enterprise. The Indians hunt them for their skins, which they sell as
"Buffalo robes," the Bison being commonly called a Buffalo by them, as
well as for food. The Rev. J. G. Wood says, "The hunters take advantage
of the gregarious instincts of this animal, and hunt them when they are
collected together in their vast herds, which blacken the face of the
prairie for miles. Sometimes they form in line, and drive the herd to
the edge of some tall cliff, over which they fall in hundreds, those
behind pushing on those in the van; or sometimes they form a large
circle, driving the animals into a helpless and leaderless mass, into
which the hunters spring, leaving their horses, and treading with the
skill of rope-dancers on the backs of the bewildered bisons, whom they
slaughter as they pass, stepping from one to the other, and driving the
sharp blade of their spear through the spine of the animal whose back
they have just quitted. When only wounded the Bison is a most dangerous
antagonist, and rushes on its enemy with the most determined ferocity."
The Eastern Bison lives in the forests of Bialowesha in Lithuania under
the protection of the Czar of Russia. The numbers are much smaller than
those of North-America but they are said to be more fierce.
The Buffalo.
The Buffalo, which must not be confused with the Bison, is similar in
appearance to an ox, which it often exceeds in size. It has no hump on
its shoulder as the Bison has, but it has much longer horns, horns that
often measure three feet in length, and is much fiercer in their use.
The Indian Buffalo will attack the hunter when it is brought to bay, and
unless the hunter can despatch him as he approaches, there is no chance
for him at close quarters. These Buffaloes, however, may be tamed and
are often trained to and employed in useful service.
Hunting the Indian Buffalo.
Captain Brown gives the following account of a Buffalo hunt which took
place at Keshennagar, in Hindostan, when four gentlemen on horseback
chased a herd of seven buffaloes and a calf for a long distance. "After
having followed them three miles, the young one separated from the herd,
and joined some tame cattle belonging to a neighbouring village. It was
killed by the party, who afterwards continued the pursuit of the old
ones, when they were overtaken in a high grass jungle four miles farther
off. They were quickly driven from this place, and closely followed for
more than six miles over a plain: at length the party succeeded in
separating one buffalo from the herd. Here the encounter began. After
receiving several wounds, he still continued his flight; he suddenly
halted, and kept his pursuers at bay; after a short interval he again
fled, and was pursued and wounded as before, carrying the spears
sticking in his back and sides for several hundred yards. Lieutenant
White, of the 15th Native Infantry, rode up very close to him, threw his
spear, and wounded the animal in the loins. His horse being much
exhausted, was unable to wheel round before the buffalo turned about and
charged with such vigour, that both horse and rider were overthrown, and
lay many yards distant. Fortunately, the lieutenant received no material
injury; and when the animal approached he had the presence of mind to
lie flat on his back. The beast approached, but stood at his feet,
without offering any violence. The other sportsmen called repeatedly to
their companion to arise and escape. For some time, however, he
disregarded the advice, fearful of the consequences; at length, in
compliance with their entreaty, he arose; the buffalo instantly rushed
forward, but Mr. White escaped by throwing himself down; while the
enraged beast, missing his aim, fell on the ground, his horns grazing
Mr. White's back, as he passed over him. After this lucky escape, he
seized the favourable opportunity, and regained his horse. The buffalo
then took refuge in a tank; and when his former opponent joined his
companions, who were standing upon the bank, the animal issued forth,
and selecting Lieutenant White for the object of its vengeance, pursued
him to a considerable distance. The animal was now rendered quite
furious, and attacked everything within his reach, such as cows and
dogs. Unfortunately, an old woman returning from market passed, and
became the victim of his rage; she was taken up without any appearance
of life, having her arms broken, and many wounds. The cavalry being,
from fatigue, _hors de combat_, could not renew the attack; and the
buffaloes, whose system was retreat, having gained a victory, now
continued their course without molestation."
The Cape Buffalo.
