">[Pg 156]</a></span> +his peculiar study for years, made no secret of their belief +that the Toad had been in that stone for hundreds, perhaps +thousands of years; but how he could have lived +without air, or food, or water, or movement, they made +no attempt to explain. They accordingly contented themselves +with proposing that the present should be considered +another authentic case, to be added to the few hundreds +already existing, of Toads being found alive imbedded in +stone, leaving it to some future savant to explain what +now appears the wonderful miracle by which Nature keeps +them alive so long in such places. But the distinguished +M. Majendie suggested that it was just possible that an +attempt was being made to hoax the Academy, by making +it believe that the Toad had been found in the hole, +whereas it might only have been put in by the mischievous +workmen after the stone was broken. Terrified at the +idea of becoming the laughing-stock of the public, the +Academy declined to take any formal resolution about +the Toad, but thanked the committee for its very interesting +communication; and so the subject dropped."</p> + +<p>This statement does not, to be sure, bear about it that +character of precision which should mark the report of +a scientific body, nor is it verified by authority; but +the terror ascribed to L'Académie at the idea of being +hoaxed, and the instant quashing of the inquiry, are so +true to nature, so accurately characteristic of our august +associations of savans, that I cannot help believing the +story.</p> + +<p>Here is another, which has the air of a <i>bonâ fide</i><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_157" id="Page_157">[Pg 157]</a></span> +account, though I have no knowledge of the writer, nor +does he himself seem to pretend to personal autopsy of +the discovery.</p> + +<p>On Monday last, September 20, while some workmen +were engaged in getting iron ore at a place called Paswick, +in the north of this county, [Derby,] they came +upon a solid lump of ore, which, being heavier than two +men could lift, they set to work to break with their picks, +when, to their surprise, in a cavity near the centre of the +stone, they found a Toad alive. The cavity was much +larger than the Toad, being nearly six inches in diameter, +and was lined with crystals of what I suppose to be carbonate +of lime. The stone was about four yards from +the surface of the ground; it is now in the possession of +Mr Haywood of Derby, by whose men it was found; but +unfortunately the Toad was not preserved after its death, +which took place almost immediately on its exposure to +the atmosphere.<a name="FNanchor_100_100" id="FNanchor_100_100"></a><a href="#Footnote_100_100" class="fnanchor">[100]</a></p> + +<p><i>Audi alteram partem.</i> Mr Plant of the Salford Museum +tells us, both in sorrow and in anger, a story, +doubtless more amusing to us who read it than to him, of +his adventures among the toad-finders. When geologising +in the neighbourhood of Chesterfield, a quarryman, +whom he had invited to share a bottle of porter, informed +him in confidence that Toads inclosed in stone were plentiful +thereabout. "He said he had often found them, +and that he knew a stone before it was broken that would +contain a Toad; giving me long and circumstantial ac<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_158" id="Page_158">[Pg 158]</a></span>counts +of the whole phenomenon: and, to convince me of +the truth of his statement, he took me to the quarry (a +carboniferous sandstone) that I might see the stones out +of which he said the Toads had been released. I examined +the stones and the whole quarry very attentively, +and listened to the emphatic testimony of other miners +present. After complying in an agreeable manner to +their remark that the day was warm, and the water of the +quarry not much in favour, I made a simple proposal of +this nature:—I promised to pay to any one of them the +sum of twenty shillings for the next stone in which they +found a Frog or Toad when the stone was broken in two. +They should catch the Frog if he bolted out of the hole, +replace him, and fit the stones together again, afterwards +despatching it to me in that condition. I further promised +to pay the sum of forty shillings to any one of +them who should procure me a stone, unbroken, in which +he considered a Toad or Frog was imprisoned, if, on breaking +it myself, such turned out to be the case. These +conditions were to remain in force for twelve months; +and as the means of conveyance to my address, which I +gave them, would occasion little or no trouble, the offer +was readily accepted by the miners; who also, to express +their confidence in soon being able to supply the order, +proposed that it would be all safe if I advanced a little +cash on account; which however I resolutely declined +doing. And now what will the credulous believers in +these 'Toads in stone' who read the <i>Zoologist</i> say, when +they learn that I visited the quarry twice during the +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_159" id="Page_159">[Pg 159]</a></span>twelve months, in order to fetch the Toads which never +came by rail? I always found the men there blasting +tons of new rock, splitting stones for every building purpose, +yet dry-throated and sullen; for, alas! most unaccountably +during that long twelve months they found +plenty of holes—not Toad holes—in the sandstone, but +the reptiles had been banished as effectually as ever they +were from the Emerald Isle."<a name="FNanchor_101_101" id="FNanchor_101_101"></a><a href="#Footnote_101_101" class="fnanchor">[101]</a></p> + +<div><a name="Fig.5" id="Fig.5"> </a></div> +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 260px;"> +<a href="images/fig179-1200.jpg"><img src="images/fig179-400.jpg" width="260" height="400" alt="TOAD IN A HOLE." title="" /></a> +<span class="caption">TOAD IN A HOLE.</span> +</div> + +<p>This was disheartening, certainly: and we do not wonder +that Mr Plant became "a total disbeliever in these +'simple tales.'" Still, it is just possible, that immured +Toads may exist, though Mikey of the Chesterfield quarry, +in hope of the advance, did brag a little too confidently of +the commonness of the occurrence. That, within one +twelvemonth, within the limits of one quarry, no such +Toad turned up, even under the stimulus of the proffered +forty shillings, can scarcely be admitted to be absolutely +conclusive proof of the negative, at least not to us who +were not placed in the painful position of <i>gullees</i>. Mr +Arthur Hussey of Rottingdean justly remarks, when presenting +some evidence <i>per contra</i>, that we should not +think the innocence of a culprit was established by his +asserting, when sundry witnesses affirmed they saw him +commit the offence he was accused of,—that he could +produce ten times the number who would swear they <i>did +not</i> see him.</p> + +<p>"During the summer of 1846," writes Mr Hussey, "in +the formation of a railroad, about half a mile from Ponte<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_160" id="Page_160">[Pg 160]</a></span>fract, +in Yorkshire, the works were carried a 'depth of four +feet through a rock betwixt lime and sandstone, about +the junction of the two formations:' the rock being so +firm as to require blasting. 'It is entirely free from beds +of any kind, or what the workmen term "backs," running +up it,' but therein are 'an infinite number of small +nodules of a harder quality, entirely crystallised in the +interior.' After blasting, the labourers were much surprised +to find among the fragments several of these +nodules, each one containing a Frog, as many as seven +having been counted after one 'shot.'</p> + +<p>"These were not casually seen when exposed, and then +disregarded, but were examined in their stone prisons +through very minute holes, some even preserved in that +state for a long period. For example, the relator states +of one specimen, 'I kept this Toad in a cellar for about +five months, during which time it ate nothing, and was +without light, the hole in the stone being covered with a +piece of clay, and the whole kept moist and cool with +water.' Of another he says, 'The Frog lived only about +a week, as I kept it in a place which I think was too +warm for it, and also not sufficiently dark and quiet. +When the Frogs were disturbed by the shots, their first +desire seemed to be to get under shelter of some stone, or +into their old holes again, shewing thereby that sight was +not wanting, and bodily activity was perfect as far as +could be seen. One thing struck me as singular with +regard to the Frog I kept—its fresh, plump, and healthy +appearance, its skin being soft and transparent. One day,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_161" id="Page_161">[Pg 161]</a></span> +when I was holding my finger over the hole in the stone, +it pushed its head between my finger and the sides of the +hole, and drew its whole body after it on to the table, +where it appeared more like a skeleton than any living +animal I have ever seen, but by degrees it extended itself +to its former dimensions.'</p> + +<p>"Of the above curious occurrence my only knowledge is +derived from the account written to a distant friend, of +which the substance has now been extracted. The writer +is an utter stranger, but he was officially employed in the +operations which resulted in the discoveries; and my +information leads me to believe his report deserving of +confidence, for which reason I have not hesitated to offer +this abstract for publication in the <i>Zoologist</i>."<a name="FNanchor_102_102" id="FNanchor_102_102"></a><a href="#Footnote_102_102" class="fnanchor">[102]</a></p> + +<p>The Rev. Alfred Charles Smith, an excellent and genial +naturalist, favours us with another case, introducing it +incidentally in illustration of the general habit he is +denouncing of wantonly destroying animal life:—"As an +instance of this thoughtless cruelty, I must give an +account that has just come to my notice. Some labourers +were pulling down an old wall, in the thickness of which +they found one of those phenomena—so frequently heard +of and so unsatisfactorily accounted for—a Toad completely +imbedded in stone and mortar. 'There was no +doubt,' said the labourer who described it, 'that he had +been there for a great number of years, for there was no +hole or chink by which he could have entered or left the +place of his long sojourn.' 'Well,' said the listener to his +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_162" id="Page_162">[Pg 162]</a></span>account, 'but are you sure that the Toad was alive when +you found it?' 'No doubt of that, sir,' said the man, 'for +he crawled out of his round hole and was moving away, +when I knocked him on the head with my pickaxe.'</p> + +<p>"So here was this poor harmless creature, whose long +incarceration in his gloomy dungeon might have excited +compassion in his favour, suddenly released from his +prison, only to be slain by his liberator!"<a name="FNanchor_103_103" id="FNanchor_103_103"></a><a href="#Footnote_103_103" class="fnanchor">[103]</a></p> + +<p>The next is from the <i>Caledonian Mercury</i>. Newspaper +zoology is proverbially untrustworthy, and the editor of +the <i>Zoologist</i>, who reprints the paragraph, kindly adds a +caveat for the benefit of his readers,—"<i>Nimium ne crede +Mercurio!</i>" But, nevertheless, let us look at it: alone +it would stand for little, but, remember, in such questions +as this the evidence is cumulative. "There is at present +to be seen at Messrs Sanderson and Sons, George Street, +Edinburgh, an extraordinary specimen of natural history—a +Frog which had been discovered alive in freestone +rock. A few months ago, while some colliers in the +employ of Mr James Nasmyth (lessee of Dundonald +Colliery, in Fife, the property of R. B. Wardlaw Ramsay, +Esq. of Whitehill), were engaged in taking out the pavement +of the seam coal, which was freestone, they discovered +a cavity in which a Frog was lying. On touching +it the Frog jumped about for some time, and a bucket of +water being procured, it was put into it, and taken to the +surface. On reaching it, the animal was found to be dead. +It was at the depth of forty-five fathoms, or ninety yards +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_163" id="Page_163">[Pg 163]</a></span>from the surface, in a perpendicular line of strata, consisting +of alternate layers of coal and freestone, with +ironstone, and about four hundred yards from the outcrop +surface. The Frog seems to have much of the same +character as the present species. It is very attenuated, +which cannot be wondered at, considering its domicile for +so many ages, its original existence being of course considered +contemporaneous with the formation of the freestone +rock in which it was contained."<a name="FNanchor_104_104" id="FNanchor_104_104"></a><a href="#Footnote_104_104" class="fnanchor">[104]</a></p> + +<p>Now, again, we get the statement of a careful working +naturalist, Mr Thomas Clark of Halesleigh. He cannot, +indeed, give personal authority for what he records; but +the confidence of such a man in his informant is an element +not without its value. "March 25, 1859. In the +early part of this month, two live Toads were dug out +from the bottom of a bed of stiff brick clay, in the neighbourhood +of Bridgewater, at the depth of fourteen feet +from the surface of the ground; a third was killed by the +spade before they were observed. This bed of clay rests +on peat, and the Toads were found at the junction of the +two beds, in a small domed cavity, about the size of the +crown of a man's hat. On being exposed to the air, they +uttered a squeaking cry, resembling that of a rat, but in +about a minute they seemed reconciled to their new destiny, +and moved freely about. They were kept in a jar +for a few days, and then placed at liberty in a garden, +where I suppose they are still living. The living ones +were about two inches in length, but narrow in propor<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_164" id="Page_164">[Pg 164]</a></span>tion, +and of a rather lighter colour than Toads usually are; +the one which was killed was very much larger. The +clay under which they were buried had been gradually +dug out from the surface since about the beginning of +the year, but the last five feet of depth was not dug till +the day on which they were discovered. After about two +feet of the surface, the clay is very close and adhesive, and +far too moist to admit of cracks being formed in it, even +in the driest summers."<a name="FNanchor_105_105" id="FNanchor_105_105"></a><a href="#Footnote_105_105" class="fnanchor">[105]</a></p> + +<p>To this communication inserted in the <i>Zoologist</i>, Mr +Newman added a note asking the name of any scientific +man who was present at the exhumation. Mr Clark replies:—"I +am unable to give such a name, further than +as the intelligent foreman of the brickyard, Thomas Duddridge, +(who witnessed the exhumation by one of the +labourers of the yard,) may be entitled to the appellation; +but no one, however high his scientific attainments, could +be more careful than he was to give me correct information, +or more exact in his statements; and if, after minute +inquiry, I had not been fully satisfied of the correctness +of his account, I should not have sought to occupy the +pages of the <i>Zoologist</i> with its recital. On shewing him +the notice in the <i>Zoologist</i>, he said it was impossible for +anything to be more correct; and he added, that the little +cavity which the Toads occupied was quite smooth in +every part, apparently by their long-continued movements,—as +smooth, to use his own illustration, as the +inside of a China bowl."<a name="FNanchor_106_106" id="FNanchor_106_106"></a><a href="#Footnote_106_106" class="fnanchor">[106]</a></p> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_165" id="Page_165">[Pg 165]</a></span></p> +<p>Numerous experiments have been made with a view to +test the possibility of these reputed facts. If Toads do so +commonly become voluntarily or accidentally immured, +and remain without light, food, or even air, for many +years, and yet survive, let us put some Toads into similar +circumstances, keep them shut up, and, after the lapse of +a sufficient interval, examine them, and see whether they +are alive or dead. "<i>Experimentum faciemus in corpore +vili</i>," as the village doctor said to his assistant over the +sick traveller.</p> + +<p><i>Probatum est!</i> Besides the case mentioned in Mr Bartlett's +letter (<i>ante</i>, p. 149), the late Dr Buckland, in November +1825, instituted a series of careful experiments, which +are thus narrated by himself:—"In one large block of +coarse oolitic limestone, twelve circular cells were prepared, +each about one foot deep and five inches in diameter, and +having a groove or shoulder at its upper margin fitted to +receive a circular plate of glass, and a circular slate to +protect the glass: the margin of this double cover was +closed round and rendered impenetrable to air and water +by a luting of soft clay. Twelve smaller cells, each six +inches deep and five inches in diameter, were made in +another block of compact siliceous sandstone, viz., the +Pennant Grit of the coal formation near Bristol; these +cells also were covered with similar plates of glass and +slate, cemented at the edge by clay. The object of the +glass covers was to allow the animals to be inspected, +without disturbing the clay so as to admit external air or +insects into the cell. The limestone is so porous that it is<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_166" id="Page_166">[Pg 166]</a></span> +easily permeable by water, and probably also by air; the +sandstone is very compact.</p> + +<p>"On the 26th of November 1825, one live Toad was +placed in each of the above-mentioned twenty-four cells, +and the double cover of glass and slate placed over each +of them, and cemented down by the luting of clay. The +weight of each Toad in grains was ascertained and noted +by Dr Daubeny and Mr Dillwyn at the time of their +being placed in the cells; that of the smallest was 115 +grains, and of the largest 1185 grains. The large and +small animals were distributed in equal proportion between +the limestone and sandstone cells.</p> + +<p>"These blocks of stone were buried together in my +garden beneath three feet of earth, and remained unopened +until the 10th of December 1826, on which day +they were examined. Every Toad in the smaller cells of +the compact sandstone was dead, and the bodies of most +of them so much decayed that they must have been dead +some months. The greater number of those in the larger +cells of porous limestone were alive. No. 1, whose weight +when immured was 924 grains, now weighed only 698 +grains. No. 5, whose weight when immured was 1185 +grains, now weighed 1265 grains. The glass cover over +this cell was slightly cracked, so that minute insects might +have entered: none, however, were discovered in this cell; +but in another cell whose glass was broken, and the +animal within it dead, there was a large assemblage of +minute insects; and a similar assemblage also on the outside +of the glass of a third cell. In cell No. 9, a Toad<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_167" id="Page_167">[Pg 167]</a></span> +which when put in weighed 988 grains, had increased to +1116 grains, and the glass cover over it was entire; but +as the luting of the cell within which this Toad had increased +in weight was not particularly examined, it is +probable there was some aperture in it by which small +insects found admission. No. 11 had decreased from 936 +grains to 652 grains.</p> + +<p>"When they were first examined in December 1826, +not only were all the small Toads dead, but the larger ones +appeared much emaciated, with the two exceptions above +mentioned; we have already stated that these probably +owed their increased weight to the insects which had +found access to the cells, and become their food.</p> + +<p>"The death of every individual of every size in the +smaller cells of compact sandstone, appears to have resulted +from a deficiency in the supply of air, in consequence +of the smallness of the cells, and the impermeable +nature of the stone; the larger volume of air originally +inclosed in the cells of the limestone, and the porous +nature of the stone itself, (permeable as it is slowly by +water, and probably by air,) seem to have favoured the +duration of life to the animals inclosed in them without +food.</p> + +<p>"It should be noticed that there is a defect in these +experiments, arising from the treatment of the twenty-four +Toads before they were inclosed in the blocks of +stone. They were shut up and buried on the 26th of +November, but the greater number of them had been +caught more than two months before that time, and had<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_168" id="Page_168">[Pg 168]</a></span> +been imprisoned all together in a cucumber frame placed +on common garden earth, where the supply of food to so +many individuals was probably scanty, and their confinement +unnatural, so that they were in an unhealthy and +somewhat meagre state at the time of their imprisonment. +We can therefore scarcely argue with certainty from the +death of all these individuals within two years, as to the +duration of life which might have been maintained had +they retired spontaneously, and fallen into the torpor of +their natural hibernation in good bodily condition.</p> + +<p>"The results of our experiments amount to this: all the +Toads, both large and small, inclosed in sandstone, and +the small Toads in the limestone also, were dead at the +end of thirteen months. Before the expiration of the +second year all the large ones also were dead; these were +examined several times during the second year through +the glass covers of the cells, but without removing them +to admit air; they appeared always awake, with their eyes +open, and never in a state of torpor, their meagreness +increasing at each interval in which they were examined, +until at length they were found dead; those two also +which had gained an accession of weight at the end of +the first year, and were then carefully closed up again, +were emaciated and dead before the expiration of the +second year.</p> + +<p>"At the same time that these Toads were inclosed in +stone, four other Toads of middling size were inclosed in +three holes, cut for this purpose on the north side of the +trunk of an apple-tree; two being placed in the largest<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_169" id="Page_169">[Pg 169]</a></span> +cell, and each of the others in a single cell. The cells +were nearly circular, about five inches deep and three +inches in diameter; they were carefully closed up with a +plug of wood, so as to exclude access of insects, and apparently +were air-tight; when examined at the end of a +year, every one of the Toads was dead, and their bodies +were decayed.</p> + +<p>"From the fatal result of the experiments made in the +small cells cut in the apple-tree and the block of compact +sandstone, it seems to follow that Toads cannot live a year +excluded totally from atmospheric air; and, from the +experiments in the larger cells within the block of oolitic +limestone, it seems also probable that they cannot survive +two years entirely excluded from food; we may therefore +conclude that there is a want of sufficiently minute and +accurate observation in those so frequently recorded cases, +where Toads are said to be found alive within blocks of +stone and wood, in cavities that had no communication +whatever with the external air. The fact of my two Toads +having increased in weight at the end of the year, notwithstanding +the care that was taken to inclose them +perfectly by a luting of clay, shews how very small an +aperture will admit of insects sufficient to maintain life. +In the cell No. 5, where the glass was slightly cracked, +the communication though small was obvious, but in the +cell No. 9, where the glass cover remained entire, and +where it appears certain, from the increased weight of the +inclosed animal, that insects must have found admission, +we have an example of these minute animals finding their<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_170" id="Page_170">[Pg 170]</a></span> +way into a cell to which great care had been taken to +prevent any possibility of access.</p> + +<p>"Admitting, then, that Toads are occasionally found in +cavities of wood and stone with which there is no communication +sufficiently large to allow the ingress and +egress of the animal inclosed in them, we may, I think, +find a solution of such phenomena in the habits of these +reptiles, and of the insects which form their food. The +first effort of the young Toad, as soon as it has left its tadpole +state and emerged from the water, is to seek shelter +in holes and crevices of rocks and trees. An individual +which, when young, may have thus entered a cavity by +some very narrow aperture, would find abundance of food +by catching insects, which, like itself, seek shelter within +such cavities; and may soon have increased so much in +bulk as to render it impossible to get out again through +the narrow aperture at which it entered. A small hole +of this kind is very likely to be overlooked by common +workmen, who are the only people whose operations on +stone and wood disclose cavities in the interior of such +substances.</p> + +<p>"In the case of Toads, Snakes, and Lizards, that occasionally +issue from stones that are broken in a quarry, or +in sinking wells, and sometimes even from strata of coal at +the bottom of a coal-mine, the evidence is never perfect +to shew that the reptiles were entirely inclosed in solid +rock. No examination is ever made until the reptile is +first discovered by the breaking of the mass in which it +was contained, and then it is too late to ascertain, without<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_171" id="Page_171">[Pg 171]</a></span> +carefully replacing every fragment, (and in no case that I +have seen reported has this ever been done,) whether or +not there was any hole or crevice by which the animal +may have entered the cavity from which it was extracted. +Without previous examination it is almost impossible to +prove that there was no such communication. In the +case of rocks near the surface of the earth, and in stone +quarries, reptiles find ready admission to holes and fissures. +We have a notorious example of this kind in the Lizard +found in a chalk-pit, and brought alive to the late Dr +Clark. In the case also of wells and coal-pits, a reptile +that had fallen down the well or shaft, and survived its +fall, would seek its natural retreat in the first hole or +crevice it could find, and the miner dislodging it from +this cavity, to which his previous attention had not been +called, might in ignorance conclude that the animal was +coeval with the stone from which he had extracted it.</p> + +<p>"It remains only to consider the case (of which I know +not any authenticated example) of Toads that have been +said to be found in cavities within blocks of limestone, to +which, on careful examination, no access whatever could +be discovered, and where the animal was absolutely and +entirely closed up with stone. Should any such case ever +have existed, it is probable that the communication between +this cavity and the external surface had been closed +up by stalactitic incrustation, after the animal had become +too large to make its escape. A similar explanation +may be offered of the much more probable case of a +live Toad being entirely surrounded with solid wood. In<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_172" id="Page_172">[Pg 172]</a></span> +each case, the animal would have continued to increase in +bulk so long as the smallest aperture remained by which +air and insects could find admission; it would probably +become torpid as soon as this aperture was entirely closed +by the accumulation of stalactite or the growth of wood. +But it still remains to be ascertained how long this state +of torpor may continue under total exclusion from food +and from external air: and, although the experiments +above recorded shew that life did not extend two years +in the case of any one of the individuals which formed +the subjects of them, yet, for reasons which have been +specified, they are not decisive to shew that a state of +torpor, or suspended animation, may not be endured for +a much longer time by Toads that are healthy and well fed +up to the moment when they are finally cut off from food, +and from all direct access of atmospheric air.</p> + +<p>"The common experiment of burying a Toad in a flower-pot +covered with a tile, is of no value unless the cover be +carefully luted to the pot, and the hole at the bottom of +the pot also closed, so as to exclude all possible access of +air, earthworms, and insects. I have heard of two or +three experiments of this kind, in which these precautions +have not been taken, and in which at the end of a year +the Toads have been found alive and well.</p> + +<p>"Besides the Toads inclosed in wood and stone, four +others were placed each in a small basin of plaster of +Paris, four inches deep and five inches in diameter, having +a cover of the same material carefully luted round with +clay; these were buried at the same time and in the same<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_173" id="Page_173">[Pg 173]</a></span> +place with the blocks of stone, and on being examined at +the same time with them in December 1826, two of the +Toads were dead, the other two alive, but much emaciated. +We can only collect from this experiment, that a thin +plate of plaster of Paris is permeable to air in a sufficient +degree to maintain the life of a Toad for thirteen months.</p> + +<p>"In the 19th Vol., No. I, p. 167, of <i>Sillimans American +Journal of Science and Arts</i>, David Thomas, Esq. +has published some observations on Frogs and Toads in +stone and solid earth, enumerating several authentic and +well-attested cases. These, however, amount to no more +than a repetition of the facts so often stated and admitted +to be true, viz., that torpid reptiles occur in cavities of +stone, and at the depth of many feet in soil and earth; +but they state not anything to disprove the possibility of +a small aperture, by which these cavities may have had +communication with the external surface, and insects +have been admitted.</p> + +<p>"The attention of the discoverer is always directed more +to the Toad than to the minutiæ of the state of the cavity +in which it was contained."</p> + +<p>The importance of these experiments, the care with +which they were instituted, the deserved reputation of +the experimenter, and the philosophic character of his +inferences, will, I trust, apologise for the extent of this +quotation. I do not think, however, that the question is +settled by them; and I will venture to make one or two +comments on the facts and on the observations.</p> + +<p>Dr Buckland allows that the circumstances of the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_174" id="Page_174">[Pg 174]</a></span> +incarceration of his Toads were not natural. This seems +to me an element of more importance than he attributes +to it. They were shut up while in active life, after having +been confined for two months on scanty food;—"So that +they were in an <i>unhealthy and somewhat meagre</i> state at +the time of their imprisonment." We do not know what +conditions, what natural provisions precede torpidity and +are essential to it; but possibly there are some, which in +these cases were compulsorily precluded by human interference. +It is stated that the animals that survived to +the second year were always found awake when examined,—"<i>never +in a state of torpor</i>." But Toads that had hid +themselves would have been torpid during the winter +months; and thus we have a sufficient proof that a +natural condition of body had been by some means prevented. +The experiment would be much more fair to the +Toad, and much more conclusive to me, if the animal were +inclosed during the depth of its winter-sleep, care being +taken to handle it as little as possible.</p> + +<p>As it was, however, <i>most of the Toads</i> inclosed in the +limestone <i>survived upwards of thirteen months</i>. This +surely is a very remarkable fact. Take the case of No. 9. +Here was a Toad, nearly full grown, which had been shut +up in a stone cell, covered with a plate of glass carefully +luted down all round, so as to exclude air, buried under +three feet of earth, so as to exclude the smallest gleam of +light; yet, at the expiration of thirteen months, the cell +being examined in winter, when normally all Toads ought +to be sound asleep, this Toad was wide awake, not in the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_175" id="Page_175">[Pg 175]</a></span> +least emaciated, but so thriving in its strange dungeon as +actually to have made 128 grains of flesh! to have actually +increased in weight at the rate of 12½ per cent.!</p> + +<p>Dr Buckland says, "It is probable there was some +aperture in the luting by which small insects found +admission." But this is altogether a <i>petitio principii</i>: it +absolutely begs the question at issue. Are not these +insects entirely gratuitous? The luting was, of course, +carefully laid on: there could be no drying to cause contraction, +buried as it was in the earth; the glass was +uninjured; no orifice was detected; and yet, forsooth, +it must be assumed that "small insects found admission." +Then, too, consider the problem. It is not the possibility +that a microscopically minute insect or two may have +managed in some inscrutable way to insinuate themselves, +but insects sufficient to support this large Toad for thirteen +months, and to make it at the end of that time 128 +grains heavier than it was when first inclosed! There is +the fact, as stated by this careful observer; and I am +sure his hypothesis of intrusive insects will not account +for it.</p> + +<p>I might make similar remarks on No. 5. The glass +was "<i>slightly</i> cracked." No insects were discovered in +it; nor is any perceptible orifice alluded to; yet this Toad +had increased from 1185 grains to 1265 grains. The +"<i>slight</i> crack" in the glass makes this example less +remarkable at first sight than the other; but in reality it +is equally inscrutable. Insects, however minute, do not +pass through glass merely cracked; but the requirement<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_176" id="Page_176">[Pg 176]</a></span> +is the admission of insects enough to make an increase of +flesh of 80 grains' weight, besides maintaining the waste of +the Toad during thirteen months. Where, in each case, was +the excrement corresponding to such an augmentation? +An insect-diet, as every naturalist knows, leaves a very +considerable residuum of indigestible, incorruptible, chitinous +matter: the fœcal remains of an insect-diet sufficient +to keep an adult Toad in condition for thirteen +months, and leave him 128 grains heavier than at first, +would form no inconsiderable or inconspicuous mass. +Yet the silence of the observer on so conclusive an evidence +proves that it was utterly wanting.</p> + +<p>The Toads which survived longest were the largest +specimens. Perhaps it requires a condition of peculiar +vigour to bear the incarceration. Even these were all +dead before two years had elapsed. But then it must be +remembered that they had been disturbed: they had +been taken out, handled, and weighed, and replaced; and +during the second year they had been examined "several +times." Air, it is true, was not admitted in these later +examinations; but <i>light was</i>; and it may be that the +absence of all external stimulus (and light is a potent +one) is indispensable to the prolongation of vitality under +conditions so abnormal.</p> + +<p>No one supposes that incarceration in solid rock is +an ordinary event in the life of even a Toad. However +it occur,—granting that it may occur,—it must +surely be a rare accident happening to an individual here +and there, from which millions of Toads are exempt. We<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_177" id="Page_177">[Pg 177]</a></span> +may reasonably suppose, too, that not one in a hundred +so accidentally incarcerated would survive, the accident in +the majority of cases proving fatal. If we bear in mind +these not unreasonable presumptions, we shall not hastily +decide that all the recorded discoveries of Toads immured +are proved false and impossible, because we have not +succeeded in finding a case of longevity out of four-and-twenty +Toads, many of them little ones, which we took +and violently immured at our pleasure.</p> + +<p>To my own mind these interesting experiments are far +more corroborative than contradictory of the popular +belief. The amazing fact remains, that an adult vertebrate +air-breathing animal can certainly live, and increase +in size, shut up in a stone cell, debarred from light and +air and food, for a period between one and two years! +What have we parallel to this in the whole range of +natural history? <i>C'est le premier pas qui coûte.</i> After +the first year has passed so auspiciously, why may not a +second? a third? and so indefinitely—under circumstances +peculiarly favouring? It is by no means certain that there +are not such favouring circumstances, because we cannot +precisely predicate what they are. And if we admit the +reported cases to be—only a few of them—true, we cannot +evade the conclusion, that the longevity of these imprisoned +Toads must be immense, incalculable. For a +Toad that emerges when a block of stone is split up, +from a matrix that fits (say somewhat roughly, if you +please) its form and size, must have been there ever since +the stone was in a soft state, how long soever that may<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_178" id="Page_178">[Pg 178]</a></span> +have been. Nor does it in the least affect the question, +that there may have been some minute crack in the +matrix through which insects, sufficient to support life, +entered. This circumstance, I say, if satisfactorily proved, +would not touch the question of time. And surely it is +a marvel of colossal magnitude that a vertebrate animal +should have maintained its life shut up in a mass of +stone ever since the deposition of the matter in a solid +form, even though we be able to eliminate from it the +element of total abstinence during the entire period.</p> + +<p>But facts are upon record which prove the possibility +of Toads surviving a protracted incarceration, effected by +man, and therefore without their will. In 1809, on +opening a gap in a wall at Bamborough, in Northumberland, +for the passage of carts, a Toad, which had been +incarcerated in the centre of a wall, was found alive, and +set at liberty. A mason, named George Wilson, when +building this wall, sixteen years before, had wantonly +immured the animal, in a close cavity formed of lime and +stone, just sufficient to contain it, and which he plastered +so closely as seemingly to prevent the admission of air. +When discovered, it seemed at first, as must naturally be +supposed, in a very torpid state; but it soon recovered +animation and activity, and, as if sensible of the blessings +of freedom, made its way to a collection of stones, and +disappeared.<a name="FNanchor_107_107" id="FNanchor_107_107"></a><a href="#Footnote_107_107" class="fnanchor">[107]</a></p> + +<p>Mr F. W. L. Ross of Broadway House, near Topsham, +an acute and experienced naturalist, narrates the follow<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_179" id="Page_179">[Pg 179]</a></span>ing +circumstances:—"In the year 1821, I was residing in +the country, and in my court-yard was a set of stone steps +for mounting on horseback. These being useless to me, +I desired they might be removed. On taking them down, +the lowest step, a coarse red conglomerate, measuring +about three feet in length, ten inches in depth, and about +fourteen in width, was raised by a heavy bar. It had +been well bedded in mortar, in which, while soft, a Toad +had been evidently placed, as there was no appearance of +any way by which it could have found ingress or egress, +the mould or cast being as perfect as if taken in plaster. +On the removal of the stone, the Toad remained torpid for +a few minutes, when it seemed to revive, and then crept +out. From the owners of the property I ascertained that +the steps had been placed there forty-five years before, and, +to the best of their knowledge, had never been moved.</p> + +<p>"The second account is from a clergyman, and originated +in my informing him of the above. He caused +a pit to be dug in his garden, six feet deep; at the +bottom was laid a slate, on which a full-sized Toad was +placed, with an inverted flower-pot over it. The hole +and edges were well luted with clay; the pit was then +filled in, and on that day twelve months reopened, when +the Toad was found alive, and as well as when inclosed in +its living tomb. If, therefore, it could exist in such a +state for twelve months, it is not impossible that it might +do so for a much longer period."<a name="FNanchor_108_108" id="FNanchor_108_108"></a><a href="#Footnote_108_108" class="fnanchor">[108]</a></p> + +<p>These curious facts derive confirmation and augmented +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_180" id="Page_180">[Pg 180]</a></span>interest from some apparently parallel conditions observed +of other animals, widely removed in the organic +scale from the Reptilia, and that on both sides. Some +glimpses of an indefinitely protracted torpidity in Wasps +are given to us in a communication from an eminent entomologist, +Mr G. Wailes of Newcastle, to the Entomological +Society of London, and published in their "Proceedings" +of March 5, 1860. These Rip Van Winkles of the insect +race choose, it seems, the tops of loftiest mountains for +going to their long sleep. Who knows what might be +found if a clever insect-hunter were to go stone-turning on +the peaks of Ararat? Read the following, young enterprising +entomologists! and set out.</p> + +<p>"It is very evident that we have a great deal yet to +learn about the Social Wasps, and therefore the following +remarks as to <i>Vespa vulgaris</i> may be interesting. Ever +since 1829 I have, at intervals, searched the summit of +Skiddaw (3022 feet) for specimens of <i>Leistus montanus</i>, +and on every occasion have taken out from underneath the +loose fragments of the slate perfectly torpid females of +this Wasp, with the wings, legs, antennæ, &c., precisely in +the state in which we find them during winter in the +lower lands. Not unfrequently I have met with dead +specimens which seemed to have perished in the same +dormant state, and been there for a year or two at least. +Mr Smith, in his catalogue of the British Vespadæ, under +this species, states that Mr Wollaston found the female +abundant under stones on the extreme summit of Gribon +Oernant, near Llangollen, in September 1854, adding,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_181" id="Page_181">[Pg 181]</a></span> +'probably hybernating for the winter,' but had evidently +forgotten my writing to him on the subject. My visits to +the mountain have extended from the latter end of June +to the latter end of August, and therefore it necessarily +follows that either these specimens of the female Wasp +were those of the previous year, or that this sex appears +much earlier in the season than has hitherto been supposed. +But in either case the question arises, why are +they torpid during these the hottest months of the year? +It is quite true that the temperature of the altitude is +below that of the plains, especially during the night, and +I have myself been enveloped in falling sleet and snow +more than once, both in June and August, though, as a +rule, the Cumberland mountains seldom have a thick +covering of snow, and often only a few inches once or +twice in the winter. Still, the temperature of ordinary +mountains always approaches that of the plains in summer, +and, one would have expected, was in Britain at least sufficiently +high to rouse these Wasps in their winter quarters, +when every other insect under the same stones was +active and stirring, and the air so warm and bright that +<i>Larentia salicata</i> and <i>Crambus furcatillus</i> were sporting +in the mid-day sun above them. Such, however, was +not the case, and when turned out of their snug, dry +quarters, they allowed themselves to be handled and put +into pill-boxes just as they do in winter. We may therefore +ask, when are these sleepers to awake? for as the +ground temperature reaches its maximum during the +months in which I have met with them, and Mr Wollas<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_182" id="Page_182">[Pg 182]</a></span>ton +has found them in a similar state in September, when +a declining temperature has set in, we must conclude that +for that year all prospect of their subsequent issue from +their retreats through the influence of heat is barred. Can +this be called hybernation, as it is usually understood? +Or is there some other cause of torpidity besides mere +cold? Or are we to conclude that when once put to sleep +in these lofty regions, they wake no more unless kindly +removed into a milder clime by a stray entomologist, when, +as I have always noticed, they become as active as those +of the warm lowlands?"<a name="FNanchor_109_109" id="FNanchor_109_109"></a><a href="#Footnote_109_109" class="fnanchor">[109]</a></p> + +<p>Mr Westwood, in the conversation that ensued on this +communication, suggested that these female Wasps had +been the founders of colonies in the preceding spring, and, +after performing their maternal duties, had retired to die +in the situations in which they were found by Mr Wailes. +But with all due deference to so great an authority, is not +this another example of those "explanations" which are +thrown off without a due consideration of the exigencies +of the case in hand—explanations which really explain +nothing? For though this hypothesis might account for +Wasps found under such conditions in June, it will not do +for the September findings. Insects that had performed +the end of their existence and had retired to die in June, +would not live through July and August, and be found +alive in September. Besides, Mr Wailes distinctly affirms, +that <i>they always become active</i> when removed to a milder +clime, which is proof positive that they had not retired to +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_183" id="Page_183">[Pg 183]</a></span>die. Mr Smith's hypothesis, that they are "probably hybernating +for the winter," will not account for their torpidity +in June and July. Mr Westwood's hypothesis, that +they are moribund individuals after their spring work, +will not explain their vitality till September, and their +revivification when removed.</p> + +<p>But these are insects; and the difference between vertebrate +and invertebrate life is so vast that, after all, the +possibilities of the latter may not have much bearing on +those of the former. What, then, shall we say to an +indefinite prolongation of life under like dreary conditions +in—<i>Bats</i>? <i>Bats</i>, which are true vertebrata; and +no amphibia grovelling at the bottom of the vertebrate +ladder, where the dim flame of spinal life is just glimmering +in the socket, but <i>Mammalia</i>, and those of nearly the +highest type;—<i>Bats</i>, which Linnæus associated with +<i>Homo sapiens</i> himself in his first Order <i>Primates</i>! Can +<i>these</i> live for years shut up from light and food and air? +these great-chested, well-lunged, warm-blooded, aerial +quadrupeds? "Impossible! I would not believe it, if——" +Stay! make no rash vows; but read, weigh, +and judge. Remember,—both the following statements +are by clergymen, each of whom is a well-known, careful, +experienced naturalist.</p> + +<p>"A very curious instance," says Mr Pemberton Bartlett, +"of the great length of time that a Bat can remain in a +state of torpidity, came under my notice about three +weeks since; and as I believe instances of the kind are +but rarely observed, perhaps an account of the facts of +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_184" id="Page_184">[Pg 184]</a></span>the case may not prove uninteresting. Upon opening a +vault in Bishopsbourne church, the bricklayer observed a +large Bat clinging to the wall. Thinking it a curious +thing to find a Bat in a vault which he knew had not +been opened for twenty years, in the evening he sent it to +me by his boy, who, when he arrived at the door, was +tempted to open the basket to look at the inmate, when +most unfortunately it made its escape, and flitted into a +leaden spout which was placed against the house, from +whence I was unable to recover it. Upon learning the +particulars of its discovery, I made a careful search about +the vault, but was unable to trace any hole or crack +through which the smallest Bat could have crept. The +bricklayer also informed me that there was no place where +a Bat could have entered, in the part where he opened the +vault, as the entrance was bricked up, and over the steps +was a slab which fitted close. If, indeed, it had been +possible for a Bat to have got between this, the brickwork +at the entrance would most effectually have prevented it +from finding an asylum in the vault. The natural inference +therefore is, that the Bat must have got into the +vault when it was last opened, and consequently had +been entombed since the year 1823! It was most +unfortunate that I was unable to decide what species +it was; but, from the bricklayer's description, I think it +must have been <i>Vespertilio Pipistrellus</i>. When first +taken out of the vault it was in a torpid state, but the +effects of the air may be imagined from its taking the +first opportunity to escape in the evening; it flew, how<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_185" id="Page_185">[Pg 185]</a></span>ever, +far more 'leaden winged' than ever bats are wont to +fly, which was by no means marvellous, when we consider +it had been out of practice for twenty-one years."<a name="FNanchor_110_110" id="FNanchor_110_110"></a><a href="#Footnote_110_110" class="fnanchor">[110]</a></p> + +<p>The next account, by the Rev. A. C. Smith, of Yatesbury +Rectory, Calne, is one of peculiar interest. The narrator +actually witnessed the discovery. His investigation +was pursued with the cautious care, and his statement is +made with the precision, which belong to science; and the +details are so full, and his remarks so appropriate, that +though the story is somewhat long, I cannot bring myself +to abridge it. It bears date, Feb. 18, 1854. Of course, +the reader will note how these two narratives yield each +other mutual corroboration.</p> + +<p>"While effecting some repairs in the pavement of the +aisle of my church, a short time since, the masons found +it necessary to remove some bricks from the solid wall of +an adjacent vault, in order the better to adjust an iron +bar intended to support the superincumbent flagstone. +It seems that one or two bricks being removed, and +several large and handsome coffins being exposed to view, +curiosity tempted one of the workmen to reach his hand +in with a lighted candle, in order to see the names and +dates on the coffins; the result of which investigation +shewed that the last coffin was placed there in 1748. +During this search I entered the church, just in time to +witness the extreme surprise, and the no little consternation, +of the man, whose hand had suddenly come in contact +with a Bat, suspended from the roof of the vault.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_186" id="Page_186">[Pg 186]</a></span> +The Bat was soon brought to light; and, in its half-torpid +state, placed in my hand. We then proceeded to make a +very minute examination of this vault with a lighted candle, +in order to discover, if possible, by what means the +Bat could have penetrated to its resting-place: but, although +our search was very careful and long continued, +we failed to discover the smallest crack or crevice in +which a pin could be thrust. The roof was an arch of +brick, surmounted by flagstones; the sides were solid +masonry, bearing no appearance internally of decay; and +the position of the vault was very near the centre of the +church: so that I was much puzzled to account for the +occurrence of the Bat in a place apparently hermetically +sealed for above a hundred years; and knew not how to +combat the opinion of the workmen, that it must have +been entombed there alive since the year 1748.</p> + +<p>"I now proceeded to institute inquiries regarding the +vault in which the Bat was found. The marble monument +above, recorded the names of an old Wiltshire family +long since extinct in these parts, and the dates of the +three coffins below, corroborating the statement of the +brass plate, that the individual last buried died <span class="smcap">A.D.</span> +1748. Several old men in the parish remembered an adjacent +vault being opened, when they were boys, nearly +sixty years since: but all positively denied that the vault +in question had ever been opened in their lives: and one, +a very old man, formerly clerk, and whose then residence +abutted on the churchyard, was very emphatic on this +point. So that I am constrained to believe that the vault<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_187" id="Page_187">[Pg 187]</a></span> +has remained untouched since it received its last occupant, +a hundred and six years ago: and I am the more convinced +of this from the excessive freshness of the last coffin, +the brass plate and nails of which are as bright, and +its whole appearance as new, as if it had been placed there +but yesterday, which would not have been the case had +the external air been admitted at any time since the vault +was closed.</p> + +<p>"During the time of the examination of the vault, the +Bat was held in my hand, and above an hour must have +elapsed since its capture before I was enabled to take it to +the Rectory, and place it under an inverted glass: by this +time the warmth of my hand had considerably revived it, +and it wandered round its prison, snuffing about with its +curious nose, and standing up, and trying to hook itself +on to the smooth glass, which baffled all its attempts. +As it obstinately refused to eat small pieces of chopped +meat, with which I tempted it to break its fast, which +may have continued a hundred and six years, and after +which I should have imagined it to be ravenous; and as +it lay on its side, apparently in a dying state, humanity +urged me to give it a chance of life, by restoring it to +liberty, and I accordingly carried it to the garden, where +I placed it upon the turf, and watched its movements. +At first it clung to the blades of grass, and shivered a +good deal; presently it fluttered along the ground; soon +it rose upon the wing, though in an awkward manner, +and although it sank several times, as if about to fall to +the ground, and as if it had not found the use of its wings,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_188" id="Page_188">[Pg 188]</a></span> +(which might have been a little stiff for want of exercise, +if they had been closed above a hundred years), it passed +behind a clump of trees and I saw it no more; and then +I began to regret, when too late, that I had not made +more efforts to keep it alive and watch its recovery. I +know little of the different species of Bats, but, from its +diminutive size, and extremely long ears, I should imagine +it to be the <i>Vespertilio auritus</i> of Gilbert White.</p> + +<p>"Now, if the hypothesis be deemed absurd that the Bat +had been immured in the vault since 1748, how then are +we to account for its presence there? For although I am +aware that a Bat, and especially one of the smallest species, +would creep through a very small crack or crevice, yet the +evidence of my own senses, after a very close examination, +convinces me that not even the smallest crack existed between +the bricks of the vault; and I think the evidence +no less conclusive that the vault has remained untouched +for a great number of years. Again, notwithstanding the +disbelief of some, it is very generally acknowledged that +Toads do occasionally exist in blocks of stone and in timber; +and the material in which they are inclosed having +gradually formed around them, they must necessarily have +been entombed, in some well-authenticated cases, for a +very long period of time. Why then, I ask, should we +deny that to be possible with the Bat, which we so readily +concede to be an occurrence by no means unusual with +the Toad? I own, that, taking all these things into account, +and finding no other possible solution for the mystery, +I came to the conclusion, after mature deliberation,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_189" id="Page_189">[Pg 189]</a></span> +that the Bat had been entombed in the vault since it last +was opened in the year 1748. That impression has increased +upon longer reflection, and has been further +strengthened almost into certainty, from the perusal of a +very interesting and very similar case, recorded by the +Rev. J. P. Bartlett in an early volume of the <i>Zoologist</i> +(<i>Zool.</i>, 613.)<a name="FNanchor_111_111" id="FNanchor_111_111"></a><a href="#Footnote_111_111" class="fnanchor">[111]</a> That gentleman states, that on opening a +vault which had been closed for twenty-one years, a Bat +was discovered in a torpid state; that he himself made a +very careful search about the vault, and was unable to +discover any crack through which the smallest Bat could +have crept; that the vault was surrounded with brickwork; +the entrance was bricked up, and over the steps was +placed a close-fitting slab; and that he could come to no +other conclusion than that the Bat had been inclosed there +for twenty-one years. I confess that I quite agree in +opinion with Mr Bartlett, and believe that the Bat discovered +in the vault in Bishopsbourne church crept in on +the occasion of its last opening: and so in the like manner +with the one found in my own church; for although there +is unquestionably a vast difference between twenty-one +and a hundred and six years, yet, if we can establish the +fact of a Bat remaining torpid for the shorter period, I +find no difficulty in understanding that a sleep which +would endure so long as that did, might be protracted +to a far longer period. It is most probable that many +will differ from me in opinion, and perhaps some will +ridicule the idea: if they can discover any other pro<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_190" id="Page_190">[Pg 190]</a></span>bable +or even possible means of accounting for the presence +of the Bat in the vault, exclusive of a crack or chink in +it, or of its having been opened within the memory of living +man, both of which views I firmly oppose, I shall feel +greatly obliged by their stating their opinions in the +<i>Zoologist</i>: meanwhile I hold to my belief, that the Bat +had been there for not less than <i>one hundred and six +years</i>!"<a name="FNanchor_112_112" id="FNanchor_112_112"></a><a href="#Footnote_112_112" class="fnanchor">[112]</a></p> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_191" id="Page_191">[Pg 191]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="V" id="V"></a>V.</h2> + +<h2>HYBERNATION OF SWALLOWS.