The animals of prey proper are very powerful, and some of them are
even dangerous to man; they feed on the flesh of other animals. The
Insectivora, or insect eaters, are, on the contrary, small; they
feed chiefly on insects and worms, and are therefore useful. Of
these several groups are distinguished: the cat-like, hyaena-like,
dog-like, marten-like, and bear-like animals of prey.
=Badger= (_Meles taxus_).--The compact body of the badger is covered
with blackish fur, with white stripes at the neck and head. It lives in
forests, near fields and vineyards, where it digs burrows, with about
six to eight passages leading to a kettle-shaped chamber, which lies
from four to six feet under the surface. It sleeps in the daytime and
during the winter, but at night it goes out on its predatory excursions.
Its food consists of insects, worms, snails, frogs, snakes, birds’ eggs,
young birds, and young hares; nor does it despise fruit, roots, and
honey. The badger is very wary, and defends itself with great courage in
its burrow. It is hunted chiefly for its fur; its flesh is rarely eaten.
Paint brushes are made from its hair.
=Bear, Brown= (_Ursus arctos_), also called the common or European bear,
has a shaggy light or dark brown fur. It is only about five feet long,
and attains a weight of five hundred to six hundred pounds. Its home is
in the temperate regions of Europe and Asia. Although not so strong as
the polar bear, it is not to be despised as an adversary. It is the king
of the northern forests. When attacked it will place itself in an erect
position, and try to tear its enemy with strokes of its paws. In the
fables of animals it is represented as an awkward, foolish simpleton,
who is always brought to shame and disgrace by the cunning of the fox.
It can easily be tamed, and nearly everybody has seen its clown-like
performances. Its habitation is in caverns or hollow trees. Its flesh is
eaten, and its fur used like that of the polar bear.
=Bear, Polar= (_Ursus maritimus_).--Its fur is quite white. Its body
attains eight feet in length, and weighs from fifteen hundred to sixteen
hundred pounds. It inhabits the most northern parts of Europe, Asia and
America. Its movements are equally quick on water and land; and it is a
terrible animal of prey, attacking even man with the greatest fury. It
pursues its predatory excursions on the numerous islands of the northern
polar regions, and its chief food is fish and seals. Sometimes it will
come into more southern latitudes, when it causes terrible havoc among
the herds, and only with the greatest difficulty can this strong and
fearless animal be killed. The polar bear has its home in the regions of
everlasting snow, and can only obtain the necessaries of life by means
of never-ceasing activity. It often uses a sheet of ice as a raft to
transport itself to spots where it can obtain its prey. Its flesh is
eaten; its fat is used for food and fuel, and its fur for carpets and
rugs.
=Caracal= (_Felis_ or _Lynx caracal_), a species of lynx found in the
warmer parts of Asia and throughout the whole of Africa. It is larger
than a fox, about the same height, but much more powerful; of a uniform
deep chestnut color, except two spots near each eye, the under parts of
the body, and inner parts of the legs, which are white, and tufts of
long black hair which terminate the ears. The young forms are spotted.
The ears are about three inches in length. The caracal is powerful
enough to tear a hound to pieces.
=Fox= (_Canis vulpes_).--The common fox, also called red fox, has thick,
soft fur, which is, on its upper parts, a light rust red, and on its
lower parts whitish. Its body attains a length of thirty inches. Its
long tail is bushy, and ends in a white tip.
The fox is a common inhabitant of the whole of Europe, and of the
northern parts of Asia, America, and Africa. It inhabits forests and
woods, where it lives with its mate in caverns. In rapacity it is nearly
equal to the wolf; but it can master its cupidity and wait for better
opportunities if danger should threaten. No animal is the subject of so
many fables. “Master Reynard” is always the cunning rogue, who outwits
his adversaries. Only on behalf of their young will the male as well as
the female fox risk their lives; intense love will then overcome every
fear and precaution.
The fox hunts hares, fowls, geese, and ducks, and even fish; but it
always destroys a great number of mice, whereby the injury done by it is
partly equalized. Its cover has always several exits. If found to be
rather deep, it was not constructed by the fox, but by a badger, which
either left its burrow willingly or was driven out by the new tenant.