The Cape Buffalo is the fiercest of the Bull family. He will charge a
lion or a tiger and often come off victor in the strife. According to
Mr. Pringle he is considerably larger than the domestic ox; the bony pad
on his forehead making a complete helmet, and it is impossible to pierce
him with bullets which have not been hardened by tin. He is said to be
fierce, treacherous, and savage; and even when not provoked, to attack
any man who strays near his haunts, skulking in the jungle when he sees
him approach, and then suddenly rushing out upon him. Having tossed his
enemy to his heart's content or thrown him down, he will trample and
gore him, tearing off his skin with his tongue, until he is shockingly
mutilated. He is one of the few animals which seem to cherish the spirit
of revenge.
Hunting the Cape Buffalo.
Mr. Pringle gives the following description of a Cape Buffalo hunt. "A
party of boers had gone out to hunt a herd of buffaloes which were
grazing on a piece of marshy ground. As they could not get within shot
of the game without crossing part of the marsh, which was not safe for
the horses, they agreed to leave them in charge of the Hottentots, and
advance on foot, thinking that if any of the buffaloes should turn upon
them, it would be easy to escape by retreating across the quagmire,
which, though passable for man, would not support the weight of a heavy
quadruped. They advanced accordingly, and, under a covert of the bushes,
approached the game with such advantage that the first volley brought
down three of the fattest of the herd, and so severely wounded the great
bull leader that he dropped on his knees, bellowing furiously. Thinking
him mortally wounded, the foremost of the huntsmen issued from the
covert, and began reloading his musket as he advanced to give him a
finishing shot. But no sooner did the infuriated animal see his foe in
front of him, than he sprang up and rushed headlong upon him. The man,
throwing down his heavy gun, fled towards the quagmire; but the beast
was so close upon him that he despaired of escaping in that direction,
and turning suddenly round a clump of copsewood, began to climb an old
mimosa tree which stood at one side of it. The raging beast, however,
was too quick for him. Bounding forward with a roar which my informant
described as being one of the most frightful sounds he ever heard, he
caught the unfortunate man with his terrible horns just as he had nearly
escaped his reach, and tossed him into the air with such force that the
body fell, dreadfully mangled, into a cleft of the tree. The buffalo ran
round the tree once or twice, apparently looking for the man, until,
weakened with loss of blood, he again sank on his knees. The rest of
the party, recovering from their confusion, then came up and despatched
him, though too late to save their comrade, whose body was hanging in
the tree quite dead."
The Zebu.
The Zebu is found in India, China, Arabia, Persia and Africa. It is of
about the same size as a cow, but is distinguished by the possession of
a hump upon its shoulders, giving it some resemblance to the Bison. It
is used both for riding and driving in India, where it admirably serves
the purposes of a horse, travelling at the rate of six miles an hour for
many hours at a stretch and leaping obstacles with the facility of a
practised hunter. It is also used for ploughing land and threshing corn.
The Yak.
The Yak belongs to Western Thibet. It is of singular appearance, having
the head of a bull and the hump of a Bison, and being covered with long
hair reaching almost to the ground. In a wild state it is savage and
dangerous, but it is brought under cultivation by the Tartars, who use
it as a beast of burden and make ropes and garments from its hair. The
female yields rich milk from which excellent butter is made; butter
which is stored in bladders from which the air is excluded. It is then
carried to market by the faithful animal which has produced it.
The Antelopes.
The Antelopes are numerous in kind and various in form, too numerous and
various to be separately described. The Eland, the largest and heaviest
of the species, belongs to South Africa; the Bosch-bok, to South and
Central Africa, the Harnessed Antelope to West Africa; and the Nylghau
to India. The Leucoryx and the Addax are found in North Africa, the
Equine Antelopes in tropical Africa and the Cape. The Pallah herds in
South Africa. The Prong-horned Antelope belongs to North America,
inhabiting the Rocky Mountains and the districts both north and south.
The Bay Antelope is found on the Gold Coast, the Four-horned Antelope in
India. The Gnu or Wildebeest belongs to South Africa and the Chamois and
the Izard to the Pyrenees.
The Gazelle.