</h2> + + +<p>What becomes of our swallows in the winter? They +migrate, you reply, to a warmer parallel. That is true, +no doubt; though there have not been wanting naturalists +of respectable name who have maintained that none +of them ever leave the country. No doubt, however, they +do migrate; but is this true of the entire body, or only +of a portion? That the whole hirundinal population—swifts, +swallows, martins, and bank-martins—disappear +from view, every one knows; for who ever saw any of the +tribe wheeling and traversing through the sky in the +frosts of January or February? But so do the Bats and +the Butterflies. Now, the Bats hybernate with us, concealing +themselves in crevices, caves, hollow trees, unused +buildings, and similar places; so do the house-flies; so +do the butterflies, some species at least, and many other +insects. Do the Swallows hybernate? That they do +is a very old opinion; and those homely but wide-spread +rhymes that record so many accepted facts in popular +natural history, record <i>this</i> as a fact. Our rustic children +sing—</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> + +<span class="i0">"The bat, the bee, the butterfly,</span><br /> +<span class="i2">The cuckoo and the swallow,</span><br /> +<span class="i0">The corn-crake and the wheat-ear,</span><br /> +<span class="i2">They all sleep in the hollow."</span><br /> +</div></div> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_192" id="Page_192">[Pg 192]</a></span></p> +<p>Local variations—what we may call <i>lectiones variæ</i>—exist; +for example, in the south-east of our island, the third line +runs,</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> + +<span class="i0">"The corn-crake and the <i>nightingale</i>."</span><br /> +</div></div> + +<p>In the north of Europe an opinion has long prevailed +that the Swallows not only hybernate in a state of torpidity, +but, like the frogs and toads, retire to the bottoms +of pools to spend that dreary season. In Berger's "Calendar +of Flora," published in the <i>Amœnitates Academicæ</i>, +vol. iv., he puts down as the phenomenon proper to the +22d of September, "<i>Hirundo submergitur</i>," talking, as +Gilbert White remarks, as familiarly of the Swallows going +under water, as he would of his poultry going to roost at +sunset. Klein, and even Linnæus himself, adopted this +strange opinion, which was considered to rest upon good +testimony, and that not only of the illiterate and unobservant. +Etmuller, who was Professor of Anatomy and Botany +at Leipsig in the middle of the seventeenth century, says, +"I remember to have found more than a bushel would +hold of Swallows closely clustered among the reeds of a +fish-pond under the ice, all of them to appearance dead, +but with the heart still pulsating." And Derham, the +acute author of "Physico-theology," citing this statement, +adds, "We had at a meeting of the Royal Society, February +12, 1713, a further confirmation of Swallows retiring +under water in the winter from Dr Colas, a person very +curious in these matters, who, speaking of their way of +fishing in the northern parts by breaking holes and drawing +their nets under the ice, saith, that he saw sixteen<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_193" id="Page_193">[Pg 193]</a></span> +Swallows so drawn out of the Lake of Lamrodt, and about +thirty out of the king's great pond in Rosneilen; and +that at Schlehitten, near a house of the Earl of Dohna, he +saw two Swallows just come out of the waters, that could, +scarcely stand, being very wet and weak, with their wings +hanging on the ground; and that he observed the Swallows +to be often weak for some days after their appearance."<a name="FNanchor_113_113" id="FNanchor_113_113"></a><a href="#Footnote_113_113" class="fnanchor">[113]</a></p> + +<p>The Academy of Upsal received the winter submersion +of the Swallows as an undoubted fact, and even Cuvier +admits as "well authenticated, that they fall into a +lethargic state during winter, and even that they pass that +season at the bottom of marshy waters."<a name="FNanchor_114_114" id="FNanchor_114_114"></a><a href="#Footnote_114_114" class="fnanchor">[114]</a> One would +think that a zoological statement which Linnæus and +Cuvier accepted, must be fact; yet it remains utterly improbable. +In Germany, a reward of an equal weight in +silver was publicly offered to any one who should produce +Swallows found under water, but we are assured that no +one was found to claim the money.</p> + +<p>We may safely dismiss the notion of submersion till +better authenticated; but that of torpidity is still open to +examination. Statements to the effect that quantities of +Swallows in a death-like condition have been found in +hollow trees, holes in cliffs, banks, &c., are even more +common than those of their submersion; and they seem +to obtain credence in all the temperate or cold regions +where the Swallows are found. It is hard to think that a +persuasion so widely diffused can be wholly groundless.</p> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_194" id="Page_194">[Pg 194]</a></span></p> +<p>Peter Collinson, the friend and correspondent of Linnæus, +communicated to the Royal Society the following +statement by M. Achard:—"In the latter end of March I +took my passage down the Rhine to Rotterdam. A little +below Basel, the south bank of the river was very high +and steep, of a sandy soil, sixty or eighty feet above the +water.</p> + +<p>"I was surprised at seeing, near the top of the cliff, +some boys tied to ropes, hanging down doing something. +The singularity of these adventurous boys, and the business +they so daringly attempted, made us stop our navigation, +to inquire into the meaning of it. The waterman +told us they were reaching the holes in the cliffs for +Swallows or Martins, which took refuge in them, and remained +there all the winter, until warm weather, and +then they came abroad.</p> + +<p>"The boys being let down by their comrades to the +holes, put in a long rammer, with a screw at the end, such +as is used to unload guns, and, twisting it about, drew out +the birds. For a trifle I procured some of them. When +I first had them, they seemed stiff and lifeless; I put one +of them in my bosom, between my skin and shirt, and +laid another on a board, the sun shining full and warm +upon it; and one or two of my companions did the like. +That in my bosom revived in about a quarter of an hour; +feeling it move, I took it out to look at it; but perceiving +it not sufficiently come to itself, I put it in again; in +about another quarter, feeling it flutter pretty briskly, I +took it out, and admired it. Being now perfectly re<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_195" id="Page_195">[Pg 195]</a></span>covered, +before I was aware, it took its flight; the covering +of the boat prevented me from seeing where it went. +The bird on the board, though exposed to a full sun, yet, +I presume from a chilliness of the air, did not revive so as +to be able to fly."<a name="FNanchor_115_115" id="FNanchor_115_115"></a><a href="#Footnote_115_115" class="fnanchor">[115]</a></p> + +<p>On this account I may observe that Collinson would +hardly have been the medium of this communication, +unless he had been satisfied of the probity of his correspondent. +The time was "the latter end of March," a +fortnight at least before the arrival of the Sand Martin—the +earliest of our migrants; and the whole enterprise of +the boys, and the familiarity of the waterman with the +circumstance, as well as their assertions, shew that they, +at least, had no doubt about this being a case of hybernation. +Yet the repeated exploration of the Sand Martin's +burrows in this country, in winter, has produced no birds.</p> + +<p>White of Selborne, who was very much interested in +the solution of this question, mentions two instances—both, +however, on hearsay evidence. A clergyman assured +him that, when he was a boy, some workmen, in pulling +down the battlements of a tower, early in spring, found +two or three Swifts <i>among the rubbish</i>, which appeared +dead, but revived in the warmth. The other account was +that of the fall of a portion of the cliff near Brighton in +winter, when many persons found Swallows among the +rubbish; but here even White's informant did not see the +birds, but was merely told of them.<a name="FNanchor_116_116" id="FNanchor_116_116"></a><a href="#Footnote_116_116" class="fnanchor">[116]</a></p> + +<p>Bishop Stanley, in his "Familiar History of Birds," has +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_196" id="Page_196">[Pg 196]</a></span>collected some stories which appear circumstantial enough, +if we could be quite sure they were authentic; on which +point the good bishop seems to give the weight of his +own character, since he observes that they are "cases +which have come to our knowledge, on the most respectable +authority."</p> + +<p>"On the 16th of November 1826, a gentleman residing +near Loch Awe, in Scotland, having occasion to examine +an out-house, used as a cart-shed, saw an unusual appearance +upon one of the rafters which crossed and supported +the thatched roof. Upon mounting a ladder, he found to +his astonishment that this was a group of Chimney-swallows +(<i>Hirundo rustica</i>) which had taken up their winter +quarters in this exposed situation. The group consisted +of five, completely torpid: and none of the tribe to which +they belonged had been seen for five or six weeks previously: +he took them in his hand, as they lay closely +and coldly huddled together, and conveyed them to his +house, in order to exhibit them as objects of curiosity to +the other members of his family. For some time they +remained to all appearance lifeless; but the temperature +of the apartment into which they were carried being +considerably raised by a good turf fire, they gradually +evinced symptoms of reanimation; and in less than a +quarter of an hour, finding that they were rather rudely +handled, all of them recovered, so as to fly impatiently +round the room, in search of some opening by which they +might escape. The window was thrown up, and they +soon found their way into the fields, and were never seen<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_197" id="Page_197">[Pg 197]</a></span> +again. A similar circumstance, though, from the place of +its discovery it must refer probably to Sand Martins, was +related by a gentleman who found two Swallows in a +sand-bank at Newton, near Stirling, quite dormant.</p> + +<p>"Again, about half-a-dozen Swallows were found a few +years ago, in a torpid state, in the trunk of a hollow tree, +by a countryman, who brought them to a respectable +person, by whom they were deposited in a desk, where +they remained forgotten till the following spring, when, +one morning, on hearing a noise, he opened the desk, and +found one of them fluttering about: the others also began +to shew signs of life, and upon being placed out of doors +in the sun, speedily arranged their plumage, took wing, +and disappeared.</p> + +<p>"On the 2d of November 1829, at Loch Ransa, in the +island of Arran, a man, while digging in a place where a +pond had been lately drained off, discovered two Swallows +in a state of torpor; on placing them near the fire, they +recovered. One unfortunately escaped, but the other was +kept by the man, for the purpose of shewing it to some +scientific persons."</p> + +<p>In North America there is a curious species of Swift, +(<i>Acanthylis pelasgia</i>,) which associates in immense flocks +to roost in chimneys and hollow trees. It is the popular +belief that these birds spend the winter in a torpid condition +in their roosting trees. Williams, in his "History of +Vermont," speaks of a large hollow elm which had been +for many years appropriated to this purpose. A farmer +resident close to the tree was persuaded that it was the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_198" id="Page_198">[Pg 198]</a></span> +winter dwelling-place of the Swifts, and avoided felling it +on that account. About the 1st of May, he always saw +them come out of it in large numbers, about the middle +of the day, and in a short time return. Then, as the +weather grew warmer, they came forth in increased multitudes +in the morning, and did not return till night. A +similar account was given of another tree: the first appearance +of the Swifts in spring was always their emergence +from its hollow trunk, and their last, in September, +was their ingress. Yet Wilson, the great ornithologist of +America, argues, not without some heat, yet with considerable +force, that such a belief is erroneous. Erroneous, +certainly, the supposition that the whole body of the +Chimney-swifts so hybernate; but whether a few do or do +not, his arguments do not quite conclude.</p> + +<p>The rustic quatrain, quoted in the outset of this disquisition, +mentions the Corncrake, as associated with the +Swallow in this winter-sleep,—"in the hollow." It is +curious that two modern instances are on record of hybernating +Corncrakes, though this is certainly as migratory a +species with us as the <i>Hirundinidæ</i>. A farmer at Aikerness +in Orkney, about midwinter, in demolishing a mud-wall, +found a Corncrake in the midst of it. It was apparently +lifeless; but being fresh to the feel and smell, it +was placed in the warmth. In a short time it began to +move, and in a few hours was able to walk about, and +lived for two days in the kitchen; when refusing all food, +or rather, none that suited it being then obtainable, it died.<a name="FNanchor_117_117" id="FNanchor_117_117"></a><a href="#Footnote_117_117" class="fnanchor">[117]</a></p> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_199" id="Page_199">[Pg 199]</a></span></p> +<p>"The second case occurred at Monaghan, in Ireland, +where a gentleman, having directed his labourers, in +winter, to remove a large heap of manure, that had remained +undisturbed for a great length of time, perceived +a hole, which was supposed to have been made by rats; +it penetrated to a great depth, but at its termination, instead +of rats, three Corncrakes were discovered, as if placed +there with the greatest care, not a feather being out of its +place, and apparently lifeless. The birds on examination +were, however, considered to be in a torpid state, and were +placed near a fire in a warm room. In the course of a +short time a tremulous motion was observed in one of +their legs, and soon after a similar motion was noticed in +the legs and wings of the whole, which at length extended +itself to their whole bodies, and finally the birds were +enabled to run and fly about the room."<a name="FNanchor_118_118" id="FNanchor_118_118"></a><a href="#Footnote_118_118" class="fnanchor">[118]</a></p> + +<p>Daines Barrington, the correspondent of Gilbert White +and of Pennant, was a firm believer in the winter sleep of +Swallows with us. He mentions, on the authority of Lord +Belhaven, that numbers of Swallows had been found in +old dry walls and in sandhills near his lordship's seat in +East-Lothian; not once only, <i>but from year to year</i>, and +that when they were exposed to the warmth, they revived. +He says, however, he cannot determine the particular +species.<a name="FNanchor_119_119" id="FNanchor_119_119"></a><a href="#Footnote_119_119" class="fnanchor">[119]</a></p> + +<p>The same naturalist mentions many other instances in +which they have been reported to be found, but he cannot +give his personal voucher for the truth of the statements.</p> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_200" id="Page_200">[Pg 200]</a></span></p> +<p>"As first in a decayed hollow tree, that was cut down near +Dolgelly, in Merionethshire; secondly, in a cliff near +Whitby, in Yorkshire, where, in digging out a fox, whole +bushels of Swallows were found in a torpid condition; +thirdly, the Rev. Mr Conway, of Lychton, Flintshire, a +few years ago, between All Saints' and Christmas, on +looking down an old lead mine in that county, observed +numbers of Swallows clinging to the timbers of the shaft, +seemingly asleep, and on flinging some gravel on them +they just moved, but never attempted to fly or to change +their place."<a name="FNanchor_120_120" id="FNanchor_120_120"></a><a href="#Footnote_120_120" class="fnanchor">[120]</a></p> + +<p>In some communications to the <i>Zoologist</i> for 1845, by +the late Mr F. Holme, of Oxford, I find the following +statement:—"On the hybernation of this species (the +House-swallow) I was told many years since, by old Wall, +then keeper of the Kildare Street Museum, in Dublin, +... that after a heavy snow, in the winter of 1825-26, +on going into the <i>mansarde</i> to see whether the snow +had melted through, he found four Chimney-swallows +perched close together on a cross-beam, with their heads +under their wings; but on approaching his hand to them +they flew off, and escaped into the open air."<a name="FNanchor_121_121" id="FNanchor_121_121"></a><a href="#Footnote_121_121" class="fnanchor">[121]</a></p> + +<p>Again, Mr J. B. Ellman of Battel, says, "There is a +farmer named Waters, residing at Catsfield, (adjoining +parish,) who informs me he has frequently (some years +ago) dug Swallows out of banks in winter, while widening +the ditches in the brooks," &c.<a name="FNanchor_122_122" id="FNanchor_122_122"></a><a href="#Footnote_122_122" class="fnanchor">[122]</a></p> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_201" id="Page_201">[Pg 201]</a></span></p> +<p>It is unfortunate that most of these and similar discoveries +were "some years ago;" and that, instead of +increasing in frequency with the increase of scientific +research and communication, they strangely become more +rare. The same remark applies to the following statement: +it is minute enough, and circumstantially precise; +but, unfortunately, it was "fifteen years ago." The communicator +is Edward Brown Fitton, Hastings, under date +September 8, 1849:—</p> + +<p>"A labourer named William Joyce, who is now employed +in excavating part of the East Hill for the foundation +of a house, told me yesterday, that, in the month of +December, about fifteen years ago, while he was working +for Mr William Ranger, who had the contract for cutting +away the 'White Rock,' which used to stand between this +place and St Leonard's, the men found an immense quantity +of Swallows in a cleft of the rock. The birds were +clinging together in large 'clots,' and appeared to be dead, +but were not frozen together, the weather being rather +warm for the season, nor were they at all putrid or +decayed. The men carried out at least <i>three railway-barrows</i> +full of birds, which were buried with the mould +and rubbish from the cliff as it was wheeled away. Some +people from the town carried away a few of the birds to +'make experiments with,' but Joyce never heard any +more of them. He mentioned the names of four persons +now in Hastings, who were then his fellow-labourers, and +says, that forty or fifty of Mr Ranger's men were on the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_202" id="Page_202">[Pg 202]</a></span> +spot when the birds were found, and can confirm what +he says, both as to the finding and the very great quantity +of the birds. There are many crevices in the seaward +surface of the cliffs about here, which apparently +penetrate the cliff for several yards. The birds were +found about ten feet from the surface of the rock facing +the sea, and not very high up."<a name="FNanchor_123_123" id="FNanchor_123_123"></a><a href="#Footnote_123_123" class="fnanchor">[123]</a></p> + +<p>There is yet another class of facts to be adduced, +which has an important bearing on the subject. At first +sight, these facts appear less conclusive than the asserted +discoveries of the birds, because less direct; but I am inclined +to attach more value to them, because they are +attested by so many and so unexceptionable witnesses. I +mean the sight of Swallows at large in these islands during +the winter months. Let us see some examples.</p> + +<p>White of Selborne records several cases: thus, in 1773, +twenty or thirty House-martins were playing in the air all +day on the 3d of November,<a name="FNanchor_124_124" id="FNanchor_124_124"></a><a href="#Footnote_124_124" class="fnanchor">[124]</a> after having disappeared +from the 22d of October. In 1772, he saw three House-swallows +gliding by on the sea-shore at Newhaven, on the +4th of November.<a name="FNanchor_125_125" id="FNanchor_125_125"></a><a href="#Footnote_125_125" class="fnanchor">[125]</a> On another occasion, (the year not +being recorded,) he saw, on a sunny morning, a House-martin +flying, at Oxford, on the 20th of November.<a name="FNanchor_126_126" id="FNanchor_126_126"></a><a href="#Footnote_126_126" class="fnanchor">[126]</a> On +the 26th of November 1768, one of his neighbours saw a +Martin hawking briskly after flies.<a name="FNanchor_127_127" id="FNanchor_127_127"></a><a href="#Footnote_127_127" class="fnanchor">[127]</a> And a very respectable +gentleman assured him that on a remarkably hot +day, either in the last week in December or the first week +in January, he espied three or four Swallows in the moulding +of a window of Merton College, Oxford.<a name="FNanchor_128_128" id="FNanchor_128_128"></a><a href="#Footnote_128_128" class="fnanchor">[128]</a></p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_203" id="Page_203">[Pg 203]</a></span></p><p>Colonel Montagu remarks that "there are a variety of +instances of the Swallow and Martin having been seen flying +in the months of November and December, roused +probably from a state of torpidity by an unusual warmth +of the air;"<a name="FNanchor_129_129" id="FNanchor_129_129"></a><a href="#Footnote_129_129" class="fnanchor">[129]</a> and Captain H. W. Hadfield, commenting +on this, affirms that he has "more than once had ocular +proof of their presence during the winter months."<a name="FNanchor_130_130" id="FNanchor_130_130"></a><a href="#Footnote_130_130" class="fnanchor">[130]</a> +Yarrell gives examples of the late appearance of the Swift. +One was seen by Mr Blackwall on the 20th of October +1815; a second in Perthshire on the 8th of November +1834; and a third in Devonshire, by the Rev. Mr Cornish, +on the 27th November 1835.<a name="FNanchor_131_131" id="FNanchor_131_131"></a><a href="#Footnote_131_131" class="fnanchor">[131]</a> In considering these +cases, it is needful to bear in mind that the Swift migrates +from this country annually from the 1st to the 15th of +August.</p> + +<p>Mr C. R. Bree mentions the following case, which I record, +not because it was particularly late, but because the +state of the season, and some other circumstances which +he remarks on are interesting:—"On the 25th of October +1848, some workmen being engaged on the roof of my +house, I was surprised by the appearance of three Swallows +flying about the men. I had not seen one since the +beginning of the month. By the side of the edge of the +gable-end of the house the plaster was broken away, +forming a hole, which led under the roof. While watch<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_204" id="Page_204">[Pg 204]</a></span>ing +the birds, which came occasionally quite close to my +face, I saw first one, then another, alight upon the ledge +of the gable-end, near the hole. Now, I thought, I am to +settle the question of hybernation: but I was disappointed. +Though I watched them for several hours—though I sent +the workmen to another part of the house, yet, although +they frequently settled about the hole, they never entered +it. They were evidently young birds, and had been disturbed. +One of them rested upon the chimney, and appeared +weak and dull. I lost sight of them during the +day; but the following morning, the weather being warm, +I saw several flying about high up in the air. There is +some mystery about these things. Why have these late +appearances been more remarked this year than other +years? How did the birds obtain food during the three +weeks of bitter cold weather when they were not seen in +October?"<a name="FNanchor_132_132" id="FNanchor_132_132"></a><a href="#Footnote_132_132" class="fnanchor">[132]</a></p> + +<p>On the 10th of December 1843, a specimen of the Swallow, +<i>an adult bird, not a young of the season</i>, (an important +circumstance,) in full plumage and good condition, +was shot at Goole, in the West Riding, and was sent to +Mr R. J. Bell, of Derby, a good ornithologist,<a name="FNanchor_133_133" id="FNanchor_133_133"></a><a href="#Footnote_133_133" class="fnanchor">[133]</a> who records +the fact. In 1852, that excellent naturalist, Mr Hewitson, +of Oatlands, saw two Chimney-swallows at Eshar on the +18th of November, and on the 21st had four martins +about his house.<a name="FNanchor_134_134" id="FNanchor_134_134"></a><a href="#Footnote_134_134" class="fnanchor">[134]</a> In 1855, Mr E. Vernon Harcourt reports +the occurrence of several Martins skimming about +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_205" id="Page_205">[Pg 205]</a></span>at Uckfield on the 23d of November; and on the 6th of +December several Chimney-swallows about the house at +Hastings.<a name="FNanchor_135_135" id="FNanchor_135_135"></a><a href="#Footnote_135_135" class="fnanchor">[135]</a> In the same season flocks of Martins were +hawking vigorously, in the vicinity of Penzance, to the +28th of November, as witnessed by Mr E. H. Rodd.<a name="FNanchor_136_136" id="FNanchor_136_136"></a><a href="#Footnote_136_136" class="fnanchor">[136]</a> +Captain Hadfield again, writing in 1856, gives extracts +from his journals, whereby he records having seen Swallows +and Martins as late as November 3, 1841, December +2, 1842, November 13, 1852, November 22, 1853, November +(about the middle) 1854, and November 24 (Swallows) +and December 2 (Martins) 1855. Of the last-mentioned +occurrence he gives the following interesting note:—"Dec. +2, 4 <span class="smcap">P.M.</span> Observed eight Martins flying round the +garden, and occasionally alighting on the perpendicular +face of the wall of a house near my garden gate, to which +they would cling for a few seconds, and then, dropping +off, whirl round, returning to the same spot, seemingly +quite unconscious of my presence and that of several +others: they seemed bent on effecting an entrance under +the eaves of the house, by a small opening they had discovered +near a water-pipe that had been carried through +the wall: they were, I believe, all young birds of the season, +as they appeared small, their tails being also shorter +than in the adults; they were weak on the wing, but that +may have arisen from their being benumbed by the cold, +the thermometer standing at 44° only at the above hour. +There had been a bright sun during the greater part of +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_206" id="Page_206">[Pg 206]</a></span>the day, but I had observed a white frost in the morning. +I conclude that these late birds were merely seeking a +roosting-place for the night, and not a place of concealment +for the winter, although I might have been excused, +according to Cuvier, White, &c., had I thought they were +taking up their winter quarters; but I have not sufficient +faith in the theory to induce me to unslate a part of the +roof to seek for them, which might be done, however, at a +trifling cost, provided permission were obtained."<a name="FNanchor_137_137" id="FNanchor_137_137"></a><a href="#Footnote_137_137" class="fnanchor">[137]</a></p> + +<p>It is rather a pity that the observer had not confidence +enough to induce him to make the investigation which he +suggests.</p> + +<p>Mr William Bree mentions as many as fifteen or twenty +Martins and Swallows sporting in the air near Temple Balsall +on the 18th November 1846, adding that he has frequently +seen individuals much later, but never recollects +to have seen so great a number together at that late period. +And, finally, Mr J. Johnston, jun., reports that he saw, in +the afternoon of 18th January 1837, three Swallows dipping +and hawking as in summer, near Wakefield.<a name="FNanchor_138_138" id="FNanchor_138_138"></a><a href="#Footnote_138_138" class="fnanchor">[138]</a></p> + +<p>There is less evidence of the appearance of these birds +before the ordinary time of arrival of the migrants. But +White, when a boy, observed a Swallow for a whole day +together on a sunny warm Shrove Tuesday, which day +could not fall out later than the middle of March, and +often happened early in February.<a name="FNanchor_139_139" id="FNanchor_139_139"></a><a href="#Footnote_139_139" class="fnanchor">[139]</a> And Mr Samuel +Gurney, jun., together with several other persons, saw +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_207" id="Page_207">[Pg 207]</a></span>either a Martin or Swallow, on the 27th of March +1844.<a name="FNanchor_140_140" id="FNanchor_140_140"></a><a href="#Footnote_140_140" class="fnanchor">[140]</a></p> + +<p>If this last occurrence had stood alone, it would have +been of slight importance; for Yarrell mentions a single +Swallow as having been seen by a fisherman near the +Eddystone as early as the 4th of April; and Sand-martins, +even as far north as Carlisle, before the end of March. It +is just possible that these may have been stragglers of the +great army of migrants, arriving some ten or fifteen days +before their time; but considering the whole great array +of evidence, I rather believe that these too were hybernants, +who had been prematurely awakened from torpidity +by unusually warm days.</p> + +<p>The accounts of <i>Hirundines</i> having been found in a +somnolent state in winter may or may not be true; +though the great number of such statements in various +and distant countries makes the indiscriminate rejection +of them even more difficult than the acceptance. But +still there remains the undeniable fact that it is quite an +ordinary thing for birds of this family, including all our +four common species, to be seen with us through November +and December, and occasionally in January;—that is, +for two or three months after the great body of migrants +have left the country. No one, I suppose, pretends that migration +of Swallows takes place in December or January; +therefore it is manifest that a certain number—more or +fewer—remain. What becomes of them? We certainly +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_208" id="Page_208">[Pg 208]</a></span>see them only occasionally: where are they on the days on +which they do not appear,—days extending to several +consecutive weeks? If they had not been torpid during +those weeks, if the more active functions of life had not +been suspended, would they not certainly have been +starved? But the specimen shot on the 10th December, +and examined by Mr Bell, was in good condition, which +is consistent with but one alternative; either it had been +well fed throughout the preceding six weeks, or it had +been hybernating. But the former supposition implies +that it had been habitually on the wing during that +period, as Swallows feed only on the wing; which could +not have been the case without its being noticed and +recorded.</p> + +<p>It is common to say that these occasional winter Swallows +are the later broods of young, which, being too infantile +to migrate, are compelled to linger in the country of +their nativity, and becoming lethargic from the advancing +cold, at length die before the spring. But when this +hypothesis is looked at, it seems hardly tenable. In +many of the instances recorded, the specimens seen even +late into the winter, are represented as gaily and vigorously +hawking for flies, or sweeping over the water as in +summer. This does not look like poor deserted orphans +starved with the cold, retiring to die; but birds in health, +temporarily awakened from normal slumber by an unusual +temperature, and instantly ready for a full use of their +faculties. However, to settle the point by fact, Mr Bell<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_209" id="Page_209">[Pg 209]</a></span> +distinctly states that his specimen of December 10th was +"an adult bird, <i>not</i> a young bird of the season."</p> + +<p>If it should be asked why they do not appear in January +or February, as well as November and December, the +answer is obvious. The winter's lethargy of hybernating +warm-blooded vertebrates is much more readily interrupted +in the earlier part of the season than in the middle and +latter part. And this is natural; for the more intense +cold of January benumbs and suspends the vital functions +far more completely, and the <i>coma</i> so superinduced is +sufficiently deep to resist the counteracting influence of a +few warm days, even though the temperature should be +as high as on those earlier days that awakened them, or +even higher.</p> + +<p>The aggregate evidence, then, seems to leave no room for +reasonable doubt, that a certain number of our <i>Hirundinidæ</i>,—few, +indeed, as compared with the vast migrant +population, but still considerable, looked at <i>per se</i>,—for +some reason or other, evade the task of a southward flight, +and remain, becoming torpid, occasionally betrayed into a +temporary activity, and resuming their active life, about the +same time, or occasionally a little <i>before</i> the time, of the arrival +of their congeners from abroad. It is, however, desirable +for the absolute settlement of the question, that specimens, +actually discovered in a lethargic condition, should come +under the observation of competent scientific naturalists, +<i>open to conviction</i>, who would leave them <i>in situ</i>, keeping +an eye on them from time to time till the return of warm<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_210" id="Page_210">[Pg 210]</a></span> +weather in spring. It is not enough to take them into a +warm room, and to shew that they revive in such circumstances: +we want to know positively whether they will be +resuscitated normally and naturally by the vernal warmth, +and come forth spontaneously to sport, and wheel, and +skim, and soar, and stoop, and hawk, and twitter,—among +their travelled fellows. Who will undertake to decide the +point in this manner? He will have achieved a name in +science.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_211" id="Page_211">[Pg 211]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="VI" id="VI"></a>VI.</h2> + +<h2>THE CRESTED AND WATTLED SNAKE.</h2> + + +<p>About the middle of the last century there existed in +Amsterdam a Museum of natural history, which, though +accumulated by the zeal and industry of a private individual, +far exceeded in extent and magnificence any collection +then in the world. It had been gathered by +Albert Seba, a wealthy apothecary in the Dutch East +India Company's service, who fortunately published an +elaborate description of its contents. This great work, +"<i>Locupletissimi Rerum Naturalium Thesauri accurata +Descriptio</i>,"—in four volumes folio, published from 1734 +to 1765,—is even now remarkable for the accuracy and +beauty of its copious engravings, which still are referred to +as authorities, though the descriptions are devoid of scientific +value. Many of these figures and descriptions, about +whose reality no shadow of doubt exists, are those of creatures +which are altogether unknown to modern science, +and some of them are highly curious.</p> + +<p>Serpents seem to have been a special hobby of Seba's; +and he has delineated a vast number of species. Among +them are two<a name="FNanchor_141_141" id="FNanchor_141_141"></a><a href="#Footnote_141_141" class="fnanchor">[141]</a> about which a singular interest hangs. +They are of rather small size; the one pale yellow, marked +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_212" id="Page_212">[Pg 212]</a></span>with oval reddish spots, the other reddish, with five green +transverse bands. The head in each case has a horny-pointed +muzzle, and the cheeks are furnished with depending +wattles of a coral-red hue.</p> + +<p>From the expressions of wonder with which Seba introduces +his descriptions of these animals, it is evident +that they were no ordinary forms. He does not know +whether to call them Eels or Serpents, the critical characters, +which in our day would instantly determine +this point, being then scarcely heeded. He calls them +"marine," but whether on any other evidence than the +pendent processes of the cheeks, which he calls "fins," +does not appear. But no fish known to naturalists will +answer to these representations. The pointed head, indeed, +resembles in some respects that of <i>Murœna</i>, but +this genus of fishes is altogether destitute of pectoral fins, +while the vertically-flattened tail, and the long dorsal and +anal fins confluent around the extremity of the body in +<i>Murœna</i>, are totally unlike these figures. These and all +similar fishes are, moreover, destitute of visible scales; +but in these the scaling is decidedly serpentine, and the +second, in particular, has large symmetrical plates across +the belly, while the head in both is shielded with broad +plates like a Colubrine Snake. The tail is drawn out to +a long conical point, without the slightest appearance of +compression or of bordering fins. In one figure there is +seen a little projecting point at the edge of the lower +belly, which at first sight suggests the idea of the anal +hook of a <i>Boa</i>, but which, by comparison with other<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_213" id="Page_213">[Pg 213]</a></span> +figures, we discover to be intended to represent the projection +of the pre-anal scale. The very minuteness of this +character makes it valuable: its value was doubtless unheeded +by the artist, who merely drew what he saw; it +is, however, a very decisive mark of distinction between +a serpent and a fish.</p> + +<p>Seba records that he had received these Serpents from +the Island of St Domingo. This was at that time a +flourishing French colony, and its natural productions +were far better known to Europe than they now are. +When I visited the neighbouring island of Jamaica in +1845-46, I heard accounts of a wonderful animal occasionally +seen in the eastern districts of the island, which was +reported as a Snake with a cock's comb and wattles, and +which crowed like a cock. A good deal of mystery +attached to this strange Serpent.</p> + +<p>It was appropriated to a very remarkable and peculiar +character of scenery:—A wild mountain-region, formed +of white limestone, abounding in narrow glens, bounded +by abrupt precipices, and permeated by whispering streams +that frequently pour in slender cascades over the rocks. +The limestone rock rises in abrupt terraces, wall above +wall, and its entire surface is most singularly honeycombed, +"as if wrought by a graving tool into rough +diamond-points," alternating with smooth and rounded +holes of various sizes, from that of a hazel-nut upward. +In many of these hollows lie the small land-shells of the +country, bleached perfectly white, like the stone itself, of +the genera <i>Helix</i>, <i>Cyclostoma</i>, <i>Helicina</i>, <i>Cylindrella</i>,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_214" id="Page_214">[Pg 214]</a></span> +<i>Achatina</i>, &c., many of them perfect, but many more +in fragments. They exactly resemble fossil shells <i>in situ</i>, +but the species are absolutely identical with those that +crawl over the shrubs and trees in the same region. In +very many cases the dead shells accurately fit the hollows +in the rock, whose interior is impressed with the form +and sculpturing of the shell in <i>intaglio</i>:—a most curious +and interesting fact, as it points to the very recent formation +of the region, the stone bearing evident tokens of +having been in a plastic condition when the shells were +enveloped in it. Out of the hollows of the rock, their +roots fast grasping the sharp-edged projections and tooth-like +points of stone, and twining through the tortuous +cavities, and insinuating their fibrils into every minute +hollow where water may lodge, grow many tall trees of +various kinds, interlaced with climbers, and hung with +festoons of <i>lianes</i>, that resemble long and twisted cords, +thrown from one to another, or depending from the +branches towards the ground. The noble Agave, or what +we in England call the American Aloe, here throws out +its broad, fleshy, spine-edged leaves, and lifts its tall flower-stalk +loaded with the candelabra-like branches of bloom; +and numerous thick <i>Cacti</i>, some erect and massive, others +whip-like, long and trailing, give a peculiar aspect to the +vegetation. Great tufts of <i>Orchideœ</i>,—the lovely <i>Broughtonia</i>, +with its thick ovate leaves, and racemes of elegant +crimson flowers, the <i>Brasavola</i>, with long leaves resembling +porcupine-quills in form, and blossoms of virgin +white, the <i>Oncidium</i>, with its yellow and red flowers, like<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_215" id="Page_215">[Pg 215]</a></span> +a score of painted butterflies dancing in every breath, and +many others,—crowd the forks or droop from the twisted +boughs of the trees.</p> + +<p>This formation of honeycombed limestone is full of +caverns, many of which lead into one another in chains, +and which have invested the region with a sort of superstitious +mystery. Runaway slaves and outlaws have +availed themselves of the facilities which its ravines and +inaccessible fastnesses afford, to defy capture; and during +the rebellion of the Maroons, it attained a considerable +notoriety. There is one estate about eight miles from +Kingston, in the immediate vicinity of which the famous +hero, Three-fingered Jack, made his head-quarters. It is a +district of wild torrents and waterfalls of the most romantic +character; "the imagination of no painter of theatrical +spectacles can surpass the wild wonders of the mountain-hold +of the <i>real</i> Three-fingered Jack. Part of the road +by which you ascend the falls is a subterranean passage; +and caverns are entered by simple crevices which seem +mere chinks in the irregular surface of the rock, all which +natural peculiarities account for the mysterious disappearances +which the mountain hero was enabled to enact from +his pursuers."</p> + +<p>It was at this spot I first heard reliable tidings of the +strange Crested Snake. A medical gentleman of reputation +informed me that he had seen, in 1829, a serpent of +about four feet in length, but of unwonted thickness, dull +ochry in colour with well-defined dark spots, having on +its head a sort of pyramidal helmet, somewhat lobed at<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_216" id="Page_216">[Pg 216]</a></span> +the summit, of a pale red hue. The animal, however, was +dead, and decomposition was already setting in. He informed +me that the negroes of the district were well acquainted +with it; and that they represented it as making +a noise, not unlike the crowing of a cock, and as being +addicted to preying on poultry.</p> + +<p>Nor is it in Jamaica alone that the Crested Snake is +known. In the island of St Domingo, whence Seba received +his curious specimens, my friend Mr Hill heard +reports of it. A Spanish gentleman whom he was visiting +in Hayti, told him that he had seen it, and begged +him to note it among the remarkable things of the +country. It was in that far east of the island, known as +the ancient Caciquedom of Higuey, where the Indians +were of a more warlike disposition than their meek +brethren of the centre and west, and where the cruelties +perpetrated upon them by their Spanish invaders reached +such a superhuman pitch of diabolism, that even Las +Casas says he almost feared to repeat them. The limestone +mountains are here of exactly the same description as +those in Jamaica, and the scenery assumes exactly the +same romantic character. My friend's Spanish informant +had seen the serpent with mandibles like a bird, +with a cock's crest, with scarlet lobes or wattles; and +he described its habits,—perhaps rather from common +fame than from personal observation,—as a frequenter of +hen-roosts, into which it would thrust its head, and deceive +the young chickens by its imitative physiognomy, +and by its attempts to crow, like their own Chanticleer.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_217" id="Page_217">[Pg 217]</a></span> +"Il canta como un Gallo;" was the report in Hayti, just +as in Jamaica.</p> + +<p>I was much interested in this mysterious reptile, and +mentioned in the public papers my wish to possess a +specimen. A gentleman of the vicinity, Mr Jasper Cargill, +was so desirous to oblige me that he offered a sovereign +for one; but though several persons were prompt +to promise the capture, no example was forthcoming.</p> + +<p>After my return from Jamaica, the occurrence of two +specimens found came under the notice of my friend, but +neither of them was preserved. Mr Cargill had informed +him that some years before, when visiting Skibo, in St +George's, an estate of his father's, in descending the mountain-road, +his attention was drawn to a snake of a dark +hue, that erected itself from amid some fragments of +limestone-rock that lay about. It was about <i>four feet +long</i>, and unusually <i>thick-bodied</i>. His surprise was greatly +increased on perceiving that it was <i>crested</i>, and that from +the side of the cheeks depended some <i>red-coloured flaps</i>, +like gills or wattles. After gazing at him intently some +time, with its head well erect, it drew itself in, and disappeared +among the fragmentary rocks.</p> + +<p>The son of this gentleman met with another specimen +under the following circumstances, as detailed to me by +my friend:—"It was, I think, on Easter Eve, the 30th of +March last, [1850,] that some youngsters of the town +came running to tell me of a curious snake, unlike any +snake they had ever seen before, which young Cargill had +shot, when out for a day's sport among the woodlands of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_218" id="Page_218">[Pg 218]</a></span> +a neighbouring penn. They described it as in all respects +a serpent, but with a very curious shaped head, and with +wattles on each side of its jaws. After taking it in hand +and looking at it, they placed it in a hollow tree, intending +to return for it when they should be coming home, but +they had strolled from the place so far that it was inconvenient +to retrace their steps when wearied with rambling; +but they had lost no time in relating the adventure to me, +knowing it would interest me much, particularly as young +Cargill's father had thought it a snake similar to the one +he had seen at Skibo, in St George's, or to the crested +serpent for a specimen of which, when in St Thomas's +in the East, he had offered the sum of twenty shillings. +The youth that shot the snake fell ill on the following +morning with fever, and could not go back to the woodlands +to seek it, but he sent his younger brother who had +been with him; but although he thought he rediscovered +the tree in which his brother had placed it, he could not +find the snake. He conjectured that the rats had devoured +it in the night. When this adventure was related +to me, another youth, Ulick Ramsay, a godson of mine, +who came with the young Cargills to tell me of their +discovery, informed me that not long previously, he had +seen in the hand of the barrack-master-serjeant at the +barracks in Spanish Town, a curious snake, which he, too, +had shot among the rocks of a little line of eminences +near the railway, about two miles out, called Craigallechie. +It was a serpent with a curious shaped head, and projections +on each side, which he likened to the fins of an eel,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_219" id="Page_219">[Pg 219]</a></span> +but said they were close up to the jaws. Here are, unquestionably, +two of the same snakes with those of Seba's +Thesaurus, taken near Spanish Town, and both about the +honeycombed rocks that protrude through the plain of +St Catherine's in detached ridges and cones and hummocks, +being points of the greater lines of limestone, +which have been covered by the detritus of the plains, leaving +masses of the under-rocks here and there uncovered. +These are the spots frequented, too, by the <i>Cyclura</i>; and +are continuations of our Red Hills—a country that so +much resembles the terraced cliffs and red-soil glens of +Higuey.</p> + +<p>It is remarkable that I have heard nothing more of this +serpent of renown, this true Basilisk, from that time till +now; though I have no doubt my Jamaica friends, who +had become much interested in the matter, would have +communicated the specimen to me if any one had been +obtained. There is, however, sufficient evidence to assume +the existence of such a form in the greater Antilles, +whether Seba's figures be identical with it or not.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_220" id="Page_220">[Pg 220]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="VII" id="VII"></a>VII.</h2> + +<h2>THE DOUBTFUL.</h2> + + +<p>A very curious and unaccountable habit is attributed to +some Reptiles, which, though asserted by many witnesses, +at different times and in distant countries, has not yet +received the general assent of men of science. White of +Selborne, in one of his charming letters to Pennant, has +the following note:—"Several intelligent folks assure me +that they have seen the Viper open her mouth and admit +her helpless young down her throat on sudden surprises, +just as the female Opossum does her brood into the pouch +under her belly, upon the like emergencies. Yet the London +viper-catchers insist on it, to Mr Barrington, that no +such thing ever happens."<a name="FNanchor_142_142" id="FNanchor_142_142"></a><a href="#Footnote_142_142" class="fnanchor">[142]</a></p> + +<p>The evidence of the London viper-catchers goes for no +more than it is worth; those whom Mr Barrington applied +to,—how many and of what experience I know not,—had +not met with such a case. But negative evidence +is of little weight against positive. At the same time, +others of the same fraternity affirm the fact. There is, as +Mr Martin observes, no physiological reason against the +possibility of the young maintaining life for a brief period +within the stomach of the parent. A swallowed frog has +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_221" id="Page_221">[Pg 221]</a></span>been heard, by Mr Bell, to cry several minutes after it +had been swallowed by a snake; and the same excellent +authority has seen another frog leap out of the mouth of +a snake which had swallowed it, taking advantage of the +fact that the latter gaped, as they frequently do, immediately +after taking food.</p> + +<p>Mr Martin says he has conversed with several who had +been assured by gamekeepers and gardeners that the +swallowing of the young by vipers had been witnessed by +them.<a name="FNanchor_143_143" id="FNanchor_143_143"></a><a href="#Footnote_143_143" class="fnanchor">[143]</a> And Mr Blyth, a zoologist of established reputation, +observes,—"I have been informed of this by so many +credible eye-witnesses, that I cannot hesitate in yielding +implicit credence to the fact. One man particularly, on +whose word I fully rely, tells me that he has himself seen +as many as thirteen young vipers thus enter the mouth of +the parent, which he afterwards killed and opened for the +purpose of counting them."<a name="FNanchor_144_144" id="FNanchor_144_144"></a><a href="#Footnote_144_144" class="fnanchor">[144]</a></p> + +<p>Mr E. Percival, writing to the <i>Zoologist</i>, under date +"64 Lincoln's-Inn-Fields, Oct. 17, 1848," narrates the +following facts:—"When in Scotland, last autumn, I saw +what at the time satisfied me that vipers really possessed +this faculty, though the evidence was scarcely as conclusive +as might have been wished. Walking along a +sunny road, I saw a viper lying on the parapet. She had +apparently just been killed by a blow from a stick. Five +or six young ones, about four inches long, were wriggling +about their murdered parent, and one was making its way +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_222" id="Page_222">[Pg 222]</a></span>out of her mouth, at the time when I approached. Whether +this was the first time the young ones had seen the light, +or whether they were only leaving a place of temporary +refuge, I leave to more experienced observers than myself +to determine."<a name="FNanchor_145_145" id="FNanchor_145_145"></a><a href="#Footnote_145_145" class="fnanchor">[145]</a></p> + +<p>This communication brought out the following from +the late Mr John Wolley:—"Mr Percival's interesting +note (<i>Zool.</i>, 2305) on this subject reminds me of a very +similar anecdote, told me several years ago by a gentleman +who is an accurate observer, and who has had long experience +in all kinds of sports. He one day shot a viper, and +almost immediately afterwards it was surrounded by young +ones, in what appeared to him the most mysterious manner. +But here the grand link was wanting which Mr +Percival has supplied,—the young ones were not seen to +come out of their mother's mouth. I may be allowed to +mention an anecdote, told me in 1842, by an illiterate +shepherd of Hougham, near Dover: he met me catching +vipers, and, on my entering into conversation with him, +he volunteered—without any allusion of mine—to tell this +curious story. One day his father came suddenly upon a +viper surrounded by her young, she opened her mouth and +they all ran down her throat; he killed her, and leaving +her on the ground, propped her mouth open between two +pieces of stick; presently the young ones crawled out: +on the slightest alarm they retreated back again,—and +this they did repeatedly for several days, during which +time many people came to see it.<a name="FNanchor_146_146" id="FNanchor_146_146"></a><a href="#Footnote_146_146" class="fnanchor">[146]</a> The young which White +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_223" id="Page_223">[Pg 223]</a></span>of Selborne cut out of the old female, and which immediately +threw themselves into attitudes of defiance, had probably +not then seen the daylight for the first time. Mr +Bell, in a note in Bennett's edition of White's 'Selborne,' +mentions the wide-spread belief in this alleged habit of +the viper; but appears to consider the fact not proved. +Accounts of similar habits in foreign viviparous snakes, +common report, and, above all, Mr Percival's observation, +leave no doubt on my mind about the matter."</p> + +<p>The most recent case on record that I have met with, +is the following, communicated to the <i>Zoologist</i><a name="FNanchor_147_147" id="FNanchor_147_147"></a><a href="#Footnote_147_147" class="fnanchor">[147]</a> for last +December, by the Rev. Henry Bond, of South Petherton:—</p> + +<p>"Walking in an orchard near Tyneham House, in +Dorsetshire, I came upon an old adder basking in the +sun, with her young around her; she was lying on some +grass that had been long cut, and had become smooth +and bleached by exposure to the weather. Alarmed by +my approach, I distinctly saw the young ones run down +their mother's throat. At that time I had never heard of +the controversy respecting the fact, otherwise I should +have been more anxious to have killed the adder, to prove +the case. As it was, she escaped while I was more interested +in the circumstance I witnessed than in her destruction."</p> + +<p>Exactly the same thing is told of the North American +Rattlesnake. Hunter says, that when alarmed, the young +ones, which are eight or ten in number, retreat into the +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_224" id="Page_224">[Pg 224]</a></span>mouth of the parent, and reappear on its giving a contractile +muscular token that the danger is past.<a name="FNanchor_148_148" id="FNanchor_148_148"></a><a href="#Footnote_148_148" class="fnanchor">[148]</a></p> + +<p>M. Palisot de Beauvois asserts that he saw a large +rattlesnake which he had disturbed in his walks immediately +coil itself up and open its jaws, when in an instant +five small ones that were lying by it rushed into its open +mouth. He concealed himself, and watched the snake, +and in a quarter of an hour saw her discharge them. He +then approached a second time, when the young ones +rushed into the parent's mouth more quickly than before, +and the animal immediately moved off, and escaped. +The phenomenon is said to have been observed in regard +to some of the venomous snakes of India, but I cannot +now refer to details.</p> + +<p>Confirmation of a reported fact is sometimes derived +from collateral evidence, and such is not wanting in the +present case. The phenomenon is not confined to serpents; +it has been observed in their near relatives, the +lizards. Mr Edward Newman, while guarding the subject +with a philosophical caveat, furnishes his readers with the +following highly interesting and germane statement:—"1st, +My late lamented friend, William Christy, jun., found +a fine specimen of the common scaly lizard with two young +ones. Taking an interest in everything relating to Natural +History, he put them into a small pocket vasculum to bring +home; but when he next opened the vasculum the young +ones had disappeared, and the belly of the parent was +greatly distended; he concluded she had devoured her own +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_225" id="Page_225">[Pg 225]</a></span>offspring; at night the vasculum was laid on a table, and +the lizard was therefore at rest: in the morning the young +ones had reappeared, and the mother was as lean as at first. +2d, Mr Henry Doubleday, of Epping, supplies the following +information:—A person whose name is English, a good +observer, and one, as it were, brought up in Natural +History, under Mr Doubleday's tuition, once happened to +set his foot on a lizard in the forest, and while the lizard +was thus held down by his foot, he distinctly saw three +young ones run out of her mouth. Struck by such a +phenomenon, he killed and opened the old one, and found +two other young ones in her stomach, which had been +injured when he trod upon her. In both these instances +the narrators are of that class who do know what to observe, +and how to observe it; and the facts, whatever explanation +they may admit, are not to be dismissed as the +result of imagination or mistaken observation."<a name="FNanchor_149_149" id="FNanchor_149_149"></a><a href="#Footnote_149_149" class="fnanchor">[149]</a></p> + +<p>It is remarkable that all the serpents to which the +phenomenon is attributed are ovo-viviparous. Our common +lizard, to which the facts just narrated doubtless +belong (<i>Zootoca vivipara</i>), has the same property, which, +however, appears to be by no means common among the +Saurian races. This coincidence, while it would afford a +handle to the deniers of the stated facts, in the assumption +that the emergence of the living young from the +abdomen, or their presence within it, has given rise to the +notion—may have an essential significance and connexion +with the phenomenon itself, on the hypothesis of its truth. +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_226" id="Page_226">[Pg 226]</a></span>That endowment, whatever it be, which enables the young +to live and breathe in the abdominal cavity of the mother +before birth, may render it easier for them than for others +not so endowed to survive a temporary incarceration within +the stomach after birth. Mr Newman does not know how +to believe that a young and tender animal can remain in +the strongly digestive stomach of a viper and receive no +injury; but he has forgotten to take into the account the +well-ascertained power that living tissues have the power +of resisting the action of chemical re-agents that would +instantly take effect upon them when dead. The walls +of the stomach itself are not corroded by the gastric-juice +which is rapidly dissolving the piece of meat within it. +If the young animals can do without air for a while in +their snug retreat, I do not think they would need fear +the digestive operation. Air, I should suppose, <i>must</i> be +excluded from the stomach, unless the parent have the +power of swallowing air voluntarily, for the emergency; +but perhaps a cold-blooded animal like a reptile, with a sluggish +circulation and respiration, might do with very much +less fresh air than a mammal under similar conditions.