Buffon's natural history: containing a full and accurate description of the animated beings in nature

Front matter

1 - <s SGWEEBY,

BAGLAH STEEET, HALIFAX.

THE COTTAGE LIBRARY— (Halifax.)

Part I.— Quadrupeds. Page

The Lion 6

The Tiger 10

The Panther, Ounce, and

Leopard 12

The Jaguar 15

The Couguar 16

The Lynx.. • 17

The Caracal 18

The Hyaena 20

The Civet 22

The Gennet 28

The Bear 25

The Kacoon 34

The Coati 35

The Wolf 36

The Fox 40

The Badger 42

The Otter 44

The Martin 45

The Pine- Weasel 46

The Pole-Cat 47

The Ferret 48

The Weasel 49

The Ermine, or Stoat.. 50

The Squirrel 51

The Rat 52

The Mouse 54

The Hedge-hog 55

The Mole 56

The Guinea Pig 57

The Dormouse 58

The Brown Rat 59

Tile-Elephant 61

The Rhinoceros 68

PAGE

The Bison . 77

The Mufflon, and other

Sheep 81

The Zebra 84

The Tapir, or Anta.... 86 The Hippopotamus... . 87 The Elk and Reindeer. . 91

The Ibex 94

The Saiga 97

The Gazelle, or Antelope ib The Bubalus, or Stag-like Ahtelope 102

The Cwndoma or Striped Antelope 103

The Guib, or Harness*

ed Antelope ib.

The Grimm . . 104

The Gnu ib.

The Musk Animal 105

The Babiroussa, or Indian Hog 107

The Porcupine 108

The Urson, or Canada

Porcupine 109

The Giraffe, or Came-

leopard 110

The Hamster, or German Marmot 112

The Jackal and A dil. .. . 113

The Glutton 114

The Sable 115

The Seal 116

The common Monkey.. 118 The Ourang-Outang/or the Pongo and Jocko ib.

The Baboon 121

The Mandril ...... .... ib.

The Macacco and Egret 122 ii

CONTENTS.

PAGE

The Malbrouck and Chinese Bonnet 123

The striated Monkey.. 124

The Douc 125

The Horse 126

PART II.- The Ostrich - 141

The Cassowary 147

The Dodo 150

The Solitary 151

The Nazarene 152

The Eagle 153

The Condor 158

The Vulture 160

The Falcon 164

The Common Buzzard. . 168 The Goshawk ........ 160

The Shrike, or Butcher

Bird 170

The Owl 171

The Bustard 177

The Cock 179

The Turkey 181

The Guinea-hen 183

The Grouse 184

The Peacock 187

The Pheasant 188

The Trumpeter 190

The Curassow f91

The Partridge 192

The Quail 193

The Pigeon 194

The Turtle-Dove ...... 196

The Raven 198

The Rook 200

The Jackdaw 201

The Magpie 202

The common Jay 203

The Nutcracker 204

The Hoopoe ib

The King Fisher 205

The Cuckoo 206

The Oriole 208

PAGE

The Dog ]82

The Cat 135

The Hare 137

The Babbit 138

-BIRDS.

The Nuthatch 209

The Bee eater ........ 21 0

The Wryneck ib

The Woodpecker 213

The Creeper .... 213

The Toucan ib.

The Hornbill 215

The Ani 216

The Wattle Bird ib.

The Crackle ib.

The Parrot 218

The Cockatoo 220

The Bird of Paradise.. 221

The Beef-eater 223

The Curacui ib.

The Barbets ib.

The Jacamar 224

The Tody ib.

The Humming-bird. .. . ib.

The Stare, or Starling 227

The Thrush 228

The Chatterers 229

The Grosbeaks ib.

The Bullfinch 230

The Bunting ib.

The Finch Genus 231

The Goldfinch 232

The Canary Bird ib.

The Flycatchers 233

The Lark 234

The Wagtail 235

The Titmouse ......... ib-

The Warblers 236

The Nightingale ib.

The Red- breast 237

The Swallow Kind 23q

The Martin .... ..... „40 The Goatsucker ...... 241

CONTENST.

Ill

PAGE

The Coly 242

The Tanager ib.

The Manakins ib.

1 The Spoonbill 243

The Heron 244

The Bittern 246

The Crane ib.

The Ibis 248

- The Curlew 249

The Snipe ib.

