Rev. W. May

“ The elegance of his form, the lightness of his motions, the flexibility of his limbs, his bold branching horns, which are yearly renewed, his grandeur, strength and swiftness, give him a decided rank over every other inhabitant of the forest. The age of the Stag is known by its horns: he begins to shed them about the end of February or the beginning of March: each year they become larger. ”

“ The Rabbit abounds in Great Britain, where its skin forms a very considerable article in the manufactory of hats. Although the Hare and the Rabbit are so like each other, nature has placed a strong barrier between them, in their feeling of mutual aversion. Besides this, there is a wide difference in their habits and pursuits: the rabbit lives in holes in the earth, where it brings forth its young, and retires from the approach of danger; whilst the Hare prefers the open fields, and trusts to its speed for safety. The female makes a bed of down for her young, which she pulls off her own coat. ”

“ Man himself, upon these occasions, frequently falls a victim to its power; and it is said, that when Wolves have once tasted human blood, they always give it the preference. The Wolf has great strength, especially in the muscles of his neck and jaw: he can carry a sheep in his mouth, and easily run off with it in that manner. His bite is cruel and deadly, and keener as it meets with no opposition: but when opposed, he is cautious and careful, and seldom fights but from necessity. Sometimes whole droves of them join in the cruel work of destruction.
104 THE SHEPHERD’S DOG. ”

“ One is always placed at a distance from the rest, to give notice of the approach of danger. When he observes a stranger advancing, he allows him to approach as near, perhaps, as eighty or a hundred yards, but keeps a watchful eye upon his motions; if 41the stranger shows a design of coming closer, he alarms the rest of the flock by a loud hiss or whistle, twice or thrice repeated, when the whole party instantly scour away with great speed, to the most inaccessible parts of the mountains. No country produces finer Sheep than Great Britain. ”

“ This little creature we all know, because it eats our cheese, and tries all the good things in the larder, we keep a cat to catch it: yet it is very pretty. It hides itself in the walls and under the floors; and in these places it sometimes lays up a considerable store of provision for future subsistence. Its food is various; and, as it is able to pass through a very small hole, there are few places secure from its approach. It seems a constant attendant on man, and is to be found only near his dwelling. ”

“ This little creature is a native of Africa, and is only known to us in a domestic state. It is unable to bear a cold climate, and cannot live without great care and shelter. It is usually kept in a box, with wool, of which it makes itself a warm bed. It sleeps a great part of the day; and the moment it awakes, it seems eager for its food, which is commonly bread and milk. The length of the Ferret is about fourteen inches; the tail is five inches long; its nose is sharper than that of the Weasel, its ears are round, and its eyes red and fiery: the colour of the whole body is a very pale yellow. ”

“ The climate and pastures of Great Britain are well adapted to the nature of this animal; and we are indebted to the variety and abundance of our wholesome vegetables, for the number and excellence of our cattle, which range over our hills, and enliven our plains—a source of wealth and boast to this happy country. 33Not having the upper fore-teeth, the Cow prefers the high and rich grass in pastures, to the short and more delicate herbage generally selected by the horse. For this reason, where the grass is rather high and flourishing in our pastures than large and full, the Cow thrives well ”

“ The Hedgehog generally resides in small thickets and hedges; lives on fruits, worms, beetles, and all kinds of insects; it conceals itself in the day, and feeds only during the night. This animal is provided by nature with a prickly armour, which defends it from the attacks of all the smaller beasts of prey. When alarmed, it immediately collects itself into the form of a ball, and presents on all sides a surface covered with sharp points, which few animals are hardy enough to engage. The more it is harassed, the closer it rolls itself. ”

“ The most usual colour of the Weasel is a pale reddish brown on the back, sides, and legs; the throat and belly are white. This animal is very common, and well known in this country; it is destructive to young birds, poultry, and rabbits, and is a keen devourer of eggs. It will follow a young hare, which becomes so terrified as to give itself up to it without resistance, making at the same time the most piteous outcries. ”

“ Bull-baiting is a very cruel sport; this mode of killing Bulls is derived from one kind of ancient hunting, very like the Spanish bull-fights of the present day. On notice being given that a wild Bull would be slain on a certain day, the inhabitants of the neighbourhood assembled, sometimes to the number of a hundred horsemen, and four or five hundred foot, all armed with guns or other weapons. ”

“ Large flocks range over extensive tracts of land, seemingly without controul: their only guide being the Shepherd, attended by his Dog, the constant companion of his toil. It receives his commands, and is always prompt to execute them; it is the watchful guardian of the flock, prevents straying, keeps them together, and conducts them from 105one pasture to another: it will not suffer strange sheep to mix with them, but carefully keeps off every intruder. In driving a number of sheep to any distant part, a well-trained Dog never fails to confine them to the road ”

“ If the Ferret be suffered to go in without a muzzle, or should free himself from it whilst in the hole, there is great danger of losing it: for, after satisfying itself with blood, it falls asleep, and it is then almost impossible to get at it. The most usual method is by digging it out, or smoking the hole. If these do not succeed, it continues during the summer among the rabbit holes, and lives upon the prey it finds there; but is sure to perish in the winter. ”

“ The Weasel is very useful to the farmer. During the winter it frequents 77his barns and granaries, which it clears of rats and mice; it is a more deadly enemy to them than even the Cat; for being more active and slender it pursues them into their holes, and kills them quickly. Though the Weasel is a wild little animal, there are instances to prove, that it is capable of being made quite tame. ”