</p> + +<p>The proposed <i>rationale</i> of those who reject these statements,—that +female vipers in the last stage of pregnancy +have been opened, and have given freedom to living and +active young, and that careless and unscientific observers +have leaped to the conclusion that their young must have +entered by the mouth,—will not stand before the testimony +distinctly given by witnesses, who have actually +seen the young retreat into the mouth, and have then found<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_227" id="Page_227">[Pg 227]</a></span> +them within the body. No doubt the subject needs further +investigation by careful and unprejudiced naturalists; +but the positive evidence already adduced on the testimony +of so many deponents, warrants our accepting the phenomenon +as a normal habit of certain species of Saurians +and Ophidians, though it may be somewhat rarely resorted +to, and that whatever physical difficulties may seem to +stand in the way of its <i>à priori</i> probability—difficulties +which perhaps depend on our ignorance, and which will +disappear before the light of advancing knowledge.</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>The entomologists have fallen most ungallantly foul of +Madame Merian, a lady who resided in Surinam nearly +two hundred years ago, and devoted her attention to the +native entomology, painting insects in a very admirable +manner. She is set down as a thorough heretic, not at all +to be believed, a manufacturer of unsound natural history, +an inventor of false facts in science.</p> + +<p>Among other things, she speaks of a large hemipterous +fly, which has in consequence of her reports been named +<i>Fulgora lanternaria</i>. This insect has the head produced +into a large inflated proboscis more than an inch in length, +which is said to carry an intense luminosity within its +transparent walls, as a candle is carried within a lantern. +The fair observer says that the first discovery which she +made of this property caused her no small alarm. The +Indians had brought her several of these insects, which +by daylight exhibited no extraordinary appearance, and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_228" id="Page_228">[Pg 228]</a></span> +she enclosed them in a box until she should have an +opportunity of drawing them, placing it upon a table in her +lodging-room. In the middle of the night the confined +insects made such a noise as to awake her, and she opened +the box, the inside of which, to her great astonishment, +appeared all in a blaze; and in her fright letting it fall, +she was not less surprised to see each of the insects apparently +on fire. She soon, however, divined the cause of this +unexpected phenomenon, and re-enclosed her brilliant +guests in their place of confinement. She adds that the +light of one of these Fulgoræ is sufficiently bright to read +a newspaper by: and though the tale of her having +drawn one of these insects by its own light is without +foundation, she doubtless might have done so if she had +chosen.</p> + +<p>This circumstantial and apparently truthful statement +has brought no small odium on the fair narrator. Other +naturalists who have had opportunities of seeing the insect +in its native regions strongly deny its luminosity. +The inhabitants of Cayenne, according to the French Dictionnaire +d'Histoire Naturelle, aver that it does not shine +at all; and this is confirmed by M. Richard, a naturalist, +who reared the species. The learned and accurate Count +Hoffmansegg states that his insect collector Herr Sieber, +a practised entomologist of thirty years' experience, who +during a sojourn of several years in Brazil took many specimens +of the <i>Fulgora lanternaria</i>, never saw a single one +which was in the slightest degree luminous. There is a +kindred species in China, <i>F. candelaria</i>, very common in<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_229" id="Page_229">[Pg 229]</a></span> +those glazed boxes of insects which the Chinese sell to +mariners; this also has been supposed to emit light, but +Dr Cantor assures us that he has never observed the least +luminosity in this species.</p> + +<p>Thus it would seem that the obloquy which has fallen +upon the ingenious lady is not altogether undeserved, and +that for the sake of a telling story, she has been indeed +"telling a story." But we may imagine her offended +ghost looking round and saying, "All these gentlemen +merely say they have <i>not</i> seen the light; now I say I have: +is there no one who will verify my statement?"</p> + +<p>M. Lacordaire,—an authority on South American insects +second to none, says that he himself indeed never saw +a luminous <i>Fulgora</i> all the time he was collecting in Brazil +and Cayenne, and that most of the inhabitants of the +latter country, when questioned on the subject, denied the +fact, yet <i>that others of the natives as distinctly affirmed +that it is luminous</i>. He asks whether it is not possible +that the light may be confined to one sex, and thus the +conflicting testimony be reconciled; and gives it as his opinion +that the point is rather one which requires more +careful observation, than one which we can consider absolutely +decided.<a name="FNanchor_150_150" id="FNanchor_150_150"></a><a href="#Footnote_150_150" class="fnanchor">[150]</a></p> + +<p>Again, the Marquis Spinola, in an elaborate paper on +this tribe, published in the Annals of the Entomological +Society of France,<a name="FNanchor_151_151" id="FNanchor_151_151"></a><a href="#Footnote_151_151" class="fnanchor">[151]</a> strenuously contends that the remarkable +development of the frontal portion of the head +in the whole race is luminous. And finally, a friend of +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_230" id="Page_230">[Pg 230]</a></span>Mr Wesmael assured him that he had himself seen the +American <i>Fulgora</i> luminous while alive.<a name="FNanchor_152_152" id="FNanchor_152_152"></a><a href="#Footnote_152_152" class="fnanchor">[152]</a></p> + +<p>It may help to sustain our faith in the veracity of +Madame Merian, to know that there is some reason for +attributing occasional luminosity to well-known English +insects, of which hundreds, and even thousands, have been +taken without manifesting a trace of the phenomenon. Mr +Spence, in his interesting Letter on Luminous Insects,<a name="FNanchor_153_153" id="FNanchor_153_153"></a><a href="#Footnote_153_153" class="fnanchor">[153]</a> +adduces the following evidence:—Insects "may be luminous +which have not hitherto been suspected of being +so. This seems proved by the following fact: A learned +friend has informed me, that when he was curate of +Ickleton, Cambridgeshire, in 1780, a farmer of that place, +of the name of Simpringham, brought to him a mole-cricket +(<i>Gryllotalpa vulgaris</i>, Latr.), and told him that +one of his people seeing a <i>Jack-o'-lantern</i>, pursued it, and +knocked it down, when it proved to be this insect, and the +identical specimen shewn to him.</p> + +<p>"This singular fact, while it renders it probable that +some insects are luminous which no one has imagined to +be so, seems to afford a clue to the, at least, partial explanation +of the very obscure subject of <i>ignes fatui</i>, and +to shew that there is considerable ground for the opinion +long ago maintained by Ray and Willughby, that the +majority of these supposed meteors are no other than +luminous insects. That the large varying lambent flames +mentioned by Beccaria to be very common in some parts +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_231" id="Page_231">[Pg 231]</a></span>of Italy, and the luminous globes seen by Dr Shaw cannot +be thus explained, is obvious. These were probably +electrical phenomena; certainly not explosions of phosphuretted +hydrogen, as has been suggested by some, which +must necessarily have been momentary. But that the +<i>ignis fatuus</i> mentioned by Derham as having been seen by +himself, and which he describes as flitting about a thistle, +was, though he seems of a different opinion, no other than +some luminous insect, I have little doubt. Mr Sheppard +informs me that, travelling one night between Stamford +and Grantham on the top of the stage, he observed for +more than ten minutes a very large <i>ignis fatuus</i> in the low +marshy grounds, which had every appearance of being an +insect. The wind was very high: consequently, had it +been a vapour it must have been carried forward in a +direct line; but this was not the case. It had the same +motion as a <i>Tipula</i>, flying upwards and downwards, backwards +and forwards, sometimes appearing as settled, and +sometimes as hovering in the air. Whatever be the true +nature of these meteors, of which so much is said and so +little known, it is singular how few modern instances of +their having been observed are on record. Dr Darwin +declares, that though in the course of a long life he had +been out in the night, and in the places where they are +said to appear, times without number, he had never seen +anything of the kind; and from the silence of other +philosophers of our own times, it should seem that their +experience is similar."</p> + +<p>A paper by Mr R Chambers on the subject adduces the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_232" id="Page_232">[Pg 232]</a></span> +additional testimony of facts observed by good naturalists, +as Dickson and Curtis the eminent botanists, and Stothard +the painter and entomologist, by his own father Mr +A. Chambers, and by Joseph Simpson, a fisherman living +near Boston, all of which strongly corroborate the probability +that some, at least, of the <i>ignes fatui</i> are produced +by luminous insects.<a name="FNanchor_154_154" id="FNanchor_154_154"></a><a href="#Footnote_154_154" class="fnanchor">[154]</a> Mr Main narrates the case +of a farmer who stated that he had pursued a Will-o'-the-wisp, +and coming up with it had knocked it down, when +it proved to be an insect "exactly like a Maggy-long-legs"—that +is, the common Crane-fly (<i>Tipula oleracea</i>), +the very insect with which Mr Sheppard had compared +the motions of the luminous flame observed by him.<a name="FNanchor_155_155" id="FNanchor_155_155"></a><a href="#Footnote_155_155" class="fnanchor">[155]</a> Mr +Spence argues that while gaseous emanations may be a +cause of stationary <i>ignes fatui</i>, the same cause will not +explain those which flit along from place to place; and that +these are probably luminous insects, however rarely they +may have come under the notice of entomologists. "A +very strong argument for the possibility of some flying +insects being occasionally luminous (in England) is afforded +by the facts ... of luminous caterpillars having +been within these few years observed for the first time +since entomology has been attended to, and that by +observers every way competent. If caterpillars so very +common as those of <i>Mamestra oleracea</i> may sometimes, +though so rarely, be luminous, and if, as Dr Boisduval +suggests, and is very probable, this appearance was caused +by disease, it is obvious that flying insects may be also +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_233" id="Page_233">[Pg 233]</a></span>occasionally (though seldom) luminous from disease—a +supposition which will at once explain the rarity of the +occurrence, and the circumstance that insects of such +different genera, and even orders, are said to have exhibited +this phenomenon."<a name="FNanchor_156_156" id="FNanchor_156_156"></a><a href="#Footnote_156_156" class="fnanchor">[156]</a></p> + +<p>These highly curious facts should make observers +cautious in strongly denying statements made by others +of phenomena, when they themselves have not been so +fortunate as to witness them, even though they may +think their opportunities to have been as favourable as +those of the <i>soi-disant</i> observer.<a name="FNanchor_157_157" id="FNanchor_157_157"></a><a href="#Footnote_157_157" class="fnanchor">[157]</a></p> + +<p>But we have not yet dismissed Madame Merian. If +acquitted of falsehood here, she stands arraigned on a +second charge of similar character.</p> + +<p>In most tropical countries there are found hideous hairy +spiders of monstrous size and most repulsive appearance; +short-legged, sombre-hued, ferocious marauders of the +night, that by day lurk in obscure retreats under stones, +or in burrows in the earth.</p> + +<p>Guiana produces a formidable species of this sort +(<i>Mygale avicularia</i>), which measures three inches in +length, and whose feet—though the genus is, as I have +said, comparatively short-limbed—cover an area some +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_234" id="Page_234">[Pg 234]</a></span>eight or ten inches in diameter. Madame Merian has +exquisitely figured the tragical end of a tiny humming-bird, +surprised by one of these monsters on her eggs; the +petite bird overthrown under the fangs of the sprawling +spider, one of whose feet is in the nest. It was on the +authority of this lady that Linnæus gave the name of +<i>avicularia</i> to the species. Later naturalists have scouted +the whole story. Mr MacLeay, who resided in Cuba, says +that there are indeed there huge spiders, allied to our +garden spider, which make a geometric net, strong enough +to embarrass small birds; but that these do not attempt +to catch such prey, and never molest birds at all. On +the other hand, he avers that the Cuban <i>Mygale</i>, an allied +species to that of Guiana, makes no web, and has no +power of injuring birds. He put this to the test of +experiment; for having maimed a humming-bird, he +thrust it into the <i>Mygale's</i> hole, which, instead of seizing +the victim, retreated as in fear out of his den. This Mr +MacLeay supposes to be conclusive; but a moment's reflection +will shew how equivocal is the evidence. The +spider may not have been hungry; or he may have been +taken aback by the sudden intrusion; or he might not +choose to take prey that he had not stolen upon and +slaughtered <i>suo more</i>; or he may have muttered in the +Arachnidan language,—</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0"> +"Timeo Danaos, et dona ferentes."</span><br /> +</div></div> + +<p>Because a wolf will cower down in the corner of his lair +(even a tiger has been known to do so)—when a man<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_235" id="Page_235">[Pg 235]</a></span> +suddenly enters his presence, and will manifest the most +abject fear, would it be philosophical to ridicule the tales +told of wolves pursuing and devouring men by night?</p> + +<p>M. Langsdorff asked the people of Brazil if the Caranquexeira, +or the great <i>Mygale</i> of that country, fed upon +humming-birds, when they answered him, with bursts of +laughter, that it only gratified its maw with large flies, +ants, bees, wasps, beetles, &c.; an answer which the traveller +verified by his own personal experience.<a name="FNanchor_158_158" id="FNanchor_158_158"></a><a href="#Footnote_158_158" class="fnanchor">[158]</a> If M. +Langsdorff means, which of course he does, that he +learned by personal observation that the spider <i>ordinarily</i> +feeds on insects, that fact is indubitable, and +never has been doubted; but if he means that he had +experience that it eats <i>only</i> such prey, which is the +question at issue, it is plain that this experience proves +no more than that he never witnessed such a fact.</p> + +<p>Percival, in his account of Ceylon, observes:—"There +is an immense spider here, with legs not less than four +inches long, and having the body covered with thick black +hair." This was doubtless the <i>Mygale</i> of the island. "The +webs which it makes are strong enough to entangle and +hold even small birds, which form its usual prey." Alluding +to this statement, Sir Emerson Tennent says:—</p> + +<p>"As to the stories told of the <i>Mygale</i> catching and +killing birds, I am satisfied, both from inquiry and observation, +that, at least in Ceylon, they are destitute of truth, +and that (unless in the possible case of acute suffering +from hunger) this creature shuns all description of food +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_236" id="Page_236">[Pg 236]</a></span>except soft insects and annelides." And yet he immediately +adds:—"A lady at Marandan, near Colombo, told +me that she had, on one occasion, seen a little house-lizard +(<i>gecko</i>) seized and devoured by one of these ugly spiders."<a name="FNanchor_159_159" id="FNanchor_159_159"></a><a href="#Footnote_159_159" class="fnanchor">[159]</a> +Does he not, then, credit his informant? Or are lizards +included in the category of "soft insects and annelides?"</p> + +<p>Against this incredulity, resting on no better than +negative evidence, one might adduce collateral proof from +analogy. There <i>are</i> spiders which feed on vertebrate +animals, and there <i>are</i> spiders whose webs catch birds. +The large and beautiful <i>Nephila claripes</i> of tropical +America weaves strong threads of yellow silk in the paths +of the woods, converging to a web quite strong enough to +arrest a bird of weak flight. It must have been a species +allied to this, but certainly, I think, not the same, of which +Dr Walsh speaks in his "Travels in Brazil." "Among the +insects is an enormous spider, which I did not observe +elsewhere. In passing through an opening between some +trees, I felt my head entangled in some obstructions, and +on withdrawing it, my straw hat remained behind. When +I looked up I saw it suspended in the air, entangled in +the meshes of an immense cobweb, which was drawn like +a veil of thick gauze across the opening, and was expanded +from branch to branch of the opposite trees as +large as a sheet ten or twelve feet in diameter. The +whole of this space was covered with spiders of the same +species but different sizes; some of them, when their legs +were expanded, forming a circle of six or seven inches in +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_237" id="Page_237">[Pg 237]</a></span>circumference.<a name="FNanchor_160_160" id="FNanchor_160_160"></a><a href="#Footnote_160_160" class="fnanchor">[160]</a> They were particularly distinguished by +bright spots. The cords composing the web were of a glossy +yellow, like the fibres of silkworms, and equally strong."</p> + +<p>There is a creature found in the tropical parts of both +hemispheres, called <i>Solpuga</i>, which though not exactly a +spider, is yet so closely allied to that family as to be in +some measure responsible for its misdoings. It is about +as large as the <i>Mygale</i>, and, with sufficient general resemblance +to it to warrant its being popularly considered a +spider, it has much the same habits and appetites. Captain +Hutton, in a most interesting memoir, describes the +details of an Indian species under the name of <i>Galeodes +vorax</i>. Among many other details, he says—"This species +is extremely voracious, feeding at night upon beetles, +flies, and even large lizards; and sometimes gorging itself +to such a degree as to render it almost unable to move. +A lizard, three inches long, <i>exclusive of tail</i>, was entirely +devoured; the spider sprung at it, and made a seizure +immediately behind the shoulder, never quitting its hold +until the whole was consumed. The poor lizard struggled +violently at first, rolling over and over in its agony, but +the spider kept firm hold, and gradually sawed away with +its double jaws into the very entrails of the victim. The +only parts uneaten were the jaws and part of the skin, +although the lizard was at least five inches long from nose +to extremity of tail. After this meal, the spider remained +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_238" id="Page_238">[Pg 238]</a></span>gorged and motionless for about a fortnight, being much +swollen and distended.</p> + +<p>"A young sparrow, about half grown, was placed under +a bell-glass with a <i>Galeodes</i>; the moment the luckless +bird moved, the spider seized him by the thigh, which he +speedily sawed off, in spite of the sparrow's fluttering; +and then as the poor bird continued to struggle in pain, +the savage seized him by the throat, and soon put an end +to his sufferings by cutting off the head. It did not, however, +devour the bird, nor any part of it, but seemed satisfied +with having killed it.</p> + +<p>"On another occasion, I gave it a large garden-lizard, +which was instantly seized by the middle of the body; the +lizard, finding that it could not shake off its adversary, +turned its head, and bit the <i>Galeodes</i> on the leg, which +obliged it immediately to quit its hold and retreat.</p> + +<p>"On another occasion my friend, Dr Baddeley, confined +one of these spiders in a wall-shade with two young musk +rats (<i>Sorex Indicus</i>), both of which were killed by it."<a name="FNanchor_161_161" id="FNanchor_161_161"></a><a href="#Footnote_161_161" class="fnanchor">[161]</a></p> + +<p>In an expedition to the Kurruckpoor Hills, south of +Monghyr, Captain Sherwill found upon the summit of +Maruk, a table-topped hill of 1100 feet elevation, several +of the gigantic webs of the Epeira spider, some of which +measured (including the guy-ropes) from ten to twelve feet +in diameter, the reticulated portion being about five feet, in +the centre of which the spider, of a formidable size and very +active, sits waiting for prey. "The webs," he says, "from +their great strength, offered a sensible resistance when +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_239" id="Page_239">[Pg 239]</a></span>forcing our way through them. In the web of one of the +spiders we found a bird entangled, and the young spiders, +about eight in number, feeding upon the carcase. The +bird was, with the exception of its legs and beak, entirely +enveloped in the web, and was much decomposed; the +entwined web had completely pinioned the wings of the +bird, so as to render its escape impossible. The bird was +about the size of a field-lark, and was near the centre of +the web; the old spider was about a foot above the bird: +we secured, measured, and bottled him. Its dimensions +were six inches across the legs, and it was armed with a +formidable pair of mandibles."<a name="FNanchor_162_162" id="FNanchor_162_162"></a><a href="#Footnote_162_162" class="fnanchor">[162]</a></p> + +<p>It is clear, then, that there is nothing absurd or contrary +to probability in the statement that spiders attack, +overcome, and devour birds. But Madame Merian is here +again favoured with direct witnesses to sustain her good +faith. M. Moreau de Jonnès expressly mentions, on his +own authority, that the South American Mygale climbs the +branches of trees to devour the young of humming-birds. +But the most satisfactory statement is made by Mr H. +W. Bates, who has recently returned from the interior of +Brazil after many years spent in studying the entomology +of that vast region. No one will deny his competency as +a witness. "Now I will relate to you," he says, "what I +saw in the month of June 1849, in the neighbourhood of +Cameta. I was attracted by a curious movement of the +large gray-brown Mygale on the trunk of a vast tree: it +was close beneath a deep crevice or chink in the tree,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_240" id="Page_240">[Pg 240]</a></span> +across which this species weaves a dense web, open for its +exit and entrance at one end. In the present instance +the lower part of the web was broken, and two pretty +small finches were entangled in its folds; the finch was +about the size of the common siskin of Europe, and I +judged the two to be male and female; one of them was +quite dead, but secured in the broken web; the other +was under the body of the spider, not quite dead, and was +covered in parts with the filthy liquor or saliva exuded by +the monster. I was on my return from a day's excursion +by land at the time, with my boxes full of valuable and +delicate insects, and six miles from my house, and therefore +could not have brought the specimens home, even if +I had wished, which I did not, as the spider was a very +common species, easily to be procured nearer home. The +species I cannot name; I sent several fine specimens, +stuffed, to London, in 1851; it is wholly of a gray-brown +colour, and clothed with coarse pile. Doubtless you will +immediately know the exact species to which I refer.</p> + +<p>"If the Mygales did not prey upon vertebrated animals, +I do not see how they could find sufficient subsistence.</p> + +<div><a name="Fig.6" id="Fig.6"> </a></div> +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 252px;"> +<a href="images/fig263-1200.jpg"><img src="images/fig263-400.jpg" width="252" height="400" alt="BIRD-EATING SPIDER." title="" /></a> +<span class="caption">BIRD-EATING SPIDER.</span> +</div> + +<p>"On the extensive sandy campos of Santarem, so bare +in vegetation, there are hundreds of the broad slanting +burrows of the large stout species, (that fine one, dark +brown with paler lines down the legs, of which I sent +specimens in 1851.) The campos, I know, from close +research, to be almost destitute of insects, but at the same +time to swarm with small lizards, and some curious ground +finches of the Emberiza group (one of which has a song +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_241" id="Page_241">[Pg 241]</a></span>wonderfully resembling our yellow bunting of England), +besides which, vast numbers of the <i>Caprimulgidæ</i> and +ground doves lay their eggs on the bare ground.</p> + +<p>"I believe this species of Mygale feeds on these animals +and their eggs at night. Just at the close of day, when I +have been hurrying home, not liking to be benighted on +the pathless waste, I have surprised these monsters, who +retreated within the mouths of their burrows on my +approach."<a name="FNanchor_163_163" id="FNanchor_163_163"></a><a href="#Footnote_163_163" class="fnanchor">[163]</a></p> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_242" id="Page_242">[Pg 242]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="VIII" id="VIII"></a>VIII.</h2> + +<h2>FASCINATION.</h2> + + +<p>It is a notion of long standing and widely diffused, that +certain predaceous animals have a power, which, however, +they only occasionally exert, of paralysing the creatures +on which they prey, so as utterly to take away the faculty +of flight, and even, in some circumstances, of drawing +them, as if by an irresistible influence, to their known +and dreaded destruction. This fascinating power has +been most generally attributed to serpents, and is supposed +to reside in a peculiar glare and fixity of the eyes, +which appear to mesmerise the victims. If the gaze be +interrupted, <i>on either part</i>, though but for a moment, it +is supposed that the spell is broken. Is there any such +power? or is it merely one of the many myths with which +popular natural history is still burdened, and which it is +the province of real science to explode? Let us gather +together a few of the facts on which the opinion rests.</p> + +<p>I am not sure whether I ought to reckon as such the +following statement, for I do not know the value of the +authority on which it rests. It is, however, sufficiently +curious.</p> + +<p>Dr Bird, a somewhat appropriate authority in this +case, mentions an incident which happened in America.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_243" id="Page_243">[Pg 243]</a></span> +"Two boys lighted by chance upon a large black snake; +upon which one of them resolved to ascertain whether the +snake, so celebrated for its powers, could fascinate him. +He advanced a few steps nearer the snake, and made a +stand, steadily looking on him. When the snake observed +him in that situation, he raised his head with a +quick motion, and the lad says, that at that instant there +appeared something to flash in his eyes, which he could +compare to nothing more similar than the rays of light +thrown from a glass or mirror when turned in the sun-shine; +he said it dazzled his eyes; at the same time the +colours appeared very beautiful ... he felt as if he was +in a whirlpool, and that every turn brought him nearer +to the centre. His comrade seeing him approach nearer +to the snake, immediately ran and killed it."<a name="FNanchor_164_164" id="FNanchor_164_164"></a><a href="#Footnote_164_164" class="fnanchor">[164]</a></p> + +<p>There is, however, better authority than this for the +belief in serpent-mesmerism. Professor Kalm states of +the Rattlesnake of North America, that it will frequently +lie at the bottom of a tree on which a squirrel is seated. +The snake fixes his eyes upon the little animal, and from that +moment it cannot escape: it begins a doleful outcry, runs +up the tree a little way, comes down again, then goes up, +and afterwards comes still lower. The snake continues at +the bottom of the tree, with its eyes fixed on the squirrel; +and its attention is so entirely taken up, that a person +accidentally approaching may make a considerable noise, +without so much as the snake's turning about. The +squirrel comes lower, and at last leaps down to the snake, +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_244" id="Page_244">[Pg 244]</a></span>whose mouth is already wide open for its reception. The +little animal then, with a piteous cry, runs into its jaws +and is swallowed.</p> + +<p>Catesby, though he says he never saw the phenomenon +himself, reports the same thing on the testimony of many +witnesses, who all agreed that the animals, particularly +birds and squirrels, no sooner spy the snake than they +skip from spray to spray, hovering and approaching gradually +nearer their enemy, regardless of any other danger; +but with distracted gestures and outcries descend, though +from the top of the loftiest trees, to the mouth of the +snake, who, opening his jaws, takes them in and in an instant +swallows them.<a name="FNanchor_165_165" id="FNanchor_165_165"></a><a href="#Footnote_165_165" class="fnanchor">[165]</a></p> + +<p>More recently Acrell tells the same story, as unquestionable. +He declares that as the snake, who is the most indolent +of all serpents, lies under the shade of a tree, opening +his jaws a little, he fixes his brightly-glittering eyes on +any bird or squirrel which is in it. The squirrel, uttering +a mournful and feeble cry, leaps from bough to bough, as +if seeking to escape, but presently, as if struck with the +fascination, he comes down the tree, and flings himself, +with a spring, into the very jaws of his enemy. A mouse, +shut up with a rattlesnake in an iron box, at first sat in +one corner, the snake opposite to it. The reptile fixed its +terrible eye on the little trembler, which at length threw +itself into the mouth of the serpent.<a name="FNanchor_166_166" id="FNanchor_166_166"></a><a href="#Footnote_166_166" class="fnanchor">[166]</a></p> + +<p>Lawson affirms that <i>he has seen</i> the phenomenon actually +take place with a squirrel and a rattlesnake.<a name="FNanchor_167_167" id="FNanchor_167_167"></a><a href="#Footnote_167_167" class="fnanchor">[167]</a></p> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_245" id="Page_245">[Pg 245]</a></span></p> +<p>I said that the belief is widely spread. We have seen +it in North America; we will now look at it in Africa.</p> + +<p>Captain Forbes incidentally mentions a case analogous +to these. Passing through some high grass at Ahomey, +he observed, within an inch of his leg, a small lizard, with +its eyes fixed. It did not move at his approach. At the +same moment a cobra darted at it, and before he could +raise his stick, bore the victim away. The captain naturally +enough was occupied with his own narrow escape, +and simply narrates the facts without comment; but the +fixity of the gaze, and the motionlessness of the lizard, +were not a little remarkable.<a name="FNanchor_168_168" id="FNanchor_168_168"></a><a href="#Footnote_168_168" class="fnanchor">[168]</a></p> + +<p>Mr Ellis, in his charming volume on Madagascar and +the Cape, makes the following observations:—<a name="FNanchor_169_169" id="FNanchor_169_169"></a><a href="#Footnote_169_169" class="fnanchor">[169]</a></p> + +<p>"In a country abounding, as Africa does, with serpents, +I expected to hear many anecdotes respecting them; and, +conversing on one occasion with Mr Pullen, a farmer who +has lived many years in the country, and seemed to have +paid rather more than usual attention to this species of +reptile, he said he once saw a mouse running in a field, +and that, coming in sight of a snake, though at a considerable +distance, it instantly stopped. The snake fixed its +eye on the mouse, which then crept slowly towards the +snake, and, as it approached nearer, trembled and shrieked +most piteously, but still kept approaching until quite close, +when it seemed to become prostrate, and the snake then +devoured it. On another occasion he had watched a +snake capture a mouse in the same manner; but, as it was +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_246" id="Page_246">[Pg 246]</a></span>retreating, he followed, and struck it on the back with a +stick, when it opened its mouth, and the mouse escaping, +ran for some distance, then fell down; but after a minute +recovered and ran away. Another time he said he watched +a snake in the water, which had fixed its eye on a frog sitting +amongst the grass on the bank. The frog, though +greatly alarmed, seemed unable to stir, until Mr Pullen +gradually pushed a rush growing near so that it intervened +between the eye of the snake and its intended victim, +when the frog, as if suddenly liberated, darted away. Mr +Pullen's ideas were in accordance with the popular notion, +that the snake has the power of exercising some mesmeric +or other influence through the steady fixing of its eye, and +that whatever intercepts this gaze breaks, as it were, the +charm, and sets the prisoner free."</p> + +<p>A most important witness on this matter is Dr Andrew +Smith, the learned zoologist of South Africa, who thus +soberly throws the weight of his own thoroughly competent +and most conclusive personal observations into the affirmative +scale. In his interesting account of the Boomslange, +a serpent of considerable size found in that region, he +says:—</p> + +<p>"As this snake, <i>Bucephalus capensis</i>, in our opinion, +is not provided with a poisonous fluid to instil into wounds +which these fangs may inflict, they must consequently be +intended for a purpose different to those which exist in +poisonous reptiles. Their use seems to be to offer obstacles +to the retrogression of animals, such as birds, &c., +while they are only partially within the mouth; and, from<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_247" id="Page_247">[Pg 247]</a></span> +the circumstance of these fangs being directed backwards, +and not admitting of being raised so as to form an angle +with the edge of the jaw, they are well fitted to act as +powerful holders when once they penetrate the skin and +soft parts of the prey which their possessors may be in +the act of swallowing. Without such fangs escapes would +be common; with such, they are rare.</p> + +<p>"The natives of South Africa regard the <i>Bucephalus +capensis</i> as poisonous; but in their opinion we cannot +concur, as we have not been able to discover the existence +of any glands manifestly organised for the secretion +of poison. The fangs are enclosed in a soft, pulpy sheath, +the inner surface of which is commonly coated with a thin +glairy secretion. This secretion possibly may have something +acrid and irritating in its qualities, which may, when +it enters a wound, occasion pain and even swelling, but +nothing of greater importance.</p> + +<p>"The <i>Bucephalus capensis</i> is generally found upon +trees, to which it resorts for the purpose of catching birds, +upon which it delights to feed. The presence of a specimen +in a tree is generally soon discovered by the birds of +the neighbourhood, who collect around it, and fly to and +fro, uttering the most piercing cries, until some one, more +terror-struck than the rest, actually scans its lips, and, +almost without resistance, becomes a meal for its enemy. +During such a proceeding the snake is generally observed +with its head raised about ten or twelve inches above the +branch round which its body and tail are entwined, with +its mouth open and its neck inflated, as if anxiously en<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_248" id="Page_248">[Pg 248]</a></span>deavouring +to increase the terror which it would almost +appear it was aware would sooner or later bring within +its grasp some one of the feathered group.</p> + +<p>"Whatever may be said in ridicule of fascination, it is +nevertheless true that birds, and even quadrupeds, are, +under such circumstances, unable to retire from the presence +of certain of their enemies; and, what is even more extraordinary, +unable to resist the propensity to advance from +a situation of actual safety into one of the most imminent +danger. This I have often seen exemplified in the case +of birds and snakes; and I have heard of instances equally +curious, in which antelopes and other quadrupeds have +been so bewildered by the sudden appearance of crocodiles, +and by the grimaces and contortions they practised, +as to be unable to fly or even to move from the +spot towards which they were approaching to seize +them."<a name="FNanchor_170_170" id="FNanchor_170_170"></a><a href="#Footnote_170_170" class="fnanchor">[170]</a></p> + +<p>It may have been the Boomslange to which Le Vaillant +alludes, who says that he saw, on the branch of a tree, a +species of shrike, trembling as if in convulsions; and at +the distance of nearly four feet, on another branch, he +beheld a large species of snake, that was lying with outstretched +neck, and fiery eyes, gazing steadily at the poor +animal. The agony of the bird was so great, that it was +deprived of the power of moving away; and when one of +the party killed the snake, the shrike was found dead upon +the spot, and that entirely from fear; for on examination +it appeared not to have received the slightest wound.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_249" id="Page_249">[Pg 249]</a></span> +The same traveller informs us, that a short time afterwards +he observed a small mouse, in similar agonising +convulsions, about two yards distant from a snake, whose +eyes were intently fixed upon it; and on frightening away +the reptile, and taking up the mouse, it expired in his +hand.<a name="FNanchor_171_171" id="FNanchor_171_171"></a><a href="#Footnote_171_171" class="fnanchor">[171]</a></p> + +<p>In a record, by Mr D. T. Evans, of some experiments +with Venomous Serpents, made at the Zoological Gardens, +mainly with a view to test the efficacy of a reputed remedy +for their bite,—<i>Simaba cedron</i>—and which were pursued +with the utmost philosophic care, we find the following +interesting particulars:—"The attitudes and movements +of the serpent intending to bite were very striking and +beautiful. In the first place, he made, with the posterior +half of his body, a bold curve, having a strong prehensile +'purchase' on the floor of the cage, so as to secure a steady +fulcrum for the rapid dart made at the time of the bite. +The upper half of the body was raised some ten inches or +a foot, the neck strongly arched, and the head, bent at +nearly right angles with the neck, was poised directly +opposite the prey. In such position the serpent remained +a greater or lesser time (sometimes as long as twenty +minutes) according to circumstances. During this interval, +the slightest motion of the animal before him was followed +by an instantaneous and correspondent movement +of the head and neck of the serpent. The purpose seemed +to be that of aim-taking, for the eyes were intently fixed +upon the prey; but I am by no means sure that the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_250" id="Page_250">[Pg 250]</a></span> +snake, knowing that the latter cannot escape him, does +not derive pleasure from this prolonged and intent gaze. +At all events, in one experiment, where the head of a +rattlesnake so engaged was sideways to the glass of the +cage, and near it, I observed, and called attention to the +fact, a remarkable vermicular motion along the course of +the poison-gland to the opening of the angle of the mouth, +which we thought might afford him pleasure, and this continued +until the snake struck his prey.</p> + +<p>"So far the Serpents. I now proceed to describe the +peculiarities shewn by the animals on which we experimented. +Some philosophers have denied innate ideas to +man; these and some others have furthermore denied an +instinctive apprehension of danger in animals. They say +that of itself, as born, the hare has no dread of the hound: +that its fear is acquired of experience. I concur in +neither of these opinions, and think the latter altogether +refuted by the conduct of the animals exposed to serpents +in these experiments. Not one of the guinea-pigs or +rabbits (which were all something under their full growth) +had ever seen a serpent; yet when introduced to the cage +they shewed unequivocal symptoms of distress and fear. +In some instances they actually screamed before they +were struck. They generally shewed restlessness at first, +but when the serpent, intending to strike, poised himself +in front, they became for a time, if not altogether, +motionless. Is there such a thing as 'fascination?' If +by this is meant a pleasurable paralysis of the animal's +powers, I think it more than doubtful; but a deprivation<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_251" id="Page_251">[Pg 251]</a></span> +of the power of motion from terror may, perhaps, take +place. All, however, that I speak to is a perfectly motionless +condition of snake and prey, lasting several +minutes."<a name="FNanchor_172_172" id="FNanchor_172_172"></a><a href="#Footnote_172_172" class="fnanchor">[172]</a></p> + +<p>Nor are there wanting examples of the same power +exercised by the common Snake of our own country. I +content myself with the following two, both of very recent +record:—</p> + +<p>"Up the hill above Tyneham," writes the Rev. Henry +Bond, last August, "towards the sea, I was struck by the +shrill cry and fluttering agitation of a common hedge-sparrow, +in a whitethorn bush. Regardless of my presence, +its remarkable motions were continued, getting, at +every hop from bough to bough, lower and lower down +in the bush. Drawing nearer, I saw a common snake +coiled up, but having its head erect, watching the sparrow; +the moment the snake saw me it glided away, +and the sparrow flew off with its usual mode of +flight."<a name="FNanchor_173_173" id="FNanchor_173_173"></a><a href="#Footnote_173_173" class="fnanchor">[173]</a></p> + +<p>This anecdote brings out another by Mr John Henry +Belfrage, of Muswell Hill:—"When proceeding down the +avenue here one morning, at a turn in the path I saw a +robin, which appeared to me spell-bound, so much so as +to allow a much closer approach than is usual even with +that boldest of the feathered tribe. On going nearer I +perceived what I took to be the cause, in a large common +snake, which was lying coiled up on one side of the path, +with its head a little raised. My appearance broke the +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_252" id="Page_252">[Pg 252]</a></span>spell, and the robin flew away; at the same time, the +snake dropped its head and assumed a perfectly inert +appearance."<a name="FNanchor_174_174" id="FNanchor_174_174"></a><a href="#Footnote_174_174" class="fnanchor">[174]</a></p> + +<p>A writer in the <i>Journal of the Indian Archipelago</i> +thus reports the mesmeric faculty exercised upon a certainly +somewhat unlikely subject:—"On approaching an +almost dry drain, I saw a snake slowly extending his +coils, raising his head, and steadfastly gazing on what I +saw to be an eel of about a foot in length. The eel was +directly opposite to the snake, and glance seemed to meet +glance, when the snake, having the requisite proximity, +darted on the eel and caught it about an inch behind the +head, and carried it off; but the captor was soon himself +a captive, for with a blow on his head I secured +both."<a name="FNanchor_175_175" id="FNanchor_175_175"></a><a href="#Footnote_175_175" class="fnanchor">[175]</a></p> + +<p>The mystery is, as usual in such cases, attempted to be +explained away. Man does not like mystery; scientific +man least of all: it is humbling to the pride of science to +be obliged to confess that there exists anything unaccountable +to the initiated. Mr W. C. L. Martin thus +"explains" the statements of Dr A. Smith, and all such +accounts:—"There is nothing mysterious in all this; the +snake does not <i>mesmerise</i> its prey, but merely so terrifies +it as to stupify it; besides, the victim may feel an impulse +similar to that which urges many nervous persons on the +edge of a precipice, or top of a lofty tower, to throw +themselves down headlong, and which we have heard +such describe as resisted with difficulty; so may the +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_253" id="Page_253">[Pg 253]</a></span>panic-struck bird feel an impulse to rush into danger +which it might escape by flight."<a name="FNanchor_176_176" id="FNanchor_176_176"></a><a href="#Footnote_176_176" class="fnanchor">[176]</a></p> + +<p>And again:—"Fear, amounting to panic, solicitude for +its young, and efforts to drive away the dreaded intruder, +leading the bird to venture too closely to the snake for +its own safety, produce the results erroneously attributed +to the Reptile's fancied power of fascination by its glance, +or by some mystic property."<a name="FNanchor_177_177" id="FNanchor_177_177"></a><a href="#Footnote_177_177" class="fnanchor">[177]</a></p> + +<p>Dr Barton, of Philadelphia, who, at the close of the last +century, published a memoir on the fascinating powers +attributed to certain serpents, advocated the same views. +He considered that in almost every instance the supposed +power was exerted on birds at the particular season of +nidification, and that the whole hypothesis originated in +the <span title="Greek: storgê">στοργη</span> which prompts them to protect their eggs or +young. No doubt <i>some</i> of the instances which have been +reported as examples of fascination are capable of such an +explanation, but surely not all; and the fallacy, here +again, as in so many parallel cases, lies in the advocating of +some theory which will cover a certain number of the facts, +and the ignoring of all such as will not be so accounted +for. Is it to be supposed that Dr A. Smith could not distinguish +between the condition of involuntary paralysis of +the faculties which he says he has <i>often</i> seen, and the insane +boldness of nesting birds? Had the mice, seen by +Mr Pullen, had the frog, young ones to protect? Or the +squirrel mentioned by Kalm? or the mouse seen by Le +Vaillant? or the eel in the drain? But what is the value +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_254" id="Page_254">[Pg 254]</a></span>of a hypothesis,—so far as its claims to solve this question +are concerned,—which will not touch these cases? When +Mr Martin denies that there is anything mysterious in +the matter, and in the same sentence admits that "the +victim may feel an impulse to rush into the danger which +it might escape," he just yields the whole point. I venture +to affirm that this <i>is</i> something mysterious, something +totally unaccountable. I ask <i>what</i>, and <i>whence</i>, and +<i>why</i>, this strange impulse that overcomes the first of all +instincts, the prime law of self-preservation?</p> + +<p>It does not explain the cause of the phenomenon, +though it possibly helps us to determine its proper seat, to +learn that fascination belongs to other animals besides the +serpent tribes. We shall perhaps not err if we conclude +that the peculiarity resides not in the object, but in the +subject; that it is a mental emotion capable of being excited +by objects having little in common except the death-terror +which they excite. I have no doubt that it is a +phase of extreme terror; the singularity of the phenomenon +consists in the reversal of ordinary instinctive laws +which it induces. My readers will probably be interested +in the details of some cases in which the exciters of the +emotion were animals other than serpents. Here is one, +apparently related with care and truthfulness, though +anonymous, in which the fascinator was as unlikely as can +be well imagined to excite, and the fascinatee to feel, the +emotion:—</p> + +<p>"One evening, being seated in a room at Garrackpore, +the window of which was open, and the ceiling on one side<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_255" id="Page_255">[Pg 255]</a></span> +sloped downwards towards the window, my attention was +attracted by a butterfly which chanced to fly into the room. +I observed its motions for a minute or two, when I thought +there was something that appeared unnatural in them, +and the insect began to dart to and fro in one direction, +occasionally, however, varying its flight about the room. +I looked up to see what it could possibly be at, and instantly +observed an ordinary-sized lizard on the cloth of the +upper ceiling. I had not even then the most distant idea +of what was really going on; but seeing the butterfly dart +every now and then at the lizard, I supposed it in play, +till its motions became less quick and animated. The +lizard remained all this time immovable, but at last suddenly +shifted its ground to the sloping part of the ceiling. +The motions of the butterfly became still more languid, +until at length, to my utter surprise, I saw the lizard open +its mouth, and the butterfly flew directly into it. The +lizard was about half a minute swallowing it, wings and +all. Until the last act of this curious scene, though I well +knew the lizard's object, I supposed it would probably +make a leap at the butterfly, yet had no idea of its succeeding, +and expected to see the butterfly fly away. Had +I had an idea of the cause, I should have broken the charm.</p> + +<p>"From that moment I never had the least doubt of the +power of fascination: that power I conceive to be <i>terror</i>, +which, if the object was sufficiently terrible, I believe +would act equally on man or any other creature."<a name="FNanchor_178_178" id="FNanchor_178_178"></a><a href="#Footnote_178_178" class="fnanchor">[178]</a></p> + +<p>Still more strange is it to hear of scorpions fascinating +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_256" id="Page_256">[Pg 256]</a></span>blue-bottle flies! "On my arrival" says Mr Robert +Hunter, "at Nágpur, in Central India, in 1847, I requested +that the first scorpion found in the house might +be allowed to live for a few minutes, that I might have +an opportunity of observing its form and movements. +In that part of India one has rarely to wait long for such +a visitant, and on an early evening my colleague, the Rev. +Mr Hislop, announced that there was a scorpion on the +wall. A lamp was set down on the floor, and we took +convenient stations for noting what might pass. Just +then a large fly, of the genus Musca, made its appearance, +and soon became aware of the presence of the scorpion. +A strong fury seemed to seize it, irresistibly impelling +it to an insane attack on the terrible occupant of the wall: +it flew at it with all the little force it could muster, the +scorpion meanwhile stretching out its lobster-like claw to +catch it as it came. At the first charge, the fly rebounded +from the crustaceous integument of its adversary, having +done no more damage than if a child were to apply its +hand to the well-mailed body of a cuirassier. It seemed +amazed at its own audacity; and in a state of great +apparent agitation wheeled round, and taking precipitately +to flight, soon put two or three yards of safe space +between itself and its formidable but wingless foe. We +now forcibly hoped 'the better part of valour' might be +allowed to prevail. But no! the tiny creature stood—it +ventured to look—there glared still in view the +malignant form. What could the poor animal do but +make a second brilliant onset, in which it again eluded<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_257" id="Page_257">[Pg 257]</a></span> +the outstretched claw of its enemy, and, as before, was +successful in effecting a retreat? 'Surely,' we mused, +'no further knight-errantry will be attempted: the most +exacting would consider this enough.' But we were mistaken. +Again and again did the fly return to the combat, +till in an unguarded moment it flew exactly into the open +claw, which closing, rendered escape impossible. The +generosity of a Mouravieff was scarcely to be looked for +in the scorpion, which, as will be readily believed, lost no +time in devouring its gallant captive. Possibly the fly +may have been partly dazzled by the glare of the lamp. +But undoubtedly it was in the main fascination, induced +by the sight of the dread figure on the wall, that impelled +it to begin the unequal contest, which could terminate +only in the loss of its life."<a name="FNanchor_179_179" id="FNanchor_179_179"></a><a href="#Footnote_179_179" class="fnanchor">[179]</a></p> + +<p>After these cases, I fear my readers would see but little +of the romantic in stories of stoats mesmerising hares +and rabbits, or foxes paralysing pullets. The former are +common enough,—the wretched hare creeping along with +a bewildered look, as if its back were broken, or screaming +in helpless immobility. I will confine myself to a single +narrative furnished by Mr Henry Bond, to whom this +chapter is already indebted for one case. As he was +walking on the hillside above West Creech Farm, in +Penbeck, Somerset, last August, where the down is +scattered with very low furze-bushes, his attention was +arrested by a cry of distress. It proceeded from a rabbit +which was cantering round in a ring, with a halting gait. +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_258" id="Page_258">[Pg 258]</a></span>He watched it for some minutes; but, as the circle became +smaller, and the rabbit more agitated, he perceived a stoat +turning its head with the rabbit's motion, and fixing its +gaze upon it. He struck a blow at the stoat, but missed +it; its attention was thus withdrawn from its intended +victim, which instantly ran away with great vigour in a +straight direction.<a name="FNanchor_180_180" id="FNanchor_180_180"></a><a href="#Footnote_180_180" class="fnanchor">[180]</a></p> + +<p>This is a remarkably good case; the circular movement +of the rabbit; the ever-diminishing circle; the rotation of +the stoat; the fixity of its gaze; the liberation of the rabbit +the moment the stoat was disturbed; and the instant +recovery of its faculties on the breaking of the spell;—all +these are circumstances of the highest interest in a case +avouched by so good a naturalist as Mr Bond.</p> + +<p>Mr J. H. Gurney reports the account of a respectable +gamekeeper, who, being much annoyed by the nightly +visits of a fox to the poultry, could not imagine how Reynard +managed to effect his purpose, as they roosted on a +large spreading oak. One morning, however, just as day +was dawning, he heard a great noise among the poultry, +and, looking out of the window, saw a fox running round +and round under the place where they sat, and soon observed +that the fowls began to fall from the tree in great +confusion. The fox immediately seized his victim, and +the mystery was so far solved. A day or two afterwards +the fox, a very large male, was killed in an adjoining +paddock, and no further assaults were made upon the +poultry.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_259" id="Page_259">[Pg 259]</a></span></p> + +<p>In this case the result was possibly effected by vertigo; +the birds, bewildered and amazed in the dim light, followed +with their eyes the course of the sly depredator, as he ran +swiftly in a circle beneath, until the frequent turning of +their heads made them giddy and unable to keep their +balance. <i>But how did the fox know that such a result +would follow?</i></p> + +<p>The same gentleman gives, from his own observation, +a case that is more to the point. Here a bird is the +mesmeric practitioner. "I once saw a golden eagle which +appeared entirely to fascinate a rabbit that was put into +the large cage in which the eagle was kept. As soon as +the rabbit was introduced, the eagle fixed his eye upon it, +and the rabbit intently returned the gaze, and began +going round the eagle in circles, approaching nearer each +time, the eagle meanwhile turning on his axis (as it were) +on the block of wood upon which he was seated, and keeping +his eye fixed upon that of the rabbit.</p> + +<p>"When the rabbit had approached very near to the +bottom of the eagle's perch, it stood up on its hind +legs, and looked the eagle in the face; the eagle then +made his pounce, which appeared at once to break +the charm, and the rabbit ran for its life, but it was +too late for it to escape the clutch of the eagle, and +the instant death which followed that tremendous +squeeze."<a name="FNanchor_181_181" id="FNanchor_181_181"></a><a href="#Footnote_181_181" class="fnanchor">[181]</a></p> + +<p>I am not sure how far a parallelism exists between this +animal fascination by the eye, and that attraction which +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_260" id="Page_260">[Pg 260]</a></span>fire is well known to possess for many creatures. Shelley +sings of</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"The desire of the moth for the star,"<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>as if it were a romantic passion for that which is bright +and beautiful. This is, of course, a poet's aspect; the +insect-collector, who wants to fill his cabinet—"my friend +the weaver," who nightly pursues his "untaxed and undisputed +game"—well knows that the glare of his bull's-eye +lamp will attract the moths by thousands on a damp +night in June. The little flitting atoms pass and repass +across the field of light, suddenly flashing into full +radiance, and in an instant relapsing into the darkness, +unless his gauze net is too rapid for them. I have often +sat reading late at night with a candle in the window, +and observed with interest how many insects of all orders +will soon congregate on the outside; now and then some +large moth coming up with a dull <i>thud</i>, or a great mailed +beetle dashing against the glass with a crash that makes +one look sharply up to see whether he has not cracked +the pane. In Jamaica I have taken many valuable +beetles and other insects around the candle-shades at an +open window, which were not met with in any other way.</p> + +<p>So in Alabama, where it is customary in balmy autumn +evenings for the family to sit in the yard under the broad +sheltering trees, by the flickering light of the yard-fire. +This fire is lighted at dusk on an iron tripod breast-high, +and kept up till bed-time. It is the duty of a negro +urchin to keep it constantly bright with splints of pine, +so as to maintain a perpetual blaze, as the object is to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_261" id="Page_261">[Pg 261]</a></span> +illuminate the yard and its contiguous offices. The little +"nigger" nods, of course, but the loud scolding voice of +master, mistress, or overseer, or any one else, rates him, +and rouses him to duty, as soon as the flame falls. It is +pleasant to sit and watch the effect of the light, either +transmitted through or reflected from the quivering leaves +of the surrounding trees, the blaze now rising brightly +and playing in tongue-like flickering spires, now sinking +and dying to a ruddy glow, then suddenly reviving under +the frightened watchfulness of the sable minister, who +plays the part of vestal virgin at this altar.