Part 1
Produced by Malcolm Farmer, LN Yaddanapudi and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net
NATURAL HISTORY IN ANECDOTE
_ILLUSTRATING THE NATURE, HABITS, MANNERS AND CUSTOMS, OF ANIMALS, BIRDS, FISHES, REPTILES, ETC., ETC., ETC._
ARRANGED AND EDITED BY ALFRED H. MILES
EDITOR OF
"_1001 Anecdotes_", "_The New Standard Elocutionist_", "_The Poets and the Poetry of the Century_", "_The A1 Reciters_", "_The Aldine Reciters_", _etc., etc._
London HUTCHINSON & CO. 34 PATERNOSTER ROW
A. C. FOWLER, PRINTER, MOORFIELDS, LONDON.
PREFACE.
Illustrations are like windows to the house of knowledge. They let light in upon the understanding, and they facilitate the outlook upon truth and beauty. To illustrate is to help one sense by the use of another, to reason by analogy, and to teach the unknown by the known. When definition fails, illustration often carries conviction, and the most successful teachers are those who make the best use of sound and telling illustrations. How many lessons would have been wholly forgotten by us, but for the illustrations which made their meanings clear, and left their truths for ever in our minds?
The book of nature is full of illustrations which help the understanding of the book of life, and no illustrations are more valuable and fascinating, whether as revelations of the order and habits of Nature herself, or as parallels and parables, full of suggestive application to the social and moral life of humanity, than those afforded by the study of Natural History.
To gather into a convenient volume Illustrative Anecdotes of Natural History, which shall throw light upon the study of Animal Life, for those pursuing it for its own sake, and help to the understanding of Nature herself is the primary object of this work, while it is hoped that it may serve a secondary purpose of no small utility, in suggesting social and moral parallels.
With a view to its first purpose the illustrations are classified in order as those of Mammals, Birds, Reptiles, Fishes, etc., etc., and as much knowledge of Natural History as can be conveyed in anecdote form has been attempted. The book will thus, it is hoped, be a valuable aid to the teacher of Natural History, as a manual of illustrations for his lessons, as well as full of interest to the general reader, who may not wish to devote the time necessary to more exhaustive scientific study.
A. H. M.
CONTENTS
=INTRODUCTION=
Science, 1 The Kingdoms of Nature, 1 Zoology, 2 Classification, 2
=THE ANIMAL KINGDOM=
=Sub-Kingdom Vertebrata=
=Class I.--Mammalia=
ORDER I PRIMATES
SUB-ORDER I.--MAN-SHAPED ANIMALS
The Ape Family, 3 The Gorilla, 4 The Ancestors of the Gorilla, 4 A Gorilla Hunt, 5 Du Chaillu's First Gorilla, 7 A Young Gorilla, 9 Gorilla Superstitions, 10 The Chimpanzee, 11 The Docility of the Chimpanzee, 11 The Orang-Utan, 12 The Habits of the Orang-Utan, 12 The Walk of the Orang-Utan, 13 The Strength of the Orang-Utan, 14 The Docility of the Orang-Utan, 14 The Orang-Utan's Intelligence, 15 The Orang-Utan's Affection, 15 The Maternal Instinct, 16 Gibbons, or Long-Armed Apes, 17 Monkeys, 18 The Sacred Monkeys, 18 The Long-nosed Monkey, 19 Cheek-pouched Monkeys, 19 The Baboon, 19 The Arabian Baboon, 20 The Baboon's Imitative Faculty, 20 The Chackma Baboon, 21 The Baboon's Utility, 21 The Tame Baboon, 22 The Baboon's Cunning, 22 The Baboon's Loyalty, 24 The Baboon's Intelligence, 24 The Bonnet Monkey, 25 Indian Monkeys, 25 The Monkey Outdone, 27 The Monkey Aroused, 29 The Monkey's Affection, 30 American Monkeys, 30 The Capuchin Monkey, 30 The Spider Monkeys, 30 The Howling Monkeys, 31 The Bearded Saki, 31 The Douroucouli, 32 The Marmosets, 32
SUB-ORDER II.--THE LEMURS
The Lemurs, 32
The Tarsier, 33
The Aye-Aye, 33
ORDER II WING-HANDED ANIMALS
Bats, 35 The Common English Bat, 36 The Vampire Bat, 36 A Traveller's Experience, 37 Megaderma Lyra, 38
ORDER III INSECT-EATING ANIMALS
The Hedgehog, 39 The Mole, 40 An Enterprising Mole, 41 The Use of the Mole, 41 The Shrew, 42
