Part 1
A Natural History for Young People
Our Animal Friends
IN THEIR Native Homes
INCLUDING
MAMMALS, BIRDS and FISHES
BY
MRS. PHEBE WESTCOTT HUMPHREYS
Over One Hundred and Fifty Illustrations, including Colored Plates, Half-Tones and Wood Engravings
Copyright 1900
By PHEBE WESTCOTT HUMPHREYS
PREFACE.
This little Volume of Natural History has been prepared to fill a long-felt want. As a child the author was especially interested in the study of animals, but met with the usual drawback—nothing could be found in classified form to meet the requirements of young people, not yet old enough to take up a college course of study. Natural Histories abounded in every form and in every language, there were scientific works in plenty, and numerous books for children, from the fairy tales founded on animal life to the usual descriptive matter accompanying profuse illustrations in childish books; but nothing could be found in which the Mammals, Birds and Fishes, were carefully classified and arranged in the proper families, and the whole in words of easy reading—discarding unnecessary scientific words and phrases, and carefully explaining the necessary ones. It was not until later in school life, when a certain knowledge of Greek and Latin became necessary in the college-preparatory course that these scientific works could be really enjoyed. And the author of this little volume—who was then preparing her first literary efforts in the intervals of school work—resolved that one of her earliest books should be a carefully arranged Natural History for Young People, in which all the desires of her own childhood should be realized.
The immensity of the labor involved in preparing such a work did not become apparent until once seriously commenced, and French, German, Greek and Latin dictionaries were called into requisition in order that every scientific word and classification might be carefully explained. The best authorities among ancient and modern naturalists have been consulted; Goldsmith, Jones, Figuier and Brehm have been quoted, and other English, French and German works, studied and compared. And although this has been delayed, because of the tedious work required, and other books for young people, by the same author have been allowed to precede it, this is finished in time to meet the demands of the small son of her household, who has reached the age so aptly described by the well-worn phrase, “An animated interrogation point”—especially in the direction of Natural History. And filling as it does, the demands of one, may it meet the desires of the many mothers of inquiring sons and daughters, and the young people who are eager for such a work, that is accurate, readable and interesting, and fully up to the present condition of modern science.
CONTENTS.
PREFACE 5
OUR ANIMAL FRIENDS 13
QUADRUMANA—FOUR-HANDED MAMMALS.
THE TAILLESS APES 17
Gorilla, Orang Outang, Chimpanzee.
THE APE MONKEYS 23
Baboons, Mandrills, Macaques, Wanderoo, Barbary Ape, Bonnet Monkey.
THE AMERICAN MONKEYS 27
The Howlers, The Spider Monkeys, The Weepers.
THE LEMURS 31
The Fox-Headed Monkeys.
CARNIVORA—FLESH-EATING QUADRUPEDS.
PLANTIGRADE CARNIVORA—THE BEAR FAMILY. 33
The Brown or Alpine Bear, The Collared Bear, The American Bear, The Grizzly Bear, The White or Polar Bear, The Sloth Bear.
DIGITIGRADE CARNIVORA—THE HYENA FAMILY. 42
Spotted Hyena, Striped Hyena, Hunting Hyena.
THE CAT FAMILY 44
Wild Cat, Domestic Cats, Lion, Tiger, Leopard, Panther, Jaguar, Puma, Ocelot, Lynx, Caracal, Ounce, Serval, Cheetah.
THE DOG FAMILY 63
Sporting Dogs, Running Dogs, Pointers, Setters, Newfoundland Dog, Esquimau Dog, Mastiffs, Spaniels, Wild Dogs, Hyena Dog, Wolf, Jackal, Fox.
THE WEASEL FAMILY 75
Ermine, Marten, Otter.
THE CIVET FAMILY 80
African Civet, Indian Civet, Mangousts, Genet.
AMPHIBIOUS CARNIVORA—THE SEAL FAMILY. 81
Common Seal, Sea-Elephants, Sea-Lions, The Walrus, or Morse.
CHEIROPTERA—ANIMALS WITH WINGED HANDS. 86
Long-Eared Bats, Long-Nosed Bats, Roussette, Vampires.