</p> + +<p>Large insects often play around this fire. Beetles +"wheel their drony flight" in buzzing circles round for +a few turns, and are gone; and moths come fluttering +about, and often scorch their plumy wings. I have taken +some very fine Sphinges and other moths thus; and the +only specimen I ever saw of that very curious insect the +Mole-cricket alive (a species distinct from, but very closely +allied to, our European insect) was one that suddenly +dashed into the ashes of the light-stand—a curious and +interesting circumstance, when connected with the opinion +that I have before alluded to, that the <i>Gryllotalpa +Europæa</i> is one of the producers of the <i>Ignis fatuus</i>.</p> + +<p>Birds also are attracted by light at night. I have read +of a Titmouse that was seen fluttering around a gas-lamp +in the suburbs of London, and would not be driven away; +it at length made its entrance into the lamp through the +orifice at the bottom, and continued to flit around and +across the jet. In 1832, a Herring-gull struck one of the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_262" id="Page_262">[Pg 262]</a></span> +mullions of the Bell Rock Light-house with such force, +that two of the polished plates of glass, measuring about +two feet square, and a quarter of an inch in thickness, +were shivered to pieces, and scattered over the floor in a +thousand atoms, to the great alarm of the keeper on watch, +and the other inmates of the house, who rushed instantly +to the light-room. The gull was found to measure five +feet between the tips of the wings. In his gullet was a +large herring, and in his throat a piece of plate-glass of +about one inch in length.</p> + +<p>Dr Livingstone gives some curious examples of the attractive +power of fire over various creatures in South +Africa, which he attributes to a sort of fascination. "Fire," +he says, "exercises a fascinating effect on some kinds of +toads. They may be seen rushing into it on the evenings +without ever starting back on feeling pain. Contact with +the hot embers rather increases the energy with which +they strive to gain the hottest parts, and they never cease +their struggles for the centre, even when their juices are +coagulating and their limbs stiffening in the roasting heat. +Various insects also are thus fascinated; but the scorpions +may be seen coming away from the fire in fierce disgust, +and they are so irritated as to inflict at that time their +most painful stings."<a name="FNanchor_182_182" id="FNanchor_182_182"></a><a href="#Footnote_182_182" class="fnanchor">[182]</a></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_263" id="Page_263">[Pg 263]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="IX" id="IX"></a>IX.</h2> + +<h2>SERPENT-CHARMING.</h2> + + +<p>From the day when the solemn doom was pronounced,—"I +will put enmity between thee and the woman, and +between thy seed and her seed," the serpent-form has +begotten revulsion and dread in the human breast. And +deservedly; for a venomous serpent is a terrible enemy: +the direful venom of sin injected by "that old serpent, the +Devil," is well symbolised by the most potent of all lethic +agencies,—the poison of the rattlesnake or the cobra.</p> + +<p>And yet in all ages there have been persons in the +countries where the most venomous snakes abound, who +have professed, and have been believed to enjoy, an absolute +immunity from their bites, and even to exercise some +inexplicable power over them, whereby their rage is soothed, +and they are rendered for the time gentle and harmless. +The Holy Scriptures repeatedly allude to this ancient art. +The Magicians of Egypt, who turned their rods into serpents, +are supposed to have had recourse to a secret known, +it is said, to the modern conjurors of the same country, +who, by pressing the nape of the neck of the cobra with +their fingers, throw it into a sort of catalepsy, by which +its whole body becomes rigid like a rod, and from which +it is relieved by suddenly throwing it on the ground.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_264" id="Page_264">[Pg 264]</a></span> +Aaron's rod was a veritable rod before and after the +transaction, but changed into a serpent by Divine miraculous +energy: theirs were serpents made to assume the +appearance of rods for the moment by a cunning device.</p> + +<p>Other and more direct allusions, however, occur to the +art of serpent-charming. Thus the obduracy of the +wicked is compared to "the deaf adder that stoppeth her +ear; which will not hearken to the voice of charmers, +charming never so wisely."<a name="FNanchor_183_183" id="FNanchor_183_183"></a><a href="#Footnote_183_183" class="fnanchor">[183]</a> And the Aseverity +of the Chaldean invaders is depicted under this imagery:—"Behold, +I will send serpents, cockatrices, among you, +which will not be charmed, and they shall bite you, saith +the <span class="smcap">Lord</span>."<a name="FNanchor_184_184" id="FNanchor_184_184"></a><a href="#Footnote_184_184" class="fnanchor">[184]</a></p> + +<p>Among the ancient Romans the Psylli, a people of +Africa, and the Marsi, a German tribe who had settled in +Italy, were reputed to have the power of charming serpents, +and to be endowed with immunity from the results of +their venom. Celsus, however, maintains that this power +consisted in an acquaintance with the fact, now well +known, that animal poisons are hurtful only when mingled +with the blood. They may therefore be taken into the +mouth with perfect impunity. With reference to so great +an authority, however, there is more in the art and +mystery of serpent-charming than this.</p> + +<p>When Lucian describes the Babylonian magician as +walking abroad, and calling to him all the serpents that +were near, with certain ceremonies, such as the utterance +of sacred words from an ancient book, lustrations made +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_265" id="Page_265">[Pg 265]</a></span>with sulphur and a torch, and solemn marchings in a +circle, and when he asserts that the venomous reptiles, +<i>nolentes volentes</i>, presented themselves harmless at his +feet,—he describes a scene which is sufficiently familiar +to European travellers in Egypt and India. And so, +when Silius Italicus speaks of Atyr, instructed how to +disarm serpents of their dire venom, and to lull to sleep +the terrible water-snakes with his magic touch, he refers, +whether truly or falsely, to something of a more potent +character than the feat by which Queen Philippa saved +the life of her royal husband.</p> + +<p>Immunity from the poison of serpents, and serpent-charming, +are two things. The former, so far as it depends +on the natural law already mentioned, scarcely comes +within the province of this work. But is there not an +innate immunity residing in some persons, and even in +some peoples, by which, without the operation of any +recognised natural law, or even any effort, they are +securely protected either against the bites of venomous +serpents, or, at least, against the fatality which is the +ordinary result of being bitten?</p> + +<p>The Psylli, according to Pliny, were so characteristically +endowed with this immunity, that they made it a test +of the legitimacy of their children; for they were accustomed +to expose their new-born babes (only in doubtful +cases, we may suppose) to the most venomous serpents +they could find; assured that if their paternity was pure +Psyllic, they would be quite unharmed. Of this tribe +was the ambassador Hexagon, who, boasting of his power<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_266" id="Page_266">[Pg 266]</a></span> +before the Roman consuls, submitted to the crucial test +which they suggested, of being inclosed in a vessel +swarming with poisonous reptiles, which, says the legendary +story, hurt him not.</p> + +<p>The same historian tells us that the Psylli, who formerly +inhabited the vicinity of the Greater Syrtis,—that is, the +modern Tripoli and Barca,—were conquered and almost +exterminated by the Nasamones, who possessed their land; +but that a remnant fled to some distant region. It is not +improbable that the present inhabitants of Sennaar, on +the south of Egypt, may be the lineal descendants of these +same Psylli; for, since Egypt was densely peopled and +highly cultivated, a barbarous tribe could scarcely have +made good their footing there; and as on the other side +was the Great Desert of the Sâhra, and on the north the +sea, there was no resource open to them but to creep +along the desert edge of Egypt till they found a thinly-inhabited +land sufficiently savage to enable them to form +a settlement. The first region of this character that they +could possibly find would be Nubia; and there it is most +interesting to know that there exists a people at the +present time, pretending to the same powers as the old +Psylli. Bruce, whose testimony, at first much impugned, +has come to be received with confidence, avouches that all +the black people in the kingdom of Sennaar, whether +Funge or Nuba, are perfectly armed against the bite of +either scorpion or viper. They take the <i>Cerastes</i>—a +little asp with two horns, of the most deadly venom—into +their hands at all times, put them into their<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_267" id="Page_267">[Pg 267]</a></span> +bosoms, and throw them at one another as children do +balls, without ever irritating them by this usage so much +as to make them bite. One day when the traveller was +sitting with the brother of the prime minister of Sennaar, +a slave of his brought a <i>Cerastes</i>, which he had just taken +out of a hole, and was using with every sort of familiarity. +Bruce expressed his suspicion that the teeth had been +drawn, but was assured that they were not, both by the +slave and by his master, who, taking the viper from him, +wound it round his arm, and at the traveller's desire, +ordered the servant to accompany him with it to his +residence. Here Bruce, to test the power of the serpent, +took a chicken by the neck, and made it flutter; the +seeming indifference of the snake immediately gave place +to eagerness, and he bit the fowl with great signs of anger, +which died almost immediately. Bruce considers that +the indifference was only seeming towards the man,—that +it was indeed powerlessness, for he constantly observed +that, however lively the snake was before, yet upon being +seized by any of the blacks, it seemed as if taken with +sudden sickness and feebleness, frequently shut its eyes, +and never turned its mouth towards the arm of the person +who held it.</p> + +<p>How exactly this account agrees with the words of Silius,</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"—— <i>tactuque</i> graves <i>sopire</i> chelydros."<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>The Nubian traveller informs us that the Arabs—meaning +apparently the Moslem blacks—have not this +secret naturally, but that from infancy they acquire an<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_268" id="Page_268">[Pg 268]</a></span> +exemption from the mortal consequences attending the +bites of all venomous reptiles by chewing a certain root, +and washing themselves (it is not <i>anointing</i>) with an infusion +of certain plants in water. This is by no means +improbable; and it were much to be desired that the +root and the plants were obtained and identified, that +their preventive powers might be tested by competent +men of science. In all probability they would be found +to belong to the Quassia tribe, the natural order <i>Simarubaceæ</i>, +plants of the tropical regions of both continents, +whose juices are of an intense bitterness. An infusion of +the chips of <i>Quassia amara</i> and of <i>Simaruba amara</i> is +found to be an effectual poison to flies; and the Brazilian +Indians use an infusion of <i>Simaruba versicolor</i> as a +specific against the bite of serpents, and use it with great +effect in the pediculous diseases which are so common +among that people.</p> + +<p>It was a plant of this order, <i>Simaba cedron</i>, on which +experiments were made a few years ago, at the Zoological +Gardens, just before the lamentable death, by the bite of +the Cobra, of poor Gurling, who, indeed, assisted in them. +Mr Squire, the eminent chemist, was desirous of testing +the powers of this plant, which, dried and reduced to +powder, is in high repute among the Indians of South +America as a serpentifuge. Dr Quain and Mr Evans +concurred in this desire; and, with the permission of the +Zoological Society of London, a series of experiments, of +much interest, if not very conclusive in their results, were +performed at the Gardens, on the 8th July 1852.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_269" id="Page_269">[Pg 269]</a></span></p> + +<p>The trials were made only on small animals, but in +each case the alleged remedy proved inefficacious. The +experimenters, however, think that it would be unsafe to +reject the <i>Simaba cedron</i> as an antidote because it here +failed, inasmuch as death followed so rapidly that there +was small opportunity for its action. It is not until it +shall have been tried and have failed upon stronger +animals, that, in the face of the experience of the Indians +in hot climates, it should be repudiated. The remedy +was applied in the form of an infusion poured down the +throat of the bitten animal as quickly as possible after +the stroke, and of the moistened powder applied to the +wound. It seems to me worthy of consideration whether, +in the light of what Bruce says of the Nubians, a washing +of the body with the infusion, or an imbibition of it, or +both, <i>before</i> the serpent's attack, might not be more efficacious +as a preventive either of the bite or of its results, +than its administration afterwards as a cure. Whatever +be the substance with which the Nubians wash themselves, +it seems to communicate to the body some quality, perhaps +of odour, which repels and sickens serpents. Now, +this may reside in the intense bitterness of the <i>Simarubaceæ</i>; +and it would be worth while to try whether a +rattlesnake or a puff-adder would strike a guinea-pig that +had just been bathed in an infusion of the <i>Simaba</i>, or to +which a dose of the same had just been administered, and +if so, whether the bite then would be fatal. Even if these +experiments yielded no positive result, it would still be +open to consider whether the lapse of time, or a long sea-<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_270" id="Page_270">[Pg 270]</a></span>voyage, +or exposure to our moist climate, may not have +deprived the powdered root of the plant of antitoxic +properties which it may have possessed when freshly prepared +in its native region.</p> + +<p>Tschudi, whose researches into the natural history of +Peru are replete with interesting and valuable information, +has some observations on the native remedies for serpent-bites +which I will cite, prefacing the extract with a graphically +terrible picture from his pen of the venomous reptiles +themselves:—</p> + +<p>"The serpents are to be feared; and, on approaching +them, it is not easy to decide at the first view whether +they belong to a poisonous or innoxious species. In the +forests, where the fallen leaves lie in thick moist layers, +the foot of the hunter sinks deep at every step. Multitudes +of venomous Amphibia are hatched in the half-putrescent +vegetable matter; and he who inadvertently +steps on one of these animals may consider himself uncommonly +fortunate if he can effect his retreat without +being wounded. But it is not merely in these places, +which seem assigned by nature for their abode, that loathsome +reptiles are found: they creep between the roots of +large trees, under the thickly-interwoven brushwood, on +the open grass-plats, and in the maize and sugar-cane +fields of the Indians; nay, they crawl even into their huts, +and most fortunate is it for the inhabitants of those districts +that the number of the venomous, compared with +the innoxious reptiles, is comparatively small. Of the +poisonous serpents, only a few kinds are known whose<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_271" id="Page_271">[Pg 271]</a></span> +bite is attended with very dangerous consequences. The +minamaru or jergon (<i>Lachesis picta</i>, Tsch.) is, at most, three +feet long, with a broad, heart-shaped head, and a thick +upper lip. It haunts the higher forests, while in those +lower down his place is filled by his no less fearful relative, +the flammon, (<i>Lachesis rhombeata</i>, Prince Max.,) which is +six or seven feet in length. These serpents are usually +seen coiled almost in a circle, the head thrust forward, and +the fierce, treacherous-looking eyes glaring around, watching +for prey, upon which they pounce with the swiftness +of an arrow; then, coiling themselves up again, they look +tranquilly on the death-struggle of the victim. It would +appear that these Amphibia have a perfect consciousness +of the dreadful effect of their poisonous weapon, for they +use it when they are neither attacked nor threatened, and +they wound not merely animals fit for their food, but all +that come within their reach. More formidable than the +two snakes just described, but happily much less common, +is the brown ten-inch-long viper (<i>Echidna ocellata</i>, +Tsch.). It is brown, with two rows of black circular spots. +The effect of its bite is so rapid that it kills a strong +man in two or three minutes. So convinced are the +natives of its inevitably fatal result, that they never seek +any remedy: but immediately on receiving the wound lay +themselves down to die. In the montanas of Pangoa this +viper abounds more than in any other district: and never +without apprehension do the cholos undertake their annual +journey for the coca harvest, as they fear to fall +victims to the bite of this viper. The warning sound of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_272" id="Page_272">[Pg 272]</a></span> +the rattle-snake is seldom heard in the hot montanas, and +never in the higher regions.</p> + +<p>"Nature, who in almost all things has established an +equilibrium, supplies the natives with remedies against +the bite of the serpent. One of the cures most generally +resorted to is the root of the amarucachu (<i>Polianthes +tuberosa</i>,<a name="FNanchor_185_185" id="FNanchor_185_185"></a><a href="#Footnote_185_185" class="fnanchor">[185]</a> Linn.), cut into slips and laid upon the wound. +Another is the juice of the creeping plant called vijuco +de huaco (<i>Mikania huaco</i>,<a name="FNanchor_186_186" id="FNanchor_186_186"></a><a href="#Footnote_186_186" class="fnanchor">[186]</a> Kunth), which is already very +widely celebrated.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_273" id="Page_273">[Pg 273]</a></span></p><p>"This latter remedy was discovered by the negroes of +the equatorial province Choco. They remarked that a +sparrow-hawk, called the <i>huaco</i>, picked up snakes for his +principal food, and when bitten by one it flew to the +vejuco and ate some of the leaves. At length the Indians +thought of making the experiment on themselves, and +when bitten by serpents they drank the expressed juice of +the leaves of the vejuco, and constantly found that the +wound was thereby rendered harmless. The use of this +excellent plant soon became general, and in some places +the belief of the preservative power of the vejuco juice +was carried so far that men in good health were inoculated +with it. In this process some spoonfuls of the expressed +fluid are drunk, and afterwards some drops are put into +incisions made in the hands, feet, and breast. The fluid +is rubbed into the wounds by fresh vejuco leaves. After +this operation, according to the testimony of persons +worthy of credit, the bite of the poisonous snake fails for +a long time to have any evil effect. Beside the two plants +mentioned above, many others are used with more or less +favourable results. The inhabitants of the montana also +resort to other means, which are too absurd to be detailed +here: yet these medicines are often of benefit, for their +operation is violently reactive. They usually produce the +effect of repeated emetics and cause great perspiration. +There is much difference in the modes of external treatment +of the wound, and burning is often employed. I saw +an Indian apply to his wife's foot, which had been bitten, +a plaster consisting of moist gunpowder, pulverised +sulphur, and finely-chopped tobacco mixed up together.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_274" id="Page_274">[Pg 274]</a></span> +He laid this over the wounded part, and set fire to it. +This application in connexion with one of the nausea-exciting +remedies taken inwardly had a successful result.</p> + +<p>An English officer, engaged in the wars which freed the +South American republics from the Spanish dominion, +thus speaks of a plant which is probably the same <i>Mikania</i>. +His account is curiously confirmatory of the accuracy +of Bruce:—</p> + +<p>"Among the many medicinal and poisonous plants +growing on the banks of the Orinoco, one of the most +singular is a species of <i>vejuco</i>, which, when properly administered, +proves a powerful preservative from the effects +of poisonous serpents. It even appears to deprive these +reptiles either of their power or inclination to use their +fangs. Some of the leaves and small branches are +pounded, and applied in that state as a cataplasm to both +arms; the skin having been previously scarified freely +above the elbows. This species of inoculation is repeated, +at stated intervals; the juice of the bruised plant, diluted +with water, being also occasionally drunk. Several soldiers, +belonging to General Tedeno's division, had undergone +this treatment, and frequently made the advantage +they had thus acquired useful on a march. They were +thereby enabled to take shelter in deserted huts, which +we dared not enter on account of the snakes always lurking +in such places; although these men could bring them +out in their hands, without sustaining any injury. As +they had been for some time in our company, we could +ascertain that they had not any snakes in their possession<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_275" id="Page_275">[Pg 275]</a></span> +concealed for the purpose of deception. Besides, they +could have little or no inducement to practice an imposition +upon us, as they neither asked for, nor expected, any +reward for exhibiting their skill in destroying these +reptiles."<a name="FNanchor_187_187" id="FNanchor_187_187"></a><a href="#Footnote_187_187" class="fnanchor">[187]</a></p> + +<p>According to Captain Forbes, the negroes of Dahomey +employ a grass, or grass-like herb, with success. One of +his hammock-men had been bitten by venomous snakes +repeatedly, but, his father being a doctor, he had escaped +injury. Walking one day through some long grass, the +captain, pointing to the bare legs of his servant, asked if +there was not danger. "None," said he; "my father +picks some grass, and if on the same day the decoction is +applied, the wound heals at once."<a name="FNanchor_188_188" id="FNanchor_188_188"></a><a href="#Footnote_188_188" class="fnanchor">[188]</a></p> + +<p>Some animals, especially those which prey upon serpents, +seem to be proof against their bites. The Ichneumons +or Mangoustes of Africa and Asia have long been +celebrated for their immunity, and veritable stories have +been narrated of their having recourse to some herb, when +bitten, after which they successfully renewed the attack. +Percival, in his account of Ceylon, relates that a Mangouste +placed in a close room where a venomous serpent was, +instead of darting at it, as he would ordinarily have done, +ran peeping about anxiously seeking some way of escape; +but finding none it returned to its master, crept into his +bosom, and could by no means be persuaded to face the +snake. When, however, both were removed out of the +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_276" id="Page_276">[Pg 276]</a></span>house into the open field, the Mangouste instantly flew at +the serpent, and soon destroyed it. After the combat the +little quadruped suddenly disappeared for a few minutes, +and again returned. Percival concludes, not unreasonably, +that during its absence, it had found the antidotal +herb, and eaten of it. The natives state that the Mangouste +resorts on such occasions to the <i>Ophiorhiza mungos</i>, +whose root is reputed a specific for serpents' bites. This +is a Cinchonaceous plant, so intensely bitter that it is +called by the Malays by a name which signifies earth-gall.<a name="FNanchor_189_189" id="FNanchor_189_189"></a><a href="#Footnote_189_189" class="fnanchor">[189]</a></p> + +<p>Captain Forbes in his interesting account of Dahomey, +alludes to these combats, which he says he has witnessed +in India. He says that the serpent (Cobra) has usually +the advantage at first, but the Mangouste retreating, devours +some wild herb, returns and presently conquers.</p> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_277" id="Page_277">[Pg 277]</a></span></p> +<p>Sir Emerson Tennent inclines to refer the immunity of +the Mangouste to an inherent property. He remarks that +the mystery of its power has been "referred to the supposition +that there may be some peculiarity in its organisation +which renders it <i>proof against</i> the poison of the +serpent. It remains for future investigation to determine +how far this conjecture is founded in truth; and +whether in the blood of the Mongoos there exists any +element or quality which acts as a prophylactic. Such +exceptional provisions are not without precedent in the +animal economy: the hornbill feeds with impunity on the +deadly fruit of the <i>Strychnos</i>; the milky juice of some +species of <i>Euphorbia</i>, which is harmless to oxen, is invariably +fatal to the zebra; and the tsetse fly, the pest of +South Africa, whose bite is mortal to the ox, the dog, +and the horse, is harmless to man and the untamed creatures +of the forest."<a name="FNanchor_190_190" id="FNanchor_190_190"></a><a href="#Footnote_190_190" class="fnanchor">[190]</a></p> + +<p>Our own hedgehog possesses the privilege of being unharmed +by the venom of the viper, as is manifest in its +frequent contests with it. Mr Slater has frequently seen +combats between these animals, which always terminated +in favour of the hedgehog. The latter seemed perfectly +regardless of the many bites it received on the snout.<a name="FNanchor_191_191" id="FNanchor_191_191"></a><a href="#Footnote_191_191" class="fnanchor">[191]</a></p> + +<p>To return to Bruce's statements. After describing the +little horned viper of Egypt, the <i>Cerastes</i>, and its insidious +manner of creeping towards its victim with its head +averted, till within reach, when it suddenly springs and +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_278" id="Page_278">[Pg 278]</a></span>strikes, he goes on to say: "I saw one of them at Cairo +crawl up the side of a box, in which there were many, +and there lie still as if hiding himself, till one of the +people who brought them to us came near him, and +though in a very disadvantageous posture, sticking, as it +were, perpendicularly to the side of the box, he leaped near +the distance of three feet, and fastened between the man's +forefinger and thumb, so as to bring the blood. The fellow +shewed no signs of either pain or fear, and we kept +him with us full four hours, without his applying any +sort of remedy, or seeming inclined to do so.</p> + +<p>"To make myself assured" (adds Bruce) "that the animal +was in its perfect state, I made the man hold him by the +neck, so as to force him to open his mouth and lacerate +the thigh of a pelican, a bird I had tamed, as big as a +swan. The bird died in about thirteen minutes, though +it was apparently affected in fifty seconds; and we cannot +think this was a fair trial, because a very few minutes +before it had bit the man, and so discharged part of its +virus, and it was made to scratch the pelican by force, +without any irritation or action of its own.</p> + +<div><a name="Fig.7" id="Fig.7"> </a></div> +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 252px;"> +<a href="images/fig303-1200.jpg"><img src="images/fig303-400.jpg" width="252" height="400" alt="SNAKE-CHARMING." title="" /></a> +<span class="caption">SNAKE-CHARMING.</span> +</div> + +<p>"I will not hesitate to aver," he adds, "that I have seen +at Cairo (and this may be seen daily without trouble or +expense) a man, who came from above the catacombs, +where the pits of the mummy-birds are kept, who has +taken a Cerastes with his naked hand from a number of +others lying at the bottom of the tub, has put it upon his +bare head, covered it with the common red cap he wears, +then taken it out, put it in his breast, and tied it about +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_279" id="Page_279">[Pg 279]</a></span>his neck like a necklace, after which it has been applied +to a hen and bit it, which has died in a few minutes;. +and, to complete the experiment, the man has taken it by +the neck, and beginning at its tail, has ate it, as one +would do a carrot or a stock of celery, without any seeming +repugnance."<a name="FNanchor_192_192" id="FNanchor_192_192"></a><a href="#Footnote_192_192" class="fnanchor">[192]</a></p> + +<p>A few years earlier than Bruce, Hasselquist, an enthusiastic +young naturalist, and one of the pupils of Linnæus, +had visited the East. He paid much attention to the +subject, and records his judgment that there is no delusion +in serpent-charming, but that certain persons do +really, in whatever way they effect it, fascinate serpents. +"They take the most poisonous vipers with their bare +hands, play with them, put them in their bosoms, and +use a great many more tricks with them, as I have often +seen. The person I saw on the above day had only a +small viper, but I have frequently seen them handle those +that are three or four feet long, and of the most horrid +sort. I inquired <i>and examined</i> whether they cut out the +viper's poisonous teeth: but <i>I have seen with my own +eyes they do not</i>: we may therefore conclude, that there +are to this day Psylli in Egypt; but what art they use is +not generally known. Some people are very superstitious; +and the generality believe this to be done by some +supernatural art, which they obtain from invisible beings; +I do not know whether their power is to be ascribed to +good or evil; but I am persuaded that those who undertake +it use many superstitions."</p> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_280" id="Page_280">[Pg 280]</a></span></p> +<p>Subsequently we find some details of interest. "Now +was the time (July) to catch all sorts of snakes to be met +with in Egypt, the great heats bringing forth these vermin. +I therefore made preparation to get as many as I could, +and at once received four different sorts, which I have +described and preserved in <i>aqua vitæ</i>. These were the +Common Viper, the Cerastes of Alpin, the Jaculus, and +an Anguis Marinus. They were brought me by a Psylle, +who put me, together with the French consul, Sironcourt, +and all the French nation present, in consternation.</p> + +<p>"They gathered about us to see how she handled the +most poisonous and dreadful creatures alive and brisk, +without their doing or offering to do her the least harm. +When she put them into the bottle where they were to be +preserved, she took them with her bare hands, and handled +them as our ladies do their laces. She had no difficulty +with any but the <i>Viperæ officinales</i>, which were not fond +of their lodging. They found means to creep out before +the bottle could be corked. They crept over the hands +and bare arms of the woman, without occasioning the +least fear in her; she with great calmness took the snakes +from her body, and put them into the place destined for +their grave. She had taken these serpents in the field +with the same ease she handled them before us; this we +were told by the Arab who brought her to us. Doubtless +this woman had some unknown art which enabled her to +handle those creatures. It was impossible to get any +information from her, for on this subject she would not +open her lips."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_281" id="Page_281">[Pg 281]</a></span></p> + +<p>He thus sums up the results of his investigations. +"The circumstances relating to the fascination of serpents +in Egypt stated to me, were principally:—</p> + +<p>"1st.—That the art is only known to certain families, +who propagate it to their offspring.</p> + +<p>"2d.—The person who knows how to fascinate serpents, +never meddles with other poisonous animals; such as +scorpions, &c. There are different persons who know how +to fascinate these animals; and they again never meddle +with serpents.</p> + +<p>"3d.—Those that fascinate serpents eat them both raw +and boiled, and even make broth of them, which they eat +very commonly amongst them; but in particular they eat +such a dish when they go out to catch them. I have been +told that serpents, fried or boiled, are frequently eaten by +the Arabians, both in Egypt and Arabia, though they +know not how to fascinate them, but catch them either +alive or dead.</p> + +<p>"4th.—After they have eaten their soup, they procure +a blessing from their scheik, who uses some superstitious +ceremonies, and, amongst others, spits on them several +times with certain gestures."</p> + +<p>The blessing of the priest, Hasselquist pronounces correctly +enough to be mere superstition; we may fairly +conclude that the eating of the snakes is also irrelevant,—both +of these circumstances being calculated to increase +popular wonder only, and to lead the observers from the +true scent, which probably is the employment of preventive +simples. Hasselquist had been told of a plant with<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_282" id="Page_282">[Pg 282]</a></span> +which the charmers anointed or rubbed themselves before +they touched the serpents; but, as no such plant was produced +to him, he regarded it as fabulous. We have seen +reason, however, to conclude that the real key to the +mystery lies there.<a name="FNanchor_193_193" id="FNanchor_193_193"></a><a href="#Footnote_193_193" class="fnanchor">[193]</a></p> + +<p>The ancients believed that the human spittle was so +fatal to serpents that much of the secret of charming lay +in the knowledge of this fact. Of course this would +make Psylli of all men; but there may be this measure of +truth in the supposition, that the natural exudations of a +human body which has been bathed or rubbed with a +penetrating alexipharmic, may be so impregnated with the +odour, as to be peculiarly repellent of the snake. Denham +describes a scene of snake-charming in which the spittle +played an important part. A juggler brought him in a +bag two venomous snakes, which he set at liberty, beginning +to beat a little drum. They immediately reared +themselves on their tails, moving in a sort of dance. The +juggler played various tricks with them, sometimes +wreathing them round his neck, coiling them in his +bosom, or throwing them among the people. On +pointing his finger at their mouth, they immediately +raised themselves in attitude to spring forward and +strike; but after having exasperated them to the utmost, +<i>he had only to spit in their face</i>, to make them retreat +quite crest-fallen. From his description these seem to +have been of the genus <i>Naia</i>, upwards of six feet long, +and very venomous. The fangs, he says, had been ex<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_283" id="Page_283">[Pg 283]</a></span>tracted; +but still, to guard against all possible injury, the +fellow who played tricks with them had a large roll of +cloth wound round the right arm.<a name="FNanchor_194_194" id="FNanchor_194_194"></a><a href="#Footnote_194_194" class="fnanchor">[194]</a></p> + +<p>The influence of music on the serpents seems to be +universally assumed as a part of the professional snake-charmer's +success. The ancient Psylli who were employed +to prevent the Roman camp from being troubled with +venomous serpents, marched around it, chanting mystic +songs.<a name="FNanchor_195_195" id="FNanchor_195_195"></a><a href="#Footnote_195_195" class="fnanchor">[195]</a> Johnson describes the very clever snake-catchers +of India as pretending to draw them from their holes by +a song, and by playing a plaintive tune on an instrument +somewhat resembling an Irish bagpipe.<a name="FNanchor_196_196" id="FNanchor_196_196"></a><a href="#Footnote_196_196" class="fnanchor">[196]</a> He says, indeed, +that this is all delusion; but Forbes, in his "Oriental Memoirs," +allows its reality. A learned native of India +assured Sir William Jones that he had frequently seen +the most venomous and malignant snakes leave their holes +upon hearing notes from a flute, which, as he supposed, +gave them peculiar delight.</p> + +<p>The Egyptian snake-charmer assumes an air of mystery, +strikes the walls with a short palm-stick, whistles, makes a +clucking noise with his tongue, and says, "I adjure you, +by God, if ye be above, or if ye be below, that ye come +forth; I adjure you by the most great Name, if ye be +obedient, come forth, and if ye be disobedient, die, die, +die!"<a name="FNanchor_197_197" id="FNanchor_197_197"></a><a href="#Footnote_197_197" class="fnanchor">[197]</a> The late Dr W. A. Bromfield, in some extracts +from his letters published in the <i>Zoologist</i>,<a name="FNanchor_198_198" id="FNanchor_198_198"></a><a href="#Footnote_198_198" class="fnanchor">[198]</a> confirms +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_284" id="Page_284">[Pg 284]</a></span>this:—"The chief actor was a fine-looking man, with a +handsome and intelligent, but peculiar cast of countenance. +He carried a stick in his hand, with which, on +entering each apartment, he struck the wall several times, +uttering, in a low, measured tone, a form of exorcism in +Arabic; adjuring and commanding the serpent—which +he declared, immediately on the door being thrown open, +was lurking in the walls or ceiling—to come forth. Presently, +the reptile would be seen emerging from some hole +or corner, with which every room, even in the better class +of Egyptian houses, abounds; on which the enchanter +would draw the unwilling serpent towards him, with the +point of the stick, and when within reach put it in the +bag he carried about with him for that purpose."</p> + +<p>Chateaubriand has drawn a graphic picture of the +power of music on the American Rattlesnake. The +serpent happening to enter the encampment of his +party in Canada, a Canadian who could play on the +flute, advanced, by way of diversion, with his magic +pipe, against it. On his approach the haughty reptile +curled itself into a spiral line, flattened its head, inflated +its cheeks, contracted its lips, displayed its envenomed +fangs, and its bloody throat; its double tongue glowed +like two flames of fire; its eyes were burning coals; its +body, swollen with rage, rose and fell like the bellows of a +forge; its dilated skin assumed a dull and scaly appearance; +and its rattle, which sounded the denunciation of +death, vibrated with extreme velocity. The Canadian +now began to play upon his flute: the serpent started<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_285" id="Page_285">[Pg 285]</a></span> +with surprise, and drew back its head. In proportion as +it was struck with the magic effect, its eyes lost their +fierceness, the vibrations of its tail became slower, and the +sound which it emitted gradually became weaker and +ceased. The folds of the fascinated Serpent became less +perpendicular upon their spiral line, expanded by degrees, +and sunk one after another upon the ground, forming +concentric circles. The colours recovered their brilliancy +on its quivering skin; and, slightly turning its head, it +remained motionless in the attitude of attention and +pleasure. At this moment, the Canadian advanced a few +steps, producing with his flute sweet and simple notes. +The Reptile inclined its variegated neck, opened a passage +with its head through the high grass, and began to creep +after the musician, stopping when he stopped, and following +him again as soon as he moved forward. In this +manner, to the astonishment both of Europeans and +natives, he was led out of the camp; and it was unanimously +decreed, that the life of a creature so sensible of +the concord of sweet sounds should be spared.<a name="FNanchor_199_199" id="FNanchor_199_199"></a><a href="#Footnote_199_199" class="fnanchor">[199]</a></p> + +<p>Some allowance in the colouring of this picture, which +must be allowed to be beautifully painted, may possibly +be made to the poetical imagination of the narrator, for +Chateaubriand could not tell a story without embellishing +it <i>suo more</i>. We may, however, accept the main facts, +confirmed as they are by the experience of other observers +in other countries.</p> + +<p>Mr Gogerly, a missionary of some standing in India +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_286" id="Page_286">[Pg 286]</a></span>observes that some persons who were incredulous on the +subject, after taking the most careful precautions against +any trick or artifice being played, sent a charmer into the +garden to prove his powers;—the man began to play upon +his pipe, and proceeding from one part of the garden to +another, for some minutes stopped at a part of the wall +much injured by age, and intimated that a serpent was +within. He then played quicker, and his notes were louder, +when almost immediately a large Cobra di Capello +put forth its hooded head, and the man ran fearlessly to +the spot, seized it by the throat, and drew it forth. He +then shewed the poison fangs, and beat them out; afterwards +it was taken to the room where his baskets were +left, and deposited among the rest. The snake-charmer, +observes the same writer, applies his pipe to his mouth, +and sends forth a few of his peculiar notes, and all the +serpents stop as though enchanted; they then turn towards +the musician, and approaching him within two feet raise +their heads from the ground, and bending backwards and +forwards, keep time with the tune. When he ceases playing, +they drop their heads and remain quiet on the ground.</p> + +<p>The <i>Penny Magazine</i> for April 1833, contains the +following very precise and circumstantial narrative, communicated +by a gentleman of high station at Madras:—"One +morning, as I sat at breakfast, I heard a loud noise +and shouting among my palankeen-bearers. On inquiry, +I learned that they had seen a large hooded snake, and +were trying to kill it. I immediately went out, and saw +the snake creeping up a very high green mound, whence it<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_287" id="Page_287">[Pg 287]</a></span> +escaped into a hole in an old wall of ancient fortification; +the men were armed with their sticks, which they always +carry in their hands, and had attempted in vain to kill +the reptile, which had eluded their pursuit, and in his +hole had coiled himself up secure, whilst we could see his +bright eyes shining. I had often desired to ascertain the +truth of the report, as to the effect of music upon snakes. +I therefore inquired for a snake-catcher. I was told there +was no person of the kind in the village; but after a little +inquiry, I heard there was one in a village distant about +three miles. I accordingly sent for him, keeping a strict +watch over the snake, which never attempted to escape, +whilst we, his enemies, were in sight. About an hour +elapsed, when my messenger returned bringing a snake-catcher. +This man wore no covering on his head, nor +any on his person, excepting a small piece of cloth round +his loins; he had in his hands two baskets, one containing +tame snakes, the other empty: these and his musical pipe +were the only things he had with him. I made the snake-catcher +leave his two baskets on the ground, at some distance, +while he ascended the mound with his pipe alone. +He began to play: at the sound of the music the snake +came gradually and slowly out of his hole. When he was +entirely within reach, the snake-catcher seized him dexterously +by the tail and held him thus at arm's length; +whilst the snake, enraged, darted his head in all directions, +but in vain: thus suspended, he has not the power to +round himself, so as to seize hold of his tormentor. He +exhausted himself in vain exertions; when the snake-<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_288" id="Page_288">[Pg 288]</a></span>catcher +descended the bank, dropped him into the empty +basket, and closed the lid: he then began to play, and +after a short time, raised the lid of the basket; the snake +darted about wildly, and attempted to escape; the lid was +shut down again quickly, the music always playing. This +was repeated two or three times; and in a very short interval, +the lid being raised, the snake sat on his tail, opened +his hood and danced quite as quietly as the tame snakes +in the other basket, nor did he attempt again to escape. +This, having witnessed with my own eyes, I can assert as +a fact."</p> + +<p>Experienced and skilful as these men are, however, they +do not invariably escape with impunity. Fatal terminations +to these exhibitions of the psyllic art now and then +occur, for there are still to be found "deaf adders, which +will not hearken to the voice of charmers, charming never +so wisely." In Madras, a few years ago, a noted serpent-charmer +chanced one morning to get hold of a Cobra of +considerable size, which he got conveyed to his home. +He was occupied abroad all day, and had not time to get +the dangerous fangs extracted from the Serpent's mouth. +This at least is the probable solution of the matter. In +the evening he returned to his dwelling, considerably +excited with liquor, and began to exhibit tricks with his +snakes to various persons who were around him at the +time. The newly-caught Cobra was brought out with +the others, and the man, spirit-valiant, commenced to +handle the stranger like the rest. But the Cobra darted +at his chin, and bit it, making two marks like pin points.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_289" id="Page_289">[Pg 289]</a></span> +The poor juggler was sobered in an instant. "I am a +dead man," he exclaimed. The prospect of immediate +death made the maintenance of his professional mysticism +a thing of no moment. "Let the creature alone," +said he to those about him, who would have killed the +Cobra; "it may be of service to others who are of my +trade. To me it can be of no more use. Nothing can save +me." His professional knowledge was but too accurate. +In two hours he was a corpse! The narrator saw him a +short time after he died. His friends and brother jugglers +had gathered around him, and had him placed on a +chair in a sitting position. Seeing the detriment likely +to result to their trade and interests from such a notion, +they vehemently asserted that it was not the envenomed +bite which had killed him. "No, no; he only forgot one +little word—one small portion of the charm." In fact, they +declared that he was not dead at all, but only in a sort of +swoon, from which, according to the rules of the cabalistic +art, he would recover in seven days. But the officers of +the barracks, close to which the deceased had lived, interfered +in the matter. They put a guard of one or two men +on the house, declaring that they would allow the body to +remain unburied for seven days, but would not permit any +trickery. Of course the poor serpent-charmer never came +to life again. His death, and the manner of it, gave a +severe blow, as has been already hinted, to the art and +practice of snake-charming in Madras.</p> + +<p>Roberts also mentions the instance of a man who came +to a gentleman's house to exhibit tame snakes, and on<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_290" id="Page_290">[Pg 290]</a></span> +being told that a Cobra, or Hooded Snake was in a cage +in the house, was asked if he could charm it; on his replying +in the affirmative, the Serpent was released from +the cage, and, no doubt, in a state of high irritation. The +man began his incantations, and repeated his charms, but +the Snake darted at him, fastened upon his arm, and before +night he was a corpse.</p> + +<p>These failures, rare and abnormal as they confessedly +are, do not by any means disprove the reality of snake-charming; +they certainly shew that the men believe in +their own powers. It may be, as some Europeans have +maintained, that in India, the exhibitors usually practise +upon tame snakes, from which they have already extracted +the fangs, or even eradicated the poison sacs,—an operation +performed without difficulty by making an incision +beneath and behind each eye. Or it may be that the +power of music over these reptiles is ordinarily relied on, +and that in rare instances this fails. I have myself taken +fierce and active lizards, in Jamaica, by a noose of string, +while whistling a lively tune. As soon as the whistling +commenced, the lizard would become still on the trunk or +the branch of a tree, and so remain unmoved, with a sleepy +look all the while I was searching up the string, preparing +the noose, and presenting it to him, giving just a backward +glance of his eye, as the noose slipped over his head, the +whistling going on vigorously all the time, of course, till +the cord being jerked tight, he suddenly found himself +dangling in the air at the end of a stick, and began to +wriggle and writhe, and scratch and bite furiously.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_291" id="Page_291">[Pg 291]</a></span></p> + +<p>One thing seems clear from these accidents. The +Indian <i>samp-wallahs</i> do not use any infusion or unguent +to stupefy and disarm their snakes, as do those of Ethiopia. +If these men just mentioned had been so protected +they would not have been killed, however rash or pot-valiant +they might have been. Indeed the accounts of +Bruce and others of the African professors of the psyllic +art, and the phenomena of the serpents acted upon, differ +greatly from descriptions of parallel exhibitions in India, +and suggest diverse modes of explanation.</p> + +<p>A dozen years ago there were a couple of oriental +Psylli performing at the Zoological Gardens. Mr Brodcrip +has given a very graphic sketch of their performance +as he saw it in the Reptile House. The two Arabs took +up their position on the floor, the company standing in a +semicircle at a respectful distance.</p> + +<p>"The old Arab said something to the young one, who +stooped down ... and took out a large deal-box, drew +off the cover, thrust in his hand and pulled out a large +long <i>Naia haje</i> (the Egyptian species of Cobra). After +handling it and playing with it a little while, he set it +down on the floor, half squatted close to it, and fixed his +eyes on the snake. The serpent instantly raised itself, +expanded its hood, and turned slowly on its own axis, +following the eye of the young Arab, turning as his head, +or eye, or body turned. Sometimes it would dart at him, +as if to bite. He exercised the most perfect command +over the animal. All this time the old Arab stood still, +pensively regarding the operation; but presently he also<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_292" id="Page_292">[Pg 292]</a></span> +squatted down, muttering some words, opposite to the +snake. He evidently affected the reptile more strongly +than his more mercurial relative, though he remained motionless, +doing nothing that I could see but fixing his eyes +upon the snake, with his face upon a level with the raised +head of the serpent, which now turned all its attention to +him, and seemed to be in a paroxysm of rage. Suddenly +it darted open-mouthed at his face, furiously dashing its +expanded whitish-edged jaws into the dark hollow cheek +of the charmer, who still imperturbably kept his position, +only smiling bitterly at his excited antagonist. I was very +close, and watched very narrowly; but though the snake +dashed at the old Arab's face and into it more than twice +or thrice with its mouth wide open, I could not see the +projection of any fang.</p> + +<p>"Then the old Arab, who, it was said, had had the gift +of charming serpents in his family for a long series of +years, opened another box, and took out four or five great +lizards, and provoked the Naia with them, holding them +by the tails in a sort of four-in-hand style. Then the youth +brought out a Cerastes, which I observed seemed overpowered, +as if, as the country people say, something had +come over it. He placed it on the floor; but this serpent +did not raise itself like the Naia, but, as the charmer +stooped to it, moved in a very odd, agitated manner, on +its belly, regarding him askant. I thought the serpent +was going to fly at the lad, but it did not. He took it up, +played with it, blew or spit at it, and then set it down apparently +sick, subdued, and limp. He then took it again,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_293" id="Page_293">[Pg 293]</a></span> +played with it a second time, gathered it up in his hand, +put it in his bosom, went to another box, drew the lid, +and brought out more snakes, one of which was another +Naia, and the others of a most venomous kind.</p> + +<p>"Now there were two Naias, with heads and bodies erect, +obeying, apparently, the volition of the charmers. One of +the snakes bit the youth on the naked hand, and brought +blood; but he only spat on the wound and scratched it +with his nail which made the blood flow more freely. +Then he brought out more lizards of a most revolting +aspect. By this time the floor of the reptile house, that +formed the stage of the charmers, began to put one in +mind of the incantation-scene in <i>Der Freischutz</i>, only +that the principal performers looked more like the Black +Huntsman and one of his familiars than Max and Caspar, +and the enchanters' circle was surrounded with fair ladies +and their well-dressed lords, instead of the appalling +shapes which thronged round the affrighted huntsman at +the casting of the charmed bullets.</p> + +<p>"The Arabs, holding the snakes by the tails, let their +bodies touch the floor, when they came twisting and +wriggling on towards the spectators, who now backed a +little upon the toes of those who pressed them from behind. +Sometimes the charmers would loose their hold, when the +serpents, as if eager to escape from their tormentors, +rapidly advanced upon the retreating ring; but they +always caught them by the tails in time, and then made +them repeat the same advances. I kept my position in +front throughout, and had no fear, feeling certain that<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_294" id="Page_294">[Pg 294]</a></span> +Mr Mitchell, and those under whose superintendence this +highly amusing and instructive establishment is so well +conducted, would not have permitted the exhibition to take +place, if there had been the least danger. Besides this, I +observed that the charmers only used their own serpents, +which they had, I presume, brought with them; and I confess +that the impression upon my mind was, that they had +been rendered innoxious by mechanical means."<a name="FNanchor_200_200" id="FNanchor_200_200"></a><a href="#Footnote_200_200" class="fnanchor">[200]</a></p> + +<p>This last assumption the narrator subsequently found +to be indubitably true. What is said of the <i>Cerastes</i>, +however, looks more like the effect of something detrimental +to the snake in the lad's odour, or in his spittle. +Of course no confidence can be placed in their statements, +but it is noteworthy that they both claimed to belong to +a race over whom snakes have no morbific power,—Psylli, +in fact, of many generations.</p> + +<p>Dr Davy asserts that in India, however, the poison +fangs are <i>not</i> extracted. He tells us that he has himself +examined the snakes exhibited (which are always Cobras) +and have found the fangs uninjured. He attributes the +power of the charmers to their agility and courage, +founded on an intimate acquaintance with the habits and +disposition of the reptiles. The learned Doctor acting on +this persuasion, says that he has himself repeatedly irritated +these serpents with impunity. They can be readily +appeased when irritated, by the voice and by gentle movements +of the hand in a circle, and by stroking them on the +body.</p> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_295" id="Page_295">[Pg 295]</a></span></p> +<p>A very curious subject, closely connected with serpent-charming, +is the power of extracting venom from a wound +inflicted by reptiles, attributed to the "snake-stone," which +the Hindoos and Cingalese usually carry with them. +Captain Napier thus describes it:—</p> + +<p>"These people generally have for sale numbers of +<i>snake-stones</i>, which are said to be equally an antidote +against the bite of the serpent and the sting of the scorpion. +For the former I have never seen it tried: and to +prove its efficacy with the latter, the samp-wallah generally +carries about in small earthen vessels a number of +these animals, one of which he allows to wound him with +his sting. The snake-stone, which is a dark, shining, +smooth pebble, about the size and shape of a French +bean, on being applied to the wound, instantly adheres +to it, and by a power of suction appears to draw out +the poison, which is supposed to be contained in the +small bubbles which, on the immersion of the stone into +a glass of water are seen in great numbers to rise to +the surface.</p> + +<p>"My first idea on beholding the samp-wallah allow +himself to be stung by the scorpion was that the latter +had by some means been rendered harmless. However, +not wishing voluntarily to put this to the test by personal +experience, I purchased some of the stones, resolved on +the very first opportunity to try their efficacy. Shortly +after this, happening to be marching up the country with +a detachment, we pitched our camp on some very stony +ground, in clearing which one of the English soldiers<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_296" id="Page_296">[Pg 296]</a></span> +happened to be bit [stung] in the hand by a large +scorpion. As soon as I heard of this circumstance, +I sent for the sufferer, who appeared to be in great +pain, which he described as a burning sensation running +all the way up his arm to the very shoulder.</p> + +<p>"I applied one of the snake-stones to the puncture; +it adhered immediately, and during about eight minutes +that it remained on the patient, he by degrees became +easier; the pain diminished, gradually coming down from +the shoulder, until it appeared entirely confined to the +immediate vicinity of the wound. I now removed the +stone; on putting it into a cup of water, numbers of +small air-bubbles rose to the surface, and in a short time +the man ceased to suffer any inconvenience from the +accident."<a name="FNanchor_201_201" id="FNanchor_201_201"></a><a href="#Footnote_201_201" class="fnanchor">[201]</a></p> + +<p>It is scarcely needful to say that the emission of bubbles +is a most ordinary phenomenon, and could have not the +slightest connexion with the alexipharmic power of the +stone, whether real or imaginary. Any one may see +exactly the same thing on dropping a bit of new flower-pot, +or a very dry brick into water, or any other substance +heavier than the fluid, which is at the same time dry and +porous. It results from the air which is contained in the +pores of the material, which on immersion is displaced by +the heavier water, and rises in oozing bubbles to the surface.