The fox is hunted in different ways.
=Hedgehog= (_Erinaceus Europæus_).--The hedgehog is likewise an
inhabitant of the underground world, for it lives in holes below the
roots of trees, and under heaps of stones. Its body, with the exception
of its belly, is covered with sharp spines, and its feet are short and
strong. It begins to hunt for its prey in the darkness of the night.
Should it be disturbed it will suddenly roll itself up into a ball, its
sharp spines projecting in all directions. In this condition no dog can
get at it; but, if water is poured on it, it will unroll again. Its
spines are also of great service to it in other ways; for when rolled up
it can let itself down the steepest precipices, and fall from walls ten
feet high, without sustaining the smallest injury.
The hedgehog may also be called a useful animal; for it destroys mice,
rats, and vermin of all kinds, and will even feed on vipers, as poison
does not affect it. Its flesh is eaten in some countries.
=Hyena= (_Hyæna maculata_).--This whitish-grey and white-spotted animal
attains a length of four feet, and has its home in Southern and Eastern
Africa. It has a repulsive appearance, and emits a very disagreeable
odor. Hyenas remain hidden during the daytime; in the evening and during
the night they go out in quest of prey. They are great cowards, and
sometimes encircle human habitations in troups, and fall on their
sleeping prey. Hyenas force their way even into villages, clear off the
decayed animal matter, and dig the corpses out of their shallow graves.
The HYENA DOG (_Canis pictus_) does not belong to the hyenas proper, but
to the dog-like animals of prey. It inhabits the central and southern
parts of Africa, and is very dangerous to the antelopes and the herds of
sheep; it also attacks cattle.
=Ichneumon= (_Herpestes ichneumon_).--This animal is also called
Pharaoh’s rat. It inhabits Africa, and was considered a holy animal by
the ancient Egyptians. The color of its hair is greenish-grey, somewhat
darker on the head and back. Its snout is rather short; its tail ends
in a tuft. It feeds on rats, mice, toads, frogs, and snakes, birds’
eggs, and the eggs of crocodiles.
=Jackal= (_Canis aureus_).--Very similar in appearance to the fox, the
hair of the jackal is of a dark rusty yellow, whitish on its lower
parts. It inhabits Asia and north Africa, and is also found in the
south-eastern parts of Europe, in Greece, and Turkey. It makes its
excursions during the night in troops. Like the hyena, the jackal prowls
round the herds and human habitations, and, failing living prey, is
content with carrion.
=Jaguar= (_Felis onca_), sometimes called the American tiger, has
reddish-yellow fur, spotted with black. It inhabits South America, from
Paraguay to Mexico, and is the largest and most dangerous animal of prey
in those parts of the globe. The jaguar lies in wait for all sorts of
animals, and shows a great fondness for fish; but most frequently it
attacks grazing animals. It does not even hesitate to spring upon man.
=Leopard= (_Felis pardus_).--Now generally supposed to be identical with
the panther. The leopard is at home in Africa, from Algeria to Cape
Colony; it is also found in Asia, from Palestine through central Asia to
Manchuria. It is characterized by a peculiar gracefulness, slenderness
and flexibility of form, with a very long tail, and spotted fur, the
spots being arranged in numerous rows along the sides, and each spot
composed of five or six small spots arranged in a circle or rosette. The
general color is yellowish; the lower parts lighter; the spots darker
than the general color of the fur. The leopard is extremely agile, and
possesses the power of leaping and also that of climbing trees in great
perfection. Deer and antelopes are its habitual prey; but it is equally
ready to feed on pigs, poultry, or whatever animals may be found in the
vicinity of a farm or village. The size and strength of the leopard
render it dangerous to man; but it generally seems to dread and flee
from man, unless assailed.
=Lion= (_Felis leo_).--The lion is covered with short, smooth hair,
which lies close to the skin. Its fur is mostly of a uniform yellow
color. A male lion measures about ten feet in length; the female is
about a foot shorter. The male has a long mane on its neck and breast.
