Anonymous

“ The appearance of the lion, from which he has derived the title of the king of beasts, is majestic when at rest, but terrible when roused. He has a broad face, surrounded with long shaggy hair, and a flowing mane, increasing in length as his years advance, adorns his neck. ”

“ The cow is a very quiet animal, and will hurt no body, it feeds upon grass,16 which it swallows and brings up again before digesting it, and chews a very long while, and on that account is called a ruminating animal.
Cows are of different colors, some red, white, black, and others spotted. The cow will live to the age of fourteen or fifteen years, and its age may be known by the rings or knots on its horns, for a new ring grows every year. A great many country people are employed in selling milk to the people of large cities and towns, and are called "milk people." ”

“ The horns of the ibex are large and knotty, its skin is of a yellow color, and its beard short and black. The chase of the ibex, although it is not a very powerful animal, is attended, at times, with considerable danger; it has been known, when driven hard, to run full-but at the huntsman,40 and force him over the rock, although in doing so, it has at the same time, sacrificed its own life, falling headlong with its pursuer. The ibex is said to be a short-lived animal. Its flesh is much esteemed, and its skin is very thin. ”

“ This very beautiful animal, is called a tiger, and is a native of India, a very hot country in Asia. Tigers are very fierce, and will often kill men, and animals a great deal larger than themselves. They live in the woods and thickets, called jungles, where they are hunted. Tigers eat the flesh of animals which they kill. We have none in America, except a few carried about for show. The tiger is as big as a lion, and like the cat in shape, but much larger; he has a long tail, and a handsome striped skin, covered with short hair, which is used for a variety of84 useful and ornamental purposes. ”

“ The cow is a very useful, and well known animal. The cow furnishes us with an abundance of good sweet milk, which we put into our tea and coffee, or make into butter and cheese. The flesh is most excellent food, and is called beef. England is a famous country for beef, which is of such a good quality that the people have an old song about it, called the "Roast beef of old England." The hide is made into leather, and is much used in the making of shoes. ”

“ He is not so wild or fierce as the bull, but its flesh and hide are as useful to us. The ox's foot is of a horny substance, and is called a hoof, like that of the bull and the cow. It is not like the horse's hoof, because it is separated in two. The horns of the ox are64 made into combs, drinking cups, handles for knives, and other things. The blood of the ox is very useful, and when boiled with brown sugar it helps to make it white. The blood also makes a blue dye. Boys should not tease an ox, or throw stones at him. Sometimes they turn on their tormentors, and gore them with their horns. ”

“ This curious animal, called a Kangaroo, hops on his hind-legs, which are very long; his fore-legs are short, and he has a very long hard tail. Kangaroos herd together in great numbers, for they are very timid creatures. At the least alarm they will run away, and leap over high bushes. They use their short fore feet for digging, and putting food in their mouths. They feed upon vegetables and grass, and do not eat flesh. ”

“ We have no wolves in the settled portions of our country, for the whites hunted and killed them all, because they were such troublesome and dangerous neighbors. But in the western country,96 and among the forests and mountains, they are still pretty plenty. Wolves go about in large packs, or companies, and having scented their prey, pursue it like a pack of hounds, uttering the most dismal and ferocious cries. ”

“ He comes to full growth at five years, when his horns send out as many antlers, and he is called a hart, and the female a hind.
Every year the male sheds his horns,120 and conscious of his temporary weakness, hides himself till his new ones are hardened. His color, as his name imports, is a bright reddish-brown, of a darker shade near the belly, which is white. When fatigued in the chase, he takes the water if near, and will cross with ease considerable and rapid streams; when wounded or taken, he sheds tears like a child ”

“ The apes can climb to the top of the very tallest8 trees, and cling to the branches in safety. They are very quick in their motions, and can fling themselves from tree to tree with great readiness, holding on with their long arms and legs. In their native woods, they are very wild; they go on all fours; and sometimes visit the Negroes' huts and fight hard battles with the inhabitants, throwing sticks and branches with great dexterity. They are usually of a dull brown color, but some are black, and others grey. ”

“ The ibex is an animal of the goat kind, and inhabits the mountainous districts of the south of Europe, it is the most graceful of all its tribes; it is extremely active. It is very wild, and difficult to be shot, as it always keeps on the highest points. ”

“ But still, as a means of defence, these quills are of great service to their possessor, and preserve it from the attack of most of its enemies; its teeth are very strong and sharp; and if it had courage enough to use them, it would become68 rather a dangerous foe. When full grown, it measures nearly two feet in length. Its general color is a grizzled, dusky black. The upper part of the head and neck is furnished with long light hairs. Most parts of the back and sides are armed with long, sharp pointed quills, which are raised in a threatening manner whenever the animal is excited. ”

“ The leopard is a beautiful animal. He is of a yellowish fawn color, marked with black spots of different sizes. This animal in its habits and appearance much resembles a cat. He is very fierce and savage. He preys upon those animals which are weaker than himself. He always avoids man, except when closely pursued, when he offers an obstinate resistance. From the extraordinary flexibility of his limbs, he can climb a tree as readily as a cat. When taken young, he can be tamed to a certain degree.
The flesh of the leopard is said to be52 excellent, resembling veal. ”