</p> + +<p>Sir Emerson Tennent has some observations of much +value on these "stones," as well as on cognate matters, +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_297" id="Page_297">[Pg 297]</a></span>which my readers may like to see, and with which I close +this subject:—</p> + +<p>"On one occasion, in March 1854, a friend of mine +was riding, with some other civil officers of the government, +along a jungle-path in the vicinity of Bintenne, +when they saw one of two Tamils, who were approaching +them, suddenly dart into the forest and return, holding in +both hands a <i>cobra di capello</i> which he had seized by the +head and tail. He called to his companion for assistance +to place it in their covered basket, but in doing this, he +handled it so inexpertly that it seized him by the finger, +and retained its hold for a few seconds, as if unable to +retract its fangs. The blood flowed, and intense pain +appeared to follow almost immediately; but, with all +expedition, the friend of the sufferer undid his waistcloth, +and took from it two snake-stones, each of the size of a +small almond, intensely black and highly polished, though +of an extremely light substance. These he applied one to +each wound inflicted by the teeth of the serpent, to which +the stones attached themselves closely, the blood that +oozed from the bites being rapidly imbibed by the porous +texture of the article applied. The stones adhered tenaciously +for three or four minutes, the wounded man's +companion in the meanwhile rubbing his arm downwards +from the shoulder towards the fingers. At length the +snake-stones dropped off of their own accord; the suffering +appeared to have subsided; he twisted his fingers till +the joints cracked, and went on his way without concern. +Whilst this had been going on, another Indian of the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_298" id="Page_298">[Pg 298]</a></span> +party who had come up took from his bag a small piece +of white wood, which resembled a root, and passed it +gently near the head of the cobra, which the latter immediately +inclined close to the ground; he then lifted the +snake without hesitation, and coiled it into a circle at the +bottom of his basket. The root, by which he professed to +be enabled to perform this operation with safety, he called +the <i>Naya-thalee Kalinga</i> (the root of the snake-plant,) +protected by which he professed his ability to approach +any reptile with impunity. In another instance, in 1853, +Mr Lavalliere, the District Judge of Kandy, informed me +that he saw a snake-charmer in the jungle, close by the +town, search for a <i>cobra di capello</i>, and, after disturbing it +in its retreat, the man tried to secure it, but, in the attempt, +he was bitten in the thigh till blood trickled from the +wound. He instantly applied the <i>Pamboo-Kaloo</i> (or snake-stone), +which adhered closely for about ten minutes, during +which time he passed the root which he held in his hand +backwards and forwards above the stone, till the latter +dropped to the ground. He assured Mr Lavalliere that +all danger was then past. That gentleman obtained from +him the snake-stone he had relied on, and saw him repeatedly +afterwards in perfect health. The substances which +were used on both these occasions are now in my possession. +The roots employed by the several parties are not +identical. One appears to be a bit of the stem of an +<i>Aristolochia</i>; the other is so dry as to render it difficult +to identify it, but it resembles the quadrangular stem of a +jungle vine. Some species of <i>Aristolochia</i>, such as the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_299" id="Page_299">[Pg 299]</a></span> +<i>A. serpentaria</i> of North America, are supposed to act as +a specific in the cure of snake-bites; and the <i>A. Indica</i> +is the plant to which the ichneumon is popularly believed +to resort as an antidote when bitten; but it is probable +that the use of any particular plant by the snake-charmers +is a pretence, or rather a delusion, the reptile being overpowered +by the resolute action of the operator, and not +by the influence of any secondary appliance, the confidence +inspired by the supposed talisman enabling its possessor +to address himself fearlessly to his task, and thus to effect +by determination and will, what is popularly believed to +be the result of charms and stupefaction."</p> + +<p>The writer then alludes to the facts mentioned by +Bruce, which I have before adduced; and proceeds:—</p> + +<p>"As to the snake-stone itself, I submitted one, the application +of which I have been describing, to Mr Faraday, +and he has communicated to me, as the result of his +analysis, his belief that it is 'a piece of charred bone +which has been filled with blood perhaps several times, +and then carefully charred again. Evidence of this is +afforded, as well by the apertures of cells or tubes on its +surface as by the fact that it yields and breaks under +pressure, and exhibits an organic structure within. When +heated slightly, water rises from it, and also a little ammonia; +and, if heated still more highly in the air, the carbon +burns away, and a bulky white ash is left, retaining the +shape and size of the 'stone.' This ash, as is evident +from inspection, cannot have belonged to any vegetable +substance, for it is almost entirely composed of phosphate<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_300" id="Page_300">[Pg 300]</a></span> +of lime. Mr Faraday adds that 'if the piece of matter +has ever been employed as a spongy absorbent, it seems +hardly fit for that purpose in its present state; but who +can say to what treatment it has been subjected since it +was fit for use, or to what treatment the natives may +submit it when expecting to have occasion to use it?'"</p> + +<p>Sir E. Tennent supposes that the animal charcoal may be +sufficiently absorbent to extract the venom from the recent +wound together with a portion of the blood, before it has +had time to be carried into the system. If this be so the +process is analogous to that of sucking a poisoned wound, +already referred to.<a name="FNanchor_202_202" id="FNanchor_202_202"></a><a href="#Footnote_202_202" class="fnanchor">[202]</a></p> + +<p>What the author means by a jungle vine I do not +exactly know, but conjecture that it may be one of the +<i>Bignoniaceæ</i>, the woody climbing species of which have +in general their stem divided into lobes arranged in a +quadrangular manner. I am not aware that any species +of this order is an antidote to animal poisons, but many +have powerful medicinal properties, and abound in bitter +juices. The whitewood of Jamaica (<i>Bignonia leucoxylon</i>) +enjoys a reputation as a remedy for the poison of the +Manchineel (<i>Hippomane mancinella</i>) which is so virulent +that persons are reported to have been killed by its volatile +emanations, when accidentally sleeping under its shade, +and a drop of its juice falling on the skin burns it like +fire, and produces an ulcer difficult to heal. The value of +the <i>Aristolochia</i> has been already referred to; and on the +whole I am disposed to attach more importance to the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_301" id="Page_301">[Pg 301]</a></span> +use of vegetable specifics by the Ceylonese operators than +the learned author whom I have just quoted. The subject +is a highly curious one, and well worthy of minute +investigation by able and unprejudiced men of science, +willing to receive unscientific information and suggestions, +in various parts of the world, particularly in the intertropical +regions of both hemispheres.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_302" id="Page_302">[Pg 302]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="X" id="X"></a>X.</h2> + +<h2>BEAUTY.</h2> + + +<p>Very much of the delight with which we pursue natural +history is surely due to the almost constant recognition of +the beautiful. I do not know that I could say with the +poet,—</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"A thing of beauty is a joy <i>for ever</i>;"<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>but certainly it is a joy as long as it endures; and the +naturalist finds an endless recurrence of things of beauty. +Birds, insects, shells, zoophytes, flowers, sea-weeds, are all +redundant of beauty; and all the classes of natural objects, +though not in an equal degree, nor manifestly in +every individual object, yet possess it as a prominent +element. Indeed, from the profusion with which loveliness +is sown broadcast over the works of God, I have often +thought, though it is not directly revealed, that a sense of +the beautiful and a complacency in it, altogether independent +of fitness for certain ends, or the uses which may +be subserved, is an attribute of the Holy One Himself, +and that our perception of it is the reflection of His—a +part of that image of God in which man was created, and +which sin has not wholly obliterated. I know that God +may have clothed His works with beauty for other admir<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_303" id="Page_303">[Pg 303]</a></span>ing +eyes than man's; and that it is probable that the holy +angels may be far more conversant with creation than we +are with all our researches,—that the ten thousand times +ten thousand flowers which are "born to blush unseen" +by <i>man</i>, may be seen and admired by "ten thousand +times ten thousand" angels,<a name="FNanchor_203_203" id="FNanchor_203_203"></a><a href="#Footnote_203_203" class="fnanchor">[203]</a> and thus the tribute of +praise for their perfection may be ever ascending before +Him whose hands made them for His glory. We may +allow this; and yet with reverence presume that His own +pure eyes look upon the lilies' array with a delight in +their mere loveliness, infinitely greater than that which +men, or even angels, take in it, seeing it is written,—"for +thy pleasure they are, and were created."</p> + +<p>I remember being struck, and somewhat awed, too, with +a thought of this kind, once, when, pushing my way through +a very dense and tangled thicket in a lone and lofty mountain +region of Jamaica, sufficiently remote from the dwellings +of man to render it probable that no civilized human +foot had penetrated thither before. I suddenly came upon +a most magnificent terrestrial orchid in full blossom. It +was <i>Phajus Tankervilliæ</i>,—a noble plant, which from the +midst of broad leaves growing out of a mass of green +bulbs, had thrown up its stout blossom-stems to the +height of a yard or more, crowned with the pyramidal +spike of lily-like flowers, whose expanding petals of pure +white on one side and golden brown on the other, and +trumpet-lip of gorgeous purple seemed, to my ravished +gaze, the very perfection of beauty. For ages, I thought,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_304" id="Page_304">[Pg 304]</a></span> +that beauteous flower had been growing in that wild and +unvisited spot, every season "filling the air around with +beauty," and had in all probability never met a single +human gaze before. Had, then, all that divinely-formed +loveliness been mere waste for those generations? I asked +myself; and I immediately replied, No: the eye of God +himself hath rested on it with satisfaction, and the Lord +hath taken pleasure in this work of His hands.</p> + +<p>I shall not make this chapter an essay on the sublime +and beautiful, nor seek to analyse the sense of beauty. It +is enough that it is an appetite of our being, and that +most abundantly in nature, on every side, there is the +material of its gratification. So abundantly, indeed, that +it were easy to expand the few pages which I propose to +devote to the subject into a volume, or a dozen volumes, and +yet leave untouched vast treasures of the beautiful in natural +history. I must content myself and my readers with the +selection of a few of the more prominent objects in which +this sense is gratified, and with a discrimination of two or +three distinct phases or conditions of existence which contribute, +each in its measure, to give delight to the eyes.</p> + +<div><a name="Fig.8" id="Fig.8"> </a></div> +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 250px;"> +<a href="images/fig331-1200.jpg"><img src="images/fig331-400.jpg" width="250" height="400" alt="ANTELOPES." title="" /></a> +<span class="caption">ANTELOPES.</span> +</div> + +<p>Among Quadrupeds, there is perhaps less of beauty, +strictly considered, than in most other classes of animals. +Elegance of form, however, which is one phase of it, is +seen in the lithe and active squirrel, the pretty petaurist, +and many other of the smaller beasties, and is found in +perfection in the deer and antelopes. Who that has seen +a pet fawn coming to be caressed by a fair girl, but must +have had his sense of the beautiful gratified? Mark the +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_305" id="Page_305">[Pg 305]</a></span>freedom and grace of every motion! See how it stretches +out its pretty meek face and taper neck towards the hand; +its extreme timidity causing its whole body and every +limb to start on the slightest stir from the beholders, +while on the least approach it bounds away in the exuberant +playfulness of its little heart, then stops, and turns, and +gazes, and stretches out its neck again! See when it trots +or walks, how high it lifts its little slender feet, bending +its agile limbs as if motion itself were a pleasure! See, +as it stands, with one fore-foot bent up, the hoof nearly +touching the belly; the long graceful ears moving this +way and that, now thrown forwards, now backwards, now +erected, to catch the slightest sound,—what a picture of +fairy grace it is! There is beauty, too, in the soft, full +liquid eye of these animals,—the "bright, black eye" of +the "dear gazelle," which in the East is the very ideal of +female loveliness. Its melting gaze seems full of tenderness, +so that we cannot look without loving it.</p> + +<p>Nor is beauty of colour wholly wanting. How rich is +the tawny fur of the tiger, dashed with its black streaks! +And the brighter yellow of the leopard and the jaguar, +studded all over with rosettes of black spots! We forget +the ferocity of the savage in its beautifully-painted coat. +The zebra, too,—with the fine contrast of those bands of +richest sable on the cream-coloured ground, now bold and +broad, as on the rounded body, now running in fine +parallel but irregularly-waved lines, as on the face,—is a +beautiful quadruped; and a herd of them galloping wan<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_306" id="Page_306">[Pg 306]</a></span>tonly +over a South African plain, must be a sight worth +seeing indeed.</p> + +<p>When we come to Birds, however, beauty is not the +exception, but the rule. The form of a bird is almost +always graceful; the rounded swellings and undulations +of outline, and the smoothness of the plumage give pleasure +to the eye, even when there is no attractiveness of +hue. One has almost a difficulty in naming an inelegant +bird. But when, as in a thousand instances, brilliancy of +colouring is combined with elegance of shape and smoothness +of plumage, we must be charmed. Is not our own +little goldfinch, is not the pert chaffinch that comes up to +our very feet for a grain or a crumb, a pretty object? +But the tropical birds,—we must look at them if we wish +to know what nature can do in the way of adornment. +We should go to the flats on the embouchure of the +Amazon, and see the rosy spoonbills, in their delicate +carnation dress, set off by the lustrous crimson of their +shoulders and breast-tufts, feeding by hundreds on the +green mud, or watch the gorgeous ibises, all clad in +glowing scarlet with black-tipped wings, when, in serried +ranks, a mile in length, like the vermillion cloud of morning, +they come to their breeding-place,—a truly magnificent +sight.<a name="FNanchor_204_204" id="FNanchor_204_204"></a><a href="#Footnote_204_204" class="fnanchor">[204]</a></p> + +<p>The first of the Parrot tribe that I ever had an opportunity +of seeing in its native freedom was the beautiful +Parrakeet of the Southern States. Eighty or a hundred +birds in one compact flock passed me flying low, and all +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_307" id="Page_307">[Pg 307]</a></span>nearly on the same plane; and, as they swept by, screaming +as they went, I fancied that they looked like an immense +shawl of green satin, on which an irregular pattern +was worked in scarlet and gold and azure. The sun's +rays were brilliantly reflected from the gorgeous surface, +which rapidly sped past like a splendid vision.</p> + +<p>The Cock of the Rock is a fine South American bird of +the richest orange colour, crowned with a double crest of +feathers edged with purple. Mr Wallace describes his +search for it on the Rio Negro, and his admiration of its +beauty. Some time he sought in vain, for it is a rare +bird, till the old Indian who was his guide suddenly +caught him by the arm, and, pointing to a dense thicket, +whispered in a low tone, "Gallo!" Peering through the +foliage, the naturalist caught a glimpse of the magnificent +bird, sitting amidst the gloom, and shining out like a +mass of brilliant flame. As it is easily alarmed and very +wary, it required some following and perseverance before +he shot it. One of his Indians descended into the deep +rocky glen into which it fell, and brought it to him. "I +was lost," he says, "in admiration of the dazzling beauty +of its soft downy feathers; not a spot of blood was visible, +not a feather was ruffled, and the soft, warm, flexible body +set off the fresh swelling plumage in a manner which no +stuffed specimen can approach."<a name="FNanchor_205_205" id="FNanchor_205_205"></a><a href="#Footnote_205_205" class="fnanchor">[205]</a></p> + +<p>There is something exquisitely pleasing to the eye in +the delicate painting of the soft plumage in most of the +Goatsuckers and their allies. Entirely destitute of bril<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_308" id="Page_308">[Pg 308]</a></span>liant +hues as they are, the combinations of warm browns, +and cool greys, interchanged with black and white, and +the manner in which these are softened, and blended, and +minutely pencilled, produce an effect that is peculiarly +charming.</p> + +<p>In the Trogons of the tropical regions we see elegance +of form combined with the most gorgeous colouring. +Green and gold, crimson, scarlet, orange, and black, are +the hues of these birds, which hide themselves in the deep +dark recesses of the Amazonian and Indian forests. That +species called the Resplendent is the noblest of the race, +whose magnificence was so well appreciated by the ancient +Mexican emperors, that none but members of the royal +family were permitted to adorn themselves with its flowing +plumes. The whole upper parts of this bird, its fine +coronal crest of erectile plumes, its shoulder-hackles, or +long lance-shaped feathers, that droop over the sides, and +the elongated tail-coverts which hang down beyond the +tail to a length of three feet or more, curving elegantly +under the bird, as it sits on a branch, are of the richest +golden green, shining with a satiny radiance. The under +parts are of a splendid scarlet, and the tail feathers are +white, with broad black bars.</p> + +<p>More enchanting than mere colour, however rich and +glowing this may be, is the fine metallic reflection which +we see on the plumage of many tropical birds. The Rifle-bird +of Australia might be seen sitting on a tree, and be +passed by with contempt as a mere crow, while the eye +was attracted to a more gaily-hued parrot by its side.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_309" id="Page_309">[Pg 309]</a></span> +But viewed close at hand, in the full blaze of the sun, the +darker-plumaged bird is seen to exceed the other by far, +in gorgeous glory, and to be not unworthy of the specific +title of <i>Paradiseus</i>, by which it is known to naturalists. +The body generally is of a deep velvet black, but it reflects +a purple flush on the upper parts, and the feathers +of the under parts are edged with olive-green. The crown +of the head, and the whole throat, are clothed with scale-like +feathers of the brightest emerald-green, which blaze +with a gemmeous lustre in certain lights, and make the +most vivid contrast with the velvet of the body. The tail +displays its two middle feathers of the same lustrous +green, while the bordering ones are deep black.</p> + +<p>The vast and little-known island of Papua contains +some specimens of the feathered race of surpassing glory. +The <i>Epimachi</i>, or Plume-birds, take a prominent place in +this category. They are remarkable for the erectile scale-like +feathers of the sides and shoulders, which form large +fan-shaped tufts, standing out from the body in a very +striking manner. Speaking of the superb Epimachus, +Sonnerat, its describer, thus writes:—"As if to add to +the singularity of this bird, nature has placed above and +below its wings feathers of an extraordinary form, and +such as one does not see in other birds; she seems, moreover, +to have pleased herself in painting this being, already +so singular, with her most brilliant colours. The head, +the neck, and the belly are glittering green; the feathers +which cover these parts possess the lustre and softness of +velvet to the eye and touch; the back is changeable violet;<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_310" id="Page_310">[Pg 310]</a></span> +the wings are of the same colour, and appear, according +to the lights in which they are held, blue, violet, or deep +black; always, however, imitating velvet. The tail is +composed of twelve feathers, the two middle feathers are +the longest, and the lateral feathers gradually diminish; +it is violet, or changeable blue above, and black beneath. +The feathers which compose it are as wide in proportion +as they are long, and shine above and below with the brilliancy +of polished metal.</p> + +<p>"Above the wings the scapularies are very long and +singularly formed; their points being very short on one +side, and very long on the other. These feathers are of +the colour of polished steel, changing into blue, terminated +by a large spot of brilliant green, and forming a species +of tuft or appendage at the margin of the wings.</p> + +<p>"Below the wings spring long curved feathers, directed +upwards; these are black on the inside, and brilliant green +on the outside. The bill and feet are black."<a name="FNanchor_206_206" id="FNanchor_206_206"></a><a href="#Footnote_206_206" class="fnanchor">[206]</a></p> + +<p>The same author, in referring to the brilliant metallic +hues of this and other birds, takes occasion to notice the +iridescent effect which is produced by the different angle +at which light falls on the feathers. The emerald-green, +for instance, will often fling out rays of its two constituent +primary colours, at one time being blue-green, at +another gold-green, while in certain lights all colour +vanishes, and a velvet-black is presented to the eye. The +ruby feathers of several birds become orange under certain +lights, and darken to a crimson-black at other times.</p> + +<div><a name="Fig.9" id="Fig.9"> </a></div> +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 251px;"> +<a href="images/fig339-1200.jpg"><img src="images/fig339-400.jpg" width="251" height="400" alt="MOURNING THE DEAD CUCKOO." title="" /></a> +<span class="caption">MOURNING THE DEAD CUCKOO.</span> +</div> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_311" id="Page_311">[Pg 311]</a></span></p> +<p>This change of hue is analogous to the well-known iridescent +changeableness of the nacre which lines various +shells, and is owing to the structure of its surface reflecting +the light in different rays, according to the angle at +which it falls upon the feathers.</p> + +<p>Another species, a native of the same teeming region, +the Twelve-thread Epimachus, glows, with equal lustre, in +the richest violet and emerald, but somewhat diversely +arranged. The long, elegant depending tail is here reduced +to ordinary dimensions, but, as if to compensate for this +inferiority, the Twelve-thread is adorned with an expanding +dress of the purest snowy white, composed of long silky +plumes that spring from behind and below the wings, so +soft and so loosely webbed as to wave gracefully in the +slightest breeze. From these tufts project long and very +slender shafts, unwebbed, and as fine as threads, curling +elegantly, six on each side.</p> + +<p>The little Sun-birds of India and Africa, and the still +tinier Humming-birds of the New World are conspicuous +for the metallic radiance of their plumage. Take for an +example of the former the Fire-tailed Sun-bird of Nepâl. +The crown and forehead are brilliant steel-blue, while the +neck, the back, and the rump are of the richest scarlet, +diversified by a broad patch of bright yellow across the +middle of the back. The central feathers of the tail are +lengthened, and are bright scarlet, while the lateral +feathers are edged with the same rich hue on brown. +The breast is golden yellow or orange, flushed with +crimson in the centre, and the rest of the inferior parts<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_312" id="Page_312">[Pg 312]</a></span> +are olive-green. Most of those gorgeous colours have a +silky or metallic lustre, and blaze out under the tropical +sunlight with amazing brightness.</p> + +<p>Exquisite ornaments are these to an Indian garden, +where they delight in the flowering plants and shrubs. +They creep to and fro about the stalks and twigs, clinging +by their little purple feet, and rifling the tubular corollas +of the honeyed blossoms, whence doubtless they gather +many minute insects, licked up with the nectar, by the aid +of their curiously pencilled tongue.</p> + +<p>For that peculiar charm which resides in flashing light +combined with the most brilliant colours, the lustre of +precious stones, there are no birds, no creatures, that can +compare with the Humming-birds. Confined exclusively +to America,—whence we have already gathered between +three and four hundred distinct species, and more are +being continually discovered,—these lovely little winged +gems were to the Mexican and Peruvian Indians the very +quintessence of beauty. By these simple people they were +called by various names signifying "the rays of the sun," +"the tresses of the day-star," and the like. Their glittering +scale-like plumage was employed to make, at the cost +of immense time, patience, and labour, the radiant mantles +in which the emperors and highest nobles appeared on +state occasions, as well as to form by a sort of mosaic, +those embroidered pictures which so attracted the admiration +of the Spanish conquerors. The Mexican priests +adopted the tiny birds into their mythology: they taught +that the souls of those warriors who died in defence of the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_313" id="Page_313">[Pg 313]</a></span> +gods, were conducted by Toyamiqui, the wife of the god +of war, straight to the mansion of the sun, and there +transformed into humming-birds.</p> + +<p>In the gorgeous forest glooms of the mountainous parts +of Jamaica, and especially in the sunny glades which here +and there break their uniformity, where the ever-verdant +foliage rises upon all sides of the open space like a wall, +covered with the most elegant and fragrant flowers, I have +been charmed by the familiar fearlessness and lustrous +splendour of these little creatures. Here sitting down on +a prostrate log in the shadow, I have watched them sipping +all around, flitting to and fro, coming and going, every +moment disappearing in the sombre shade, or suddenly +flashing out, with a whirr like that of a spinning-wheel, +into the bright sunshine. Bold and unsuspecting, they +might be seen exploring bush after bush, and coming, +while I remained motionless, even within arm's length of +me, busily rifling all the blossoms in rapid succession, +regularly quartering the surface of some favourite shrub, +so as to lose none, and of course, in their zeal, frequently +probing the same flower again and again. Sometimes it +would be the Mango, suspending himself on whirring +pinions in front of the flowers, his broadly-expanded tail-feathers +of the richest violet, his body plumage all green +and gold, and his cheeks and throat blazing, in the changing +light, with the radiance now of the ruby, now of the +amethyst, now of the sapphire, and now becoming for an +instant the most intense black. But much more commonly +on these occasions was I visited by the elegant<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_314" id="Page_314">[Pg 314]</a></span> +Long-tail, whose slender form, black velvet crest, emerald +bosom, and long tail-plumes, distinguish it as one of the +<i>principes</i> of this patrician race. This lovely little gem +would be hovering about, half-a-dozen visible at the same +moment, threading the projecting branches, now probing +here, now there, one moment above a flower and bending +down to it, the next hanging below it, and thrusting up +its crimson beak to kiss its nectar-tube from beneath, the +cloudy wings on each side vibrating with a noise like that +of a factory wheel, and its entire throat, breast and belly +clothed in scaly plumage of the richest green, contrasted +finely with the velvety black of all beside. This scaly +plumage would flash brilliantly back the sun's light, like +a noble emerald in the crown of a king; then, by the +slightest possible turn of the bird, it would become black, +all the light being absorbed; then, on another movement, +it would seem a dark rich olive, and in an instant flame +forth again with emerald effulgence, over which olive and +black clouds were momentarily passing and repassing.</p> + +<p>The phenomenon of this changing lustre is worthy of +more careful attention than it has received. In such +Humming-birds as I have examined,—and possibly it may +be a general rule,—the iridescence of those portions of +the plumage that are changeable is splendid in the ratio +of the acuteness of the angle formed by the incident ray +and the reflected one. Thus the scaly plumage of the +neck of the Mango appears to advantage in a room with a +single window, only when the beholder stands with his +back to the light, and has the bird before him and facing<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_315" id="Page_315">[Pg 315]</a></span> +him. Then the perpendicular band down the throat and +breast, which seems composed of the richest black velvet, +is bounded on each side by a broad band of glowing crimson, +mingled with violet. It is not the <i>entire</i> plumage of +even a Humming-bird that displays these refulgent gleams: +some of the brilliant hues are permanent, not changeable +colours; such as the golden greens which adorn the back +and wing-coverts in so many species; in which the +colour is subject to little change, and the only effect produced +by the alteration of the angle of the light is the +transforming the tips of the feathers into the appearance +of burnished gold.</p> + +<p>Wilson<a name="FNanchor_207_207" id="FNanchor_207_207"></a><a href="#Footnote_207_207" class="fnanchor">[207]</a> has remarked that the plumage of the Indigo +finch (<i>Fringilla cyanea</i>) in certain lights appears of a +rich sky-blue and in others of a vivid verdigris green, so +that the same bird, in passing from one place to another +before your eyes, seems to undergo a total change of +colour. When the rays of light so fall on the plumage +that the angle of the incident and reflected ray is acute, +the colour is green, when obtuse, blue. I have myself +noticed exactly the same thing in the brilliant changeable +colour of insects,—as, for instance, the <i>Cicindelæ</i> of +America, and the Emerald Virgin Dragonfly (<i>Agrion +Virginica</i>.)</p> + +<p>To return, however, to our Humming-birds, of which +my readers will like to have one or two more described,—<i>la +crême de la crême</i>, the very <i>élite</i> of this lovely little +fairy population. If we were to cross the Atlantic to +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_316" id="Page_316">[Pg 316]</a></span>Brazil, track up the mighty Amazon some thirty days' +sail, and a distance of a thousand miles, we should come +to the mouth of the Rio Negro, where a remarkable +change in the appearance of the water indicates a totally +different region. Instead of the muddy water of the +Amazon, resembling pea-soup, that of the Negro is intensely +dark, but clear and limpid, every ripple sparkling +like crystal. The land becomes high, and the river, some +four miles wide, passes between lofty cliffs, crowned with +the rich green walls of the primeval forest. The country +is far more attractive than that on the Amazon; instead +of a dead level, swampy and intersected by sluggish +<i>igaripés</i>, or shallow ponds, overhung by impenetrably +tangled thickets, and full of venomous flies, here are +gentle hills, and tiny brooks of sparkling water, and a +comparatively open forest, with bright clear glades in +which the traveller may recline without persecution from +the flies,—these pests being unknown on the "black +waters." The ground is covered by evergreens of different +species and exquisite forms, and many kinds of elegant +ferns are growing in the valleys. There are few lianes or +spinous briers stretching from tree to tree, obstructing +free passage, but a thousand lesser vines drape the low tree +tops with myriads of flowers, new and attractive to the +visitor. Everywhere the forest is intersected by paths, +some made by the inhabitants in their frequent rambles, +others by wild animals that come to the water to drink; +and along these the eager naturalist can readily pass to +the feeding trees of many beautiful and peculiar birds.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_317" id="Page_317">[Pg 317]</a></span></p> + +<p>Here are wont to haunt many varieties of the richly-hued +trogons, unknown to the lower regions; and at any +hour their plaintive note may be heard at intervals, as +they sit moodily, singly or in pairs, on the branches, with +the long tail outspread and drooping, watching for passing +insects. Cuckoos of several kinds, their plumage glancing +red in the subdued light, flit noiselessly through the woods, +searching for caterpillars. Purple jays, in large flocks, +alight on some berry-bearing tree, chattering and gesticulating, +but shy and alert,—ready to start at the snapping +of a twig. Motmots and chatterers in gayest hues,—scarlet, +violet and blue,—are abundant. Goatsuckers, in +exquisitely-blended and pencilled tones of colour, start +from some shady glen where they are dozing away the +day hours, and, flying a short distance on soft winnowing +pinions, rest again, and seem to fall asleep in an instant. +Showy manikins and tanagers of the brightest tints are +flaunting in every bush: pigeons and doves of soberer +hues are cooing their gentle complainings in the taller +trees; and guans and curassows are marching with stately +pace in the paths, picking here and there some delicate +morsel; or running with loud harsh cry, with outstretched +neck and rapid stride, as they detect approaching danger.<a name="FNanchor_208_208" id="FNanchor_208_208"></a><a href="#Footnote_208_208" class="fnanchor">[208]</a></p> + +<p>Still, conspicuous above all are the Humming-birds, +which, revelling in this region of the sun, are buzzing +around the blossoming shrubs like insects. And pre-eminent +among these is the Fiery Topaz, a name that +attempts to express what neither title, nor description, +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_318" id="Page_318">[Pg 318]</a></span>nor coloured figure can adequately express,—its gemmeous +magnificence and lustre. One of the first ornithologists +of the age, the Prince of Canino, has assigned +to the species the honour of being "<i>inter Trochilides +pulcherrimus</i>." Description, however, I must give, for +want of anything better, since, even if I possessed a living +specimen, I could not exhibit its living radiance to all my +readers: therefore, pray pay attention to the details, and +imagine. The general hue of this imperial atom is a +blazing scarlet, in fine contrast with which the head and +lower part of the throat are deep velvet-black. The +gorget of the throat is emerald green, with a cloud of +delicate crimson in the centre. The lower part of the +back, the rump and the upper tail-coverts are of that +beautiful bronzed green which changes to orange gold, so +frequently seen in this tribe; while the wing-quills and +tail are purplish black, except the middle pair of feathers +in the latter, which are very slender, project to a great +length, and cross each other; these are green with a +purple gloss.</p> + +<p>Among the hundreds of species of this very lovely +tribe that swarm in the intertropical regions of South +America, I will select one more for its surpassing beauty. +It is the Bar-tailed Comet. We must look for it in the +temperate and equable valley of the Desaguedero, which +leads out of Lake Titiçaça, the largest sheet of water on +the South American continent, and famous in Peruvian +tradition, as the scene where Mango Capac and Mama +Ocollo surprised the barbarous aborigines by their first<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_319" id="Page_319">[Pg 319]</a></span> +appearance. On one of the charming islets of this quiet +lake, the two august strangers were seen, clothed in garments; +and, declaring that they were the children of the +sun long prophesied of, proceeded to teach their simple +subjects the arts of civilisation, and to establish a regular +government. We must search for our tiny Comet, too, in +the cultivated plains that surround the Cerro of Potosi, +that singular cone sixteen thousand feet in height, which +is wholly composed of silver, and which is estimated to +have yielded, during the three hundred years that have +elapsed since the Indian exposed the solid silver, when he +accidentally tore up a shrub by the roots,—the sum of +two hundred millions of pounds sterling. The districts +around, and specially the environs of the town of Chuquisaca, +are adorned with a profusion of gardens and orchards, +in which many European trees and flowers grow, as well +as those of the tropics, the climate possessing the charms +of many regions. In the shrubberies of the city, and in +the gardens of the Indian cottages, as well as the slopes +of the surrounding mountains, where the native groves and +forests grow undisturbed, the brilliant Bar-tail may be +seen during the summer months; but, as soon as the +chilling winds of April tell of coming winter, the charming +visitor becomes scarce, and flitting northward finds in +the forests of Lower Peru the mild and balmy air which +he loves. When the trees are in blossom, and particularly +the apple-trees, which have been introduced from Europe, +and are largely cultivated in orchards, the males may be +seen shooting in and out among the foliage, like glowing<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_320" id="Page_320">[Pg 320]</a></span> +coals of fire, chasing each other with shrill chirpings, and +with surprising perseverance and acrimony. The fields of +maize, and pulse, and other leguminous plants which are +cultivated in the plains, receive a fair share of his attention; +and the nopâleries, or cactus-gardens, where the +cochineal insect is reared for those most valuable crimson +and scarlet dyes, which far outshine the vaunted productions +of ancient Tyre. The blossom of the nopâl is itself +one of the most splendid of flowers. It begins to open as +the sun declines, and is in full expanse throughout the +night, shedding a delicious fragrance, and offering its +brimming goblet, filled with nectareous juice, to thousands +of moths, and other crepuscular and nocturnal insects. +When the moon is at the full in those cloudless nights +whose loveliness is known only in the tropics, the broad +blossom is seen as a circular disk nearly a foot in diameter, +very full of petals, of which the outer series are of a yellowish +hue, gradually paling to the centre, where they +shine in the purest white. The numerous recurving +stamens surround the style which rises in the midst +like a polished shaft, the whole glowing in its silvery +beauty under the moonbeams, from the dark and matted +foliage, and diffusing its delicious clove-like fragrance so +profusely that the air is loaded with it for furlongs round.</p> + +<p>Other species of Cactus and Cereus, some with yellow, +and some with pink, and some with rich crimson blossoms,—the +pride of our conservatories,—sprawl profusely in +these gardens; and here the Bar-tail flaunts all day long +sipping the nectar, and picking up myriads of minute<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_321" id="Page_321">[Pg 321]</a></span> +insects which the blossoms attract, and which lodge in the +honeyed recesses.</p> + +<p>But it is time that the reader should know what sort of +a bird this Bar-tailed Comet is. Attend, then, while I +describe his ball-dress, more lustrous than any fair lady +ever wore at Almack's. The head, neck, upper part of +the back, and a considerable portion of the under surface, +are light green, with reflections of burnished gold on the +cheeks and forehead. The lower back is of a deep crimson. +The throat flames like an emerald. The tail is the +chief feature, the feathers being broad, and greatly lengthened, +in regular graduation from the central ones to the +outmost pair, which are double the length of the entire +bird besides. The form of the tail is widely forked, its +outline having a double curve, somewhat lyre-shaped. The +tail-coverts are ruddy brown; and the feathers themselves +are of the richest and most glowing fire-colour, incomparably +lustrous; each feather being broadly tipped with +velvety black. The graduation of the feathers throws +these terminal black tips to a considerable distance from +each other, and their alternation with the intermediate +spaces of the fiery glow has an inconceivably charming +effect, as the bird makes its rapid evolutions through the +air, and whisks about among the flowers, with a velocity +which the eye of the beholder can scarcely follow. It is +very fond of certain long trumpet-shaped pendent blossoms, +into which it penetrates so far, that nothing of it +can be seen except the tips of its radiant forked tail projecting +from the tube.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_322" id="Page_322">[Pg 322]</a></span></p> + +<p>Another family of birds that is conspicuous for gorgeous +beauty is that of the Pheasants. Our own familiar +species, which is said to have been brought long ages ago +from the banks of the Phasis in Colchis, by Jason in the +Argo,—</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Argivâ primum sum transportata carinâ,"<a name="FNanchor_209_209" id="FNanchor_209_209"></a><a href="#Footnote_209_209" class="fnanchor">[209]</a>—<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>is a very splendid bird, and is well painted in a few lines +by Pope;—who speaks of his</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i8">"Glossy varying dyes,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">His purple crest and scarlet-circled eyes;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The vivid green his shining plumes unfold,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">His painted wings, and breast that flames with gold."<a name="FNanchor_210_210" id="FNanchor_210_210"></a><a href="#Footnote_210_210" class="fnanchor">[210]</a><br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>But besides this, there are Indian and Chinese species +which excel it in glory. There are the richly-pencilled +Gold and Silver Pheasants, and the noble Reeves' and +Amherst Pheasants, with their extraordinary long-barred +tail plumes. The last named is a bird of unusual magnificence.</p> + +<p>Then there is the splendid Fire-back of Sumatra and +Java, which is adorned with a crest of slender stalked +feathers, each expanding into a disk with spreading barbs. +The head, neck, breast, and belly of this rare bird are of +deep steel-blue, very lustrous, the lower part of the back +fiery orange-red or flame-colour, varying in intensity according +to the incidence of the light, and passing like a +zone of fire round the body, though less brilliant on the +abdomen; the rump and tail-coverts broad and truncate, +bluish-green, each feather tipped by a paler bar. The<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_323" id="Page_323">[Pg 323]</a></span> +tail is erect and arched, somewhat like that of the common +cock, its middle feathers are pure white, and all the rest +black, with green reflections. The legs and feet, which are +scarlet, and the skin of the face, purple, complete the toilet +of this magnificent oriental.</p> + +<p>What shall we say to the Argus Pheasant, the bird of +Malacca with the magnificent pinions? How fine a sight +must it be to see this noble fowl displaying his coxcombery +in the presence of his admiring hens, strutting to and +fro with his long tail feathers spread and erected, and his +broad wings expanded and scraping the ground far on +each side! The colours, it is true, are sober browns, +varied with black and white; but how exquisitely are +these arranged! Perhaps no brilliancy of tint would +more charm the eye than the row of ocellated spots,—each +a dark circular disk surrounded by concentric circles,—that +runs along the centre of each of the enormously-developed +secondary wing-quills.</p> + +<p>To come back to colour and metallic refulgence. We +must not overlook the Monâl, or Scaly Impeyan of the +Himalaya chain. This fowl, which is little less than a +turkey, looks as if clothed in scale armour of iridescent +metal, of which the specific hues can scarcely be indicated, +so changeable are they; green, steel-blue, crimson, purple, +and golden-bronze,—all of the utmost intensity of colour, +and of dazzling refulgence, adorn this bird, set off by a +broad square patch of pure white in the middle of the +back, while the crown of the head carries a drooping crest +of naked-shafted, broad-tipped, green feathers. This<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_324" id="Page_324">[Pg 324]</a></span> +splendid fowl is as hardy as the turkey or pheasant, +and will probably before long be domesticated in British +preserves, to which it would be a noble addition, being +perhaps exceeded by nothing in nature for refulgence.</p> + +<p>In the same regions are found the Polyplectrons, or +Pheasant Peacocks, birds of the same family. Look at +one of these in detail, the Crested Polyplectron of the +Sunda Isles. It much resembles a peacock in contour, +the head and neck black, with steely reflections, relieved +by a long stripe of white arching over each eye, and a +broad patch of the same on the ears. The forehead and +crown carry a crest of tall feathers capable of erection, +and making a fine ornament. The whole under parts are +velvet black; the back and rump warm brown, with paler +wavy bands and lines. The coverts and secondary feathers +of the wings are of the richest blue, each feather tipped +with velvety black. But the tail is the grand display. It +is a true tail, not a train of superincumbent feathers as in +the peacock, the quill-feathers being of great length and +breadth, and the whole capable of being widely expanded +into an enormous rounded fan. The individual feathers +are brown, pencilled and sprinkled with pale buff,—a +pretty ground, on each of which is painted two large +oval eye-spots of the most brilliant metallic blue or green, +according to the light, contained within encircling double +rings of black and white. These refulgent eyes are so +set that they constitute two curved bands placed at some +distance apart, running across the tail, and when this organ +is expanded they impart to it a most regal appearance.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_325" id="Page_325">[Pg 325]</a></span></p> + +<p>Last, but not least, in this distinguished tribe, there is +the familiar Peacock, a proverb of splendour in raiment +from the remote antiquity of Aristophanes and Aristotle +to Mr Hollingshead, who lashes the sumptuary tendencies +of our modern ladies under the title of "Peacockism."<a name="FNanchor_211_211" id="FNanchor_211_211"></a><a href="#Footnote_211_211" class="fnanchor">[211]</a> +The true Peacock, however, the genuine bird, may at least +plead that no milliners' bills of £3000 are ever proved +against him in Bankruptcy Courts.</p> + +<p>I am not going to be so impertinent as to describe in +detail the plumage of a bird so well known as the Peacock. +Who does not know his empurpled neck so elegantly +bridled, his aigrette of four-and-twenty battledore-feathers, +his pencilled body-clothing, and, above all, his +grand erectile train with its rows of eyelets? Who has +not admired the lustre and beauty of those eyelets,—the +kidney-like nucleus of deepest purple, the surrounding +band of green, widening in front and filling the notch of +the pupil, the broad circle of brown, and the narrow black +ring edged with chestnut, and then the decomposed barbs +of the feather, gilded green, all presenting the effulgence +of burnished metal, or rather the glitter and glow of precious +gems, flashing in the varying light? One can hardly +imagine the splendour of the scene described by Colonel +Williamson, as seen by him in the Jungleterry District in +India, when, being engaged shooting these beautiful fowl, +he estimates that not fewer than twelve or fifteen hundred +Peafowl of various sizes were within sight of him for +nearly an hour. "Whole woods were covered with their<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_326" id="Page_326">[Pg 326]</a></span> +beautiful plumage, to which the rising sun imparted additional +brilliancy. Small patches of plain among the long +grass, most of them cultivated, and with mustard then in +bloom, which induced the birds to feed, increased the +beauty of the scene."</p> + +<p>In the preceding volume I have spoken of the gorgeous +beauty of the Birds of Paradise, and have quoted the description +given by Lesson of his rapt feelings when, on +first seeing a specimen in the forests of Papua, he could +not shoot from emotion. A chapter on animal beauty +cannot pass over this magnificent family, though to my +own taste there is something in the refulgent radiance of +the Humming-birds and Pheasants which is superior +to anything seen in the Paradise-birds. The latter, or +some of them at least, give me the idea of being over-dressed, +particularly that one called the Superb, whose +singular forked gorget and shoulder-cape, gorgeous as +these adornments are, with their lustrous violet and green +flushes, are somewhat inelegant in form. Yet some of +them are softly beautiful;—</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"So richly deck'd in variegated down,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Green, sable, shining yellow, shading brown,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Tints softly with each other blended,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Hues doubtfully begun and ended;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Or intershooting, and to sight<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Lost and recover'd, as the rays of light<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Glance in the conscious plumes touch'd here and there.<br /></span> +</div> +<hr style="width: 25%; Margin-left: 2em; Margin-top: 1em; margin-bottom: 1em;" /> +<div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"This the Sun's Bird, whom Glendoveers might own,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">As no unworthy partner in their flight<br /></span> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_327" id="Page_327">[Pg 327]</a></span><span class="i0">Through seas of ether, where the ruffling sway<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Of nether air's rude billows is unknown:<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Whom sylphs, if e'er for casual pastime they<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Through India's spicy regions wing their way,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Might bow to as their lord."<a name="FNanchor_212_212" id="FNanchor_212_212"></a><a href="#Footnote_212_212" class="fnanchor">[212]</a><br /></span> +</div></div> + +<div><a name="Fig.10" id="Fig.10"> </a></div> +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 256px;"> +<a href="images/fig357-1200.jpg"><img src="images/fig357-400.jpg" width="256" height="400" alt="PEACOCK-SHOOTING." title="" /></a> +<span class="caption">PEACOCK-SHOOTING.</span> +</div> + +<p>The Emerald Paradise, the best known of the family, +seems to have been in the poet's eye; and certainly the +combination of form and colour in this species is very +charming. The rich chocolate of the upper parts, and the +delicate lemon-yellow of the neck, contrast well with the +gemmeous green lustre of the front, when the velvety +plumage flashes and gleams in the sunlight. And the +numerous soft floating plumes that arch out from the +flanks to a great distance on all sides are exquisite in +loveliness. "Even in the absolute quiet of a stuffed skin +under a glass case," as Mr Wood remarks, "these plumes +are full of astonishing beauty, their translucent golden-white +vanelets producing a most superb effect as they +cross and recross each other, forming every imaginable +shade of white, gold and orange, and then deepening +towards their extremities into a soft purplish red."</p> + +<p>Mr G. Bennett, who saw a living specimen in an aviary +at Macao, describes these long, elegant, loose-barbed +plumes as occupying a good deal of the bird's own attention +and care. "One of the best opportunities of seeing +this splendid bird in all its beauty of action as well as +display of plumage, is early in the morning, when he +makes his toilet: the beautiful sub-alar plumage is then<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_328" id="Page_328">[Pg 328]</a></span> +thrown out and cleaned from any spot that may sully its +purity, by being passed gently through the bill; the short +chocolate wings are extended to the utmost, and he keeps +them in a steady flapping motion as if in imitation of +their use in flight, at the same time raising up the delicate +long feathers over the back, which are spread in a chaste +and elegant manner, floating like films in the ambient air. +In this position the bird would remain for a short time, +seemingly proud of its heavenly beauty, and in raptures +of delight with its most enchanting self; it would then +assume various attitudes, so as to regard its plumage in +every direction."<a name="FNanchor_213_213" id="FNanchor_213_213"></a><a href="#Footnote_213_213" class="fnanchor">[213]</a></p> + +<p>Passing over all other classes of animate existence, I +shall say a few words on the surpassing loveliness which +is displayed by many of the Insect tribes. The nursery +prejudice, that these creatures are worthy only to be trodden +under foot, as things repulsive and disgusting, is +certainly decaying, though it retains its hold still in some +minds. A glance through an entomological cabinet would +prove how unjust are such notions. If brilliant hues, +polished surface, sculptured chasings, graceful forms, and +lively motions can command admiration, these are displayed +by Insects to a degree which we should in vain look +for in any other class of creatures. We need not speak of +simple colours; these occur in profusion, of all hues, of +all shades of intensity, and of the very highest degrees of +brightness; combined too, in the most elegant manner, +and very frequently, particularly in the <i>Lepidoptera</i>, +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_329" id="Page_329">[Pg 329]</a></span>presenting that peculiar charm which results from the +association of tints that are complemental to each other.</p> + +<p>Words are always felt to be too poor to describe the +refulgence of the hues of many of the feathered tribes;—the +metallic gloss of the Trogons and the oriental <i>Gallinaceæ</i>, +the gem-like flashings of the Humming-birds and +the Birds of Paradise. Perhaps it would be deemed extravagant +to assert, that these glories can be <i>excelled</i> by the +tiny races I am now discussing; but equalled, <i>most fully +equalled</i>, they assuredly are. To possess the glow of +burnished metal upon the most varied hues, is, in the +order <i>Coleoptera</i>, a common thing. Most of the <i>Eumolpidæ</i> +are remarkable for this; of which I may instance +<i>Chrysochus fulgidus</i>, a beetle from Bombay. The <i>Buprestidæ</i> +have long been celebrated, for the same reason; +and portions of their bodies have been used in the toilet +of ladies, in association with diamonds and rubies.</p> + +<p>Many of the <i>Chlamydæ</i> blaze with golden-crimson, +purple, and the most fiery orange. The species of the +small genus <i>Eurhinus</i> seem to send forth the coloured +flames of the pyrotechnic art. The <i>Longicornes</i> display the +same beauties, associated with gigantic size. <i>Cheloderus +Childreni</i>, for example, a large beetle from Columbia, is +equal to any <i>Buprestis</i> for the radiance of the green, +crimson, purple, blue, scarlet, and gold, that are all at the +same time flaming from its singularly-sculptured surface.</p> + +<p>But there are impressions conveyed by the reflection of +light from the bodies of many beetles, which far exceed +the metallic fulgor of which I have been speaking,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_330" id="Page_330">[Pg 330]</a></span> +beautiful as it is. I cannot hope to describe them intelligibly; +I know of no combination of words which +will give an idea of them. I mean the soft, almost +velvety radiance of some of the <i>Goliathi</i>; of many of +the <i>Cetoniæ</i>, as the genus <i>Eudicella</i>, for instance; and +of not a few of the <i>Phanæi</i>, in the former two, the hue +is generally green; in the latter, this colour is associated +with other hues, most glowing, yet of an indescribable +softness. I cannot imagine anything of this sort more +charming than the soft golden and orange hue upon the +green of the magnificent <i>Phanæus imperialis</i>.</p> + +<p>Others again, as <i>Hoplia farinosa</i>, a little chafer from +Southern Europe, and many of the weevil tribe (<i>Curculionidæ</i>), +are covered with scales of vivid splendour, but so +minute, and so closely set, that the whole surface reflects +one soft but rich lustre of tints, differing according to the +species. We would instance, of these, the noble species +of the genus <i>Cyphus</i>. Others of the same great family, +on a dark but still richly-coloured ground, have the +minute scales clustered in spots or bands, forming regular +patterns in much variety; and in these they reflect +rainbow hues, as if a sunbeam decomposed through a +prism had been solidified and pulverised; or if viewed +through a lens, looking like powdered gems, each individual +scale changing its hues with the slightest motion of +the eye. Among these we may mention <i>Hypsonotus elegans</i>, +<i>Cyphus spectabilis</i>, <i>Entimus splendidus</i>, and <i>E. +imperialis</i>, commonly known as diamond beetles; and the +elegantly-shaped genus <i>Pachyrhynchus</i>, of which the <i>P.</i><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_331" id="Page_331">[Pg 331]</a></span> +<i>gemmatus</i>, from the Philippine Islands, is, perhaps, the +most lovely of all earthly creatures.</p> + +<p>And if we look at the <i>Lepidoptera</i>, the order more especially +under review, we feel that beauty belongs to them +rather as an essence than as an accident. Their broad +fan-like wings have an airy lightness and grace to which +the painter and the poet pay homage, when they endow +the sylphs and loves of their fancy with butterfly pinions.</p> + +<p>They are clothed with minute scales, which are the +vehicle of their colours, somewhat resembling in this +respect the beetles last spoken of; but they have beauties +peculiar to themselves. Fine combinations and contrasts +of colours are too much the rule in this order to +need specification; and these are often shaded and blended +with a downy softness, as in the Sphinges and Moths. +As illustrious examples, I will mention the <i>Gynautocera</i>, +a group of Oriental Moths approaching in some points the +Butterflies, as exhibiting the most brilliant hues in bands +and clouds, but softly blended and mingled, with exceeding +chasteness and beauty.