The Woodcock 250

The Plover 251

The Oyster Catcher.... 252

The Pratinocle 253

The Rail 254

The GalliDule ib

The Boatbill 255

The Umbre ib.

The Jacana ib.

The Sheathbiil 256

The Phalarope ib.

The Coot 257

PART III. Cetaceous Fishes 283

Whales 284

+ The Grampus, Dolphin

and Porpesse 295

The Porpoise 296

The Shark 298

The Ray 304

The Skate 305

The Torpedo . . 306

The Lamprey 308

The Sturgeon 310

The Lump sucker .... 312 The Sea-porcupine .... 313

Hippocampus. , ib.

The Pipe Fish 314

The Galley Fish ib.

The Eel 318

The Wolf Fish ........ 321

The Launce, or Sand Eel 322

The Sword Fish ib-

Jugular Fishes 323

PAGE

The Grebe 2 '>8

The Auk 259

The Guilemot 262

The Diver ib.

The Tern 263

The Duck ib.

The Swan 265

The tame Goose 266

The tame Duck ib*

The Petrel 268

The Gull 269

The Merganser 271

The Pelican ib.

The Avoset 274

The Flamingo ib.

The Courier 276

The Albatross ib.

The Skimmer 277

The Penguin ib.

The Tropic Bird 279

The Black bellied Darter 280

-FISHES.

The Dragonet 323

The Weever 324

The Cod ib.

The Haddock 325

The Blenny 327

Thoracic Fishes ib.

The Goby, or rock Fish ib.

The Bullhead 328

The Flounder ib.

The Turbot 329

The Plaice ib.

The Doree 331

The Gilthead 332

The Wrasse, or old Wife ib.

The Perch 333

The Mackerel 334

The Surmuiet . ib.

The Gurnard 335

Abdominal Fishes .... ib.

The Loach ib.

CONTENTS.

iv

PAGE

The Salmon. 336

The Trout 337

The Pike 338

The Argentine 340

The Mullet. ib.

The Plying Fish ib.

The Herring 341

The Carp 344

The Gudgeon 346

The Chub 347

The Bleak 348

White Bait ib.

The Gold Pish 349

The Telescope Pish 350

PAGE

The Lobster 352

Tortoises 362

The Turtle 367

Testaceous Pishes 370

Univalve, or Turbinated

Shell Pish ...362

The Garden Snail ib.

Water Snails 375

The Nautilus 376

The Muscle 378

The Oyster 381

The Scallop 382

BUFFON’S

NATURAL HISTORY.

Chapter I. Carnivorous Animals

The Lion — The Tiger— The Panther, Ounce, and Leopard — The Jaguar— The Couguar— The Lynx— The Caracal—* The Hyaena— The Civet and Zibet — The Gennet.

Animals which have but one stomach, and whose intestines are short, are forced, like man, to feed on flesh. Of this affinity, and of this truth, we shall receive certain information by a relative comparison of the size of the intestinal canal in carnivorous animals, and in those that live solely on herbage. We shall then find that the difference in their manner of living depends solely on the difference in their conformation, and that their nourishment is more or less solid as the receptacle for it is more or less capacious.

Hence, however, it is not to be concluded, that those animals which live solely on herbage are, from physical necessity, as carnivorous are with respect to flesh, absolutely confined to one kind of sustenance. It is only to be understood, that those which have several stomachs, or large intestines, may be sup-

NATURAL HISTORY.

ported without this substantial aliment, so necessary to others. It is not meant that they might not use it, or that if Nature had furnished them with arms, not only for the purpose of self defence but for those of attack and rapine, they would not have exerted them, and soon accustomed themselves to flesh and blood : since we And that sheep, calves, goats, horses, greedily eat milk and eggs, which are animal food, and that, unaided by custom, they do notrefusemeat which has been hashed and seasoned with salt.

Without a violation of truth, then, it may be said, that the general predominant appetite of animals is for flesh and other solid food, and that this appetite is more or less vehement, more or less moderate, according to the particular conformation of each animal ; since, on taking a full view of Nature, we find it not only in man, but in quadruped animals, in fishes, in insects, and in worms, for which, indeed, all flesh seems to be particularly and ultimately destined.

THE LION.