The Gazelle, of which there are numerous species, belongs to Syria,
Egypt and Algeria. It is a beautiful animal, resembling a roebuck, but
more delicately and finely limbed, with hair equally short, but finer
and more glossy. It has a small tuft of hair on each of its fore limbs.
Of all animals in the world, gazelles are said to have the most
beautiful eyes--extremely brilliant, and yet meek and expressive. Their
swiftness is equal to that of the roe; they do not, however, bound
forward like the roe, but run along in an even, uninterrupted course.
Most of them are brown upon the back, white under the belly with a black
stripe separating these colours. Their horns are annulated or ringed
round.
The Sheep and the Goat.
The sheep, so useful to man, furnishing him with both food and clothing,
is one of the most defenceless and inoffensive of all animals. The goat
is more hardy, more playful, lively, and vagrant than the sheep. It
delights in climbing precipices, for which nature has fitted it, by
giving it hoofs hollow underneath, with sharp edges, so that it walks
securely on narrow ridges. Both animals have been known from the
earliest times, and are frequently mentioned in the Sacred Writings. Of
the different kinds of sheep, the common sheep, the long-tailed sheep
and the Wallachian sheep are typical varieties. The common sheep
provides us with our chief supplies of wool. The wool of the Spanish
sheep (the merino) is finer in quality, but much less in quantity. The
long-tailed sheep belongs to Syria and Egypt, and the Wallachian sheep
to Crete, Wallachia, Hungary, and Western Asia. This last has long
horns, and its wool is mixed with hair. The musk sheep of Arctic America
resembles the yak somewhat in appearance, though minus the hump and with
horns more resembling those of the buffalo. It is sometimes called the
musk ox. The goat is not much used in England, but it is practically the
cow of Syria and Switzerland. The Cashmir goat produces the fine wool so
much valued for shawl material; the kid, the materials so largely used
by the glove makers. The ibex belongs to the Carpathians, the Pyrenees,
and the Savoy Alps, though it is now but rarely found in places where it
was once abundant.
The Intelligence of the Sheep.
Mr. W. H. G. Kingston tells an interesting story of a ewe, bred in the
neighbourhood of Sheep. Edinburgh who was driven into Perthshire, a
distance of upwards of a hundred miles, to a place where she became the
mother of a lamb. Not liking her new quarters, she evidently determined
to revisit the old, and set off with that purpose, taking her lamb with
her. Arrived at Stirling she found the place alive with the excitement
of an annual fair. Not deeming it prudent to increase the excitement she
rested on the north side of the town throughout the day, where she was
noticed by many people, but molested by none. Early the following
morning she crossed the town and proceeded on her journey. Arrived at
the toll bar of St. Ninians, she was stopped by the toll keeper who
supposed her to be a stray sheep. Unable to get through the gate, she
turned back, made a circuitous detour and reached her old home after a
journey of nine days. Her former owner rewarded her by repurchasing her
and allowing her to remain on his farm until her death, which occurred
at the mature age of seventeen years. The sense of locality noticed in
the cat, the dog, the horse, and other animals is here seen to be
characteristic of the sheep. Mr. Kingston tells another story of a ewe
who, unable to extricate a lamb which had become entangled in a hedge,
made her way through several hedges into a neighbouring field and
fetched a ram to its assistance, thus effecting its liberation. Sheep
have also been known to seek and secure the assistance of cattle when in
difficulty.
Sheep and Music.
Haydn the composer tells a pretty story of the power of music over the
mountain sheep in the neighbourhood of Lago Maggiore in Lombardy.
"Having reached the middle of the ascent by daybreak," he says, "we
stopped to contemplate the Borromean Isles, which were displayed under
our feet, when we were surrounded by a flock of sheep, which were
leaving their fold to go to pasture. One of our party, who was no bad
performer on the flute, and who always carried the instrument with him,
took it out of his pocket. 'I am going,' said he, 'to turn Corydon; let
us see whether Virgil's sheep will recognise their pastor.' He began to
play. The sheep and goats, which were following one another towards the
mountain with their heads hanging down, raised them at the first sound
of the flute, and all, with a general and hasty movement, turned to the
side from whence the agreeable noise proceeded. They gradually flocked
round the musician, and listened with motionless attention. He ceased
playing, and the sheep did not stir. The shepherd with his staff now
obliged them to move on; but no sooner did the fluter begin again than
his innocent auditors again returned to him. The shepherd, out of
patience, pelted them with clods of earth; but not one of them would
move. The fluter played with additional skill; the shepherd fell into a
passion, whistled, scolded, and pelted the poor creatures with stones.