ORDER IV FLESH-EATING ANIMALS
SUB-ORDER I.--THE FISSIPEDIA
The Fissipedia, 43 Animals of the Cat Kind, 43 The Lion, 44 The Lion's Character, 44 Attitude towards Man, 45 The Better Part of Valour, 46 The Lion's Strength, 47 The Lion's Affection, 48 The Lion's Docility, 48 The Story of Androcles, 49 A Lion Hunt, 50 A Thrilling Experience, 52 Attacked by a Lion, 53 A Night Surprise, 55 A Lion Outwitted, 56 Old Instincts and New Opportunities, 56 The Tiger, 57 The Tiger's Ravages, 58 An Intrepid Hunter, 60 The Leopard, 61 The Leopard's Tenacity of Life, 61 Hunters Hunted, 63 The Jaguar, 64 The Jaguar's Strength, 65 A Night of Horror, 65 The Puma, 67 The Puma's Ferocity, 67 Animals and Men, 68 The Ocelot, 69 The Clouded Tiger, 70 The Serval, 70 The Common Wild Cat, 70 The Domestic Cat, 71 Cat Superstitions, 71 The Cat as a Hunter, 72 The Cat and Her Young, 72 The Cat as a Foster Mother, 73 The Cat as a Traveller, 74 The Cat as a Sportsman, 75 The Cat's Intelligence, 75 The Lynx, 76 The Chetah as Huntsman, 78 The Civits, 79 The Ichneumon, 79 Dormant Instinct, 80 The Aard Wolf, 80 The Hyæna, 80 The Striped Hyæna, 82 Spotted Hyæna, 82 A Narrow Escape, 83 Animals of the Dog Kind, 84 The Wolf, 84 The Fox, 85 The Jackal, 86 The Wolf's Mode of Attack, 86 The Wolf's Cunning, 87 The Wolf's Cowardice, 88 Hunted by Wolves, 88 A Terrible Alternative, 89 A Marvellous Escape, 89 Tame Wolves, 90 The Cunning of the Fox, 90 The Fox as a Hunter, 91 A Fox Hunt, 92 The Arctic Fox, 93 Wild Dogs, 93 The Dog, 94 The Dog's Understanding, 95 The Dog's Sense of Locality, 97 Dog Friendships and Enmities, 99 The Dog Language, 100 The Dog's Intelligence, 101 Dogs' Mistakes, 104 Eskimo Dogs, 104 A Hard Lot, 106 The Newfoundland Dog, 107 The Newfoundland's Generosity, 108 The Newfoundland's Perception of Danger, 109 The Newfoundland's Sense of Right, 111 The Newfoundland's Fidelity, 112 The Newfoundland under Training, 112 The Sheep Dog, 114 The Sheep Dog's Sagacity, 115 The Sheep Dog's Fidelity, 117 The St. Bernard, 119 The St. Bernard at Work, 121 The Greyhound, 122 The Greyhound's Affection, 123 The Lurcher, 124 The Bloodhound, 125 The Scent of the Bloodhound, 126 The Stag Hound, 127 A Stag Hunt, 127 The Fox Hound, 128 The Fox Hound's Tenacity, 128 The Harrier, 129 The Beagle, 129 The Dalmatian Dog, 130 The Turnspit, 130 The Turnspit's Sagacity, 130 The Pointer, 130 The Pointer's Intelligence, 131 The Setter, 132 Pointers and Setters, 132 The Sagacity of the Setter, 133 The Spaniel, 134 The Sagacity of the Water Spaniel, 135 The Terrier, 136 The Mastiff, 136 The Fidelity of the Mastiff, 136 The Intelligence of the Mastiff, 137 The Mastiff as a Protector, 137 The Bull Dog, 138 The Poodle, 139 The Shoe-black's Poodle, 139 Weasels, Otters, and Badgers, 140 The Polecat, 140 The Weasel, 140 The Weasel and the Kite, 141 The Common Otter, 141 The Badger, 142 The Ratel and the Skunk, 143 The Skunk, 144 The Raccoon and the Coati, 145 The Bear, 145 The Polar Bear, 146 The Black Bear, 147 The Docility of the Bear, 148 The Grizzly Bear, 149 The Brown Bear, 151 The Malayan Bear, 151
SUB-ORDER II.--THE PINNIPEDIA
Sea Lions, 152 Sea Bears, 153 The Walrus, 154 The Common Seal, 155 The Seal's Docility, 156
ORDER V WHALES AND DOLPHINS
The Right Whale, 158 The Sperm Whale, 159 The Dolphin, 159 The White Whale, 160 The Narwhal, 160 The Porpoise, 161 The Grampus, 161
ORDER VI MANATIDÆ
The Sea Cow, 162
ORDER VII HOOFED ANIMALS