It has been remarked, that in all hot climates the terrestrial animals are larger and stronger than in cold or temperate ones. They are also bolder and more ferocious, all their natural qualities seem to partake of the ardour of the climates in which they live. The lion, born beneath the burning sun of Africa, or of India, is above all others the fiercest and most terrible. Our wolves, or other carnivorous animals, far from being his rivals, are hardly worthy to be his providers. The lions of America, if indeed they deserve to be called lions, are, like the climate in which they are produced, infinitely milder than those of Africa ; and what plainly proves that the degree of fierceness in this animal depends on the

THE LION.

degree of heat, is that even in the same country, those which inhabit the high mountains, where the air is more temperate, are different in disposition from those that dwell in the plains, where the heat is ex-

The outward form of the lion seems to speak the superiority of his internal qualities. His figure is striking, his look confident and bold, his gait proud, and his voice terrible. His stature is not overgrown , like that of the elephant or the rhinoceros ; nor is the shape clumsy like that of the hippopotamus or the ox.

His force and muscular power he manifests outwardly by his prodigious leaps and bounds ; by the strong and quick agitation of his tail, wffiich alone is sufficient to throw a man on the ground ; by the facility with which he moves the skin of his face, and

NATURAL HISTORY.

particularly that of his forehead, which adds greatly to his physiognomy, or rather to the expression of fury on his countenance ; and lastly, by the facility he has of shaking his mane, which is not only bristled up, but moved and agitated on all sides when he is enraged.

The largest lions are about eight or nine feet in length, from the snout to the insertion of the tail, which is of itself four feet long; and these large lions are about four or five feet in height. Those of the small size are about five feet and a half in length, and three and a half in height. In all her dimensions, the lioness is about one fourth less than the lion.

The lion is furnished with a mane, which becomes longer in proportion as he advances in age. The lioness, however, is without this appendage at every age.

Both the ancients and the moderns allow that the lion, when newly born, is in size hardly superior to a weasel ; in other words, that he is not more than six or seven inches long ; and if so, some years must necessarily elapse before he can increase to eight or nine feet. They likewise mention that he is not in a condition to walk till two months after he is brought forth ; but, without giving entire credit to these assertions, we may, with great appearance of truth, conclude, that the lion, from the largeness of his size, is at least three or four years in growing, and that, consequently, he must live seven times three or four years, that is, about twenty-five years.

The lion, when hungry, boldly attacks all animals that come in his way ; but, as he is very formidable, and as they all seek to avoid him, he is often obliged to hide, in order to take them by surprise. For this purpose he crouches on his belly, in some thicket or long grass, which is found in many parts of the forest. In this retreat he continues, with patient ex-

THE LION.

pectation, until his prey comes within a proper distance ; and he then springs after it with such a force that he often seizes it at the first bound. If he misses the effort, and in two or three reiterated springs he cannot seize his prey, he continues motionless for a time, seems to be very sensible of his disappointment, and waits for a more favourable opportunity. He devours a great deal at a time, and generally fills himself for two or three days to come. His teeth are so strong that he very easily breaks the bones and swallows them with the rest of the body.

He drinks as often as he meets with water, lapping like a dog. He generally requires about fifteen pounds of raw flesh every day, and seldom devours the bodies of animals when they begin to putrefy ; but he chooses rather to hunt for fresh-spoil than to return to that which he had left half devoured before. While young and active, the lion subsists on what he can obtain by the chase, and seldom quits his native deserts and forests ; but when he becomes old, heavy, and less qualified for exercise, he approaches the habitation of man, to whom, and to domestic animals, he then becomes a more dangerous enemy. It is observed, however, that when he sees men and animals together, it is always on the latter, never on the former, that he vents his fury ; unless indeed he should be struck, and then, never at a loss to know whence the blow came, he instantly deserts his prey in order to obtain revenge for the injury. The flesh of the camel he is said to prefer to that of any other animal. He is likewise exceedingly fond of that of young elephants, which, from their inability to resist him till they have received the assistance of their tusks, he easily despatches when unprotected by the dam; nor are there any animals able to oppose the lion but the elephant, the rhinoceros, the tiger, and the hippopotamus.

NATURAL HISTORY.

The flesh of the lion is of a strong and disagreeable flavour; yet the Negroes and the Indians do not dislike it, and it frequently forms a part of theii food.

THE TIGER.