</p> + +<p>Many species of the genus <i>Catagramma</i>, a group of +Butterflies marked on the inferior surface of the fore-wings +with scarlet and black, and on that of the hind with +singular concentric circles of black on a white ground, +have on the superior surface the metallic lustre common +in the beetles, the wings being of golden green or blue. +The genus <i>Urania</i> has this radiance still more conspicuous; +while the inferior surface of some of the <i>Theclæ</i>, as +<i>T. imperialis</i>, <i>T. Actæon</i>, <i>T. Endymion</i>, &c., is covered<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_332" id="Page_332">[Pg 332]</a></span> +with the most rich and varied metallic hues, as if powdered +with gold, copper, and silver filings. Some Butterflies, +as several of our native <i>Fritillaries</i>, and more vividly +an American species, (<i>Argynnis passifloræ</i>,) one from +New Zealand, (<i>Argyrophenga antipodum</i>,) and the beautiful +<i>Paphia Clytemnestra</i>, have spots of burnished silver +on their inferior surface; and several of our own moths, +as the genus <i>Plusia</i>, are so spotted on the upper surface. +Others display a lustre between that of silver and that of +pearl, as several species of <i>Charaxes</i> on one, and the magnificent +<i>Morpho Laertes</i> on both surfaces. But of this +sort of beauty, perhaps nothing can excel the gemmeous +green, changing to azure, of <i>Papilio Ulysses</i>, or that of +<i>Apatura (?) laurentia</i>; or, above all, of some of the great +Brazilian <i>Morphos</i>. The blaze of silvery azure that +flashes from <i>M. Adonis</i>, <i>M. Cytheris</i>, and <i>M. Menelaus</i>, +is indescribable; the eyes are pained as they gaze upon it; +yet there is said to be an unnamed species from the +emerald mountains of Bogota, of which a single specimen +is in a private cabinet in London, which is far more lustrous +than these.</p> + +<p>The change from one hue to another produced by the +play of light in altering the angle of its reflection, has always +been much admired; and this occurs in great perfection, +and with much diversity, in the lovely insects of the +<i>Lepidopterous</i> order.</p> + +<p>Some of the genus <i>Hætera</i>, (as <i>H. piera</i>, and <i>H. esmeralda</i>,) +and many of the <i>Heliconiadæ</i>, as <i>Hymenitis diaphana</i>, +&c., have the wings nearly or quite destitute of the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_333" id="Page_333">[Pg 333]</a></span> +ordinary scaly clothing, presenting only a transparent +membrane of great delicacy; over which the light plays +with a beautiful iridescence. <i>Papilio Arcturus</i> and some +allied species, are of a golden-green, changing to blue, or to +glowing purple. Very many of the <i>Nymphalidæ</i> are distinguished +for a flush of surpassing richness, that in one +particular light gleams over the surface. Our own <i>Apatura +Iris</i>, commonly known as the purple emperor, is a +native example of this beauty, and still more <i>A. namoura</i>; +but especially the species of the genus <i>Thaumantis</i>, as +well as <i>Morpho Martia</i>, and <i>M. Automedon</i>. <i>Diadema +bolina</i> also displays a purple flush over and around the +white spots, which is exquisitely beautiful. In general +this glow is found only in the male, but in the lovely +<i>Epiphile chrysitis</i> it is common to the female.</p> + +<p>In <i>Colias Electra</i> a warm purple glow plays over the +surface in a strong light, which is the more singularly +beautiful, because the permanent colour which is thus suffused +is a rich golden orange. There is, however, a species +(<i>C. Lesbia</i>) of which only a single specimen is known, +and that is in fragments, in the Banksian Collection, which +is in this respect vastly superior to the former. In all +these cases, the playing gleam is more or less empurpled; +in <i>Paphia Portia</i>, however, it may be called crimson.</p> + +<p>But still more exquisitely beautiful than any of these is +the fine opalescence that irradiates some butterflies in the +changing beam. There is a white butterfly from Senegal +(<i>Anthocharis Ione</i>) allied to our common garden whites, +marked at the tips of the wings with a spot of violet, sur<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_334" id="Page_334">[Pg 334]</a></span>rounded +by black. In a certain aspect, there plays over +this spot a violet opalescence of exceeding richness. And +to mention no more, (for, indeed, we know not that we +could mention anything to surpass this,) the carnation +spots on the black wings of <i>Papilio Anchises</i>, <i>P. Æneas</i>, +<i>P. Tullus</i>, &c., are at intervals flushed with a violet opalescence, +so brilliant, that we know no other object to compare +with it.</p> + +<p>In contemplating such objects, we cannot help concurring +in the sentiments expressed by the pious Ray:—"Quæri +fortasse à nonnullis potest, quis Papilionum usus +sit? Respondeo, Ad ornatum universi, et ut hominibus +spectaculo sint: ad rura illustranda velut tot bracteæ +inservientes. Quis enim eximiam earum pulchritudinem +et varietatem contemplans mira voluptate non afficiatur? +Quis tot colorum et schematum elegantias naturæ ipsius +ingenio excogitatas et artifici penicillo depictas curiosis +oculis intuens, divinæ artis vestigia eis impressa non +agnoscat et miretur?" And I may add, since such +exquisite traces of loveliness remain in a world which +Satan has spoiled and sin defiled, what must have been its +glory when He who made it could take complacency in +beholding it, and in the minutest details could pronounce +it "very good!"</p> + +<p>The Rev. James Smith of Monquhitter thus alludes to +the exquisite beauty of some South American butterflies. +One or two of the species I have already alluded to, but +even these can yield additional themes of admiration. "I +hold," he says, "that there are hues and shades of colour<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_335" id="Page_335">[Pg 335]</a></span> +which are positively beautiful in themselves, and independently +of all associations whatever; and to look upon +which merely as patches of colour, affords a gratification +of no mean description. And for the truth of such an +opinion, I know not where I should obtain a stronger and +a more pleasing proof, than from the <i>Lepidoptera</i> to +which I have alluded. The patch, for instance, which is +on the posterior wings of the <i>Hætera Esmeralda</i>, and +which may be characterised as a compound of carmine +and of the deepest blue dotted with two spots of vermilion, +will in itself, and irrespectively of association, +communicate a pleasure to every eye which looks upon it. +The band of silver blue on the wing of a large <i>Morpho</i>; +the deep tone, to speak in pictorial phrase, of the black in +the <i>Papilio Sesostris</i>, finer even than the finest velvet of +Genoa; the rich dark orange on <i>Epicilia Ancæa</i>; the +blue, shining in one unnamed species like polished steel, +in another (<i>Thecla</i>) with a radiant clearness, which ultramarine +itself could not surpass; the satin-like golden +green, the pearly lustrous white, and the deep shining +emerald ribbons in <i>Urania Boisduvalii</i>; the crimson +lines and spots deeper and clearer than blood, in a species +to which no name is attached, of <i>Papilio</i>; the small +spangles of silver with which the under surface of one of +the least among them (<i>Cupido</i>) is, as it were, incrusted; +the iridescent and delicate violet with which, on the same +surface, a particular species of <i>Hætera</i> is, so to speak, +washed over, in a way which calls to our remembrance +the 'scumbling' given by Rembrandt as the finishing<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_336" id="Page_336">[Pg 336]</a></span> +touch to his finest productions; all these, and many more, +possess a beauty which I contend, in opposition to the +doctrine of Alison and Jeffrey, is absolute in itself; +which is altogether irrespective of association; and which +the most skilful of human pencils would find it impossible +completely and properly to copy."<a name="FNanchor_214_214" id="FNanchor_214_214"></a><a href="#Footnote_214_214" class="fnanchor">[214]</a></p> + +<p>I must apologise to fair readers for alluding to Spiders—"nasty +spiders!"—in a chapter on beauty; but prejudice +must not make us shut our eyes to glories even among +these. In the tropical species there is often metallic +splendour and brilliance of colour. In my "Naturalist's +Sojourn in Jamaica," my friend Mr Hill has written some +very interesting observations on the web of a certain +Spider, and on the relations of its structure with that of +the Spider itself; but I allude to it now because of the +elegance of the creature, the <i>Epeira argentata</i> of Fabricius. +The upper surface of the body is of a glistening +satiny or silvery whiteness, the belly yellow, spotted with +black, and the legs marked with alternate rings of the +same contrasted hues.</p> + +<p>In the same island I was familiar with another species, +(<i>Nephila clavipes</i>,) remarkable for the length and strength +of its silken cords. The body, which is lengthened, is +studded with round white spots, each encircled with a +black border, on a rich greenish brown ground, reminding +one of the characteristic markings of the Tragopans +among birds. The cephalothorax is shining black, its +lustre half concealed by a clothing of short silvery down: +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_337" id="Page_337">[Pg 337]</a></span>the legs are very long, and have a remarkably elegant +appearance from having a bunch of black hair set around +the extremity of the first and second joints, like the +bristles of a bottle-brush.</p> + +<p>I fortify my own verdict with the observations of a +brother naturalist on the Spiders of Borneo, presuming +that those which he alludes to appear to belong to the +genus <i>Gastracantha</i>, of which I have seen species in +Jamaica.</p> + +<p>"The spiders, so disgusting in appearance in many +other countries, are here of quite a different nature, and are +the most beautiful of the insect tribe; they have a skin of +a shell-like texture, furnished with curious processes, in +some long, in others short, in some few, in others numerous; +but are found, of this description, only in thick +woods and shaded places: their colours are of every hue, +brilliant and metallic as the feathers of the humming-bird, +but are, unlike the bright colours of the beetle, totally +dependent on the life of the insect which they beautify, +so that it is impossible to preserve them."<a name="FNanchor_215_215" id="FNanchor_215_215"></a><a href="#Footnote_215_215" class="fnanchor">[215]</a></p> + +<p>It is possible that this beauty might be less evanescent +if the animals were preserved in spirit or other antiseptic +fluid. A writer in the <i>Zoologist</i> (p. 5929) mentions the +fact that the iridescence of certain beetles (<i>Cassida</i>) which +is peculiarly splendid and metallic, and which disappears +immediately on the insects' becoming dry, is perpetuated +in its original loveliness when the specimens are preserved +in spirit, even after the lapse of several years.</p> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_338" id="Page_338">[Pg 338]</a></span></p> +<p>The tropical species of this genus are far finer and +richer than our little English kinds, though these are +pretty. I was much delighted by the brilliance of some +of the Jamaican species, and Sir Emerson Tennent thus +speaks of them in Ceylon:—</p> + +<p>"There is one family of insects, the members of which +cannot fail to strike the traveller by their singular beauty, +the <i>Cassidadæ</i>, or tortoise beetles, in which the outer +shell overlaps the body, and the limbs are susceptible of +being drawn entirely within it. The rim is frequently of +a different tint from the centre, and one species which I +have seen is quite startling from the brilliancy of its colouring, +which gives it the appearance of a ruby inclosed +in a frame of pearl; but this wonderful effect disappears +immediately on the death of the insect."<a name="FNanchor_216_216" id="FNanchor_216_216"></a><a href="#Footnote_216_216" class="fnanchor">[216]</a></p> + +<p>If we turn to the vegetable world, what a profusion of +beauty do we find! Exquisite are the tiny Mosses, when +the fogs and rains of winter, so inimical to other vegetation, +have quickened them into verdure and fruit. How +they spread along the hedgerow banks in soft fleeces of +vivid emerald, and shoot up their slender stalks, each +crowned with its tiny urn, and wearing its fairy nightcap! +Beautiful are the tiny dark-green feather-like leaves +of the Forkmoss crowded on the clayey bank; beautiful +the wild sprays of the plumy Hypnum; and beautiful the +little round velvet cushions of Tortula, that grow on every +old wall-top.</p> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_339" id="Page_339">[Pg 339]</a></span></p> +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"The tiny moss, whose silken verdure clothes<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The time-worn rock, and whose bright capsules rise,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Like fairy urns, on stalks of golden sheen,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Demand our admiration and our praise,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">As much as cedar kissing the blue sky<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Or Krubul's giant-flower. God made them all,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And what <i>He</i> deigns to make should ne'er be deem'd<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Unworthy of our study."<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>Exquisite too are the Ferns, in their arching fronds, so +richly cut in elegant tracery. See a fine crown of the +Lady Fern in a shaded Devonshire lane, and confess +that grace and beauty are triumphant there. And in the +saturated atmosphere of the tropical islands, where these +lovely plants form a very large proportion of the entire +vegetation, and some of them rise on slender stems thirty +or forty feet in altitude, from the summit of which the +wide-spreading fronds arch gracefully on every side, like +a vast umbrella of twinkling verdure, through whose filagree +work the sunbeams are sparkling,—what can be +more charming than Ferns?</p> + +<p>The queenly Palms, too, are models of stately beauty. +Linnæus called them <i>vegetabilium principes</i>; and, when +we see them in some noble conservatory of adequate dimensions, +such as the glass palm-house at Kew, crowded +side by side, with their crowned heads, and lofty stature, +and proud, erect bearing, we are involuntarily reminded +of the monarchs of many kingdoms met in august conclave.</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Lo! higher still the stately palm-trees rise,<br /></span> +<span class="i1">Chequering the clouds with their unbending stems,<br /></span> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_340" id="Page_340">[Pg 340]</a></span><span class="i0">And o'er the clouds, amid the dark-blue skies,<br /></span> +<span class="i1">Lifting their rich unfading diadems.<br /></span> +<span class="i2">How calm and placidly they rest<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Upon the heaven's indulgent breast,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">As if their branches never breeze had known!<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Light bathes them aye in glancing showers,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">And Silence, 'mid their lofty bowers,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Sits on her moveless throne."<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>Are the Grasses worthy of mention for their beauty? +Surely, yes. Many of them display a downy lightness exquisitely +lovely, as the common Feather-grass. The golden +panicles of the great Quake-grass, so curiously compacted +and hanging in stalks of so hair-like a tenuity as to nod +and tremble with the slightest motion, how beautiful are +these! And the satiny plumes of the Pampas-grass projecting +from the clump of leaves form a fine object. But +the Bamboos, those great arborescent Grasses of the tropics, +form a characteristic feature of the vegetation of those +regions, of almost unexampled magnificence. I have seen +them in their glory, and can sympathise with the philosophical +Humboldt in the powerful effect which the +grandeur of the Bamboo produces on the poetic mind. +It is an object never to be forgotten, especially when +growing in those isolated clumps, that look like tufts of +ostrich-plumes magnified to colossal dimensions. A +thousand of these noble reeds standing in close array, +each four or five inches in the diameter of its stem, and +rising in erect dignity to the height of forty feet, and all +waving their tufted summits in diverging curves moved +by every breeze,—form, indeed, a magnificent spectacle. +Growing in the most rocky situations, the Bamboo is<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_341" id="Page_341">[Pg 341]</a></span> +frequently planted in Jamaica on the very apex of those +conical hills which form so remarkable a feature in the +landscape of the interior, and to which its noble tufts +constitute a most becoming crown.</p> + +<p>Mr Ellis thus describes the elegance of these magnificent +Grasses in Madagascar:—</p> + +<p>"The base of the hills and the valleys were covered +with the Bamboo, which was far more abundant than +during any former part of the journey. There were at +least four distinct varieties: one a large growing kind, +erect nearly to the point; a second smaller, seldom rising +much above twenty feet in height, bushy at the base, and +gracefully bending down its tapering point. A third kind +rose in single cane, almost without a leaf, to the height of +thirty feet or more; or, bending over, formed a perfectly +circular arch. I also saw a Bamboo growing as a creeper, +with small short joints, feathered with slender leafy +branches at every joint, and stretching in festoons from tree +to tree along the side of the road, or hanging suspended in +single lines from a projecting branch, and swinging gently +with the passing breeze. The appearance of the Bamboo +when growing is exceedingly graceful. Sometimes the +canes, as thick as a man's arm at the base, rise forty or +fifty feet high, fringed at the joints, which are two or +three feet apart, with short branches of long, lance-shaped +leaves. The smaller kinds, which abound most in this +region, are still more elegant; and the waving of the +canes, with their attenuated but feathery-looking points, +bending down like a plume, and the tremulous quivering,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_342" id="Page_342">[Pg 342]</a></span> +even in the slightest breeze, of their long, slender leaves, +present ever-varying aspects of beauty; and, combined +with the bright-green colour of the Bamboo-cane and leaf, +impart an indescribable charm to the entire landscape."<a name="FNanchor_217_217" id="FNanchor_217_217"></a><a href="#Footnote_217_217" class="fnanchor">[217]</a></p> + +<p>Glorious in loveliness are the <i>Musaceæ</i>, the Plantains +and Bananas of the hot regions. Humboldt calls the +Banana "one of the noblest and most lovely of vegetable +productions;" and truly its enormous, flag-like leaves of +the richest green, permeated by nervures running transversely +in exactly parallel lines, and arching out in every +direction from the succulent, spongy, sheathed stem, command +our admiration, apart from the beauty of their +flowers, or the importance of their fruit.</p> + +<p>In a description of a mountain scene in Tahiti, drawn +with graphic power by Charles Darwin, the Banana forms +a prominent element:—"I could not look on the surrounding +plants without admiration. On every side were forests +of Banana; the fruit of which, though serving for food in +various ways, lay in heaps decaying on the ground.... +As the evening drew to a close, I strolled beneath the +gloomy shade of the Bananas up the course of the stream. +My walk was soon brought to a close, by coming to a +waterfall between two and three hundred feet high; and +again above this there was another.... In the little recess +where the water fell, it did not appear that a breath +of wind had ever blown. The thin edges of the great +leaves of the Banana, damp with spray, were unbroken, +instead of being, as is so generally the case, split into a +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_343" id="Page_343">[Pg 343]</a></span>thousand shreds. From our position, almost suspended +on the mountain-side, there were glimpses into the depths +of the neighbouring valleys: and the lofty points of the +central mountains, towering up within sixty degrees of the +zenith, hid half the evening sky. Thus seated, it was a +sublime spectacle to watch the shades of night gradually +obscuring the last and highest pinnacles."<a name="FNanchor_218_218" id="FNanchor_218_218"></a><a href="#Footnote_218_218" class="fnanchor">[218]</a></p> + +<p>This scene must have been one of surpassing sublimity +and loveliness. Few doubtless have ever beheld anything +that can be compared with it. But perhaps many have +felt—I have, often,—that there are occasions in which +the sense of the beautiful in nature becomes almost painfully +overpowering. I have gazed on some very lovely +prospects, bathed perhaps in the last rays of the evening +sun, till my soul seemed to struggle with a very peculiar +undefinable sensation, as if longing for a power to enjoy, +which I was conscious I did not possess, and which found +relief only in tears. I have felt conscious that there were +elements of enjoyment and admiration there, which went +far beyond my capacity of enjoying and admiring; and I +have delighted to believe, that, by and by, when, in the +millennial kingdom of Jesus, and, still more, in the +remoter future, in the dispensation of the fulness of times, +the earth—the "<i>new</i> earth,"—shall be endowed with a +more than paradisaical glory, there will be given to +redeemed man a greatly increased power and capacity for +drinking in, and enjoying the augmented loveliness. +Doubtless the risen and glorified saints, sitting with the +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_344" id="Page_344">[Pg 344]</a></span>King of kings upon His throne, will have the senses of +their spiritual bodies expanded in capacity beyond what +we can now form the slightest conception of; and as all +then will be enjoyment of the most exquisite kind, and +absolutely unalloyed by interruption or satiety,—the eye +will at length be satisfied with seeing, and the ear be +satisfied with hearing. "<i>I shall be satisfied</i>, when I +awake up with thy likeness."</p> + +<p>It is in <i>Flowers</i> that the beauty of the vegetable world +chiefly resides; and I shall now therefore select a few +examples from the profusion of lovely objects which the +domain proper of Flora presents to us.</p> + +<p>That very curious tribe of plants, the <i>Orchideæ</i>, so +remarkable for the mimic forms of other things, that its +blossoms delight to assume, is also pre-eminent in gorgeous +beauty. Take the <i>Sobraliæ</i>,—terrestrial species +from Central America, where they form extensive thickets, +growing thrice the height of man, with slender nodding +stems, and alternate willow-like leaves, and terminal +racemes loaded with snow-white, pink, crimson, or violet +flowers.<a name="FNanchor_219_219" id="FNanchor_219_219"></a><a href="#Footnote_219_219" class="fnanchor">[219]</a> Imagine the crushing through "thickets" of +the lovely <i>S. macrantha</i>! The large lily-like blossoms +of this species are eight inches long, and as many wide, +of the richest purple crimson, and of the most elegant +shape conceivable, with the lip so wrapped round the +column as to appear funnel-shaped, bordered by an exquisitely-cut +fringe.</p> + +<p>I have before alluded to <i>Phajus Tankervilliæ</i>, that rich +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_345" id="Page_345">[Pg 345]</a></span>lily-like spike of blossom which I stumbled on in the +midst of a dense thicket in the mountains of Jamaica. +Another terrestrial genus of great elegance is <i>Cypripedium</i>, +of which we have one native species, <i>C. calceolus</i>, the +yellow lady's slipper,—one of the most charming, but the +rarest and most difficult of propagation, of British plants. +But this is far excelled in beauty by many of the exotic +species; as, for example, the exquisite <i>C. barbatum</i> from +Malacca. The very foliage is princely; for the nervures +and cross-veins form a network pattern of dark green +upon the light green area of each broad leaf. The blossom +rears up its noble head erect, with its standard-petal of +white, striped with green and purple, the wing-petals +studded with purple tubercles along their edges, and the +lip or slipper-shaped petal of a dark purple hue.</p> + +<p>My readers may have occasionally noticed a little plant, +in the most recherchées stove-houses, of so much delicacy +and preciousness that it is invariably kept under a bell-glass. +I mean the <i>Anæctochilus setaceus</i>. It belongs to +this tribe, and is a terrestrial species, growing about the +roots of the trees in the humid forests of Ceylon. Its +exquisite loveliness has attracted the attention of even the +apathetic Cingalese, who call it by the poetical epithet of +<i>Wanna Raja</i>, or king of the forest. It does not appear +to possess any peculiar attractiveness in its blossoms,—indeed, +I have never seen it in flower; but its leaves, +which grow in opposite pairs, are elegantly heart-shaped, +of a deep rich greenish-brown hue, approaching to black, +of a surface which resembles velvet, reticulated all over<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_346" id="Page_346">[Pg 346]</a></span> +with pale golden veins, which, being numerous and minute, +have a very charming appearance, somewhat like the pale +network on black patches which we see in the wings of +some dragon-flies.</p> + +<p>The epiphyte Orchids are also magnificent in beauty. +One of the handsomest genera is <i>Dendrobium</i>, containing +many species, mostly natives of Southern Asia +and the great islands. Perhaps the finest of all is <i>D. +nobile</i>, of which the sepals and petals are greenish-white, +tipped with rich purple, and the downy tube-like lip is of +the same regal hue in the interior, with a pale yellow +margin.</p> + +<p>By the side of this you may set the lovely <i>Huntleya +violacea</i>, one of the discoveries of Sir R. Schomburgk in +the interior of Guiana. Its broad wavy petals of the +softest richest violet, "vary in intensity from deepest +sapphire to the mild iridescence of opal." This fine +flower has a melancholy interest from its being associated +with the death of Sir Robert's friend and fellow-servant, +Mr Reiss. The gorgeous scenes of tropical +vegetation in which the plant was found, and the sad accident, +are thus depicted by the accomplished traveller:—</p> + +<p>"I discovered the <i>Huntleya violacea</i> for the first time +in October 1837, then on my ascent of the river Essequibo. +The large cataract, Cumaka Toto, or Silk Cotton +Fall, obliged us to unload our corials, and to transport +the luggage overland, in order to avoid the dangers which +a mass of water, at once so powerful and rapid, and +bounded by numerous rocks, might offer to our ascent.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_347" id="Page_347">[Pg 347]</a></span> +While the Indians were thus occupied, I rambled about +one of the small islands, which the diverging arms of the +river formed in their descent, and the vegetation of which +had that peculiar lively appearance which is so characteristic +of the vicinity of cataracts, where a humid cloud, +the effects of the spray, always hovers around them. +Blocks of syenite were heaped together; and while their +black shining surface contrasted strongly with the whitish +foam of the torrent, and with the curly waves beating +against the rocky barriers—as if angry at the boundary +which they attempted to set to the incensed element—their +dome-shaped summits were adorned with a vegetation +at once rich and interesting. <i>Heliconias</i>, <i>Tillandsias</i>, +<i>Bromelias</i>, <i>Ferns</i>, <i>Pothos</i>, <i>Cyrtopodiums</i>, <i>Epidendrums</i>, +<i>Peperomias</i>, all appeared to struggle for the place +which so small a surface afforded to them. The lofty +mountains, Akaywanna, Comute, or Taquia, and Tuasinki, +recede and form an amphitheatre, affording a highly interesting +scene, and no doubt the most picturesque of that +part of the river Essequibo.</p> + +<p>"I was attracted by a number of <i>Oncidium altissimum</i> +which covered one of the rocky piles, and astonished me +by their long stems and bright colour of their flowers, +when my attention was more powerfully attracted by a +plant, the appearance of which, although different from +the pseudo-bulbous tribe, proclaimed, nevertheless, that +it belonged to that interesting family, the <i>Orchideæ</i>. The +specimens were numerous; and clothed almost, with their +vivid green, the rugged and dark trunks of the gigantic<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_348" id="Page_348">[Pg 348]</a></span> +trees, which contributed to the majestic scene around me. +It was not long before I discovered one of these plants in +flower. It was as singular as it was new to me;—the +sepals and petals of a rich purple and velvet-like appearance; +the helmet, to which form the column bore +the nearest resemblance, of the same colour; the labellum +striated with yellow.</p> + +<p>"In the sequel of my expeditions, I found it generally in +the vicinity of cataracts, where a humid vapour is constantly +suspended, and where the rays of the sun are +scarcely admitted through a thick canopy of foliage. I +traced the <i>Huntleya</i> from the sixth parallel of latitude to +the shady mountains of the Acaria chain near the equator; +but in its fullest splendour it appeared at one of the +small islands among the Christmas cataracts in the river +Berbice. There is a melancholy circumstance connected +with the plant, which its appearance never fails to recall +to my memory. Their singular beauty at this spot induced +my friend, Mr Reiss, who accompanied me as a +volunteer during the unfortunate expedition up the river +Berbice, to draw and paint it on the spot. He was yet +occupied with this task when the last of our canoes was +to descend the dangerous cataract. He arose from his +occupation, desirous to descend with the Indians in the +canoe, although against my wish, but he persisted. The +canoe approached the fall; it upset; and, of thirteen +persons who were in it at the time, he was the only one +who paid the rash attempt with his life. He is now +buried opposite that island, the richest vegetable pro<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_349" id="Page_349">[Pg 349]</a></span>ductions +of which it was his last occupation to imitate on +paper and in colours."<a name="FNanchor_220_220" id="FNanchor_220_220"></a><a href="#Footnote_220_220" class="fnanchor">[220]</a></p> + +<p>We might linger long on these flowers of strange loveliness, +but space compels us to forsake them and to turn +to some other examples in the wide range of Flora's +domains. How glorious a sight must be the sheeted +Rhododendrons of the Himalaya peaks, on whose lofty +elevations Dr Hooker found these fine plants in great +prominence, "clothing the mountain-slopes with a deep-green +mantle, glowing with bells of brilliant colours; of +the eight or ten species growing here, [on the Zemir, in +Sikkim, twelve thousand feet above the sea,] every bush +was loaded with as great a profusion of blossoms as are +their northern congeners in our English gardens!"<a name="FNanchor_221_221" id="FNanchor_221_221"></a><a href="#Footnote_221_221" class="fnanchor">[221]</a></p> + +<p>The noblest of the genus is that which is dedicated to +Lady Dalhousie. It is an epiphyte, being always found +growing, like the Orchids, among mosses and ferns, upon +the trunks of large trees, especially oaks and magnolias, +at an elevation of from seven to ten thousand feet. In +this particular, in the fragrance of its noble white blossoms, +in its slender habit, in the whorled arrangement of +its branches, and in the length of time during which it +continues in flower in its native regions, viz., from April +to July, it differs from all its fellows of the same genus +that inhabit northern India.</p> + +<p>The flowers are four inches in length and four in +diameter, with a broad trumpet lip. Their colour is pure +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_350" id="Page_350">[Pg 350]</a></span>white, assuming a delicate rosy tinge as they become old, +and sometimes becoming spotted with orange. They have +an odour which resembles that of the lemon.</p> + +<p>Of this and the following species Dr Hooker writes from +Dorjiling, seven thousand feet above the sea:—"On the +branches of the immense purple-flowered magnolia, (<i>M. +Campbellii</i>,) and those of oaks and laurels, <i>Rhododendron +Dalhousiæ</i> grows epiphytally, a slender shrub bearing +from three to six white lemon-scented bells, four and a +half inches long and so many broad, at the end of each +branch. In the same woods the scarlet Rhododendron +(<i>R. arboreum</i>) is very scarce, and is outvied by the great +<i>R. argenteum</i>, which grows as a tree, forty feet high, +with magnificent leaves twelve to fifteen inches long, deep +green wrinkled above and silvery below, while the flowers +are as large as those of <i>R. Dalhousiæ</i> and grow more in +a cluster. I know nothing of the kind that exceeds in +beauty the flowering branch of <i>R. argenteum</i>, with its +wide-spreading foliage and glorious mass of flowers."<a name="FNanchor_222_222" id="FNanchor_222_222"></a><a href="#Footnote_222_222" class="fnanchor">[222]</a></p> + +<p>The latter, which is nearly equal to <i>R. Dalhousiæ</i> in +the size of its blossoms, and perhaps superior to it in +other respects, is another white-flowered species. It is, as +described above, a tree with large massive leaves of a +silvery tint beneath. When young, they are exquisitely +beautiful, being encased in long flesh-coloured cones of +large scales, of very ornamental appearance. The flowers +are three inches long, forming a compact globose head.</p> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_351" id="Page_351">[Pg 351]</a></span></p> +<p>They secrete a large quantity of honey, which is said to +be poisonous, as is also that of <i>R. Dalhousiæ</i>.</p> + +<p>The grandeur and beauty of the same genus are celebrated +by Mr Low, as he saw the species growing in +Borneo, where too their parasitic character struck him, as +it had done Dr Hooker:—</p> + +<p>"Perhaps the most gorgeous of the native plants are +the various species of the genus <i>Rhododendron</i>, which +here assume a peculiar form, being found epiphytal upon +the trunks of trees, as the genera of the tribe <i>Orchidaceœ</i>. +This habit, induced probably by the excessive moisture of +the climate, is not, however, confined to the Ericaceous +plants, but also prevails with the genera <i>Fagria</i>, <i>Combretum</i>, +and many others, usually terrestrial; the roots of +the Rhododendrons, instead of being, as with the species +[which are] inhabitants of cold climates, small and fibrous, +become large and fleshy, winding round the trunks of +the forest trees; the most beautiful one is that which +I have named in compliment to Mr Brooke. Its large +heads of flowers are produced in the greatest abundance +throughout the year: they much exceed in size those of +any known species, frequently being formed of eighteen +flowers, which are of all shades, from pale and rich +yellow to a rich reddish salmon-colour; in the sun, the +flowers sparkle with a brilliancy resembling that of gold +dust.</p> + +<p>"Four other species which I discovered are very +gorgeous, but of different colours, one being crimson and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_352" id="Page_352">[Pg 352]</a></span> +another red, and the third a rich tint between these two: +of the fourth I have not yet seen the flowers."<a name="FNanchor_223_223" id="FNanchor_223_223"></a><a href="#Footnote_223_223" class="fnanchor">[223]</a></p> + +<p>Take an example from another order. The Lightning-tree +of Madagascar rises before us in the graphic pages +of Mr Ellis:—</p> + +<p>"But the most magnificent objects were the fine trees +of <i>Astrapæa Wallichii</i>, or <i>viscosa</i>. The name of this +Malagasy plant was derived from the word for lightning, +on account of the brilliancy of its flowers; and Sir Joseph +Paxton and Dr Lindley have thus spoken of <i>A. Wallichii</i>:—'One +of the finest plants ever introduced. And when +loaded with its magnificent flowers, we think nothing can +exceed its grandeur.' I had seen a good-sized plant growing +freely at Mauritius, but here it was in its native +home, luxuriating on the banks of the stream, its trunk +a foot in diameter, its broad-leaved branches stretching +over the water, and its large, pink, globular, composite<a name="FNanchor_224_224" id="FNanchor_224_224"></a><a href="#Footnote_224_224" class="fnanchor">[224]</a> +flowers, three or four inches in diameter, suspended at +the end of a fine down-covered stalk, nine inches or a foot +in length. These, hanging by hundreds along the course +of the stream, surpassed anything of the kind I had seen, +or could possibly have imagined. I frequently met with +the <i>Astrapæa</i> afterwards, but always growing near the +water, and its branches frequently stretching over a lake +or river."<a name="FNanchor_225_225" id="FNanchor_225_225"></a><a href="#Footnote_225_225" class="fnanchor">[225]</a></p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_353" id="Page_353">[Pg 353]</a></span></p><p>The Leguminous or Papilionaceous order presents many +plants of striking beauty, both in foliage, which is often +of extreme lightness and elegance, and also in blossom. +They are among the gayest and most graceful of plants in +all regions. The magnificent vegetation of the Mauritius +contains one of notable glory, the Flamboyant, thus noticed +by Ellis:—</p> + +<p>"Conspicuous beyond all the rest is the stately and gorgeous +<i>Poinciana regia</i>, compact-growing and regular in +form, but retaining something of the acacia habit, rising +sometimes to the height of forty or fifty feet, and, between +the months of December and April, presenting, amidst its +delicate pea-green pinnated leaves, one vast pyramid of +bunches of bright, dazzling scarlet flowers. Seen sometimes +over the tops of the houses, and at others in an +open space, standing forth in truly regal splendour, this +is certainly one of the most magnificent of trees. Its +common name is <i>mille fleurs</i>, or <i>flamboyant</i>."<a name="FNanchor_226_226" id="FNanchor_226_226"></a><a href="#Footnote_226_226" class="fnanchor">[226]</a></p> + +<p>I have had the delight of seeing the <i>Poinciana pulcherrima</i> +in Jamaica, where it goes by the name of +Flower-feuce, or sometimes, the "Pride of Barbadoes." +It is, when in flower, a gorgeous mass of scarlet and +orange, and it seemed to me the most magnificent thing +in its way, that I had ever seen. It does not, however, +attain the dimensions of its antipode, rarely exceeding +those of a large shrub.</p> + +<p>I know not what the Burmese tree is, which is alluded +to in the following extracts from letters which I have +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_354" id="Page_354">[Pg 354]</a></span>received from my esteemed friend, Captain G. E. Bulger, +of the 10th Regiment:—</p> + +<p>"I shall be exceedingly obliged by your telling me +whether you are familiar with the tree known in the +West Indies and South America as the 'Bois Immortel;' +and whether you think the leaf herewith sent belongs to +it.</p> + +<p>"During the cool season in Burmah, the forest presents +a gorgeous sight, from the multitude of scarlet blossoms +which a large kind of tree puts forth; and I am strongly +inclined to think that this splendid ornament of the +jungles is, at all events, allied to the Bois Immortel of the +Western World.</p> + +<p>"The tree I speak of begins to flower about the middle +of December, at which time the leaves commence to +wither and drop off. By the end of January, when it is +in full bloom, there is hardly a leaf remaining, but it +continues one mass of scarlet blossom until March. The +flower is shaped like that of the pea.</p> + +<p>"If you can enlighten me on this point I shall be +indeed very much obliged."</p> + +<p>I was compelled to confess my ignorance even of the +South American beauty, and my friend thus replied:—</p> + +<p>"I first read of the 'Bois Immortel' in 'Waterton's +Wanderings,' and I subsequently saw a coloured representation +of the tree in Mr Gould's magnificent work on +Humming-Birds. I think the specific name was also +given in that work, but it is some time ago, and I have +almost forgotten what it was like. Since I saw these two<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_355" id="Page_355">[Pg 355]</a></span> +works, I have heard officers speak of the splendour of the +South American forests during the season of 'Le Bois +Immortel,' and have heard more than one say that they +believed nothing on earth could be more magnificent than +'matchless Trinidad' when these trees are in full bloom. +The autumnal beauty of the North American woods is, +doubtless, familiar to you, and I question very much +whether there is anything richer or more lovely to be +found even in South America."</p> + +<p>Even the humblest orders of plants have the element of +beauty bestowed on them with no niggard hand. Who +would have expected, among the <i>Chenopodeæ</i>, and, above +all, in the lowly little Saltworts, to find such a glowing +scene as Mr Atkinson describes?—</p> + +<p>"We were now on a heavy sandy steppe—part of the +Sackha Desert, which extends into the Gobi—and vegetation +was so very scant, that even the steppe grass had +disappeared. The <i>Salsola</i> was growing in a broad belt +around the small salt lakes, its colour varying from orange +to the deepest crimson. These lakes have a most singular +appearance when seen at a distance. The sparkling of +the crystallised salt, which often reflected the deep crimson +around, gave them the appearance of diamonds and +rubies set in a gorgeous framework. I rode round several +times, admiring their beauty, and regretting that it was +impossible to stay and visit a large lake, which I observed, +ten or fifteen versts distant, surrounded with green, orange, +and crimson."<a name="FNanchor_227_227" id="FNanchor_227_227"></a><a href="#Footnote_227_227" class="fnanchor">[227]</a></p> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_356" id="Page_356">[Pg 356]</a></span></p> +<p>The microscope, too, will bring out beauties in flowers +which the unassisted eye is incompetent fully to recognise. +If we take a scarlet Geranium, or a purple Heartsease, +the eye is delighted with the brilliancy of the colouring; +but on placing a petal of either on a slip of glass, under a +pretty high magnifying power, and reflecting the full +rays of the sun through the object, the rich gorgeousness +of the hue, the sparkling gem-like radiance of the surface, +and the exquisitely-regular form of the round cells, with +their clear interstices, form a spectacle of glorious beauty +that almost surpasses the conception of one who has not +seen it.</p> + +<p>I shall close this chapter, which might easily have been +expanded into a volume, with a reference to an humble +and minute plant, whose fairy loveliness, combined with +an almost unkillable hardiness of constitution, has won +for it a place in every garden, however unpretending, and +however ungenial in its locality,—the London-pride. This +exquisite little Saxifrage, general favourite as it is, requires +the microscope to bring out its beauties to advantage, but +under a good instrument you cannot fail to be charmed +with it. I have one before me at this moment, and will +describe what I see.</p> + +<p>First, I notice, on a cursory glance, that the whole +plant is clothed with tiny hairs; I take one of the flower-stalks +and examine these with a power of three hundred +diameters. Each now becomes a stem of glass-like clearness, +tapering upwards to a point, where it bears a richly +crimson cup, and in this is seated a globule of colourless<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_357" id="Page_357">[Pg 357]</a></span> +glass, just as an acorn sits in its shell. The multitude of +these organs—glandular hairs, the botanist calls them—standing +up side by side, rising to varying heights, and +displaying various degrees of development, is a very pleasing +sight.</p> + +<p>I turn to an unopened bud, putting on a lower power, +and viewing it as an opaque object, with reflected light by +the aid of the Lieberkuhn. Here are the parting sepals +of the calyx, painted with rose-pink and pea-green, and +studded all over with the knobbed hairs just noticed; the +coloured surface is rough with granules, but it is the +roughness of glass, for every knob gleams and sparkles with +light. The corolla, a little white ball, displays its petals +smoothly folded over each other, and their surface has the +same appearance of granular glass as that of the calyx.</p> + +<p>But now let me examine this blossom just expanded +this morning,—the very first of the season, by the way. +I must have a low power for this, eighty diameters, or so. +Oh, how exquisite! The little saucer of five oval petals, +each of snowy whiteness, bearing its bow of lovely crimson +specks, with a spot of gamboge-yellow for the chord, +and the whole sparkling with glassy points as before. +The pale red germen in the centre, rising into two points +of snow, their rosy tips pressed close together, as if the +twins were kissing. The ten stamens, five short alternating +with five long ones, and each bearing its pretty +kidney-shaped anther of pale scarlet. No; all are not +kidney-shaped; for here is one which has burst, and the +grains of red pollen are seen covering its rough purple sur<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_358" id="Page_358">[Pg 358]</a></span>face; +and here is one stamen from the point of which the +anther has gone, leaving only two or three pollen-grains +adhering. Behind all, I see the sepals of the calyx, peeping +out between the petals, and forming a fine dark background +for them, and for the longer filaments.</p> + +<p>And now I say to my readers, one and all,—you may +not have the opportunity to examine the glorious tropical +Orchids, or the gorgeous Flamboyant, but go and pluck a +flower of the London-pride, and you will have before your +eyes such a production of Divine handiwork as may well +excite the admiration and adoration of an angel.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_359" id="Page_359">[Pg 359]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="XI" id="XI"></a>XI.</h2> + +<h2>PARASITES.</h2> + + +<p>Vast as is this round world on which we live, its surface +is not nearly large enough for all the living creatures +which are ordained to inhabit it. Multitudes of animals +do not walk on the ground, or swim in the waters, or fly +in the air, but find the scene of their abode on or in the +bodies of other animals. Multitudes of plants do not +grow out of the soil, but attach themselves to other plants, +and draw their sustenance and support thence. Nay, +there are parasites upon parasites, and this, according to +Hood, in an infinitely descending series.</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Great fleas have little fleas<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Upon their backs to bite 'em;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And little fleas have lesser fleas;<br /></span> +<span class="i2">And so <i>ad infinitum</i>."<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>Perhaps the poet's imagination ran a little ahead of his +science here; but the idea of an <i>infinite</i> succession of +parasites, like nests of pill-boxes, is surely a funny one. +There is nothing funny, however, in the thought "that +even man," who was made in the image of God, "bears +about in his vital organs various forms of loathsome +creatures, which riot on his fluids, and consume the very +substance of his tissues while ensconced where no efforts of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_360" id="Page_360">[Pg 360]</a></span> +his can dislodge them, no application destroy them. So +it is; and few physical facts are better calculated to humble +man, and stain the pride of his glory, than to feel that +he may at any moment be nourishing a horrid tape-worm +in his alimentary canal, or that his muscles may be filled +with millions of microscopic <i>trichinæ</i>.</p> + +<p>I will not dwell on these; though, if I were writing a +book of pure science, there is a wondrous array of facts of +the most striking and interesting character, connected +with the structure, the metamorphoses, and the habits, of +the Entozoic Worms, which I might present to my +readers. It is more pleasant to consider other facts, +perhaps not less marvellous, which, as they do not come +quite so home to our personal feelings, will not excite +horror and disgust in our minds.</p> + +<p>The <i>economy</i> of creation is remarkable. He who, by +His divine manipulation converted five loaves and two +small fishes into a hearty meal for five thousand men, +besides women and children, and who could, with the +same ease have made them a hundred times as much, +said, when the meal was over, "Gather up the fragments, +that nothing be lost." And, when He spread the earth +with life, though His resources were infinite, He ordained +that one object, itself healthfully enjoying life, and fulfilling +its own proper ends of being, should be a microcosm, +on which another range of life should find its +sphere, and on which it should disport, as on an independent +world. I have often admired, in the gorgeous +tropical forests, what a wilderness of vegetation a single<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_361" id="Page_361">[Pg 361]</a></span> +tree supports; what numbers of orchids and wild pines +spring out of the forks, what creepers and lianes hang +and twine about its branches, what elegant ferns cluster +on the horizontal limbs, what snake-like cacti creep from +bough to bough, what mosses, and jungermanniæ crowd in +every crevice, what many-coloured lichens stud the rugged +bark! And then animal life is swarming in all this great +field of parasitic vegetation. Reptiles and birds, snails +and slugs, insects and millepedes, and spiders and worms +nestle by thousands in such prolific situations, so that a +great old tropical tree, one of the giant figs or cotton-trees, +is a very museum in itself.</p> + +<p>And in my wanderings along the sea-edge here at home +how often have I been amazed at the diverse population, +plant and animal, which crowds a single oar-weed, or +tangle! The stem fringed with delicate red-weeds, as the +minute <i>Rhodymeniæ</i>, and <i>Polysyphoniæ</i>, and <i>Callithamnia</i>; +the tortuous roots studded with Anemones, with +<i>Flustræ</i> and <i>Lepraliæ</i>, and multitudes of other <i>Polyzoa</i>, +with tiny Polypes of many kinds, with Barnacles and +Limpets, and sheltering small Crustacea, and Mites, and +Annelids by scores.</p> + +<p>Mr Darwin has an interesting passage on this subject, +evoked by the profusion of parasitic life on the long sea-weed +of Cape Horn (<i>Macrocystis</i>). "The number of +living creatures" he remarks, "whose existence intimately +depends on the Kelp is wonderful. A great volume might +be written, describing the inhabitants of one of these beds +of sea-weed. Almost all the leaves, excepting those that<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_362" id="Page_362">[Pg 362]</a></span> +float on the surface, are so thickly incrusted with corallines +as to be of a white colour. We find exquisitely +delicate structures, some inhabited by simple hydra-like +polypi, others by more organised kinds, and +beautiful compound Ascidiæ. On the leaves also, +various patelliform shells, Trochi, uncovered molluscs, +and some bivalves are attached. Innumerable crustacea +frequent every part of the plant. On shaking the great +entangled roots, a pile of small fish, shells, cuttle-fish, +crabs of all orders, sea-eggs, star-fish, beautiful Holuthuriæ, +Planariæ, and crawling nereidous animals of a +multitude of forms, all fall out together. Often as I recurred +to a branch of the kelp, I never failed to discover +animals of new and curious structure. In Chiloe, where +the kelp does not thrive very well, the numerous shells, +corallines, and crustacea are absent; but there yet remain +a few of the Flustraceæ, and some compound Ascidiæ; +the latter, however, are of different species from those in +Terra del Fuego: we here see the fucus possessing a wider +range than the animals which use it as an abode. I can +only compare these great aquatic forests of the southern +hemisphere, with the terrestrial ones in the intertropical +regions.</p> + +<p>"Yet if in any country a forest was destroyed, I do not +believe nearly so many species of animals would perish as +would here, from the destruction of the kelp. Amidst +the leaves of this plant numerous species of fish live, +which nowhere else could find food or shelter: with their +destruction the many cormorants and other fishing birds,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_363" id="Page_363">[Pg 363]</a></span> +the otters, seals, and porpoises, would soon perish also; +and lastly, the Fuegian savage, the miserable lord of this +miserable land, would redouble his cannibal feast, decrease +in numbers, and perhaps cease to exist."</p> + +<p>I have alluded to the epiphytic plants which are so +abundant in the tropics, and which add so greatly to the +gorgeousness of the forests there. The most remarkable, +or, at all events, the best known, of these are the <i>Orchideæ</i>, +to which, as I have already had occasion more than once +to speak of them, I shall do little more than refer here. +These establish themselves in the forks, upon the greater +limbs, and even in the roughnesses of the bark of the +trunk, adhering by their long, interlaced roots, which look +like knotted whip-cord, and forming their bunches of +psuedo-bulbs, whence their succulent, thick, but elegant +leaves project,—a great tuft of verdure; and their fantastic +flower-scapes wave in the air or droop with their weight +of gorgeous bloom. Thus they derive their nourishment +from the humid atmosphere alone, being dependent on the +friendly tree only for support and elevation. Humidity +seems essential to the vigour of these and most other +forms of parasitic vegetation. In the deep shady, gloomy +forests of Java, which constitute the zone of vegetation +around the base of the mountains, these plants abound, +where the air is heavy and damp with the vapours that +cannot ascend, and where the density of the foliage is +almost frightful; where heat, moisture, and a most extraordinarily +deep and rich vegetable soil combine to produce +wood of a fungus-like softness, and an inconceivable abund<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_364" id="Page_364">[Pg 364]</a></span>ance +of twining plants and epiphytes. In those forests, +more especially where huge fig-trees constitute the principal +part of the timber, intermingled with the most +tropical forms of vegetation, such as <i>Sterculiaceæ</i>, <i>Sapindaceæ</i>, +and <i>Artocarpeæ</i>, tufts of <i>Orchideæ</i> attain a vast +size and luxuriance, in company with Aroideous and +Zinziberaceous plants.<a name="FNanchor_228_228" id="FNanchor_228_228"></a><a href="#Footnote_228_228" class="fnanchor">[228]</a> In Demerara, Mr Henchman +found masses of <i>Oncidium altissimum</i> and <i>Maxillaria +Parkeri</i> of wide dimensions, and so densely growing as to +defy any attempt at intrusion; and on the Spanish main +he saw the <i>Epidendrum</i> known as the "Spread Eagle" +clasping enormous trees, and covering them from the top +to the bottom.</p> + +<p>The fig-trees, which are among the most gigantic of the +tropical forest-trees, and which support an immense profusion +of epiphytes, are themselves frequently parasitic +and epiphyte in their early condition. It is not uncommon +in Jamaica to see a network of roots partially +embracing the trunk of some great tree, far up its +column, and gradually creeping round and downward. I +have seen an old wall so covered, presenting a very curious +spectacle. The roots of a wide-spreading fig growing out +of the summit of the wall, had spread over its perpendicular +surface, down to the earth, all in the same plane, +clinging to the wall; the chief roots were as thick as a +man's leg, but subordinate roots had proceeded from one to +another, anastomosing in all directions (if I may use +such a term), so as to make a most elaborate network of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_365" id="Page_365">[Pg 365]</a></span> +a multitude of meshes of various angular forms and sizes. +These cross-roots were <i>at each extremity</i> united with the +larger roots, and looked as if the whole network had been +skilfully carved out of one solid plank of wood, by cutting +out the areas or meshes, and rounding the component +bars; the very bark that covered the whole was continuous, +where the roots united, as if they had been always integrally +one.</p> + +<p>The only mode in which I can account for this singular +phenomenon is the following hypothesis:—The seed of +the tree was originally deposited on the summit of the +wall, beneath the eaves. As it germinated, the roots ran +down towards the earth, some perpendicularly, some +diagonally; but all creeping along the surface of the +wall, no roots having shot out from its perpendicular. +As these roots increased, they sent out side rootlets, +which, still running on the face of the wall, by and by +came in contact with another of the primary roots. +Then, instead of creeping <i>over</i> it, as the roots of other +trees would have done, the soft tip of the rootlet actually +united with the substance of the root at the point of contact, +the fibres of the two becoming interlaced, and their +united surfaces gradually becoming covered with a common +bark. The repetition of this process had produced +the very curious wooden net which I have attempted to +describe.</p> + +<p>A still more remarkable example of this parasitic mode +of growth I have seen in the same island. By the side of +a mountain road was a large fig-tree, the base of whose<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_366" id="Page_366">[Pg 366]</a></span> +trunk was about thirty feet from the ground. Thence it +reared itself up pillar-like towards the heavens, and +spread abroad its vast horizontal array of branches +across the road. From the same point there descended +to the earth a hollow cone of roots, interwoven and anastomosed, +especially at the upper parts, in the same manner +as those of the boiling-house wall, but forming towards +the bottom only three or four flattened irregular columns. +Into the area inclosed by this network of roots a person +might enter, for it was about six feet wide, and, looking +up, behold the base of the trunk eight or ten yards above +his head.