Such as were hit by them began to march, but the others still refused to
stir. At last the shepherd was forced to entreat our Orpheus to stop his
magic sounds; the sheep then moved off, but continued to stop at a
distance as often as our friend resumed the agreeable instrument. As
music was our continual employment, we were delighted with our
adventure; we reasoned upon it the whole day, and concluded that
physical pleasure is the basis of all interest in music."
ORDER VIII.
The Elephant.
Of the elephant there is now but one genus and two species; respectively
the Indian and the African varieties. At least fourteen species are
known to be extinct.
The elephant is the largest of the quadrupeds; his height is from eight
to fourteen feet; his length is ten to fifteen feet. His form resembles
that of a hog; his eyes are small and lively; his ears are broad, long,
and pendulous. He has two large tusks, and a trunk or proboscis at the
extremity of the nose, which he uses to take his food with, and, in case
of necessity, for attack or defence. His legs are thick and long, and
his feet are divided into five rounded toes. His colour is a dark ash
brown. There are elephants, however, of a white or cream colour. The
African is distinguished from the Indian variety by the size of its
ears, which in the African species are very large. Dr. Livingstone gave
the measurement of the ears of a female he killed, as four feet five
inches in depth and four feet in horizontal breadth, and said he had
seen a native creep under one so as to be completely covered from the
rain. The ear of the Indian variety is not more than a third of this
size. Generally the elephants of Africa and especially those of the
south are larger than those of India. The most striking characteristic
of the elephant is his trunk. "In this," says the Rev. J. G. Wood,
"there are about forty thousand muscles, enabling the elephant to
shorten, lengthen, coil up, or move in any direction this most
extraordinary organ. The trunk is pierced throughout its length by two
canals, through which liquids can be drawn by suction. If the elephant
wishes to drink, after drawing the liquid into its trunk, it inserts the
end of its proboscis into its mouth, and discharges the contents down
its throat; but if it merely wishes to wash itself or play, it blows the
contained liquid from the trunk with great violence. Through the trunk
the curious trumpet-like voice of the elephant is produced. At the
extremity is a finger-like appendage, with which it can pick up small
objects." The elephant is thirty years old before he attains maturity.
He lives on foliage, herbs, and fruits, having a special taste for those
which are sweet.
The Wild Elephant.
The elephant is naturally a quiet and inoffensive animal, and being
gifted with an unusually keen scent and sense of hearing, will usually
decamp on the approach of danger. If wounded, however, he will
sometimes turn upon his aggressor with terrible vengeance. Mr. Burchell,
the South African traveller, gives a painful illustration of this. He
says:--"Carl Krieger was a fearless hunter, and being an excellent
marksman, often ventured into the most dangerous situations. One day
having, with his party, pursued an elephant which he had wounded, the
irritated animal suddenly turned round, and singling out from the rest
the person by whom he had been injured, seized him with his trunk, and
lifting his wretched victim high in the air, dashed him with dreadful
force to the ground. His companions, struck with horror, fled
precipitately from the fatal scene, unable to look back upon the rest of
the dreadful tragedy; but on the following day they repaired to the
spot, where they collected the few bones that could be found, and buried
them. The enraged animal had not only literally trampled Krieger's body
to pieces, but did not feel its vengeance satisfied till it had pounded
the very flesh and bones into the dust, so that nothing of the
unfortunate man remained excepting a few of the latter, which made most
resistance from their size." Another elephant seized a soldier of the
Royal African Corps, threw him down, brought his four feet together and
stamped upon him until he was dead; then seizing the body with his
trunk, threw it into the jungle.