Its claws are retractile--_i. e._, may be drawn back entirely into their
sheaths. At the end of the tail is a horny point, which is surrounded by
a tuft of hair.
The lion, the king of animals, inhabits the Old World, Africa and Asia
and was formerly also found in Greece and Macedonia. The majesty of
terror and violence accompanies its movements. Its most striking
qualities are courage, pride, and circumspection. It chooses lonely
spots with rocky caves for its habitation, where it passes the day in
sleep.
At the beginning of twilight it rises from its couch, stretches its
limbs, and gives vent to a roar which makes man and beast tremble far
and wide. Then it begins to roam through the neighborhood; and woe to
the animal or man who approaches too near to it! It crouches like the
cat, and will sometimes spring thirty feet. The results of such an
attack are terrible; for with one stroke of its paw it can kill a
galloping horse, together with its rider. But it rarely attacks man.
The lion often overcomes animals larger than himself by means of his
stealthy, cat-like habit of springing upon them unawares. He preys upon
buffaloes, zebras, and even young elephants. Lions sometimes go in
troops, being sociable rather than gregarious. The male aids in care and
feeding of the young, which number from two to four, usually three, at a
birth. The pupil of the lion’s eye is circular when contracted, not a
narrow slit, as in the cat. The papillæ of its tongue are so large that
it can rapidly rasp the flesh from bones by licking them.
=Lynx= (_Felix lynx_).--This animal, which is widely spread, is of a
reddish grey, with darker spots on its upper parts and white on its
lower parts. It is frequently seen upon the Alps, the Carpathian
Mountains, and in the north of Europe and Asia. Hidden in the tops of
low trees, it lies in wait for the passing animals, and springs even
upon horses and stags. It commits great havoc among game, and is
therefore eagerly hunted. Every year about fifty thousand furs of the
common lynx and its nearest relations, the desert, polar, red, pardel,
and bog lynx, are sold in the markets of the world.
=Marten= (_Mustela martes_).--The tree marten has a yellowish-brown fur
and a reddish-yellow patch across its breast. It inhabits Europe and the
western parts of Asia. It is always found in forests, where it lies
hidden in hollow trees. It not only causes great destruction among game,
but is also a great robber of useful birds. It also hunts squirrels,
which, as soon as they get sight of it, try to escape as rapidly as
possible.
Related to the tree marten are the STONE or HOUSE MARTEN (_M. foina_),
which generally lives in the neighborhood of human habitations, and
destroys poultry and eggs: the POLE CAT (_Putorius fœtidus_), which
lives in the same localities and has the same injurious habits as the
house marten: the small WEASEL (_P. vulgaris_), is reddish brown on its
upper parts, but on its lower parts whitish, and is over seven inches
long. It is a useful animal, as it feeds chiefly on rats, mice, and
badgers; it is also fond of eggs, which it carries under its chin: and
the ERMINE (_P. ermineus_), the fur of which is of a dazzling white
color in the winter, and is the most valued of all furs.
=Mink= (_Putorius_), a name applied to several carnivores in the same
genus as weasel, polecat, ferret, and ermine, and with essentially
similar characteristics. The body measures from twelve to eighteen
inches in length, not including the bushy tail. The color of the
valuable fur is chestnut-brown. The Siberian vison (_P. sibericus_), the
European vison (_P. lutreola_), and the American mink (_P. vison_) are
very nearly related. They all live by rivers and lakes, feeding chiefly
on fishes, frogs, mussels, and the like; though not refusing any small
mammals which come in their way.
=Mole= (_Talpa Europea_).--The mole is one of the most interesting of
the smaller animals. It inhabits meadows, fields, gardens, and forests
where it finds its food. It lives in the earth, and digs out its “runs,”
at the same time throwing up mole-hills. The mole feeds on grubs,
caterpillars, chrysalises, maggots, crickets, lizards, snakes, frogs,
mice, and rats, and does not even spare its own kindred. The formation
of its body, which is about six inches long, enables it to seize these
different kinds of prey with ease; for it is cylindrical and wedge-like
in shape, with a long, flexible snout, and very large fore paws,
furnished with five strong nails. Its head is placed deep between the
shoulders--no neck is visible; its eyes are very small, and covered with
hair; and there are no exterior ears. Its hind paws are longer but
weaker than the fore limbs, and its tail is short. Its fur consists of
short, velvety hair.