“ Wild rabbits live in woods and burrow holes in banks of earth, where they hide themselves from danger. The wild rabbits are of a greyish brown color, but the tame rabbits are white, black, brown, black and white, and reddish. The white have pink eyes. Their fur is soft, and is used for making hats. Their flesh is white and very good to eat. The tame rabbits are kept in very small huts, and little boys and girls are fond of feeding76 them, for they will eat out of their hand, carrots, lettuce, and other green vegetables. Below is a picture of a pretty kind of tame rabbits with very long ears. ”

“ Dogs are most faithful, attached creatures. They are of all sizes, from the large Newfoundland dog, as big nearly as a donkey, down to the little lap-dog, no bigger than a kitten. Dogs are of various colors, and their skins of all kinds, the hair sometimes smooth and close, like a grey hound's ”

“ The vicugna has sometimes been called the Chilian sheep, from the name of the country it inhabits. It is covered with a fine, valuable wool, which is of a red rose color on the back, but white on the other parts of the body. Vicugnas congregate in large herds, and feed on grass and small shrubs, and so long as they can procure enough of such food, they are never known to drink. They are very timid, but swift and sure at running. Their legs are slender and well formed, and the head tall and erect. Their ears are long and pointed, and their eyes92 large and brilliant. ”

“ He is a very formidable animal, with spiteful looking eyes, and strong, crooked, sharp horns. He is very strong and hard to kill. The hunters consider him a worse enemy than the lion or the tiger.
This buffalo loves to wallow in pools and swamps, and when the hunters attack him, he charges upon them with his terrible horns, and often overturns a88 horse and his rider, trampling them under his feet, and goring them with his sharp horns. ”

“ This is an animal of whom the most ridiculous stories have been told, particularly as to its power of darting its quills to a considerable distance when attacked, and in this manner wounding its enemies. Instead, however of being an enemy to be feared, there is not, perhaps, a more timid creature in existence. ”

“ The bear is a good swimmer, and often takes to the water; he climbs well, but in descending trees always comes down backwards. His sight is sharp, and his hearing and smelling is excellent. He walks easily on his hind-legs, and in that position can support heavy burdens. ”

“ One of his principal modes of attack is the employment of his fore-legs in hugging his enemy, and few creatures can resist the crushing embrace of a large bear.
The people of the cold countries, where he mostly lives, make bedding and clothing of the skins, and either eat the fat or melt it into oil for their lamps. Bears, when at rest, are in the habit of constantly sucking their paws, which12 curious custom has puzzled many wise men to explain. ”

“ Its fore-legs are longer than its hinder-legs, and it has the appearance of having a small lump at its shoulder. It is usually found in the forests of India, where it becomes the prey of the tigers and wild boars. The cut below shows how the nyl ghau defends himself when attacked.
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OX.
The ox is very much like the bull and the cow in form, size, and color, and lives in the fields as they do. As soon as he is large enough, he is made to work for man; he draws the plough and the wagon, and in old times used to tread out the corn, instead of thrashing as people do now. ”

“ They are soon taught to be obedient, and become very clever. The shepherd's dog knows every sheep in the flock. The20 house dog knows the sound of his master's footsteps. The Newfoundland dog will rush into the water to save any one from drowning. There are many interesting stories about dogs, which will please you very much to read when you are older and better able to understand them. ”

“ Apes play many odd tricks, and try to act like men, for they are very fond of imitating every thing they see. They are also very mischievous, and sometimes spiteful, so they should be either tied up in a safe place or well watched. ”

“ How heavy and clumsy the elephant looks! yet he is very active, and able to do many things with neatness. If you hold a sixpence in your hand, he will take it up in his large trunk, and place it where the keeper tells him. ”

“ The hills and mountains80 which are too steep and barren for growing corn afford pasturage for the sheep. It very soon knows the shepherd who is set over it, and is easily guided by him. The young of the sheep are called lambs. Here is a picture of a Scotch shepherd keeping sheep in the Highlands. ”

“ These curious little animals live in holes which they dig under44 ground. They are gentle, harmless, and not at all timid. Their dwelling places are very quiet, for they never fight or quarrel with one another, like some very bad children I could tell you about. ”

“ With the same trunk he is able to tear up large trees, and to strike so hard that the blow would kill a man. In foreign countries he is used to ride upon, as we ride upon horses. He is a very good swimmer. He is born chiefly in warm climates. ”

“ They are about the ordinary size of sheep, and breed with the domestic races. The head is long, with the muzzle compressed, the nose somewhat raised, and the forehead swollen; the horns of the male (the female being without) are large, long, and triangular, bending backward like a half circle, attenuated from the base to the116 tip, which is obtuse; the body is large and muscular, the tail short, and bare on the inside ”

“ The kangaroo is brought from a very48 large island, a great many thousand miles from here. We have some in this country, which you may see by going to the Menagerie, where the keeper will tell you a great many stories about them. Their nature is not at all fierce. ”

“ Though his gait is awkward, he can, if he pleases, go at a great pace. He is said to grow to about his twentieth and live to his fiftieth year. Some bears are black, others brown, and a few grey, but those in cold countries are always white. ”

“ More nearly allied to the deer, from which they are distinguished by their horns being permanent and without antlers, but marked with circular elevated rings, which increase, in size with their growth and years, one or two species alone exhibit a short ramification. ”