Elephant Herds.
Major Skinner in a communication made to Sir E. Tennant gives the
following graphic description of the actions of a herd of elephants he
watched on one occasion in the north of Ceylon. Knowing that from the
scarcety of water at that time and place a large herd of elephants which
he knew to be in the neighbourhood must visit a certain pool during the
night he made his preparations accordingly. He says:--"Having ordered
the fires of my camp to be extinguished at an early hour, and all my
followers to retire to rest, I took up my post of observation on an
overhanging bough; but I had to remain for upwards of two hours before
anything was to be seen or heard of the elephants, although I knew they
were within 500 yards of me. At length, about the distance of 300 yards
from the water, an unusually large elephant issued from the dense cover,
and advanced cautiously across the open ground to within 100 yards of
the tank, where he stood perfectly motionless. So quiet had the
elephants become (although they had been roaring and breaking the jungle
throughout the day and evening) that not a movement was now to be heard.
The huge vidette remained in his position, still as a rock, for a few
minutes, and then made three successive stealthy advances of several
yards (halting for some minutes between each, with ears bent forward to
catch the slightest sound), and in this way he moved slowly up to the
water's edge. Still he did not venture to quench his thirst; for though
his forefeet were partially in the tank, and his vast body was reflected
clear in the water, he remained for some minutes listening in perfect
stillness. Not a motion could be perceived in himself or his shadow. He
returned cautiously and slowly to the position he had at first taken up
on emerging from the forest. Here in a little while he was joined by
five others, with which he again proceeded as cautiously but less slowly
than before, to within a few yards of the tank, and then posted his
patrols. He then re-entered the forest and collected around him the
whole herd, which must have amounted to between eighty and a hundred
individuals, led them across the open ground with the most extraordinary
composure and quietness till he joined the advance guard, when he left
them for a moment and repeated his former reconnaissance at the edge of
the tank. After which and having apparently satisfied himself that all
was safe, he returned and obviously gave the order to advance, for in a
moment the whole herd rushed into the water with a degree of unreserved
confidence, so opposite to the caution and timidity which had marked
their previous movements, that nothing will ever persuade me that there
was not rational and preconcerted co-operation throughout the whole
party, and a degree of responsible authority exercised by the patriarch
leader.
"When the poor animals had gained possession of the tank (the leader
being the last to enter), they seemed to abandon themselves to enjoyment
without restraint or apprehension of danger. Such a mass of animal life
I had never before seen huddled together in so narrow a space. It seemed
to me as if they would have nearly drunk the tank dry. I watched them
with great interest until they had satisfied themselves as well in
bathing as in drinking, when I tried how small a noise would apprise
them of the proximity of unwelcome neighbours. I had but to break a
little twig, and the solid mass instantly took flight like a herd of
frightened deer, each of the smaller calves being apparently shouldered
and carried along between two of the older ones. In drinking, the
elephant, like the camel, although preferring water pure, shows no
decided aversion to it when discoloured with mud; and the eagerness with
which he precipitates himself into the tanks and streams attests his
exquisite enjoyment of the fresh coolness, which to him is the chief
attraction. In crossing deep rivers, although his rotundity and buoyancy
enable him to swim with a less immersion than other quadrupeds, he
generally prefers to sink till no part of his huge body is visible
except the lip of his trunk through which he breathes, moving beneath
the surface, and only now and then raising his head to look that he is
keeping the proper direction."
Elephant Friendships.
The affection shown by elephants for each other has often had pathetic
illustration. Two elephants, male and female, which had been brought
separately to Paris, were placed in adjoining apartments divided by a
portcullis. The male soon discovered that this was fastened by a bolt
well within his reach, and hastily withdrawing it rushed into the other
apartment. The meeting is described as indescribable. Their cries of
joy, says Mrs. Bowdich, shook the whole building, and they blew air from
their trunks resembling the blasts from smiths' bellows. The female
moved her ears with great rapidity, and entwined her trunk round the
body of the male. The male encircled her with his trunk and shed tears.
The Elephant's Sagacity.