</p> + +<p>The explanation of this curious phenomenon depends +upon the tendency just mentioned. On this site once +stood a large tree of some other species, probably a cotton-tree +(<i>Eriodendron</i>), or some other soft-timbered kind. +The little scarlet berry of a Fig-tree was carried by some +vagrant Banana-bird or Pigeon to its boughs, and there +devoured. After the little truant had finished his morsel, +he perhaps wiped his beak against the rough bark +of the trunk, beside the branch on which he was seated. +Some of the minute seeds, enveloped in mucilage, were +thus left on the tree, which the rain presently washed +down into the broad concavity of the forks, where, among +moss and rotten leaves, it soon germinated and grew. +The roots gradually crept down the trunk of the supporting +tree, closely clinging to its bark, and by their interlacement +at length formed a living case, enveloping it on +every side, and penetrating the earth around its base.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_367" id="Page_367">[Pg 367]</a></span> +The growth of these, and also of the inclosed tree, daily +induced a tighter and tighter pressure on the latter, +which at length arrived at such a degree as to stop the +circulation of the sap between the bark and the wood. +Death, of course, was the result, and speedy decay reduced +the supporting tree to a heap of mouldering dust: while +the parasite, now able to maintain its own position by +its hollow cone of roots, increased in size and strength, +and overtopped its fellows of the forest;—<i>a tree standing +upon stilts</i>.</p> + +<p>A few years ago I was struck with the appearance of +an East Indian species of the same genus in one of the +conservatories at Kew. Three shoots had run up the +wall, clinging so close, that the leaves looked as if they +were actually glued to the bricks, one over the other, +in the most regular manner. Yet, on examination, I saw +that the leaves did not adhere at all; the only support +was that of the tiny rootlets which proceeded laterally +from each stem, which the leaves concealed. The appearance +of the whole was so curious, with the pale growing +bud peeping out from beneath the topmost leaf, that I +was greatly attracted by it. The base of the plant was +in a pot, but the attendant informed me that this connexion +was about to be cut off, by severing each shoot at +the point where it first seized the wall. The leaves above +this point, by their superior size and vigour, shewed that +the plant was already independent of its pot, and that it +was capable of supporting itself, like a proper air-plant, +by imbibition from the atmosphere alone, needing nothing<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_368" id="Page_368">[Pg 368]</a></span> +more than support in its upright position, which it obtained +from the wall by its clinging aerial rootlets.</p> + +<p>Every one who has wandered in a primeval forest of +the tropics, whether in the eastern or the western hemisphere, +has been struck by the inconceivable profusion of +the climbers and twiners with which the trees are laced +together. They are found from the thickness of a warship's +cable to that of pack-thread; the stronger ones +often uncouthly twisted together, and binding tree to tree. +They are of the orders <i>Malpighaceæ</i>, <i>Apocyaneæ</i>, <i>Asclepiadeæ</i>, +<i>Bignoniaceæ</i>, &c., and often are adorned with the +most brilliant flowers.</p> + +<p>I have before cited descriptions of these wonderful +lianes, as they occur in the forests of South America; my +readers may like to peruse Sir Emerson Tennent's graphic +sketch of those of Ceylon:—</p> + +<p>"It is the trees of older and loftier growth that exhibit +the rank luxuriance of these wonderful epiphytes in the +most striking manner. They are tormented by climbing +plants of such extraordinary dimensions that many of +them exceed in diameter the girth of a man; and these +gigantic appendages are to be seen surmounting the tallest +trees in the forest, grasping their stems in firm convolutions, +and then flinging their monstrous tendrils over the +larger limbs till they reach the top, whence they descend +to the ground in huge festoons, and, after including +another and another tree in their successive toils, they +once more ascend to the summit, and wind the whole +into a maze of living network as massy as if formed by<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_369" id="Page_369">[Pg 369]</a></span> +the cable of a line-of-battle ship. When, by and by, the +trees on which this singular fabric has become suspended +give way under its weight, or sink by their own decay, +the fallen trunk speedily disappears, while the convolutions +of climbers continue to grow on, exhibiting one of +the most marvellous and peculiar living mounds of confusion +that it is possible to fancy. Frequently one of +these creepers may be seen holding by one extremity the +summit of a tall tree, and grasping with the other an +object at some distance near the earth, between which it +is strained as tight and straight as if hauled over a block. +In all probability the young tendril had been originally +fixed in this position by the wind, and retained in it till +it had gained its maturity, where it has the appearance +of having been artificially arranged as if to support a +falling tree."<a name="FNanchor_229_229" id="FNanchor_229_229"></a><a href="#Footnote_229_229" class="fnanchor">[229]</a></p> + +<p>Leaving the vegetable world, we may find some very +curious examples of parasitism among Insects. Every +one who has paid the slightest attention to this class of +animals is aware that there are slender flies called <i>Ichneumons</i>, +whose grubs are hatched and reared in the +bodies of other insects. Many of these have the ovipositor +greatly lengthened, and projecting like a very slender +needle from the extremity of the abdomen. In some species, +this needle-like organ is three or four times the entire +length of the body; and this great longitude is intended +to reach the pupæ of wasps and similar insects which inhabit +deep holes. The needle itself is well worthy of +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_370" id="Page_370">[Pg 370]</a></span>study. It is not simple, but composed of two pieces forming +a sheath, which open and reveal a central finer filament, +furnished at its tip (in <i>Pimpla manifestator</i>, for +example) with saw-like teeth. With this instrument, +which possesses great elasticity and flexibility, the insect +works, as a carpenter with his brad-awl, boring through +the clay, with which the wasp has closed up the hole +that contains her grub, until the tip of the ovipositor +reaches the soft body of the insect. Into this it pierces, +and deposits an egg, and is withdrawn. The slight puncture +is scarcely felt by the grub, which continues to eat +and grow; the inserted egg, however, presently hatches, +and produces the ichneumon-grub, which begins to feed +on the fat of the wasp-grub, instinctively avoiding the +vital parts, until the latter has attained nearly its full +size, and is ready to pass into the pupa state; when, its +vigour being gone, it fails to accomplish the metamorphosis, +the insidious intruder, now also full grown, taking its +place, and by and by issuing from the hole a perfect Ichneumon.</p> + +<p>How often has the enthusiastic young entomologist +been subjected to sore disappointment by the parasitic +habits of these <i>Ichneumonidæ</i>! He has obtained some +fine caterpillar, a great rarity, and by dint of much searching +of his Westwood or his Stainton, feels quite certain +that it is the larva of some much-prized butterfly. He +ascertains its leaf-food; which it eats promisingly; all +goes on encouragingly. Surely it cannot be far from the +pupa state now! When some morning he is horrified to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_371" id="Page_371">[Pg 371]</a></span> +behold, instead of the chrysalis, a host of filthy little +grubs eating their way out of the skin of his beautiful +caterpillar, or covering its remains with their tiny yellow +cocoons.</p> + +<p>Some of these parasites are so minute that their young +are hatched and reared in the <i>eggs</i> of other insects. +Bonnet found that the egg of a butterfly, itself no bigger +than the head of a minikin pin, was inhabited by several +of the stranger grubs; for out of twenty such eggs, he +says, "a prodigious quantity" of the grubs were evolved.</p> + +<p>A very interesting tribe of insects, so diverse from all +other known forms as to constitute an order among themselves, +that of the <i>Strepsiptera</i>, passes its youth in the +bodies of certain wild bees. Mr Kirby's account of his +first detection of one of these, though often quoted, is so +interesting that I must cite it afresh. "I had previously +observed," he remarks, "upon bees something that I took +to be a kind of mite (<i>Acarus</i>), which appeared to be +immovably fixed just at the inosculations of the dorsal +segments of the abdomen. At length, finding three or +four upon an <i>Andræna nigroænea</i>, I determined not to +lose the opportunity of taking one off to examine and +describe; but what was my astonishment when, upon my +attempting to disengage it with a pin, I drew forth from +the body of the bee a white fleshy larva, a quarter of an +inch in length, the head of which I had mistaken for an +acarus (<i>bee louse</i>)! After I had examined one specimen, +I attempted to extract a second; and the reader may +imagine how greatly my astonishment was increased,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_372" id="Page_372">[Pg 372]</a></span> +when, after I had drawn it out but a little way, I saw its +skin burst, and a head as black as ink, with large staring +eyes and antennæ, consisting of two branches, break forth, +and move itself quickly from side to side. It looked like +a little imp of darkness just emerged from the infernal +regions. My eagerness to set free from its confinement +this extraordinary animal may be easily conjectured. +Indeed, I was impatient to become better acquainted +with so singular a creature. When it was completely +disengaged, and I had secured it from making its escape, +I set myself to examine it as accurately as possible; and +I found, after a careful inquiry, that I had got a nondescript, +whose very class seemed dubious."</p> + +<p>Mr Newman, in an essay of much value,<a name="FNanchor_230_230" id="FNanchor_230_230"></a><a href="#Footnote_230_230" class="fnanchor">[230]</a> has shewn +that the larvæ of this tribe of insects are born alive, that +they attach themselves to the abdomens of wild bees, +nestling among the hair, and that they are thus introduced +into the nest of the bee. Here it is somewhat uncertain +how they are sustained at first, for at this time +the bee-grubs are not hatched; probably they remain +without food for some days, or devour a portion of the +pollen and honey stored up. As soon, however, as the +bee-grub is hatched, the Stylops-larva undergoes a metamorphosis, +sheds its six legs, and becomes a footless +maggot; it pierces the soft skin of the bee-grub, and +feeds on its juices, till its maturity, as the Ichneumon on +the body of the caterpillar.</p> + +<p>When the perfect bee emerges in the following spring, +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_373" id="Page_373">[Pg 373]</a></span>it bears the full-grown Stylops, protruding from the rings +of its abdomen. The latter is in pupa, all the organs +being distinct and separate, but wrapped together, and +inclosed in separate pellicles; very soon, it emerges, as described +by Kirby, and escapes, leaving a great unsightly +cavity in the body of the bee. This is the male: the +female never escapes, but lays its eggs on the bee in +which it has been reared, and then dies.</p> + +<p>In the spring we frequently see among herbage a great +uncouth beetle of a dark blue-black hue, with short wing-cases +and long, heavy body, which discharges drops of +yellow fluid when handled, and is therefore called the +Oil-beetle (<i>Melöe proscarabæus</i>). The early stages of +this beetle have much affinity with those of the <i>Stylops</i>. +The beetle lays a number of yellow eggs in a hole in the +earth; these produce little active six-footed larvæ, resembling +lice, which crawl to the summit of dandelion and +other flowers in the sunshine, and await the visit of a bee. +On the arrival of one, the active grub immediately clings to +its body, and is carried to the nest, not, however, to introduce +itself parasitically into the body of the bee-grub, but +to feed on the provision which the parent bee has stored +up for its own young. Thus it becomes very fat, and +grows to a size much larger than that of the full-grown +bee-grub, having early dropped its six long clinging legs, +which, having performed their proper function in catching +hold of a bee, are no longer needed. It changes to a perfect +beetle in autumn, lies in the bee's nest all the winter, +and emerges in the spring.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_374" id="Page_374">[Pg 374]</a></span></p> + +<p>The large jelly-like Medusæ which in summer are seen +floating around our coasts, driving themselves along by +alternate contractions and expansions of their umbrella, +are frequently infested by little creatures of widely different +organisation, Crustaceans belonging to the genera +<i>Hyperia and Metoecus</i>. On the beautiful <i>Chrysaora</i> of +the southern coast I have seen the <i>Metoecus medusarum</i>, +a little shrimp about half-an-inch in length, with enormous +lustrous green eyes, which takes up his residence in +the cavities of the sub-umbrella,—dwelling in them as in +so many spacious and commodious apartments, of which +he takes possession, evidently without asking leave of the +landlord, or paying him even the compliment of a peppercorn +rent. Here he snugly ensconces himself, and feels +so much at home, that he is not afraid to leave his dwelling +now and then, to take a swim in the free water, returning +to his chamber after his exercise; and here he +rears his numerous family, which, in the form of tiny +white specks, very much unlike their parents in shape, +stud the membranes of the jelly-fish.</p> + +<p>But, what is stranger still, Mr M'Cready has recently +discovered in the harbour of Charleston in North America, +a <i>Medusa</i> which is parasitic upon another <i>Medusa</i>. +<i>Cunina octonaria</i> does not swim freely in the water, +but inhabits the cavity of the bell of <i>Turritopsis nutricula</i>. +"Not only does the latter furnish a shelter +and dwelling-place for the larvæ during their development; +it also serves as their nurse, by allowing the +parasites, whilst adhering by their tentacles, to draw<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_375" id="Page_375">[Pg 375]</a></span> +nourishment out of its mouth by means of a large proboscis. +In point of fact, the relation between them is of +so unprecedented a nature, that the author may well be +excused for having at first taken the impudent parasite +for the gemmiparous progeny of the sheltering Medusa. +The youngest state of this parasitic Medusa observed by +the author formed a ciliated body of clavate form, adhering +to the cavity of the bell by means of the slender +stalk in which it terminated. The first change consists in +the emission, from the thick end, of two slender flexible +tentacles, and in the formation of a central cavity by +liquefaction. At this stage of development, the author frequently +observed gemmation taking place at the thicker end, +sometimes frequently repeated. Subsequently the number +of tentacles becomes doubled. These bend together over +the clavate extremity, and are then employed, instead of +the thin end of the body, in adhering to the cavity of the +sheltering Medusa. The thin extremity then acquires a +mouth, and may be recognised as a stomachal peduncle, +which is employed, as above indicated, in obtaining +nourishment. The morphological nature of the proboscis +becomes still more distinct when, after the lapse of some +little time, an annular fold makes its appearance immediately +under the tentacles, which is recognisable +from its form, and from the formation in it of (eight) +otolithic capsules, as the first indication of the future bell. +Simultaneously with the otolithic capsules, four rudimentary +tentacles make their appearance between the four +tentacles. The Medusa remains in this stage of develop<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_376" id="Page_376">[Pg 376]</a></span>ment +for a long time. The bell gradually becomes more +freely developed, and at last, by the reduction and entire +disappearance of the stomachal peduncle, becomes the +most essential part of the Medusa, after it has left its +previous dwelling-place in the bell of the <i>Turritopsis</i>. +The bell nevertheless retains for some time its earlier +lobed form and unequal tentacles."<a name="FNanchor_231_231" id="FNanchor_231_231"></a><a href="#Footnote_231_231" class="fnanchor">[231]</a></p> + +<p>More remarkable even than this association is the fact +that certain true Fishes habitually reside in the stomachs +of star-fishes. This circumstance, which had been observed +in the Oriental Archipelago by MM. Quoy and +Gaimard, and by Dr Bleeker, has recently been confirmed +by Dr Doleschall, who has written a very interesting +Memoir on it.</p> + +<p>This learned naturalist states that the fact of the connexion +between the fish and the star-fish is well known +to most of the fishermen in Amboyna, and that he was +able to obtain a sufficiency of specimens for examination; +but as the star-fishes (and with them the fishes) speedily died +in confinement, he was unable to make continuous observations +upon them in a living state. Of the results of +his observations he gives the following summary:—</p> + +<p>"The fish stands to the star-fish in a definite relation +which cannot be the object of observation. Why the +little fish should always seek the stomachal cavity of one +and the same species of star-fish, and not that of various +species, is a mystery. It is well known that Crustaceans +of the genus <i>Pagurus</i> inhabit the empty shells of Mol<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_377" id="Page_377">[Pg 377]</a></span>lusca; +but we find on the shore the same species of +<i>Pagurus</i> in the shells of the most various genera and +species.</p> + +<p>"I have never met with <i>Oxybeles gracilis</i>, on the +contrary, in any other species of star-fish than <i>Culcita +discoidea</i>. The fish was described by Bleeker under the +above name in 'Natuurkundig Tijdschrift,' vii., p. 162. +The author proceeds to state that neither he nor any one +else in Amboyna has ever captured the fish under other +circumstances, or while swimming freely in the sea; but +upon this Dr Bleeker remarks that many of his specimens +of <i>Fierasfer Brandesii</i>, and all those of <i>Fierasfer (Oxybeles) +gracilis</i> and <i>F. lumbricoides</i>, were obtained by him +along with other fishes, and were probably taken while +swimming freely in the sea.</p> + +<p>"Upon the habits of <i>Oxybeles gracilis</i> the author goes +on to say that it is certain that this animal passes the +greater part of its existence in the stomach of the star-fish, +rarely shewing itself outside of this, and then probably +at night. That it does come out occasionally, +appears from the fact that in two cases the author +observed the fish with a portion of its body outside the +cavity of the star-fish, and in the act of creeping in.</p> + +<p>"The same observations shewed that the fish, in returning +to its concealment, passes along the furrow of the lower +surface of one of the arms leading to the mouth of the +star-fish, which is wide enough, when the tentacles are +retracted, to leave room for the passage of the slender +body of the <i>Oxybeles</i>. This fact likewise proves that the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_378" id="Page_378">[Pg 378]</a></span> +<i>Oxybeles</i> does not get into the stomach of the <i>Culcita</i> by +accident.</p> + +<p>"If a living <i>Culcita</i> be cut in two, the fish is seen moving +freely in the cavity of its body. If it be taken out, it +immediately seeks the shade. If the two halves of the +<i>Culcita</i> (still alive) be placed in the water, the fish will +soon be seen to draw towards them, in order to get into +the cavity of the star-fish. When exposed to the light, +it is uneasy, and its iris contracts excessively. The author +never found two fishes in the same star-fish.</p> + +<p>"In most of the fishes examined by him, the author +found the stomach empty; it was full only in one. The +contents of the stomach had the appearance of a lump of +fat, and consisted of half-digested muscle. Under the +microscope, striated muscular fibres could be detected, and +the author thinks that they belonged to the muscles of a +fish. This circumstance proves that <i>Oxybeles</i> does not +feed upon the chyle of the star-fish, but that its nourishment +is analogous to that of other fishes. Whether it +seizes upon the fishes taken by the star-fish for its own +nourishment must be determined by further investigations.</p> + +<p>"The author's observations establish—</p> + +<p>"1. That <i>Oxybeles gracilis</i> is not a true parasite.</p> + +<p>"2. That it passes the greater part of its life in the +stomach of <i>Culcita discoidea</i>, as is also indicated by the +unusually pale colour of the fish.</p> + +<p>"3. That, however, it can come out, either to seek +nourishment, or for the purpose of reproduction.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_379" id="Page_379">[Pg 379]</a></span></p> + +<p>"4. That it returns to the mouth along the furrow on +the ventral surface of the arms.</p> + +<p>"5. That it is very sensitive to light.</p> + +<p>"6. That it feeds upon other animals.</p> + +<p>"In fresh water the animals live for about half-an-hour. +The pigment upon the peritoneum exhibits under the +microscope the most beautiful stellate forms. The fish +possesses a swimming-bladder."<a name="FNanchor_232_232" id="FNanchor_232_232"></a><a href="#Footnote_232_232" class="fnanchor">[232]</a></p> + +<p>Some very curious instances of parasitism occur, in +which one kind of creature compels or induces another +creature to labour for its special benefit. Indeed, in all +cases, the parasite is benefited by the functions of the +supporter; but, in the cases I refer to, the slavery is more +special and more apparent.</p> + +<p>There is a large species of Crab (<i>Dromia</i>) found in the +West Indies, which is invariably found covered with a +dense mass of sponge. The sponge is found to have +grown in such a manner as to fit every prominence and +cavity of the crab, exactly as if a plastic material had +been moulded on it, yet it is not adherent to it, but is +merely held in position by the hindmost pair of feet, +which in this genus of crabs, are turned upwards, and +apparently serve no other purpose than that of hooks to +hold on the sponge <i>in situ</i>.</p> + +<p>On our own shores we are familiar with the Hermit +crabs making use of various kinds of univalve shells as +houses to protect their softer hindparts; but in many of +these cases there is a third party in the transaction, which +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_380" id="Page_380">[Pg 380]</a></span>is made to work for the crab's especial advantage. The +shell of the mollusk is sometimes covered with a sort of +fleshy polype-mass (<i>Hydractinia echinata</i>), which is parasitic +on the shell. The shell, however, being tenanted also +by the active crab, the polype, as it grows, moulds itself +on the crab's body, and thus extends the dimensions of its +house, so that it has no necessity either to enlarge its +dwelling by the absorption of part of the interior shell-wall, +or to leave this shell and search for one of ampler +size, as other Hermit-crabs are obliged to do who have +not the advantage of so accommodating a fellow-lodger. +"One can understand," says Dr Gray, "that the Crab may +have the instinct to search for shells, on which the coral +[polype] has begun to grow; but this will scarcely explain +why we never find the [polype] except on shells in which +Hermit-crabs have taken up their residence."<a name="FNanchor_233_233" id="FNanchor_233_233"></a><a href="#Footnote_233_233" class="fnanchor">[233]</a></p> + +<p>Small Annelids and Crustaceans not unfrequently burrow +into the stony walls of corals; but Dr Gray records a +much more uncommon case, from the Guilding collection. +"It is an expanded coral, which forms a thin surface on +the top of another coral, and is furnished with a number +of small, depressed, horizontal cases, opening with an +oblong mouth. Some of these contain within them a +small, free, crustaceous animal, a <i>Cymothoa</i>, which nearly +fits the case; and it is evident that, by their moving backwards +and forwards on the surface, they have caused the +animal of the coral to form one of these cases for the protection +of each specimen."<a name="FNanchor_234_234" id="FNanchor_234_234"></a><a href="#Footnote_234_234" class="fnanchor">[234]</a></p> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_381" id="Page_381">[Pg 381]</a></span></p> +<p>The manner in which this result is obtained is thus +explained—"The animals which form their habitation in +corals, appear to begin their domicile in the same way as +the barnacles before referred to; they take advantage of +the soft and yielding nature of the animals which form +the corals, &c., and taking up a lodgement in their body, +all they have to do is to keep a clear passage in it, either +by the moving backwards and forwards, the exertion of +their limbs, or the ingress or egress of water to and from +their bodies, and in time, as the coral is secreted by the +animal, it will form a wall round them; but if, by any +accident, the parasite animal should not keep a passage +from the coral to the surface of the body of the animal +clear, which it must be constantly induced to do, since by +this means it procures food, the coral animal will in a very +short time close over it and bury it alive in the mass of +the coral; and this, from the number of these animals, of +all sizes and in different stages of growth, which are to +be found in the substance of the large and massive corals, +must often be occurring. Thus the Italian romance is +often literally fulfilled in nature."</p> + +<p>Certain birds are parasitic, in this sense, that they compel +or induce other birds to perform the labour of incubation +and of rearing their young. The Rhea or Ostrich of +South America is parasitical on its own species; the +females laying each several eggs in the nests of several +other females, and the male ostrich taking all the cares of +incubation. More familiar examples, however, occur in +our own Cuckoo, and in the Cowpen birds (<i>Molothrus</i><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_382" id="Page_382">[Pg 382]</a></span> +<i>pecoris</i> and <i>M. niger</i>) of North and South America. +"These fasten themselves," as has been remarked by Mr +Swainson, "on another living animal, whose animal heat +brings their young into life, whose food they live upon, +and whose death would cause theirs during the period of +infancy."</p> + +<p>The habit, at least in the case of the European Cuckoo, +is so well known, that I need not do more than merely +allude to the fact, that the female seeks for the nests of +other insect-eating birds, always much smaller than itself, +and deposits its own eggs,—a single egg in each; that +this stranger egg is hatched by the foster-mother with all +care, and the young bird is nurtured with all tenderness +even at the expense of its own proper eggs and young, +which in general are sacrificed in the course of the process. +Every schoolboy knows these facts, but few perhaps have +ever suspected the existence of a romantic feeling of love +and fealty in the little bird towards the cuckoo herself, +prompting the rendering of the service required as a +coveted honour. Yet a naturalist has communicated to +Mr Yarrell some facts which certainly look this way; and +because they are indubitably the very romance of natural +history, I cite them, leaving my readers to judge of their +value.</p> + +<p>"As you have contributed," writes Mr W. C. Newby of +Stockton, "so much to the information and amusement of +the numerous class of readers who take an interest in subjects +of natural history, I consider it my duty to communicate +first to you, what appears to me a new fact +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_383" id="Page_383">[Pg 383]</a></span>in the habits and character of that general favourite the +cuckoo.</p> + +<p>"An egg of this bird was brought to me on the 6th instant, +which had been taken from the nest of the yellow +bunting, at a short distance from this town, and the boy +who got the egg gave the following account, which, I +think, may be relied on. When bird-nesting the previous +Saturday, he found a nest of the gold spink (a local name +for the yellow bunting) with the young birds just hatched. +On visiting the nest the following day, he flushed the old +bird, having seen her sitting on it, but the young birds +were all excluded, and were lying dead near; and to his +surprise, a single egg—the one he brought to me—occupied +the place of the callow brood. He took away the egg +(which is now in my possession) so that it is impossible to +corroborate the statement in any degree. The above circumstance +was first named to me by Tom Green, a well-known +character and naturalist in this town, whom I have +always found to be accurate in his observations on birds, +and by him I was referred to the boy. On my objecting +to Green that the accident appeared incredible, because +unnatural, and contrary to strong parental instinct, +he replied, "Ay, sir, but little birds are mightily ta'en up +with a cuckoo; they'll awmost dee out for them;" and +he related the following fact which came under his own +observation. When out with his gun, collecting birds to +stuff, (animal-preserving being one of his many trades), he +shot at and wounded a cuckoo, which, after flying some +distance, fell upon a hedge with its wings outstretched:<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_384" id="Page_384">[Pg 384]</a></span> +the attendant bird, which in this case was one of the pipits, +continued in the flight of its patron after the shot, and +when Green approached, he found it sitting on the body +of the dead cuckoo.<a name="FNanchor_235_235" id="FNanchor_235_235"></a><a href="#Footnote_235_235" class="fnanchor">[235]</a></p> + +<p>"It has been supposed by some, that small birds follow +the cuckoo for the sake of annoyance, mistaking it for a +sparrow-hawk, to give public notice of a pirate abroad, and +to warn all peaceful subjects of the air against a common +danger. But this is clearly not so, for the flight and cries +clearly distinguish the feelings in the two cases. The attendance +on the cuckoo is at a distance, silent and respectful; +but in the other we have a sort of hue and cry raised, +as it were, against a felon, and which is kept up from +place to place, if not to the shame, at least to the discomfiture +of the culprit.</p> + +<p>"The cuckoo is certainly a favourite with them; as Green +says, 'they, (the lesser birds,) are mightily ta'en up with +it;' but to what it owes its influence with its parasites I +leave to you and other philosophical naturalists to determine: +I am content to relate, in simple terms, an interesting +fact."</p> + +<p>There is so much analogy with these cuckoo-proceedings +in the habits of Ants, that, although these cannot +correctly be designated as parasites, the details of their +manners will not be wholly out of place, in winding up +this chapter. I refer to the propensity manifested by certain +species of ants to make slaves of the workers of another +species, leading them into captivity and compelling +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_385" id="Page_385">[Pg 385]</a></span>them to labour for the benefit of the marauders. Strangely +enough, the parallel between the human and the formican +slave-trade holds to this further extent that, so far as we +know, the kidnappers are red or pale-coloured ants, and +the slaves, like true <i>niggers</i>, are black.</p> + +<p>The slave-hunting expeditions are planned and executed +with the utmost skill and courage. "When the red ants +are about to sally forth on a marauding expedition, they +send scouts to ascertain the exact position in which a colony +of negroes may be found; these scouts, having discovered +the object of their search, return to the nest, and report +their success. Shortly afterwards the army of red +ants marches forth, headed by a vanguard which is perpetually +changing; the individuals which constitute it, +when they have advanced a little before the main body, +halting, falling into the rear, and being replaced by others: +this vanguard consists of eight or ten ants only.</p> + +<p>"When they have arrived near the negro colony, they +disperse, wandering through the herbage and hunting +about, as if aware of the propinquity of the object of their +search, yet ignorant of its exact position. At last they +discover the settlement, and the foremost of the invaders +rushing impetuously to the attack, are met, grappled with, +and frequently killed by the negroes on guard; the alarm +is quickly communicated to the interior of the nest; the +negroes sally forth by thousands, and the red ants rushing +to the rescue, a desperate conflict ensues, which, however, +always terminates in the defeat of the negroes, who retire +to the inmost recesses of their habitation. Now follows<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_386" id="Page_386">[Pg 386]</a></span> +the scene of pillage; the red ants, with their powerful +mandibles, tear open the sides of the negro ant-hill, and +rush into the heart of the citadel. In a few minutes each +of the invaders emerges, carrying in its mouth the pupa +of a worker negro, which it has obtained in spite of the +vigilance and valour of its natural guardians. The red +ants return in perfect order to their nest, bearing with +them their living burdens. On reaching the nest the pupæ +appear to be treated precisely as their own, and the +workers, when they emerge, perform the various duties of +the community with the greatest energy and apparent +good will; they repair the nest, excavate passages, collect +food, feed the larvæ, take the pupæ into the sun-shine, +and perform every office which the welfare of the colony +seems to require; in fact, they conduct themselves entirely +as if fulfilling their original destination."<a name="FNanchor_236_236" id="FNanchor_236_236"></a><a href="#Footnote_236_236" class="fnanchor">[236]</a></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_387" id="Page_387">[Pg 387]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="APPENDIX" id="APPENDIX"></a>APPENDIX.</h2> + +<h3>ON THE SEA-SERPENT.</h3> + + +<p>Since the publication of my former volume, which concluded +with an examination of the evidence for the existence of this +unrecognised animal, two other important testimonies have been +brought under my notice. The first of these is that of an officer +of high literary reputation, the Consular representative of Great +Britain lately residing at Boston, in the United States, who thus +gives his personal testimony and that of his lady to the appearance +of the monster:—</p> + +<p>"On a Sunday afternoon in the middle of August, above a +hundred persons, at that time in and about the hotel, were called +on to observe an extraordinary appearance in the sea, at no great +distance from the shore. Large shoals of small fish were rushing +landwards in great commotion, leaping from the water, crowding +on each other, and shewing all the common symptoms of flight +from the pursuit of some wicked enemy. I had already more +than once remarked this appearance from the rocks, but in a +minor degree; and on these occasions I could always distinguish +the shark, whose ravages among the "manhaidens" was the +cause of such alarm. But the particular case in question was +far different from those. The pursuer of the fugitive shoals +soon became visible; and that it was a huge marine monster, +stretching to a length quite beyond the dimensions of an ordinary +fish, was evident to all the observers. No one, in short, +had any doubt as to its being the sea-serpent, or one of the +species to which the animal or animals so frequently before seen<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_388" id="Page_388">[Pg 388]</a></span> +belonged. The distance at which this one was, for ten minutes +or a quarter of an hour, visible, made it impossible to give a +description of its apparent dimensions so accurate as to carry +conviction to the sceptical. For us who witnessed it, it was +enough to be convinced that the thing was a reality. But one +of the spectators, Dr Amos Binney, a gentleman of scientific +attainments, drew up a minute account of it, which is deposited +in the archives of one of the Philosophical Societies of Boston. +I was and am quite satisfied that on this occasion I had a partial +and indistinct but positive view of this celebrated nondescript. +But had the least doubt rested on my mind, it would have been +entirely removed by the event of the day following the one just +recorded. On that day, a little before noon, my wife was sitting, +as was her wont, reading on the upper piazza of the hotel. She +was alone. The gentlemen, including myself and my son, were, +as usual, absent at Boston, and the ladies were scattered about +in various directions. She was startled by a cry from the house +of "The sea-serpent! The sea-serpent!" But this had been so +frequent, by the way of joke, since the event of the preceding +day, and was so like "The wolf, the wolf!" of the fable, that it +did not attract her particular attention for a moment or two, +until she observed two women belonging to the family of the +hotel-keeper running along the piazza towards the corner nearest +the sea, with wonder in their eyes, and the cry of "The serpent, +the serpent! He is turning, he is turning!" spontaneously +bursting from their lips. Then my wife did fix her looks in the +direction they ran; and sure enough she saw, apparently quite +close beyond the line formed by the rising ground above the +rocks, a huge serpent, gliding gracefully through the waves, +having evidently performed the action of turning round. In an +instant it was in a straight line, moving rapidly on; and after +coasting for a couple of minutes the north-west front of the +hotel, and (as accurately as the astonished observer could calculate) +looking as it stretched at full length in the water about the +length of the piazza, that is to say, about ninety feet; it sank +quietly beneath the surface, and was seen no more.</p> + +<p>"The person who was thus so lucky as to get this unobstructed<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_389" id="Page_389">[Pg 389]</a></span> +view, is one so little liable to be led astray by any imaginary impulse, +that I reckon on her statement with entirely as much +confidence as if my own eyes had demonstrated its truth."—<i>Grattan's +Civilised America</i>, p. 39.</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>The second testimony is contained in the following communication +with which I have been favoured by Mr Cave:—</p> + +<p class="right"> +<span style="margin-right: 2em;"> +35, <span class="smcap">Wilton Place</span>, <i>April 29, 1861</i>.</span><br /> +</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Sir</span>,—On reading your interesting "Romance of Natural History" +it occurred to me that I could supply some corroborative +evidence of the existence of the sea serpent. On looking up my +old journals, I found it was slighter than I imagined; but, such +as it is, I give it almost verbatim from my diary.</p> + +<p>I was in Jamaica the year after you were, and have often regretted +that we were not there together, as I might have shewn +you parts of the island which you missed, and have been, perhaps, +the cause of a few more pages to your very pleasant journal +of a naturalist there.—Believe me, faithfully, yours,</p> + +<p class="right"> +<span style="margin-right: 2em;"> +STEPHEN CAVE,<br /></span> +<span style="margin-right: 2em;">M.P. for Shoreham.<br /></span> +</p> + +<p style="margin-left: 2em;">Philip H. Gosse, Esq.</p> + + +<p class="center"><i>Extract from a Journal written during a Voyage to the West +Indies in 1846.</i></p> + +<p><i>Thursday, Dec. 10.</i>—Off Madeira, on board R.M.S. "Thames."—"Made +acquaintance with a Captain Christmas of the Danish +navy, a proprietor in Santa Cruz, and holding some office about +the Danish Court. He told me he once saw a sea-serpent between +Iceland and the Faroe Islands. He was lying-to in a gale +of wind, in a frigate of which he had the command, when an immense +shoal of porpoises rushed by the ship, as if pursued; and, +lo and behold! a creature with a neck moving like that of a swan, +about the thickness of a man's waist, with a head like a horse, +raised itself slowly and gracefully from the deep, and seeing the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_390" id="Page_390">[Pg 390]</a></span> +ship it immediately disappeared again, head foremost, like a duck +diving. He only saw it for a few seconds; the part above the +water seemed about 18 feet in length. He is a singularly intelligent +man, and by no means one to allow his imagination to run +away with him."</p> + + +<h3>THE END.</h3> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_391" id="Page_391">[Pg 391]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="INDEX" id="INDEX"></a>INDEX.</h2> + + +<p> +Æpyornis, <a href="#Page_38">38</a>.<br /> +<br /> +America, early condition of, <a href="#Page_8">8</a>, <a href="#Page_32">32</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Ant-eaters, <a href="#Page_9">9</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Antidotes to poison, <a href="#Page_268">268</a>, <a href="#Page_272">272</a>, <a href="#Page_276">276</a>, <a href="#Page_298">298</a>, <a href="#Page_300">300</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Ants, slave-hunting, <a href="#Page_384">384</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Apteryx, egg of, <a href="#Page_38">38</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Argus pheasant, <a href="#Page_323">323</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Auk, great, <a href="#Page_82">82</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Australia, early condition of, <a href="#Page_12">12</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Aye-aye, <a href="#Page_78">78</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +Bamboo, elegance of, <a href="#Page_340">340</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Bananas in Tahiti, <a href="#Page_342">342</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Barbadoes Pride, <a href="#Page_353">353</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Bats, immured, <a href="#Page_183">183</a>, <a href="#Page_185">185</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Bear, black, <a href="#Page_70">70</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Bear, cave, <a href="#Page_15">15</a>, <a href="#Page_69">69</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Beauty, Divine appreciation of, <a href="#Page_302">302</a><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">—in quadrupeds, <a href="#Page_304">304</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">—in birds, <a href="#Page_306">306</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">—in beetles, <a href="#Page_329">329</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">—in butterflies, <a href="#Page_331">331</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">—in plants, <a href="#Page_338">338</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">—in flowers, <a href="#Page_344">344</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +Beaver in Britain, <a href="#Page_72">72</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Beetles, splendour of, <a href="#Page_329">329</a>, <a href="#Page_337">337</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Birds, colossal, of Australia, <a href="#Page_13">13</a>, <a href="#Page_34">34</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Bison of Europe, <a href="#Page_68">68</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Blood rain, <a href="#Page_98">98</a>, <a href="#Page_102">102</a><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">—waters, <a href="#Page_99">99</a>, <a href="#Page_103">103</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">—snow, <a href="#Page_100">100</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +Bois Immortel, <a href="#Page_354">354</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Britain, early condition of, <a href="#Page_13">13</a>, <a href="#Page_44">44</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Butterflies, splendour of, <a href="#Page_331">331</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Bruce on serpent-charming, <a href="#Page_266">266</a>, <a href="#Page_277">277</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +Cave in Skye, <a href="#Page_134">134</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Changeable colours, <a href="#Page_315">315</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Climbers of tropical forests, <a href="#Page_368">368</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Climbing perch, <a href="#Page_123">123</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Cock of the rock, <a href="#Page_307">307</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Corals, parasitic, <a href="#Page_380">380</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Corncrake, torpidity of, <a href="#Page_198">198</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Cowpen bird, <a href="#Page_381">381</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Crabs, parasitic habits of, <a href="#Page_379">379</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Crane-fly, luminous, <a href="#Page_231">231</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Creation progressive, <a href="#Page_89">89</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Cuckoo, habits of, <a href="#Page_381">381</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +Deer, elegance of, <a href="#Page_304">304</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Deposition, rate of geologic, <a href="#Page_47">47</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Dinothere, <a href="#Page_5">5</a>, <a href="#Page_14">14</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Dodo, <a href="#Page_74">74</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Drift, remains in, <a href="#Page_44">44</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +Eagle fascinates rabbit, <a href="#Page_259">259</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Eel, wanderings of, <a href="#Page_122">122</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Eggs, fossil, <a href="#Page_37">37</a>, <a href="#Page_38">38</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Elephant of Siberia, <a href="#Page_6">6</a>, <a href="#Page_20">20</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Elk, Irish, <a href="#Page_14">14</a>, <a href="#Page_49">49</a>-<a href="#Page_57">57</a>, <a href="#Page_61">61</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Entozoic worms, <a href="#Page_360">360</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Europe, early condition of, <a href="#Page_3">3</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Extinction of species, <a href="#Page_1">1</a>, <a href="#Page_81">81</a>, <a href="#Page_88">88</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +Fascination in serpents, <a href="#Page_242">242</a><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">—in lizards, <a href="#Page_255">255</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">—in scorpion, <a href="#Page_256">256</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">—in stoats, <a href="#Page_257">257</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">—in fox, <a href="#Page_258">258</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">—in eagle, <a href="#Page_259">259</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +Fig-trees, parasitic, <a href="#Page_364">364</a>.<br /> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_392" id="Page_392">[Pg 392]</a></span><br /> +Fire attracts insects, <a href="#Page_260">260</a><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">—birds, <a href="#Page_261">261</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">—toads, <a href="#Page_262">262</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +Fishes, showers of, <a href="#Page_109">109</a>-<a href="#Page_117">117</a><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">—torpidity of, <a href="#Page_118">118</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">—travelling, <a href="#Page_121">121</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">—parasitic, <a href="#Page_376">376</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +Flamboyant, <a href="#Page_353">353</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Fleas <i>ad infinitum</i>, <a href="#Page_359">359</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Flints, fossil, <a href="#Page_44">44</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Fox of Falkland, <a href="#Page_86">86</a><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">—fascinating poultry, <a href="#Page_258">258</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +Frogs, showers of, <a href="#Page_108">108</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +Galeodes, account of, <a href="#Page_237">237</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Goatsuckers, <a href="#Page_307">307</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Grouse, <a href="#Page_95">95</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Guiana, scenery in, <a href="#Page_346">346</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +Hand-tree of Mexico, <a href="#Page_87">87</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Hasselquist on serpent charming, <a href="#Page_279">279</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Hedgehog, immunity of, <a href="#Page_277">277</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Hyena, cave, <a href="#Page_16">16</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Humming birds, elegance of, <a href="#Page_312">312</a><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">—mango, <a href="#Page_313">313</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">—long-tail, <a href="#Page_314">314</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">—fiery topaz, <a href="#Page_317">317</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">—comet, <a href="#Page_318">318</a>, <a href="#Page_321">321</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +<br /> +Ibis, scarlet, <a href="#Page_306">306</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Ichneumon-flies, <a href="#Page_369">369</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Impeyan, scaly, <a href="#Page_323">323</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Ireland, animals of, <a href="#Page_57">57</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +Kangaroo, giant, <a href="#Page_13">13</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Káureke, <a href="#Page_42">42</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +Lantern-fly, <a href="#Page_227">227</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Lepidosiren, <a href="#Page_119">119</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Lightning-tree of Madagascar, <a href="#Page_352">352</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Lizard swallowing its young, <a href="#Page_224">224</a><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">—fascinates butterfly, <a href="#Page_255">255</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +London-pride, microscopic beauty of, <a href="#Page_356">356</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Luminosity of fulgora, <a href="#Page_227">227</a><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">—of mole-cricket, <a href="#Page_230">230</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">—of crane-fly, <a href="#Page_231">231</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">—of caterpillars, <a href="#Page_232">232</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +<br /> +Machairode, <a href="#Page_15">15</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Macrauchen, <a href="#Page_11">11</a>, <a href="#Page_33">33</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Mammoth, <a href="#Page_6">6</a>, <a href="#Page_14">14</a>, <a href="#Page_20">20</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Man, fossil relics of, <a href="#Page_44">44</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Mangouste and snake, <a href="#Page_275">275</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Manu-mea, <a href="#Page_79">79</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Marvels, vulgar love of, <a href="#Page_96">96</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Mastodon, <a href="#Page_7">7</a>, <a href="#Page_14">14</a>, <a href="#Page_26">26</a>, <a href="#Page_30">30</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Medusæ, parasites of, <a href="#Page_374">374</a><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">—parasitic, <a href="#Page_374">374</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +Megathere, <a href="#Page_9">9</a>, <a href="#Page_33">33</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Mermaids, <a href="#Page_125">125</a><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">—zoological necessity of, <a href="#Page_126">126</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">—exhibitions of, <a href="#Page_129">129</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">—Norse legends of, <a href="#Page_132">132</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">—narratives of, <a href="#Page_136">136</a>, <a href="#Page_139">139</a>, <a href="#Page_141">141</a>, <a href="#Page_142">142</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +Moa, <a href="#Page_34">34</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Mole-cricket luminous, <a href="#Page_230">230</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Music, power of, on Serpents, <a href="#Page_284">284</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Musk-ox, <a href="#Page_86">86</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Mylodon, <a href="#Page_9">9</a>, <a href="#Page_32">32</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +Nestor Parrot, <a href="#Page_80">80</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Nile valley, geology of, <a href="#Page_46">46</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Norfolk Island, parrot of, <a href="#Page_80">80</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Notornis, capture of, <a href="#Page_41">41</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +Oil-beetle, habits of, <a href="#Page_373">373</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Orchideæ, beauty of, <a href="#Page_344">344</a><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">—parasitic habits of, <a href="#Page_363">363</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +Ostrich, American, <a href="#Page_381">381</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Oxen, ancient, of Ireland, <a href="#Page_63">63</a><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">—of Britain, <a href="#Page_65">65</a>, <a href="#Page_67">67</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">—of Scania, <a href="#Page_66">66</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +<br /> +Paradise-birds, <a href="#Page_326">326</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Parasitic vegetation, <a href="#Page_361">361</a><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">—insects, <a href="#Page_369">369</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">—medusæ, <a href="#Page_374">374</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">—fish, <a href="#Page_376">376</a></span><br /> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_393" id="Page_393">[Pg 393]</a></span><span style="margin-left: 1em;">—crabs, <a href="#Page_379">379</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">—polype, <a href="#Page_380">380</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">—birds, <a href="#Page_381">381</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +Parrakeet, Carolina, <a href="#Page_306">306</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Parrot, long-beaked, <a href="#Page_80">80</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Peacock, <a href="#Page_325">325</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Perch, climbing, <a href="#Page_123">123</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Pheasants, <a href="#Page_322">322</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Plants, alexipharmic, <a href="#Page_268">268</a>, <a href="#Page_272">272</a>, <a href="#Page_276">276</a>, <a href="#Page_298">298</a>, <a href="#Page_300">300</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Plume-birds, <a href="#Page_309">309</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Polyplectrons, <a href="#Page_324">324</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Potosi, scenery of, <a href="#Page_319">319</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Psylli, <a href="#Page_265">265</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +Rhinoceros of Siberia, <a href="#Page_6">6</a>, <a href="#Page_19">19</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Rhododendrons of India, <a href="#Page_349">349</a><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">—of Borneo, <a href="#Page_351">351</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +Rifle-bird, <a href="#Page_308">308</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Rio Negro, scenery of, <a href="#Page_316">316</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +Saltwort, beauty of, <a href="#Page_355">355</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Scelidothere, <a href="#Page_9">9</a>, <a href="#Page_32">32</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Scenery, remarkable, in Jamaica, <a href="#Page_213">213</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Scorpion fascinates fly, <a href="#Page_256">256</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Sea-serpent, Mr Grattan's evidence, <a href="#Page_387">387</a><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">—Mr Cave's evidence, <a href="#Page_389">389</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +Serpent-charming, <a href="#Page_263">263</a>-<a href="#Page_294">294</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Serpent, crested, <a href="#Page_211">211</a><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">—fascinating powers of, <a href="#Page_242">242</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +Serpents of Peru, <a href="#Page_270">270</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Showers of blood, <a href="#Page_98">98</a><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">—snails, <a href="#Page_106">106</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">—frogs, <a href="#Page_107">107</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">—fishes, <a href="#Page_109">109</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +Sivathere, <a href="#Page_5">5</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Snails, showers of, <a href="#Page_106">106</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Snake-stones, <a href="#Page_294">294</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Snow, red, <a href="#Page_100">100</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Species, extinction of, <a href="#Page_1">1</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Spiders, bird-eating, <a href="#Page_233">233</a><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">—webs of, <a href="#Page_236">236</a>, <a href="#Page_238">238</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">—beauty of, <a href="#Page_336">336</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +Spoonbill, <a href="#Page_306">306</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Star-fish, parasite of, <a href="#Page_376">376</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Stelleria, <a href="#Page_78">78</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Stoats fascinating rabbits, <a href="#Page_257">257</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Strepsiptera, <a href="#Page_371">371</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Stylops, habits of, <a href="#Page_371">371</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Sun-birds, <a href="#Page_311">311</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Swallows, torpidity of, <a href="#Page_191">191</a>-<a href="#Page_202">202</a><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">—submersion of, <a href="#Page_192">192</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">—winter appearance of, <a href="#Page_202">202</a>-<a href="#Page_209">209</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +<br /> +Tahiti, scenery in, <a href="#Page_342">342</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Tartary, scenery in, <a href="#Page_355">355</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Tertiary geography, <a href="#Page_3">3</a>, <a href="#Page_12">12</a>, <a href="#Page_14">14</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Tiger, beauty of, <a href="#Page_305">305</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Toads, showers of, <a href="#Page_107">107</a><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">—in stones, <a href="#Page_146">146</a>, <a href="#Page_190">190</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">—in trees, <a href="#Page_148">148</a>, <a href="#Page_153">153</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">—in mortar, <a href="#Page_161">161</a>, <a href="#Page_178">178</a>, <a href="#Page_179">179</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">—experiments on, <a href="#Page_165">165</a>, <a href="#Page_179">179</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">—attracted by fire, <a href="#Page_262">262</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +Tortoise, colossal, <a href="#Page_6">6</a>, <a href="#Page_17">17</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Toxodon, <a href="#Page_12">12</a>, <a href="#Page_32">32</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Travelling fishes, <a href="#Page_121">121</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Trogon, resplendent, <a href="#Page_308">308</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +Urus, <a href="#Page_64">64</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +Venom of serpents, experiments on, <a href="#Page_249">249</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Viper swallowing its young, <a href="#Page_220">220</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +Wasps, sleep of, <a href="#Page_180">180</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Wolf, <a href="#Page_71">71</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +Zebra, beauty of, <a href="#Page_305">305</a>.