The Horse, 162 The Arabian Horse, 163 The Horse's Affection, 165 The Domestic Horse, 166 The Structure of a Horse, 167 The Horse's Speed, 169 The Horse's Endurance, 170 The Horse's Memory, 171 The Force of Habit, 172 The Intelligence of the Horse, 174 Horse-Play, 176 Horses and Dogs, 177 The Ass, 178 The Sagacity of the Ass, 180 The Instinct of the Ass, 181 The Trained Ass, 182 The Mule and the Hinny, 183 The Zebra, 183 The Tapir, 183 The Rhinoceros, 184 Rhinoceros Hunting, 186 The Tame Rhinoceros, 187 The Hippopotamus, 188 The Haunt of the Hippopotami, 189 The Pig Family, 190 The Boar, 190 The Common Hog, 191 The Babiroussa, 192 The Peccary, 192 The Camel and the Dromedary, 192 The Strength of the Camel, 193 The Camel and his Master, 194 Camel Riding, 195 A Camel's Revenge, 195 The Terrors of the Desert, 196 The Llama, 198 The Deer, 198 The Red Deer, 199 A Stag Hunt, 200 The Tame Stag, 201 The Reindeer, 201 The Moose or Elk, 204 The Fallow Deer and the Roebuck, 204 The Giraffe, 205 The History of the Giraffe, 205 Hollow-Horned Ruminants, 206 The Bull, the Bison, and the Buffalo, 207 The Bull, The Ox, The Cow, 207 The Bull, 208 The Brahmin Bull, 209 The Ox, 209 The Cow, 210 The Pride of a Cow, 210 The Bison, 211 Hunting the Bison, 212 The Buffalo, 213 Hunting the Indian Buffalo, 213 The Cape Buffalo, 214 Hunting the Cape Buffalo, 215 The Zebu, 216 The Yak, 216 The Antelope, 216 The Gazelle, 217 The Sheep and the Goat, 217 The Intelligence of the Sheep, 218 Animals and Music, 218
ORDER VIII THE ELEPHANT
The Elephant, 219 The Wild Elephant, 220 Elephant Herds, 221 Elephant Friendships, 223 The Sagacity of the Elephant, 224 A Centenarian Elephant, 224 An Elephant Nurse, 225 The Intelligence of the Elephant, 225
ORDER IX HYRAX
The Conies, 226
ORDER X THE RODENTS
Animals that Gnaw, 226 Rats and Mice, 227 The Rat Family, 227 The Hamster, 228 Swarms of Rats, 228 Invaded by Rats, 229 Migrations of Rats, 230 The Intelligence of Rats, 231 Saved by a Rat, 231 The Mouse, 232 The Harvest Mouse, 233 The Field Mouse, 233 The Dormouse, 233 The Jerboa, 234 The Beaver, 234 The European Beaver, 234 The American Beaver, 235 The Squirrel, 237 The Squirrel at Home, 238 Tame Squirrels, 239 The Marmot, the Bobak, the Prairie Dog, 240 The Chinchilla, 240 The Porcupine, 240 The Guinea-Pig, 241 Hares and Rabbits, 241 The Common Hare, 241 The Intelligence of the Hare, 242 A Hunted Hare, 243 Tame Hares, 244 The Common Rabbit, 245
ORDER XI TOOTHLESS ANIMALS
The Sloth, 245 The Pangolin, 246 The Armadillo, 246 The Cape Ant-Bear, 246 The Ant-Eater, 247
ORDER XII POUCHED ANIMALS
The Opossum, 247 The Kangaroo, 247 Kangaroo Hunting, 248
ORDER XIII MONOTREMATA
The Duck-billed Platypus, 249 The Australian Hedgehog, 249
=Class II.--Aves=
Classification, 250
ORDER I
Perching Birds, 250 The Thrushes, 251 The Common Thrush, 251 The Missel Thrush, 252 The Blackbird, 252 The Mocking Bird, 234 The Tailor Bird, 255 The Golden Crested Wren, 255 The Migration of Birds, 255 The Willow Wren, 256 The Common Wren, 256 A Wren's Music Lesson, 257 The House Wren, 257 The Nightingale, 258 The Song of the Nightingale, 258 The Robin Redbreast, 259 The Intelligence of the Robin, 260 The Titmouse, 260 The Golden Oriole, 261 The Shrike, 262 The Jay, 262 The Blue Jay, 263 The Magpie, 264 The Habits of the Magpie, 264 The Raven, 266 Unnatural Parents, 267 The Tame Raven, 268 The Raven and the Dog, 269 The Rook, 270 The Carrion Crow, 270 The Jackdaw, 271 The Chough, 271 The Bird of Paradise, 271 Hunting the Bird of Paradise, 272 The Tanagers, 273 The Tanager, 273 The Swallow, 273 Swallows in Council, 274 The House Martin, 274 The Sand Martin, 275 The Chaffinch. The Goldfinch. The Greenfinch, 275 The Linnet, 276 The Canary, 276 The Tame Canary, 277 The Crossbill, 277 The Bunting, 277 The Starling, 278 The Common Starling, 278 The Weaver Bird, 278 The Lark, 279 The Maternal Instinct of the Lark, 280 The Lark and the Hawk, 281 The Wagtails and the Pipits, 281 The Ant-Eaters, 282 The King Bird, 282 The Chatterers, 282 The Lyre Bird, 283
ORDER II Climbers and Gapers, 283
The Woodpecker, 284 The Wryneck, 284 The Cuckoo, 284 The Cuckoo and the Hedge-Sparrow, 285 The Cuckoo and the Thrush, 286 The Trogons, 287 The Kingfishers, 287 The Hornbill, 287 The Goat-Suckers, 288 The Whip-poor-Will, 288 The Chuck-Will's-Widow, 288 The Swifts, 289 The Humming Bird, 289
ORDER III
The Parrots, 290 The Intelligence of the Parrot, 290 Famous Parrots, 291 The Grey Parrot, 292 Parrot Talk, 293
ORDER IV
Pigeons, 294 Carrier Pigeons, 294 Pigeons on the Wing, 295
ORDER V