INSECTIVORA—INSECT-EATERS. 91
The Shrews, Water Shrew, Elephant Shrew, The Hedgehogs.
EDENTATA—TOOTHLESS QUADRUPEDS.
THE SLOTH FAMILY 94
Unau, Ai, Armadillos, Ant-Eaters, Pangolins.
RODENTIA—GNAWING QUADRUPEDS 99
Mice, Rats, Porcupines, Beavers, Squirrels, Prairie Dogs, Hares.
MARSUPIALIA—POUCHED QUADRUPEDS. 111
Kangaroo, Opossum.
PACHYDERMATA—THICK-SKINNED QUADRUPEDS.
THE ELEPHANT FAMILY 114
African Elephant, Asiatic Elephant, Mammoth, Mastodon.
ORDINARY PACHYDERMATA. The Hippopotamus. 114
THE TAPIR FAMILY 117
American Tapir, Indian Tapir.
THE RHINOCEROS FAMILY 118
One-Horned Rhinoceros, Two-Horned Rhinoceros.
THE HOG FAMILY 120
The Wild Boars, The Wart Hog, The Peccaries.
THE HORSE FAMILY 123
Horses and Ponies, The Wild Ass, The Domestic Donkey, The Zebra, The Quagga, The Dauw.
RUMINANTIA—ANIMALS THAT CHEW THE CUD.
THE CAMEL FAMILY 129
Camel, Dromedary, Llama, Paca, Vicuna.
THE MUSK DEER 133
RUMINANTS WITH HAIRY HORNS.
The Giraffe. 134
RUMINANTS WITH HOLLOW HORNS.
THE ANTELOPE FAMILY 134
Chamois, Gazelles, Gnus.
THE OX FAMILY 141
Yak, Bison, Buffalo.
RUMINANTS THAT SHED THEIR HORNS. 145
The Deer Proper, The Reindeer, The Elk or Moose.
CETACEA—THE WHALE FAMILY.
BLOWING OR SPOUTING WHALES. 152
Rorquals, Cachalot, Pot Whale, Dolphin, Porpoise, Narwhal.
HERBIVOROUS CETACEA 159
Manatee, Duyong.
BIRDS.
BIRDS OF PREY 166
THE OWL FAMILY 167
The Horned Owls, Great Owl, Virginia Eared Owl, Long-Eared Owl, Short-Eared Owl, Scops-Eared Owl.
HORNLESS OWLS 169
Snow Owls, Barn or Screech Owls, Hawk or Canada Owls, Brown or Tawny Owls, Ural, Burrowing and Sparrow Owls.
THE FALCON FAMILY 169
Sea-Eagles, Eagles, Stone Eagles, Harpy Eagles, Buzzards.
THE VULTURE FAMILY 173
King Vulture, Bearded Griffon, Condor.
THE NATATORES—SWIMMING BIRDS.
THE FAMILY OF DIVERS 176
Great Northern Diver, Penguin, Auk, Grebes.
DUCKS, GEESE AND SWANS 182
Wild and Domestic Ducks, Sea Ducks, Fresh-water Ducks, Wild and Domestic Geese, Mute and Whistling Swans, Black Swan of Australia, Black-necked Swan.
THE PELICAN FAMILY 183
LONG-WINGED SWIMMING BIRDS. 190
Albatros, Petrels, Gulls.
GRALLATORES—WADING BIRDS.
WADERS WITH UNITED TOES 195
Avocet, Stilt Bird.
WADING-BIRDS WITH LONG BILLS 197
Woodcocks, Snipes, Reed Hens.
WADING-BIRDS WITH KNIFE-SHAPED BILLS 199
Storks, Argala or Adjutant, Marabou, Spoonbill, Cranes.
WADING-BIRDS WITH COMPRESSED BILLS 203
Curious Types, Flamingo, Frigate.
THE SHORT-WINGED BIRDS 206
Ostrich, Rhea.
SCRANSORES—CLIMBING BIRDS.