The mole nearly always lives a solitary life. It is very quarrelsome and
rapacious. The weasel, fox, marten, hedgehog, owl, buzzard, falcon,
raven, the viper, and man all threaten its life. Against these enemies
it is, however, well protected by its dark fur, by the keenness of its
senses of hearing and smell, and by its rapid movements, and the
ingenious architecture of its burrow. The latter is a real fortress.
[Illustration: =CURIOUS STRUCTURE OF A MOLE HILL=]
It consists: (1) Of the chief structure, which is about two feet deep,
below the roots of trees or ruined walls. This consists again of an
almost spherical sitting-room (_a_), about four inches square, which is
stuffed with grass and hay, from which leads a descending passage (_b_).
Round the sitting-room there are two circular galleries (_c_), the upper
one of which is connected with the sitting-room. (2) Of a number of runs
(_d_), which are twelve to sixteen inches long, and radiate in all
directions; they are connected with each other by cross passages. (3) Of
the chief passage, into which all the runs open in the form of arches,
and which leads to the hunting grounds. (4) Of the hunting passages,
which run in all directions.
In this burrow from four to six young ones are born between the middle
of April and June. The mother nurses them with the greatest tenderness,
carrying them away in her mouth whenever danger threatens. But as soon
as they are able to take care of themselves the parents drive them out
of their home, and begin to lead a solitary life again. The mole is a
very useful animal, because it destroys so many injurious insects.
Although it does some harm by means of its mining operations, it is,
nevertheless, more useful than destructive, and ought, therefore, not to
be destroyed unless absolutely necessary.
=Mongoose.=--A small carnivorous animal of India, noted as a destroyer
of snakes, and accordingly encouraged. It does not hesitate to attack
the most venomous serpents, killing them by agility and having no
protection against their poison except its hair and ability to dodge the
blows. The mongoose and its near relative, the ichneumon of northern
Africa, are gray and a little larger than a rat. All make interesting
pets.
=Ocelot= (_Felis pardalis_) is a species, with several varieties, which
is confined to the New World, and ranges from Arkansas in the north to
Patagonia. These animals are inhabitants of forests, and very expert in
climbing trees. Their prey consists in great part of birds. They are
beautifully marked and colored. The coloration varies considerably, but
the ground tint is always a rich red or tawny color; the head, neck, and
legs being also variously spotted or barred with dark brown or black.
=Otter= (_Lutra vulgaris_).--On the upper parts, the fur of the otter is
dark brown, while on the lower parts it is lighter brown. Its body is
about thirty inches long, and its tail eight inches; between its toes
there are web membranes. The otter is rather a water than a land animal.
On land it is clumsy and uneasy in its movements, but in the water quick
and persevering. It hunts fish, and its sharp eyes greatly assist it in
this hunt. It is very seldom seen, as it is very shy and constantly
hiding, mostly committing its depredations during the night. Otter
hunting is, therefore, difficult; but in winter, when the snow has just
fallen, and the water has been frozen over, the spots may be found where
the fish otter enters the water. There it can be killed with a spear.
=Puma, Cougar or Mountain Lion= (_Felis concolor_).--Generally
distributed in North and South America, but rare in those parts which
have been long settled. It is sometimes called the American “lion,”
“panther” (painter), or “catamount.” The fur is thick and close, dark
yellowish red above, lighter on the sides, and reddish white on the
belly; the muzzle, chin, throat, breast, and insides of the legs are
more or less white. Young pumas have dark brown spots in three rows on
the back, and scattered markings elsewhere. The long tail is covered
with thick fur, and is slightly coiled. They are agile in their
movements, and can leap and spring well, but swim only under compulsion.
Many kinds of mammals fall victims to the pumas, and they are the more
disastrous to flocks and herds because of their habit of killing many
more than they devour.