In the class of carniverous animals the lion is the foremost. Immediately after him follows the tiger ; which, while he possesses all the bad qualities of the former, seems to be a stranger to his good ones. To pride, to courage, to strength, the lion adds greatness, and sometimes, perhaps, clemency ; while the tiger, without provocation is fierce, without necessity is cruel. Thus it is throughout all the classes of nature, in which the superiority of rank proceeds from the superiority of strength. The first class, sole masters of all, are less tyrannical than the inferior classes, which, denied so full an exertion of authority, abuse the power entrusted to them.

The form of the body usually corresponds with the nature, the disposition of the animal. The tiger, with a body too long, with limbs too short, with a head uncovered, and with the eyes ghastly and hag-

THE TIGER. 11

gard, has no characteristics but those of the basest and most insatiable cruelty.

The tiger is found in Malabar, in Siam, in Bengal, and in all the countries which are inhabited by the elephant and rhinoceros. Dellon in his travels assures us that there is no country of India in which tigers so much abound as Malabar, that there the species are numerous, but that the largest is that which the Portuguese call the Royal Tiger , which is very rare, and is as large as a horse.

The species of the tiger has always been much rarer, and much less generally diffused, than that of the lion. Like the lioness, nevertheless, the tigress produces four or five young ones at a birth. From her nature she is fierce at all times ; but when surrounded with her infant progeny, and in the smallest danger of losing them, her rage, her fury, becomes extravagant. To oppose the daring invaders of her den, she braves every danger. On such occasions, she pursues the spoiler with an enmity the most inveterate ; and he, contented to lose a part, in order to save a part, is frequently obliged to drop one of her cubs. With this she immediately returns to her den and again pursues him ; he then drops another ; and by the time she has returned with that, he generally escapes with the remainder. Should her young ones be torn from her entirely, with hideous cries she expresses her agony, her despair, and follows the captor to the very town or ship in which he may have taken refuge, and dares him, as it were, to come forth.

The skins of these animals are much esteemed all over the East, particularly in China.

THE PANTHER, OUNCE, AND LEOPARD.

The first of these species which exist on the Old Continent, is the large panther, which we shall call pawner, which the Greeks distinguish by the name of pardalis , the ancient Latins, first by the name of panthera , afterwards by that of pardus , and the modern Latins by the name of leopardus. The body of this animal, when it has attained its full growth, is five or six feet in length from the tip of the nose to the insertion of the tail, which is above two feet long. Its skin is of a yellow hue, more or less dark on the back and sides, and whitish under the belly ; it is marked with black spots annular, or in the form of beads ; of these rings the generality have one or more spots in the centre, of the same colour as the outward edge of the ring ; some of them are oval, and others circular ; and they are frequently above three inches in diameter.

The Ounce, the second species, is the small panther of Oppian, which our modern travellers have called ounce, or onza , corruptly from the nam elynx, or lunx. To this animal we shall preserve the name of ounce , which, as it has in fact some affinity to the

THE OUNCE THE LEOPARD. 13 lynx, seems to be properly applied. The hair of the ounce, as also its tail, are longer than those of the panther. The latter frequently measures above three feet ; though the body of this animal is in all at least a third less than that of the panther, whose tail does not measure more than two feet or two and a half at most. The hair of the ounce is of a whitish grey upon the back and sides, and of a grey still whiter under the belly ; whereas the back and sides of the panther are of a yellow more or less deep. In both, however, the spots are nearly of the same form, and of the same size.

NATURAL HISTORY.

The Leopard is the third species, which is unnoticed by the ancients, as it belongs to Senegal, to Guinea, and to other southern countries which they had not discovered. This animal we shall call leopard ; a name which has been improperly applied to the large panther, but which, following the example of the generality of travellers, we shall never use except to denote the above mentioned animal of Senegal. It is somewdiat larger than the ounce, but considerably smaller than the panther, being only four feet in length. The tail measures two feet ortwofeetand a half. On the back and sides the hair is of a yellow colour, more or less deep ; under the belly it is whitish ; the spots are annular, but smaller and less regularly disposed.

As each of these animals is different from the other so each forms a separate species. Our furriers call the skins of the first species panther skins, a name, which, as it is established by use, we shall not change; those of the second species they call African tiger skins, which, being an equivocal name, we have set aside, and adopted that of ounce ; lastly, they improperly call tiger skins the skins of the animal to which we have here given the denomination of leopard .