THE PARROT FAMILY 209
Grey Parrot or Jaco, Green Parrot, Macaw, Parrakeets, Amazonian Parrot.
THE COCKATOO FAMILY 214
Trumpet Cockatoo, Great White Cockatoo, Leadbeater’s Cockatoo, Toucans.
THE CUCKOO FAMILY 214
Trogons, Honey-Guides, Anis, Barbets, Touracos, Plantain-Eaters.
THE WOODPECKER FAMILY 217
Ivory-Billed Woodpeckers, Spotted Woodpeckers, Downy Woodpeckers.
GALLINACEAE—DOMESTIC BIRDS.
THE PARTRIDGE FAMILY 220
Grey Partridge, California Partridge.
THE GROUSE FAMILY 222
Black Grouse, Ruffled Grouse, Hazel Grouse, Heathcock.
THE PIGEON FAMILY 224
Crowned Pigeon, Fan-Tailed Pigeon, Wheeling Pigeon, Tumbler Pigeon, Carrier Pigeon.
THE PHEASANT FAMILY 225
Silver Pheasant, Golden Pheasant.
PASSERINES—THE SPARROW FAMILY.
HUMMING BIRDS 229
Sword-bill Humming Bird, Crested Humming Bird.
KING FISHERS 229
CROWS 233
RAVENS 233
DIPPERS OR WATER WRENS 235
FISHES.
CARTILAGINOUS FISHES.
THE LAMPREYS AND EELS 239
Lesser Lamprey, Sea Lamprey, Sand Eels, Electrical Eels, Sea Eel.
THE FAMILY OF RAIAS OR FLAT-FISH 243
The White Ray, The Lump-Fish, The Torpedo or Cramp-Fish.
THE SHARK FAMILY 249
“Man-Eating Sharks,” Dog-Fish, Hammer Heads, Saw-Fish.
THE STURGEON FAMILY 252
The Caviare Sturgeon, Huso, or Isinglass Fish, Great Sturgeon, Common Sturgeon, Chimaera.
OSSEOUS, OR BONY FISHES 255
FAMILY OF GLOBE FISH AND COFFERS 257
Globe-Fish, Diodon, Coffers or Ostracions, File-Fish or Balistes.
PIPE-FISH AND SEA-HORSES 258
THE SOFT-FINNED FISHES 259
Some Curious Specimens, Sea-Snail, Lump-Fish, Echineis.
FLAT-FISH WITH SOFT FINS 260
The Soles, Turbot, Flounders and Plaice, Halibut and Dab.
THIRD GROUP OF SOFT-FINNED FISHES 261
Cod, Whiting and Haddock, Pike, Stomias, Chaetodons, Flying-Fish, Herring.
THE SPINY-FINNED FISHES 267
Trigula or Gurnards, Red Gurnards, Flying Gurnards, Sword-Fish, Archer-Fish.
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.
Brown Bear Colored Plate Frontispiece
A Family of Tigers 6
A Battle between the Lion and Tiger 12
Flying Squirrels 16
Gorillas 17
Orang-Outang 20
Chimpanzee 22
Baboons or Dog Headed Monkeys 24
Mandrill 26
Bonnet Monkeys 28
Weeping Monkeys 30
Lemur or Fox Headed Monkeys 31
Sloth Bear 32
Grizzly Bear and Buffalos 35
Panther Surprised by a Tree Snake 36
Polar Bear 39
Striped Hyena 42
Wild Cats 45
Angora Cat 46
Pumas Fighting over Vultures 53
Caracal Defending His Booty from Jackals 54
Jaguar 57
Lynx Attacking Fawn 59
Esquimaux Dogs 62
Newfoundland Dog 63
Hyena Dogs 66
Wolf 67
Jackal 70
Foxes at Home 72
Weasels and Ermines 75
Marten 76
Otter Fishing for His Dinner 78
Mangousts 79
Genets 80
Common Seal 82
Sea Elephants 83
Walrus 84
Long-nosed Bats 85
Sea Lions in Battle 87
Whale Attacking Bloodheads 88
Long-eared Bats 89
The Elephant Shrew 92
Hedgehogs 93
Sloths 95
Armadillos 96
Ant-Eater or Ant Bear 97
Beavers 100
Porcupines 103
Goat Defending His Family from a Lynx 105
Bisons in Battle 106
Village of Prairie Dogs 107
Rabbits 108
Giant Kangaroos 112
Elephant in the Jungle 115
Hippopotamus 116
Indian Tapir 118
One-horned Rhinoceros 119
Wild Boars 121
Wart Hogs 122
Shetland Ponies 124
Domestic Donkey 125
Zebras 126
Dromedary 128
Camel 130
Llama 131
Paca 132
Giraffe 135
Gnu 136
Gazelles 137
Mountain Sheep 140
American Buffalo 142
Yak 144
American Deer 146
Reindeer 148
Elk or Moose 149
Pot Whale 155
Dolphin 157
Narwhal 158
Manatee 160
Eagle, Colored Plate 164