“ To an animal of such habits, a larger degree of sight would be attended with great inconvenience, as well as be liable to continual injuries. Its eyes are extremely small, and completely hid in the fur. The form of this creature’s body, and particularly 169the construction of its fore feet, are admirably adapted to the purpose of making its way in the earth, which it does with wonderful ease: these feet are quite naked, very broad, with large palms, almost like a hand: there are five toes on each, with strong nails at the end. ”

“ The hair of the Wild Cat is soft and fine, and of a pale yellow colour, mixed with grey; a dusky-coloured line runs along the back, from its head to its tail; the tail is thick, and marked with bars of black and white. It is larger and stronger than the tame Cat, and its fur much longer. It inhabits the most hilly and woody parts of this island, lives in trees, and hunts for birds and small animals, such as rabbits, hares, rats, mice, moles, &c.; and it is also very destructive among poultry. The Cat seems to possess something like an additional sense, by means of its whiskers. ”

“ In the summer this curious little creature is very industrious, laying up its provision for the winter, which consists of nuts, beans, and acorns. As soon as the cold weather approaches, it rolls itself up into a ball, with its tail curled over its head between its ears, and continues in that state till the warm weather comes again. ”

“ No country in Europe can boast of Dogs of this kind, of equal swiftness, strength, or agility, to those of Great Britain, where the utmost attention is paid to their training. The climate also seems congenial to their nature; for it has been said that when Hounds of English breed have been sent into France, or other countries, they in some degree lose those admirable qualities for which they were once so remarkable. In England attachment to the chase has been considered a trait in the national character ”

“ When little children meet any dogs they should take care not to tease them, more particularly the Bulldog, for when that dog is completely roused it is the fiercest of its kind, and is probably the most courageous creature in the world. ”

“ The Badger retires to the most secret places, where it digs its hole, and forms its dwelling under ground. Its food consists chiefly of roots, fruits, grass, insects, and frogs. Few creatures defend themselves better, or bite with greater keenness, than the Badger. On that account it has been often baited with dogs trained for the purpose; but, happily, little is now heard of this very cruel sport. The Badger is a very sleepy animal. It keeps its hole during the day, and feeds only in the night.
96 THE FOX.
THE FOX.
The Fox is a native of almost every quarter of the globe ”

“ The Fallow deer is easily tamed, feeds on a variety of things which the stag refuses, 53and preserves its condition nearly the same throughout the year, although its flesh, called venison, is considered much finer at particular seasons. We have in England two varieties of the Fallow deer, which are said to be of foreign origin: the beautiful spotted kind were brought from Bengal in India. These animals, with some variation, are found in almost every country of Europe. Those of Spain are as large as stags, but darker; their necks are also more slender ”

“ Hunting seems to be enjoyed as much by the horse as by his rider: and in the race he shows great eagerness to be the foremost.
THE HORSE.
When kindly used, the horse is very fond both of his feeder and of his rider. He has a very good memory. 9A gentleman once rode a young horse thirty miles from his home to see his friend. The horse had never been in that part of the country before, and the road was hard to find: after asking the way of many persons whom he met, the gentleman at last got to his friend’s house. ”

“ Though naturally wild, and very timid, it is easily taught to receive with freedom the most familiar 149caresses from the hand that feeds it. It usually lives in woods, and makes its nest of moss or dry leaves in the hollow of trees. It seldom descends upon the ground, but leaps from tree to tree with great agility. Its food consists of fruits, almonds, nuts, and acorns; of which it collects great stores for winter provision, and secures them carefully near its nest. ”

“ This animal not possessing any means of self defence is furnished by Providence with a high degree of fear. It is attentive to every alarm, and is furnished with very long ears, which are tube-like, and catch the most remote sounds. The eyes are so prominent, as to enable the animal to see both before and behind. The Hare feeds in the evening, and sleeps during the day, and, as he mostly lies on the ground, he has the feet protected, both above and below, with a thick covering of hair. ”

“ These Dogs are kept for the business of the chase. They pursue the hare with the greatest eagerness, hardly giving her time to breathe. The most eager sportsmen find it sufficient exercise to keep in with their speed. There is a kind of Dog between this and the large Terrier, which forms a strong, active, and hardy Hound, used in hunting the otter. ”

“ The Polecat is not afraid of mankind, but approaches our dwellings with confidence, mounts to their roofs, and often lives in barns, hay-lofts, or other places that are much frequented. From thence he prowls about under the shadow of night, to attack the poultry. ”

“ He walks, stops short, runs, leaps, approaches or retires, shews and conceals himself, or flies off, as if induced by mere whim, and without any other cause than what arises from the strange vivacity of his temper. ”

“ THE STAG.
The usual colour of the Stag, in England, is red; in other countries it is commonly brown or yellow. His eye is extremely beautiful, soft and sparkling: his hearing is quick; 49and his sense of smell very strong. When listening, he raises his head, erects his ears, and seems attentive to every noise, which he can hear at a great distance. When he approaches a thicket, he stops to look round him on all sides; if he perceives nothing to alarm him, he moves slowly forward ”

“ This useful animal, ever faithful to his charge, reigns at the head of the flock, where he is better heard, and more attended to, than even the Shepherd himself. In the few remaining large tracts of land which are appropriated to the feeding of Sheep, this dog is of the utmost importance. ”