=Raccoon= (_Procyon lotor_).--The fur of the raccoon is a
yellowish-grey-black; its body is about twenty inches long, and its tail
ten inches. It inhabits North America, and feeds on fruit, birds’ eggs,
etc. It has received its name because it is in the habit of rinsing dry
and blood-stained food before eating it, rubbing it between its fore
paws. The eagerness with which it is hunted is best illustrated by the
fact that every year about half a million of its furs are brought into
the market. The flesh of the raccoon is eaten, and its hair is used for
paint brushes.
=Sable= (_Martes zibellina_), a species of Marten. The feet are covered
with fur, even on the soles, and the tail is rather more bushy than in
the martens. The length, exclusive of the tail, is about eighteen
inches. The fur is brown, grayish yellow on the throat, and small,
grayish-yellow spots are scattered on the sides of the neck. The whole
fur is extremely lustrous, and hence of the very highest value. The
sable is a native of Siberia, widely distributed over that country, and
found in its coldest regions, at least wherever forests extend. It is a
very wary animal, and not easily captured. It makes its nest in a hollow
tree, or sometimes, it is said, by burrowing in the ground, and lines it
with moss, leaves, and grass.
=Shrew= (_Soricidæ_), a family of insectivorous animals closely
resembling, in general form and appearance, the true mice and dormice,
but in reality widely differing from and not to be confused with those
rodents. The shrews have the head small, muzzle long and pointed, eyes
small but well developed, external ears usually small; body mouse-like,
covered with hair; limbs short, nearly equal in size, the feet not
adapted for digging; tail nearly naked and scaly. Along the sides of the
body, or at the root of the tail, are peculiar glands, which secrete a
fluid of a very strong odor. The shrews are very widely distributed,
being found over North America and the whole of the eastern hemisphere
except Australia.
The DWARF-SHREW (_S. pygmæus_) is the size of a cockchafer; it is the
smallest of the mammalia, and is so voracious that when hungry it
attacks and kills its own kind.
=Tiger= (_Felis tigris_).--The tiger is the largest and most dangerous
of all the animals of prey. It varies from a yellowish brown to a rust
red in color. It has neither a mane nor a tuft to its tail. Its length
amounts in all to about eight feet, of which thirty-two inches belong to
the tail. It inhabits chiefly the southeastern part of Asia. The tiger
displays neither courage nor pride; but cowardice, cruelty, and malice,
with no trace of majesty. Its strength and rapidity are astonishing.
Tigers, when driven by hunger, even enter the villages, and often force
the inhabitants to retire altogether. They are especially fond of human
flesh. When lying in ambush, their eyes sparkle through the darkness.
Horses scent them from long distances; and fear of this terrible foe
almost paralyzes them.
=Wolf= (_Canis lupus_).--The fur of this animal is yellowish grey with
blackish spots; in its lower parts its color is lighter. It is the size
of a shepherd’s dog. Its whole appearance is unprepossessing; its body
is lean and long; its expression malicious; its ears erect. When it
cannot obtain its favorite food, game or sheep, it feeds on mice, frogs,
and carrion. It sometimes attacks even horses, attempting by a bold jump
to seize them by the throat and pull them down. It knows how to avoid
their kicks, and also how to secure itself against the horns of oxen. It
is ordinarily a coward, like the hyena; but when hungry fears nothing.
It carries away sheep under the very eyes of the shepherd, and even
forces its way into stables. It is cunning and sly, and knows how to
make use of the best opportunities. It is as strong as it is tenacious
of life; with a sheep in its mouth it runs off at a trot; sometimes a
dozen bullets are not sufficient to kill it.
The wolf was formerly spread over all Europe. At the present time it is
still found in great numbers in Hungary, Galicia, Russia, and
Scandinavia, in the Alps and Pyrenees, the Ardennes and Bosges, and in
the northern parts of America, Africa, and Asia, also in central Asia.
It sometimes becomes rabid.
PRAIRIE WOLF, or Coyote (_Canis latrans_) has now been extirpated over
large tracts in Kansas, Nebraska, etc., but it may still be found where
the common wolf has disappeared, owing to its smaller size and less
dangerous character.