Tailor Bird 165
Owls 167
Harpy or Crested Eagle 170
Buzzards 172
Eagle Picking up an Ice Fox 177
Falcons Fighting 178
Penguin 179
Black Necked Swans 184
Pelicans 186
Vulture and Griffin Fighting over Prey 187
Condor Capturing Llama 188
Albatros 191
King Fishers 192
Reed Hen 193
Ostrich on Her Nest 194
Woodcock 198
Broad-billed Stork of Africa 200
Jabiru 201
Spoonbill 203
Amazonian Parrot 210
Ivory Billed Woodpeckers 211
Heathcocks Fighting 212
Cockatoos 213
Toucan 216
Spotted and Downy Woodpeckers 218
Common Gray Partridge 221
Crowned Pigeon 223
Golden Pheasants 225
Sword Bill Humming Bird 230
Crested Humming Birds 231
Crows and Ravens 232
Dippers or Water Wrens 234
Flying Fish. Colored Plate 238
Sea Eel 242
White Ray 244
Lump Fish 245
Herring Attacked by Whales 247
Diver Battling with a Shark 248
Dog Fish 251
Sturgeon 253
Chimaera 255
Coffer or Ostracion 256
Diodon 258
Pipe Fish 259
Chaetodon 262
Red Gurnard 267
Flying Gurnard 268
Sword Fish Spearing His Prey 269
Archer Fish 271
Our Animal Friends.
OUR animal friends are usually supposed to be included in the home pets, and the domestic animals which are useful to us in so many ways; but when we learn how closely some of the wildest and fiercest of animals are of the greatest benefit to mankind, how they resemble us in the formation of their bodies, and in the care and love for their little ones, how the many different kinds of animals scattered all over the world are related to each other, and how they are divided into families, we will have a more friendly feeling toward all the wonderful creatures which are often looked upon as the enemies of mankind, and a greater interest in their habits and lives in their native homes.
In this little volume of Natural History we will not only study our animal friends as individuals, but will learn of their relationship to each other, carefully arranged and classified, but much more easily understood, than the classification found in the numerous great volumes of encyclopedia of Natural History.
We are always interested in the relatives of our human friends; even their distant relations living in far off countries soon have a special interest for us when they are closely connected to our friends, and we are constantly learning of their manner of living and their doings in distant lands. In the same manner we find new interest in the fierce wild animals of other countries when we learn how they are related to our domestic animals and home pets.
We find that not only the Wild Cats, but the fierce Lions, Tigers, Panthers, Leopards, Lynxes, Pumas, Jaguars, and many smaller animals, belong to the same family as our pet Cats. The Wolf, Jackal, Hyena, and many different kinds of Foxes are all closely related to our good friends, the Dogs. The Sheep and Cows have some very fierce relations in distant countries, as the Gnu and Yak and Bison, and also some very accommodating and useful relations, like the Camel, Dromedary, Llama and Paca, who are as helpful to their masters and owners as the domestic animals of this country. We would not suppose at first thought that our Horses belong to the same family as the Rhinoceros, Hippopotamus, Elephant, and the Tapir and many smaller animals which are classified with them, besides the different kinds of Ponies, Donkeys, and the Dauw and Quagga and Zebra.