<br /> +</p> + +<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_1_1" id="Footnote_1_1"></a><a href="#FNanchor_1_1"><span class="label">[1]</span></a> See my <i>Omphalos</i>,—<i>passim</i>.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_2_2" id="Footnote_2_2"></a><a href="#FNanchor_2_2"><span class="label">[2]</span></a> The gradual but constant elevation of the bed of the Baltic, and +the subsidence of that of the Pacific Ocean, are examples on a large +scale.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_3_3" id="Footnote_3_3"></a><a href="#FNanchor_3_3"><span class="label">[3]</span></a> Gen. x. 5.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_4_4" id="Footnote_4_4"></a><a href="#FNanchor_4_4"><span class="label">[4]</span></a> <i>Chlamydotherium</i>, <i>Euryodon</i>, <i>Glossotherium</i>, <i>&c.</i></p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_5_5" id="Footnote_5_5"></a><a href="#FNanchor_5_5"><span class="label">[5]</span></a> Owen <i>On the Mylodon</i>.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_6_6" id="Footnote_6_6"></a><a href="#FNanchor_6_6"><span class="label">[6]</span></a> Perhaps the most complete and the most magnificent skeleton of +this animal ever discovered, was exhumed in 1849 at Killowen, in Co. +Wexford. It was buried <i>only four feet below the surface</i>, between the +vegetable mould and plastic clay. The roots of the black willow and +German rush had entwined themselves round the bones, and some +seeds, ascertained to be those of the wild cabbage, were found in the +same bed. The dimensions of the skeleton were as follows:—Height, +12½ feet to the tips of the horns, 7 feet to the top of the pelvis; expanse +of horns 11 feet in a chord, or 13 feet 6 inches along the curve; palm +of the antlers 2 feet 7 inches long by 1 foot 5 inches broad, some of the +snags 2 feet 6 inches long; the face 1 foot 10½ inches in length.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_7_7" id="Footnote_7_7"></a><a href="#FNanchor_7_7"><span class="label">[7]</span></a> <i>Annals of Nat. Hist.</i> xv.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_8_8" id="Footnote_8_8"></a><a href="#FNanchor_8_8"><span class="label">[8]</span></a> <i>Hist. Animals</i>, xvi. 17.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_9_9" id="Footnote_9_9"></a><a href="#FNanchor_9_9"><span class="label">[9]</span></a> <i>Nat. Hist.</i> ix. 10.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_10_10" id="Footnote_10_10"></a><a href="#FNanchor_10_10"><span class="label">[10]</span></a> <i>On the Mammoth or Fossil Elephant, &c.</i> London, 1819.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_11_11" id="Footnote_11_11"></a><a href="#FNanchor_11_11"><span class="label">[11]</span></a> <i>Testimony of the Rocks</i>, p. 97.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_12_12" id="Footnote_12_12"></a><a href="#FNanchor_12_12"><span class="label">[12]</span></a> See vol. i. p. 361, <i>supra</i>.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_13_13" id="Footnote_13_13"></a><a href="#FNanchor_13_13"><span class="label">[13]</span></a> Latrobe's <i>Mexico</i>, p. 192.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_14_14" id="Footnote_14_14"></a><a href="#FNanchor_14_14"><span class="label">[14]</span></a> <i>Nat. Voyage</i>, ch. v.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_15_15" id="Footnote_15_15"></a><a href="#FNanchor_15_15"><span class="label">[15]</span></a> <i>Nat. Voy.</i> ch. viii.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_16_16" id="Footnote_16_16"></a><a href="#FNanchor_16_16"><span class="label">[16]</span></a> <i>Compts Rendus</i>, Jan. 27, 1851.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_17_17" id="Footnote_17_17"></a><a href="#FNanchor_17_17"><span class="label">[17]</span></a> <i>Proc. Zool. Soc.</i>, Jan. 27, 1852.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_18_18" id="Footnote_18_18"></a><a href="#FNanchor_18_18"><span class="label">[18]</span></a> "<i>The</i> Humming-bird." Rather a vague mode of speaking, by a +zoologist, of a genus which numbers more than three hundred species, +varying in size from that of a swallow to that of a humble-bee. But +probably he means one of the minuter species.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_19_19" id="Footnote_19_19"></a><a href="#FNanchor_19_19"><span class="label">[19]</span></a> <i>Proc. Zool. Soc.</i>, Nov. 7, 1850.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_20_20" id="Footnote_20_20"></a><a href="#FNanchor_20_20"><span class="label">[20]</span></a> In the <i>Times</i> of Feb. 21, 1861.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_21_21" id="Footnote_21_21"></a><a href="#FNanchor_21_21"><span class="label">[21]</span></a> <i>Proc. Roy. Soc.</i>, X. xxxv. 50.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_22_22" id="Footnote_22_22"></a><a href="#FNanchor_22_22"><span class="label">[22]</span></a> <i>Ibid.</i> IX. xxix. 133.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_23_23" id="Footnote_23_23"></a><a href="#FNanchor_23_23"><span class="label">[23]</span></a> Because comparatively few readers, and especially the critics, will +take the trouble to ascertain what an author really means if he attempt +argumentation, generally supposing him to be proving something else +than he propounds to himself, it may be needful to say, that I am not +touching the question of the time required for the formation of the +stratified rocks in general, but solely for that of the later Tertiary deposits.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_24_24" id="Footnote_24_24"></a><a href="#FNanchor_24_24"><span class="label">[24]</span></a> <i>Reports of Analysis</i>, by Apjohn.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_25_25" id="Footnote_25_25"></a><a href="#FNanchor_25_25"><span class="label">[25]</span></a> Hart <i>On the Fossil Deer</i>.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_26_26" id="Footnote_26_26"></a><a href="#FNanchor_26_26"><span class="label">[26]</span></a> <i>Zoologist</i>, for 1846: Preface, p. 10.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_27_27" id="Footnote_27_27"></a><a href="#FNanchor_27_27"><span class="label">[27]</span></a> Mr Newman, <i>op. cit.</i> x.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_28_28" id="Footnote_28_28"></a><a href="#FNanchor_28_28"><span class="label">[28]</span></a> <i>Geilt.</i>—According to O'Reilly, this word means "a wild man or +woman,—one living in woods,"—a maniac. It may, however, have been +figuratively applied to some very fierce or untameable creature, either +quadruped or bird, which inhabited the woods. But that the <i>Simiæ</i>, or +monkey tribe, were not likely to have at any time inhabited so cold a +country, one would have seen in the term an exceedingly apt expression +for "the wild man of the woods." (Note by Translator.) +</p><p> +But, I venture to remind the reader, there was a veritable ape found +in Britain during the very era of the Giant Deer, and of many of the now +extant animals. I refer to the <i>Macacus pliocænus</i> (Owen) of the fresh-water +deposits. Is it not just possible that the <i>Geilt</i> of Ireland, the +first-named animal in the poem, may have been this species? A <i>Macacus</i> +still lingers in Europe, though the elephants and hippopotamuses have +long deserted us.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_29_29" id="Footnote_29_29"></a><a href="#FNanchor_29_29"><span class="label">[29]</span></a> <i>Grib.</i>—Probably the Osprey.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_30_30" id="Footnote_30_30"></a><a href="#FNanchor_30_30"><span class="label">[30]</span></a> These Wild Oxen are worthy of notice.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_31_31" id="Footnote_31_31"></a><a href="#FNanchor_31_31"><span class="label">[31]</span></a> The <i>Toghmall</i> was a bird kept as a pet. "When Cuchulain slung +a stone at Queen Meave he killed the Toghmall that was sitting on her +shoulder."</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_32_32" id="Footnote_32_32"></a><a href="#FNanchor_32_32"><span class="label">[32]</span></a> <i>Ruilech.</i>—Unknown.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_33_33" id="Footnote_33_33"></a><a href="#FNanchor_33_33"><span class="label">[33]</span></a> <i>Snag.</i>—Probably the Crane, or one of the Heron tribe.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_34_34" id="Footnote_34_34"></a><a href="#FNanchor_34_34"><span class="label">[34]</span></a> <i>Echtach.</i>—From a legend attached to the locality, there is a possibility +that these were a peculiar breed of horned cattle.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_35_35" id="Footnote_35_35"></a><a href="#FNanchor_35_35"><span class="label">[35]</span></a> <i>Drenn.</i>—Probably the Wren.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_36_36" id="Footnote_36_36"></a><a href="#FNanchor_36_36"><span class="label">[36]</span></a> <i>Cainche</i>—Unknown.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_37_37" id="Footnote_37_37"></a><a href="#FNanchor_37_37"><span class="label">[37]</span></a> <i>Errfiach.</i>—Unknown.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_38_38" id="Footnote_38_38"></a><a href="#FNanchor_38_38"><span class="label">[38]</span></a> <i>Cricharan.</i>—Possibly the Squirrel, or the Marten.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_39_39" id="Footnote_39_39"></a><a href="#FNanchor_39_39"><span class="label">[39]</span></a> Mr Curry says, "In the dictionaries <i>Ormchre</i> is the term for a +leopard, but that animal did not exist in Ireland." But the caves of +Britain shew that very formidable <i>Felidæ</i> roamed here in the Later +Tertiary Era.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_40_40" id="Footnote_40_40"></a><a href="#FNanchor_40_40"><span class="label">[40]</span></a> <i>Riabhog.</i>—The "cuckoo's waiting-maid," a little bird, is still so +called in the west of Ireland. In England the wryneck (<i>Yunx torquilla</i>) +bears this office, and also in Wales, where Pennant says it is called +<i>Gwás y gog</i>, which means the same thing.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_41_41" id="Footnote_41_41"></a><a href="#FNanchor_41_41"><span class="label">[41]</span></a> <i>Peatans.</i>—Conjectured to be Leverets.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_42_42" id="Footnote_42_42"></a><a href="#FNanchor_42_42"><span class="label">[42]</span></a> What is the difference between wild Boars and wild Hogs? The +ransom, too, was to consist of a male and a <i>female</i> of each kind of <i>wild</i> +animals.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_43_43" id="Footnote_43_43"></a><a href="#FNanchor_43_43"><span class="label">[43]</span></a> <i>Fereidhin.</i>—Unknown.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_44_44" id="Footnote_44_44"></a><a href="#FNanchor_44_44"><span class="label">[44]</span></a> See note <a href="#Footnote_42_42">[42]</a> <i>supra</i>.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_45_45" id="Footnote_45_45"></a><a href="#FNanchor_45_45"><span class="label">[45]</span></a> <i>Iaronn.</i>—Unknown.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_46_46" id="Footnote_46_46"></a><a href="#FNanchor_46_46"><span class="label">[46]</span></a> <i>Geisechtachs.</i>—"Screamers;"—perhaps Peacocks. But is it likely +that the Peacock and the Pheasant (<i>vide supra</i>) were imported from the +East so early?</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_47_47" id="Footnote_47_47"></a><a href="#FNanchor_47_47"><span class="label">[47]</span></a> <i>Bruacharan.</i>—Unknown.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_48_48" id="Footnote_48_48"></a><a href="#FNanchor_48_48"><span class="label">[48]</span></a> <i>Naescan.</i>—The Snipe may be meant.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_49_49" id="Footnote_49_49"></a><a href="#FNanchor_49_49"><span class="label">[49]</span></a> The term <i>Spireog</i> is still used in the locality referred to, and signifies +the Sparrowhawk. It has, however, somewhat of a Saxon sound.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_50_50" id="Footnote_50_50"></a><a href="#FNanchor_50_50"><span class="label">[50]</span></a> <i>Sgreachóg.</i>—Conjecturally, Screech-owl; or Jay.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_51_51" id="Footnote_51_51"></a><a href="#FNanchor_51_51"><span class="label">[51]</span></a> <i>Geilt Glinne.</i>—See note <a href="#Footnote_28_28">[28]</a> on p. 58.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_52_52" id="Footnote_52_52"></a><a href="#FNanchor_52_52"><span class="label">[52]</span></a> The <i>Onchu</i> has been mentioned before. See note <a href="#Footnote_39_39">[39]</a> on p. 59. There +were several kindred <i>Felidæ</i> in the Pliocene period. May the word +refer to two of these bearing the same name, but the one distinguished +by the term <i>fleet</i>?</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_53_53" id="Footnote_53_53"></a><a href="#FNanchor_53_53"><span class="label">[53]</span></a> "<i>Pigs</i>" again! This is the fourth time. "Wild Hogs, wild Boars, +Pigs, and yet Pigs." From the prominence thus given to the grunting +race in the ransom, one is tempted to conclude that "'Twas the Pig +that paid the rint," then, as now!</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_54_54" id="Footnote_54_54"></a><a href="#FNanchor_54_54"><span class="label">[54]</span></a> Mr Wilde, in an interesting paper "On the Unmanufactured +Animal Remains belonging to the Royal Irish Academy," read before +the Academy on the 9th and 25th of May, 1859, to which I am indebted +for the foregoing poem, cites the following legend, which we +might have referred to the <i>Megaceros</i>, but that he appears to consider +the animal in question the Red Deer or Stag:—"On another occasion +St Patrick and his retinue, with Cailte MacRonain, came to the house +of a rich landholder who lived in the southern part of the present +County of Kildare, near the river Slaney. The farmer complained to +Cailte that although he sowed a great quantity of corn every year, it +yielded him no profit, on account of <i>a huge wild Deer</i> which every +year came across the Slaney from the west when the corn was ripe +for cutting, and, rushing through it in all directions, trampled it down +under his feet. Cailte undertook to relieve him, and he sent into +Munster for his seven deer-nets, which arrived in due time. He then +went out and placed his men and his hounds in the paths through +which the great deer was accustomed to pass, and he set his deer-nets +upon the cliffs, passes, and rivers around, and when he saw the animal +coming to the Ford of the Red Deer on the river Slaney, he took his +spear and cast a fortunate throw at him, driving it the length of a man's +arm out through the opposite side; and 'The Red Ford of the Great +Deer' is the name of that pass on the Slaney ever since; and they +brought him back to Drom Lethan, or 'The Broad Hill,' which is called +'The Broad Hill of the Great Wild Deer.'"</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_55_55" id="Footnote_55_55"></a><a href="#FNanchor_55_55"><span class="label">[55]</span></a> The Editor of "The Indian Field;" in the <i>Zoologist</i>, p. 6427.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_56_56" id="Footnote_56_56"></a><a href="#FNanchor_56_56"><span class="label">[56]</span></a> The Welsh "Triads," supposed to have been compiled in the +seventh century, say that "the Kymri, a Celtic tribe, first inhabited +Britain; before them were no men here, but only bears, wolves, beavers, +and oxen with high prominences." Were these Bisons?</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_57_57" id="Footnote_57_57"></a><a href="#FNanchor_57_57"><span class="label">[57]</span></a> See Vol. i, 203, <i>supra</i>.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_58_58" id="Footnote_58_58"></a><a href="#FNanchor_58_58"><span class="label">[58]</span></a> This is the more interesting because it includes the <i>Urus</i> as well +as the "<i>Schelch</i>," which latter, though the meaning of the word is +not certain, some are disposed to identify with the Giant Deer of +Ireland.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_59_59" id="Footnote_59_59"></a><a href="#FNanchor_59_59"><span class="label">[59]</span></a> See note <a href="#Footnote_56_56">[56]</a> on p. 68.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_60_60" id="Footnote_60_60"></a><a href="#FNanchor_60_60"><span class="label">[60]</span></a> M.S. H. ii. 13.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_61_61" id="Footnote_61_61"></a><a href="#FNanchor_61_61"><span class="label">[61]</span></a> <i>Blackwood's Magazine</i>, January 1849.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_62_62" id="Footnote_62_62"></a><a href="#FNanchor_62_62"><span class="label">[62]</span></a> "Travels," 4th ed., 1677.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_63_63" id="Footnote_63_63"></a><a href="#FNanchor_63_63"><span class="label">[63]</span></a> Sloane MSS., No. 1839.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_64_64" id="Footnote_64_64"></a><a href="#FNanchor_64_64"><span class="label">[64]</span></a> <i>Zoologist</i>, p. 4298.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_65_65" id="Footnote_65_65"></a><a href="#FNanchor_65_65"><span class="label">[65]</span></a> <i>British Birds</i>, iii. 477, (Ed. 2.)</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_66_66" id="Footnote_66_66"></a><a href="#FNanchor_66_66"><span class="label">[66]</span></a> Dr Charlton, in the <i>Trans. Tyneside Nat. Hist. Soc.</i></p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_67_67" id="Footnote_67_67"></a><a href="#FNanchor_67_67"><span class="label">[67]</span></a> <i>Nat. Voy.</i>, ch. ix.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_68_68" id="Footnote_68_68"></a><a href="#FNanchor_68_68"><span class="label">[68]</span></a> Lecture; reported in the <i>Athenæum</i> for May 21, 1859.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_69_69" id="Footnote_69_69"></a><a href="#FNanchor_69_69"><span class="label">[69]</span></a> <i>Nat. Voyage</i>, ch. viii.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_70_70" id="Footnote_70_70"></a><a href="#FNanchor_70_70"><span class="label">[70]</span></a> <i>Mag. Nat. Hist.</i>, ii. 322.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_71_71" id="Footnote_71_71"></a><a href="#FNanchor_71_71"><span class="label">[71]</span></a> From the <i>Times</i> of Jan. 24, 1861.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_72_72" id="Footnote_72_72"></a><a href="#FNanchor_72_72"><span class="label">[72]</span></a> The <i>Oscillatoria</i> is a genus of <i>plants</i>; it is a microscopic <i>Alga</i> of +wire-like form belonging to the great Confervoid family, having the remarkable +peculiarity of spontaneous and apparently voluntary motion.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_73_73" id="Footnote_73_73"></a><a href="#FNanchor_73_73"><span class="label">[73]</span></a> Latrobe's <i>Alpenstock</i>, p. 12.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_74_74" id="Footnote_74_74"></a><a href="#FNanchor_74_74"><span class="label">[74]</span></a> Seemann's <i>Isthmus of Panama</i>.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_75_75" id="Footnote_75_75"></a><a href="#FNanchor_75_75"><span class="label">[75]</span></a> I am indebted for this note to the Rev. Leonard Jenyns. See his +edition of White's <i>Selborne</i>, (1843) p. 66.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_76_76" id="Footnote_76_76"></a><a href="#FNanchor_76_76"><span class="label">[76]</span></a> <i>Zoologist</i>, pp. 6541, 6564.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_77_77" id="Footnote_77_77"></a><a href="#FNanchor_77_77"><span class="label">[77]</span></a> <i>Ceylon</i>, i. 211.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_78_78" id="Footnote_78_78"></a><a href="#FNanchor_78_78"><span class="label">[78]</span></a> <i>Journ. Asiat. Soc. Bengal</i>, vi. 465.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_79_79" id="Footnote_79_79"></a><a href="#FNanchor_79_79"><span class="label">[79]</span></a> <i>Brit. Fishes</i>, i. xxvii. Aristotle had long before given the same +explanation.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_80_80" id="Footnote_80_80"></a><a href="#FNanchor_80_80"><span class="label">[80]</span></a> <i>De Pisc. in siceo degent.</i></p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_81_81" id="Footnote_81_81"></a><a href="#FNanchor_81_81"><span class="label">[81]</span></a> <i>De Piscibus.</i></p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_82_82" id="Footnote_82_82"></a><a href="#FNanchor_82_82"><span class="label">[82]</span></a> <i>Siam</i>, i. 144.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_83_83" id="Footnote_83_83"></a><a href="#FNanchor_83_83"><span class="label">[83]</span></a> <i>Emb. to Siam</i>, i. 10.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_84_84" id="Footnote_84_84"></a><a href="#FNanchor_84_84"><span class="label">[84]</span></a> <i>Fishes of Guiana</i>, i. 113.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_85_85" id="Footnote_85_85"></a><a href="#FNanchor_85_85"><span class="label">[85]</span></a> <i>Annals N. H.</i>, <i>May 1853</i>.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_86_86" id="Footnote_86_86"></a><a href="#FNanchor_86_86"><span class="label">[86]</span></a> Tennent's <i>Ceylon</i>, ii. 498.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_87_87" id="Footnote_87_87"></a><a href="#FNanchor_87_87"><span class="label">[87]</span></a> <i>Geog. and Classif. of Animals</i>, 249.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_88_88" id="Footnote_88_88"></a><a href="#FNanchor_88_88"><span class="label">[88]</span></a> <i>Egypt and Mehemet Ali</i>, ii. p. 322.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_89_89" id="Footnote_89_89"></a><a href="#FNanchor_89_89"><span class="label">[89]</span></a> <i>Japan and her People</i>, p. 193.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_90_90" id="Footnote_90_90"></a><a href="#FNanchor_90_90"><span class="label">[90]</span></a> See Hibbert's <i>Shetland Islands</i>, p. 566.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_91_91" id="Footnote_91_91"></a><a href="#FNanchor_91_91"><span class="label">[91]</span></a> Miss Sinclair's <i>Shetland</i>.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_92_92" id="Footnote_92_92"></a><a href="#FNanchor_92_92"><span class="label">[92]</span></a> Notes to <i>The Lord of the Isles</i>.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_93_93" id="Footnote_93_93"></a><a href="#FNanchor_93_93"><span class="label">[93]</span></a> <i>Hudson the Navigator</i>, by Asher, Voy. ii.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_94_94" id="Footnote_94_94"></a><a href="#FNanchor_94_94"><span class="label">[94]</span></a> <i>Voyage towards the South Pole</i>, p. 143.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_95_95" id="Footnote_95_95"></a><a href="#FNanchor_95_95"><span class="label">[95]</span></a> Pontoppidan's <i>Nat. Hist. of Norway</i>, p. 154.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_96_96" id="Footnote_96_96"></a><a href="#FNanchor_96_96"><span class="label">[96]</span></a> <i>Edinburgh Magazine</i>, vol. xiii.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_97_97" id="Footnote_97_97"></a><a href="#FNanchor_97_97"><span class="label">[97]</span></a> Bell's <i>Brit. Rept.</i> (1839), 112.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_98_98" id="Footnote_98_98"></a><a href="#FNanchor_98_98"><span class="label">[98]</span></a> <i>Zoologist</i>, 614.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_99_99" id="Footnote_99_99"></a><a href="#FNanchor_99_99"><span class="label">[99]</span></a> <i>Zool.</i>, 1879.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_100_100" id="Footnote_100_100"></a><a href="#FNanchor_100_100"><span class="label">[100]</span></a> <i>Zool.</i>, 3632.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_101_101" id="Footnote_101_101"></a><a href="#FNanchor_101_101"><span class="label">[101]</span></a> <i>Zool.</i>, 3808.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_102_102" id="Footnote_102_102"></a><a href="#FNanchor_102_102"><span class="label">[102]</span></a> <i>Zool.</i>, 3848.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_103_103" id="Footnote_103_103"></a><a href="#FNanchor_103_103"><span class="label">[103]</span></a> <i>Zool.</i>, 3904.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_104_104" id="Footnote_104_104"></a><a href="#FNanchor_104_104"><span class="label">[104]</span></a> <i>Zool.</i>, 5959.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_105_105" id="Footnote_105_105"></a><a href="#FNanchor_105_105"><span class="label">[105]</span></a> <i>Zool.</i>, 6537.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_106_106" id="Footnote_106_106"></a><a href="#FNanchor_106_106"><span class="label">[106]</span></a> <i>Ibid.</i>, 6565.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_107_107" id="Footnote_107_107"></a><a href="#FNanchor_107_107"><span class="label">[107]</span></a> Richardson's <i>Borderer's Table Book</i>, iii. 92.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_108_108" id="Footnote_108_108"></a><a href="#FNanchor_108_108"><span class="label">[108]</span></a> <i>Zool.</i>, 3266.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_109_109" id="Footnote_109_109"></a><a href="#FNanchor_109_109"><span class="label">[109]</span></a> <i>Zool.</i>, 6941.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_110_110" id="Footnote_110_110"></a><a href="#FNanchor_110_110"><span class="label">[110]</span></a> <i>Zool.</i>, 613.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_111_111" id="Footnote_111_111"></a><a href="#FNanchor_111_111"><span class="label">[111]</span></a> See page <a href="#Page_183">183</a>, <i>ante</i>.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_112_112" id="Footnote_112_112"></a><a href="#FNanchor_112_112"><span class="label">[112]</span></a> <i>Zool.</i>, 4245.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_113_113" id="Footnote_113_113"></a><a href="#FNanchor_113_113"><span class="label">[113]</span></a> <i>Phys. Theol.</i>, vii., Note <i>d</i>.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_114_114" id="Footnote_114_114"></a><a href="#FNanchor_114_114"><span class="label">[114]</span></a> <i>Règne Anim.</i>, (Griffith's Ed.,) vii. 61.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_115_115" id="Footnote_115_115"></a><a href="#FNanchor_115_115"><span class="label">[115]</span></a> <i>Phil. Trans.</i>, 1763.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_116_116" id="Footnote_116_116"></a><a href="#FNanchor_116_116"><span class="label">[116]</span></a> <i>Letter</i> x.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_117_117" id="Footnote_117_117"></a><a href="#FNanchor_117_117"><span class="label">[117]</span></a> Stanley's <i>Fam. Hist. of Birds</i>, p. 263.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_118_118" id="Footnote_118_118"></a><a href="#FNanchor_118_118"><span class="label">[118]</span></a> <i>Edin. Journ.</i>, viii.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_119_119" id="Footnote_119_119"></a><a href="#FNanchor_119_119"><span class="label">[119]</span></a> In Pennant's <i>Brit. Zool.</i></p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_120_120" id="Footnote_120_120"></a><a href="#FNanchor_120_120"><span class="label">[120]</span></a> <i>Brit. Zool.</i>, App.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_121_121" id="Footnote_121_121"></a><a href="#FNanchor_121_121"><span class="label">[121]</span></a> <i>Zool.</i>, 1136.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_122_122" id="Footnote_122_122"></a><a href="#FNanchor_122_122"><span class="label">[122]</span></a> Ibid., 2302.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_123_123" id="Footnote_123_123"></a><a href="#FNanchor_123_123"><span class="label">[123]</span></a> <i>Zool.</i>, 2590.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_124_124" id="Footnote_124_124"></a><a href="#FNanchor_124_124"><span class="label">[124]</span></a> <i>Letter</i> xxxviii.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_125_125" id="Footnote_125_125"></a><a href="#FNanchor_125_125"><span class="label">[125]</span></a> Ibid. xii.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_126_126" id="Footnote_126_126"></a><a href="#FNanchor_126_126"><span class="label">[126]</span></a> Ibid. xi.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_127_127" id="Footnote_127_127"></a><a href="#FNanchor_127_127"><span class="label">[127]</span></a> Ibid. xxxi.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_128_128" id="Footnote_128_128"></a><a href="#FNanchor_128_128"><span class="label">[128]</span></a> <i>Letter</i> xxiii.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_129_129" id="Footnote_129_129"></a><a href="#FNanchor_129_129"><span class="label">[129]</span></a> <i>Orn. Dict.</i>, Introd., xxvii.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_130_130" id="Footnote_130_130"></a><a href="#FNanchor_130_130"><span class="label">[130]</span></a> <i>Zool.</i>, 5364.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_131_131" id="Footnote_131_131"></a><a href="#FNanchor_131_131"><span class="label">[131]</span></a> <i>Brit. Birds</i>, ii. 264.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_132_132" id="Footnote_132_132"></a><a href="#FNanchor_132_132"><span class="label">[132]</span></a> <i>Zool.</i>, 2455.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_133_133" id="Footnote_133_133"></a><a href="#FNanchor_133_133"><span class="label">[133]</span></a> Ibid., 565.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_134_134" id="Footnote_134_134"></a><a href="#FNanchor_134_134"><span class="label">[134]</span></a> Ibid., 3753.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_135_135" id="Footnote_135_135"></a><a href="#FNanchor_135_135"><span class="label">[135]</span></a> <i>Zool.</i>, 4945.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_136_136" id="Footnote_136_136"></a><a href="#FNanchor_136_136"><span class="label">[136]</span></a> Ibid., 4945.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_137_137" id="Footnote_137_137"></a><a href="#FNanchor_137_137"><span class="label">[137]</span></a> <i>Zool.</i>, 4995.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_138_138" id="Footnote_138_138"></a><a href="#FNanchor_138_138"><span class="label">[138]</span></a> Ibid. 1639.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_139_139" id="Footnote_139_139"></a><a href="#FNanchor_139_139"><span class="label">[139]</span></a> <i>Letter</i> xviii., 2d ser.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_140_140" id="Footnote_140_140"></a><a href="#FNanchor_140_140"><span class="label">[140]</span></a> <i>Zool.</i>, 565.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_141_141" id="Footnote_141_141"></a><a href="#FNanchor_141_141"><span class="label">[141]</span></a> <i>Op. cit.</i>; vol. ii. pl. 40.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_142_142" id="Footnote_142_142"></a><a href="#FNanchor_142_142"><span class="label">[142]</span></a> <i>Brit. Rept.</i>, 51.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_143_143" id="Footnote_143_143"></a><a href="#FNanchor_143_143"><span class="label">[143]</span></a> <i>Penny Cyclop.</i>, xxvi. 348.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_144_144" id="Footnote_144_144"></a><a href="#FNanchor_144_144"><span class="label">[144]</span></a> Loudon's <i>Mag. Nat. Hist.</i> for 1837, p. 441.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_145_145" id="Footnote_145_145"></a><a href="#FNanchor_145_145"><span class="label">[145]</span></a> <i>Zool.</i>, 2305.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_146_146" id="Footnote_146_146"></a><a href="#FNanchor_146_146"><span class="label">[146]</span></a> Ibid., 2355.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_147_147" id="Footnote_147_147"></a><a href="#FNanchor_147_147"><span class="label">[147]</span></a> <i>Zool.</i>, 7278.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_148_148" id="Footnote_148_148"></a><a href="#FNanchor_148_148"><span class="label">[148]</span></a> <i>Captivity among the Indians.</i></p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_149_149" id="Footnote_149_149"></a><a href="#FNanchor_149_149"><span class="label">[149]</span></a> <i>Zool.</i>, 2269.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_150_150" id="Footnote_150_150"></a><a href="#FNanchor_150_150"><span class="label">[150]</span></a> <i>Introd. à l'Entom.</i>, ii. 143.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_151_151" id="Footnote_151_151"></a><a href="#FNanchor_151_151"><span class="label">[151]</span></a> <i>Op. cit.</i>, viii. 163.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_152_152" id="Footnote_152_152"></a><a href="#FNanchor_152_152"><span class="label">[152]</span></a> <i>Westwood's Mod. Classif. Ins.</i>, ii. 430.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_153_153" id="Footnote_153_153"></a><a href="#FNanchor_153_153"><span class="label">[153]</span></a> <i>Introd. to Entom.</i> Lett. xxv.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_154_154" id="Footnote_154_154"></a><a href="#FNanchor_154_154"><span class="label">[154]</span></a> <i>Mag. Nat. Hist.</i>, New Ser., i. 353.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_155_155" id="Footnote_155_155"></a><a href="#FNanchor_155_155"><span class="label">[155]</span></a> Ibid., i. 553.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_156_156" id="Footnote_156_156"></a><a href="#FNanchor_156_156"><span class="label">[156]</span></a> Dr Boisduval, one hot evening in June, found caterpillars on grass +which diffused a phosphorescent light; he thought them to be those +of <i>Mamestra oleracca</i>—one of the most abundant of our moths—but +they seemed larger than common; and whether owing to want of care +in the rearing or to a condition of disease—which may, indeed, have +been the cause of their luminosity—none of them attained the chrysalis +state, and so the species was not absolutely decided.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_157_157" id="Footnote_157_157"></a><a href="#FNanchor_157_157"><span class="label">[157]</span></a> <i>Introd. to Entom.</i>, <i>loc. cit.</i></p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_158_158" id="Footnote_158_158"></a><a href="#FNanchor_158_158"><span class="label">[158]</span></a> <i>Exped. into Int. of Brazil.</i></p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_159_159" id="Footnote_159_159"></a><a href="#FNanchor_159_159"><span class="label">[159]</span></a> Tennent, <i>Ceylon</i>, ii. 226.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_160_160" id="Footnote_160_160"></a><a href="#FNanchor_160_160"><span class="label">[160]</span></a> Probably we should read "diameter" for "circumference." A +spider whose legs cover an area of six inches <i>in circumference</i> is by no +means rare even in England.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_161_161" id="Footnote_161_161"></a><a href="#FNanchor_161_161"><span class="label">[161]</span></a> <i>Journ. Asiat. Soc.</i></p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_162_162" id="Footnote_162_162"></a><a href="#FNanchor_162_162"><span class="label">[162]</span></a> <i>Proc. Entom. Soc.</i>, November 1, 1852.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_163_163" id="Footnote_163_163"></a><a href="#FNanchor_163_163"><span class="label">[163]</span></a> <i>Proc. Entomol. Soc.</i>, July 2, 1855.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_164_164" id="Footnote_164_164"></a><a href="#FNanchor_164_164"><span class="label">[164]</span></a> <i>Peter Pilgrim.</i></p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_165_165" id="Footnote_165_165"></a><a href="#FNanchor_165_165"><span class="label">[165]</span></a> <i>Hist. of Carolina.</i></p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_166_166" id="Footnote_166_166"></a><a href="#FNanchor_166_166"><span class="label">[166]</span></a> <i>Amænit. Acad.</i></p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_167_167" id="Footnote_167_167"></a><a href="#FNanchor_167_167"><span class="label">[167]</span></a> <i>Hist. of Carolina.</i></p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_168_168" id="Footnote_168_168"></a><a href="#FNanchor_168_168"><span class="label">[168]</span></a> <i>Dahomey and the Dahomans.</i></p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_169_169" id="Footnote_169_169"></a><a href="#FNanchor_169_169"><span class="label">[169]</span></a> <i>Visits to Madagascar</i>, 231.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_170_170" id="Footnote_170_170"></a><a href="#FNanchor_170_170"><span class="label">[170]</span></a> <i>Zoology of South Africa</i>—Reptilia.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_171_171" id="Footnote_171_171"></a><a href="#FNanchor_171_171"><span class="label">[171]</span></a> <i>Oiseaux d'Afrique.</i></p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_172_172" id="Footnote_172_172"></a><a href="#FNanchor_172_172"><span class="label">[172]</span></a> <i>Times</i> Newspaper, November 9, 1852.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_173_173" id="Footnote_173_173"></a><a href="#FNanchor_173_173"><span class="label">[173]</span></a> <i>Zoologist</i>, 7273.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_174_174" id="Footnote_174_174"></a><a href="#FNanchor_174_174"><span class="label">[174]</span></a> <i>Zoologist</i>, 7382.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_175_175" id="Footnote_175_175"></a><a href="#FNanchor_175_175"><span class="label">[175]</span></a> Quoted in the <i>Zoologist</i>, 2397.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_176_176" id="Footnote_176_176"></a><a href="#FNanchor_176_176"><span class="label">[176]</span></a> <i>Pict. Museum</i>, ii. 107.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_177_177" id="Footnote_177_177"></a><a href="#FNanchor_177_177"><span class="label">[177]</span></a> <i>Reptiles</i>, (Rel. Tr. Soc.,) 206.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_178_178" id="Footnote_178_178"></a><a href="#FNanchor_178_178"><span class="label">[178]</span></a> <i>Bengal Sporting Mag.</i> for Oct. 1836; cited in the <i>Zoologist</i>, 5070.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_179_179" id="Footnote_179_179"></a><a href="#FNanchor_179_179"><span class="label">[179]</span></a> <i>Zool.</i>, 5214.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_180_180" id="Footnote_180_180"></a><a href="#FNanchor_180_180"><span class="label">[180]</span></a> <i>Zool.</i>, 7273.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_181_181" id="Footnote_181_181"></a><a href="#FNanchor_181_181"><span class="label">[181]</span></a> <i>Zool.</i> 4049, 4050.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_182_182" id="Footnote_182_182"></a><a href="#FNanchor_182_182"><span class="label">[182]</span></a> <i>Travels</i>, 144.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_183_183" id="Footnote_183_183"></a><a href="#FNanchor_183_183"><span class="label">[183]</span></a> Psalm lviii. 4, 5.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_184_184" id="Footnote_184_184"></a><a href="#FNanchor_184_184"><span class="label">[184]</span></a> Jer. viii. 17.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_185_185" id="Footnote_185_185"></a><a href="#FNanchor_185_185"><span class="label">[185]</span></a> This is the Tuberose, a liliaceous plant, so commonly cultivated in +our conservatories. It is generally stated to be a native of the East +Indies, but the one spoken of by Tschudi, with a Peruvian name, must +certainly be an indigenous plant of the country.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_186_186" id="Footnote_186_186"></a><a href="#FNanchor_186_186"><span class="label">[186]</span></a> The genus <i>Mikania</i> of Willdenow is one of the tubuliflorous <i>Asteraceæ</i>. +<i>M. guaco</i> Humboldt mentions, under the name of Vijuco del +Guaco, as being highly esteemed in South America as a valuable antidote +against the bite of serpents. "Guaco" and "huaco" are the same +word, the intensity of the aspirate varying among different peoples. +The power of this <i>Mikania</i> is denied in the most positive terms by +Hancock, who suspects that the real Guaco antidote is some kind of +<i>Aristolochia</i>. The word "Vijuco" or "Bejuco," in Tropical America, +signifies any climbing plant, and is equivalent to our florist word +"creeper." +</p><p> +<i>Eupatorium ayapana</i>, belonging to the same order as <i>Mikania</i>, is a +valuable repellent of the poison of venomous snakes. For this purpose +it is used in Brazil. A quantity of the bruised leaves, which are to be +frequently changed, is laid on the scarified wound, and some spoonfuls +of the expressed juice are from time to time administered to the patient, +till he is found to be free from the symptoms, especially the dreadful +anxiety which follows the wounds of venomous reptiles. <i>E. perfoliatum</i> +has a very similar action, and <i>Mikania opifera</i> is employed in the same +way.—(<i>Lindley's Veg. Kingd.</i>, p. 707.) These facts tend to confirm the +accuracy of Tschudi and Humboldt against Hancock.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_187_187" id="Footnote_187_187"></a><a href="#FNanchor_187_187"><span class="label">[187]</span></a> <i>Campaigns and Cruises in Venezuela</i>, vol. i., p. 43.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_188_188" id="Footnote_188_188"></a><a href="#FNanchor_188_188"><span class="label">[188]</span></a> <i>Dahomey and the Dahomans.</i></p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_189_189" id="Footnote_189_189"></a><a href="#FNanchor_189_189"><span class="label">[189]</span></a> Several of the <i>Aristolochieæ</i>—plants generally having a very bitter +taste, and a strong, pungent, disagreeable smell—are valuable alexipharmics. +There is a plant very common in Jamaica, where it is called +snake-withe, trailing over the stone fences, which I suspect to be an +<i>Aristolochia</i>, and perhaps <i>A. trilobata</i>; it is employed as a sudden and +potent sudorific, and as an antidote to serpent-bites in other countries, +for in Jamaica there is no venomous reptile. The <i>A. anguicida</i> of Carthagena +is described by Jacquin as fatal to serpents. He says that the +juice of the root chewed and introduced into the mouth of a serpent so +stupefies it that it may be for a long time handled with impunity: if +the reptile is compelled to swallow a few drops, it perishes in convulsions. +The root is also reputed to be an antidote to serpent-bites. "It +is not a little remarkable," observes Dr Lindley, "that the power of +stupefying snakes, ascribed in Carthagena to <i>Aristolochia anguicida</i>, +should be also attributed to <i>A. pallida</i>, <i>longa</i>, <i>bœtica</i>, <i>sempervirens</i> and +<i>rotunda</i>; which are said to be the plants with which the Egyptian +jugglers stupefy the snakes they play with."</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_190_190" id="Footnote_190_190"></a><a href="#FNanchor_190_190"><span class="label">[190]</span></a> <i>Ceylon</i>, i., 147.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_191_191" id="Footnote_191_191"></a><a href="#FNanchor_191_191"><span class="label">[191]</span></a> "On the Habits of the Viper in Silesia:" <i>Zoologist</i>, p. 829.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_192_192" id="Footnote_192_192"></a><a href="#FNanchor_192_192"><span class="label">[192]</span></a> <i>Trav. to the Sources of the Nile, passim.</i></p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_193_193" id="Footnote_193_193"></a><a href="#FNanchor_193_193"><span class="label">[193]</span></a> <i>Travels in the Levant, passim.</i></p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_194_194" id="Footnote_194_194"></a><a href="#FNanchor_194_194"><span class="label">[194]</span></a> <i>Discov. in Africa</i>, ii., p. 292.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_195_195" id="Footnote_195_195"></a><a href="#FNanchor_195_195"><span class="label">[195]</span></a> <i>Lucan's Pharsalia.</i></p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_196_196" id="Footnote_196_196"></a><a href="#FNanchor_196_196"><span class="label">[196]</span></a> <i>Ind. Field Sports.</i></p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_197_197" id="Footnote_197_197"></a><a href="#FNanchor_197_197"><span class="label">[197]</span></a> <i>Mod. Egyptians.</i></p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_198_198" id="Footnote_198_198"></a><a href="#FNanchor_198_198"><span class="label">[198]</span></a> <i>Zool.</i>, 6400.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_199_199" id="Footnote_199_199"></a><a href="#FNanchor_199_199"><span class="label">[199]</span></a> <i>Beauties of Christianity.</i></p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_200_200" id="Footnote_200_200"></a><a href="#FNanchor_200_200"><span class="label">[200]</span></a> <i>Note-book of a Naturalist</i>, 202.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_201_201" id="Footnote_201_201"></a><a href="#FNanchor_201_201"><span class="label">[201]</span></a> Napier's <i>Scenes and Sports</i>, vol. ii., p. 227.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_202_202" id="Footnote_202_202"></a><a href="#FNanchor_202_202"><span class="label">[202]</span></a> Tennent's <i>Ceylon</i>.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_203_203" id="Footnote_203_203"></a><a href="#FNanchor_203_203"><span class="label">[203]</span></a> Rev. v. 11.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_204_204" id="Footnote_204_204"></a><a href="#FNanchor_204_204"><span class="label">[204]</span></a> Edwards's <i>Voyage up the Amazon</i>, 194.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_205_205" id="Footnote_205_205"></a><a href="#FNanchor_205_205"><span class="label">[205]</span></a> <i>Travels on the Amazon and Negro</i>, 222.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_206_206" id="Footnote_206_206"></a><a href="#FNanchor_206_206"><span class="label">[206]</span></a> <i>Voy. à la Nouv. Guinée.</i></p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_207_207" id="Footnote_207_207"></a><a href="#FNanchor_207_207"><span class="label">[207]</span></a> <i>Amer. Ornith.</i></p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_208_208" id="Footnote_208_208"></a><a href="#FNanchor_208_208"><span class="label">[208]</span></a> Edwards's <i>Voy. up the Amazon</i>, 143.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_209_209" id="Footnote_209_209"></a><a href="#FNanchor_209_209"><span class="label">[209]</span></a> <i>Martial</i>, xiii. 72.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_210_210" id="Footnote_210_210"></a><a href="#FNanchor_210_210"><span class="label">[210]</span></a> <i>Windsor Forest.</i></p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_211_211" id="Footnote_211_211"></a><a href="#FNanchor_211_211"><span class="label">[211]</span></a> See <i>Good Words</i> for April 1861.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_212_212" id="Footnote_212_212"></a><a href="#FNanchor_212_212"><span class="label">[212]</span></a> <i>Wordsworth</i>.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_213_213" id="Footnote_213_213"></a><a href="#FNanchor_213_213"><span class="label">[213]</span></a> <i>Wanderings in N. S. Wales</i>, &c., ii. 43.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_214_214" id="Footnote_214_214"></a><a href="#FNanchor_214_214"><span class="label">[214]</span></a> <i>Zool.</i>, 3060.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_215_215" id="Footnote_215_215"></a><a href="#FNanchor_215_215"><span class="label">[215]</span></a> Low's <i>Sarawak</i>, 87.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_216_216" id="Footnote_216_216"></a><a href="#FNanchor_216_216"><span class="label">[216]</span></a> Tennent's <i>Ceylon</i>, i. 250.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_217_217" id="Footnote_217_217"></a><a href="#FNanchor_217_217"><span class="label">[217]</span></a> Ellis's <i>Visit to Madagascar</i>, 313.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_218_218" id="Footnote_218_218"></a><a href="#FNanchor_218_218"><span class="label">[218]</span></a> <i>Nat. Voyage</i>, ch. xviii.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_219_219" id="Footnote_219_219"></a><a href="#FNanchor_219_219"><span class="label">[219]</span></a> Pöppig.—<i>Nov. Gen. et Sp.</i>, i. 54.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_220_220" id="Footnote_220_220"></a><a href="#FNanchor_220_220"><span class="label">[220]</span></a> Lindley's <i>Sertum Orchid.</i>; pi. xxvi.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_221_221" id="Footnote_221_221"></a><a href="#FNanchor_221_221"><span class="label">[221]</span></a> <i>Himal. Journ.</i>, ii. 58.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_222_222" id="Footnote_222_222"></a><a href="#FNanchor_222_222"><span class="label">[222]</span></a> <i>Himal. Journals</i>, i. 126.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_223_223" id="Footnote_223_223"></a><a href="#FNanchor_223_223"><span class="label">[223]</span></a> Low's <i>Sarawak</i>, 65.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_224_224" id="Footnote_224_224"></a><a href="#FNanchor_224_224"><span class="label">[224]</span></a> The writer by this term doubtless alludes to the panicles or heads +<i>compounded</i> of many individual flowers; for the plant does not belong +to the order <i>Compositæ</i>, but to <i>Byttneriaceæ</i>.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_225_225" id="Footnote_225_225"></a><a href="#FNanchor_225_225"><span class="label">[225]</span></a> Ellis's <i>Madagascar</i>, p. 390.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_226_226" id="Footnote_226_226"></a><a href="#FNanchor_226_226"><span class="label">[226]</span></a> Ellis's <i>Visits to Madagascar</i>, 57.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_227_227" id="Footnote_227_227"></a><a href="#FNanchor_227_227"><span class="label">[227]</span></a> Atkinson's <i>Siberia</i>, 472.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_228_228" id="Footnote_228_228"></a><a href="#FNanchor_228_228"><span class="label">[228]</span></a> Reinwardt.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_229_229" id="Footnote_229_229"></a><a href="#FNanchor_229_229"><span class="label">[229]</span></a> Tennent's <i>Ceylon</i>, i. 104.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_230_230" id="Footnote_230_230"></a><a href="#FNanchor_230_230"><span class="label">[230]</span></a> "Affinities of the Stylopites," in <i>Zool.</i>, 1792.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_231_231" id="Footnote_231_231"></a><a href="#FNanchor_231_231"><span class="label">[231]</span></a> Wiegmann's <i>Archiv.</i>, 1860, <i>Bericht</i>, p. 169.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_232_232" id="Footnote_232_232"></a><a href="#FNanchor_232_232"><span class="label">[232]</span></a> <i>Ann. Nat. Hist.</i> for April, 1861.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_233_233" id="Footnote_233_233"></a><a href="#FNanchor_233_233"><span class="label">[233]</span></a> <i>Zool.</i>, 204.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_234_234" id="Footnote_234_234"></a><a href="#FNanchor_234_234"><span class="label">[234]</span></a> <i>Ibid.</i>, 205.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_235_235" id="Footnote_235_235"></a><a href="#FNanchor_235_235"><span class="label">[235]</span></a> <i>Zool.</i>, 2589.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_236_236" id="Footnote_236_236"></a><a href="#FNanchor_236_236"><span class="label">[236]</span></a> Newman, <i>Hist. of Insects</i>, 50.</p></div> +</div> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="BALLANTYNE_AND_COMPANY_PRINTERS_EDINBURGH" id="BALLANTYNE_AND_COMPANY_PRINTERS_EDINBURGH"></a>BALLANTYNE AND COMPANY, PRINTERS, EDINBURGH.</h2> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_395" id="Page_395">[Pg 395]</a></span></p><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_394" id="Page_394">[Pg 394]</a></span></p> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="By_the_same_Author" id="By_the_same_Author"></a>By the same Author.</h2> + + +<p>First Series. Third Edition, post 8vo, 7s. 6d. cloth,</p> + +<p>THE ROMANCE OF NATURAL HISTORY.</p> + +<p>WITH ILLUSTRATIONS BY WOLF.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CONTENTS" id="CONTENTS"></a>CONTENTS.</h2> + + +<p> +I. TIMES AND SEASONS.<br /> +<br /> +II. HARMONIES.<br /> +<br /> +III. DISCREPANCIES.<br /> +<br /> +IV. MULTUM E PARVO.<br /> +<br /> +V. THE VAST.<br /> +<br /> +VI. THE MINUTE.<br /> +<br /> +VII. THE MEMORABLE.<br /> +<br /> +VIII. THE RECLUSE.<br /> +<br /> +IX. THE WILD.<br /> +<br /> +X. THE TERRIBLE.<br /> +<br /> +XI. THE UNKNOWN.<br /> +<br /> +XII. THE GREAT UNKNOWN.<br /> +</p> + + +<p>"This is a charming book.... Every lover of nature, every +lover of the marvellous, every lover of the beautiful, every soul that +can feel the charm of true poetry, must be deeply grateful to Mr Gosse +for an intellectual treat of the highest order.... This 'Romance +of Natural History' will be one of the best gift-books which can be procured +for the season of Christmas and the New Year."—<i>Daily News.</i><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_396" id="Page_396">[Pg 396]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="Crown_8vo_5s_cloth" id="Crown_8vo_5s_cloth"></a>Crown 8vo, 5s. cloth,</h2> + +<p>LIFE IN ITS LOWER, INTERMEDIATE, AND +HIGHER FORMS:</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Or</span>, MANIFESTATIONS OF THE DIVINE WISDOM IN THE +NATURAL HISTORY OF ANIMALS.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">By</span> P. H. GOSSE, F.R.S.</p> + + +<p>Complete in 4 vols., crown 8vo, 16s. cloth gilt,</p> + +<p>OUR CHRISTIAN CLASSICS:</p> + +<p>READINGS FROM THE BEST DIVINES.</p> + +<p>By JAMES HAMILTON, D.D.</p> + +<p>DEDICATED TO THE LORD BISHOP OF LONDON.</p> + + +<p>Extending from the Reformation to the close of the eighteenth century, +it is the object of this series to give the reader a comprehensive +view of that very various and noble Christian literature by which our +country has been signalised above all others, with biographical and critical +notices of the more distinguished authors.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="Complete_in_6_vols_crown_8vo_price_1_4s_in_cloth" id="Complete_in_6_vols_crown_8vo_price_1_4s_in_cloth"></a>Complete in 6 vols., crown 8vo, price £1, 4s. in cloth,</h2> + +<p>EXCELSIOR:</p> + +<p>HELPS TO PROGRESS IN RELIGION, SCIENCE, AND +LITERATURE.</p> + +<p>ILLUSTRATED BY CAREFUL DRAWINGS ON WOOD.</p> + + +<p>As, besides continuous papers on such subjects as Zoology, Meteorology, +British Mining, the Fine Arts, the Human Frame, Church History, +English Letter-Writers, &c., these volumes contain numerous contributions +in the departments of Biography, Adventures and Incidents +of Travel, the Useful Arts, Tales, Poetry, Literary Criticism, Scriptural +Evidences, and Christian Ethics, it is believed that they will be found +a welcome acquisition amongst those who, in their search for amusement, +do not lose sight of instruction. More especially is it respectfully +submitted that, combining so much sound information with the +liveliness of a miscellany, they would find an appropriate place in the +bookcase of the Schoolroom and in the Village Library, as well as on +the shelf beside the Parlour-fire.</p> + + +<p>LONDON: JAMES NISBET & CO., BERNERS STREET.</p> + +<div class="tn">Transcriber's note:<br /> + +<br /> +Obvious printer's errors have been corrected. +All other inconsistencies are as in the original. The author's spelling +has been retained.</div> + + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Romance of Natural History, Second +Series, by Philip Henry Gosse + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK NATURAL HISTORY *** + +***** This file should be named 32800-h.htm or 32800-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/3/2/8/0/32800/ + +Produced by Barbara Tozier, Odessa Paige Turner, Bill +Tozier and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at +http://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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