The species of the ounce seems to be more numerous, as well as more generally diffused, than that of the panther. In Barbary, in Arabia, and in all the southern parts of Asia, Egypt perhaps excepted, it is very common. Even in China it is not unknown, and there it is distinguished by the name of hinen-pao.

The ounce is easily tamed, and is employed for the chase in the hot climates of Asia, where the dog is an animal rarely to be found, not to be found at all indeed, unless introduced from other parts ; and

THE JAGUAR.

then it not only loses its voice but its instinct. B esides, the panther, the ounce, and the leopard are alike remarkable for bearing an insuperable antipathy to dogs ; them, indeed, they seem to hunt for, and to attack, in preference to all other animals.

Resembles the ounce in size, and for the most part in the form of the spots with which his skin is diversified. In disposition he also resembles him. He is less terrible, less ferocious than the panther and leopard. The ground of his colour, like that of the latter, is a bright yellow, and not grey, like that of the ounce. His tail is shorter than that of either of those animals ; his hair is longer than the panther’s, but shorter than that of the ounce ; it is frizzled while he is young, but smooth and straight when he attains his full growth.

The jaguar lives by prey like the tiger ; but a lighted torch will put him to flight, will deprive him c '(

THE JAGUAR

NATURAL HISTORY.

all courage, all vivacity ; and on such occasions, especially if already satiated, one dog alone is sufficient to give him chase. He seems in all respects to partake of the indolence arising from the nature of the climate ; nor does he discover any activity or alertness unless when pressed by hunger.

THE COUGUAR

Is equal in length, but inferior in thickness to the jaguar. He has a small head, a long tail, short hair, which is nearly of one entire colour — a lively red, intermixed with a few blackish tints, particularly on the upper part of the back. His chin is whitish, as are also his neck and all the inferior parts of his body. Though less strong than the jaguar, he is yet to the full as fierce, and perhaps more cruel. He appears to be yet more greedy of prey ; nor, when once seized, does he ever offer to relinquish it, till he has fully glutted his appetite and his blood-thirsty fury.

This animal is not uncommon in Guiana. Formerly couguars were known to swim over in numbers to the island of Cayenne, in order to attack and devour the flocks, insomuch that they were considered as a scourge to the colony. By degrees, however, the settlers lessened their number, and at length they completely drove those that remained far from their habitations.

The couguar, by the agility of his body, and the length of his legs, seems calculated to run and climb trees better than the jaguar. They are both equally remarkable for sloth and cowardice when once glutted with prey ; and seldom are they known to attack men, unless when they find them asleep. They delight in the lofty shades of forests, where they hide themselves in the covert of some thick trees in order to dart forth on such animals as pass by.

THE LYNX

Is an animal more commonly found in cold than in temperate climates, and is at least very rare in hot ones. It was known to the Greeks and to the Latins. Pliny says that the first that were seen in Rome were brought in the time of Pompey, from Gaul. At present they are not seen in France, a few perhaps excepted belonging to the Alpine and Pyrensean Mountains, But the Romans, under the name of Gaul, comprehended several northern countries ; and besides, it is an acknowledged truth, that modern France is by no means so cold as was ancient Gaul.

The most beautiful skins of the lynx are brought from Siberia, as belonging to the lupus cervarius ; and from Canada, as belonging to the felix cervarius ; because being, like all other animals of the New Continent, smaller than those of the Old World, in Europe they are compared to a wolf in size, and in Canada to a wild cat.

The lynx has short legs, and is generally about the size of a fox. It differs from the panther and the ounce in the following particulars : it has long hair, its marks or spots are of a colour less lively, and are

1*0 13

NATURAL HISTORY.

badly disposed ; its ears are surrounded at the extremity by a stripe, or rather tint, of black hair ; its tail, which is much shorter, is black at the tip ; its eyes have a whitish cast, and its countenance has something in it more agreeable and less ferocious. The skin of the male is more beautifully marked than that of the female. It does not walk or run like the wolf in a progressive motion, but leaps and bounds like a cat. It gains its whole subsistence by devouring other animals ; and these it will pursue to the very tops of trees. Neither can the wild cat, the martin, the ermine, nor the squirrel escape its pursuit. It also seizes birds, lies in wait for the stag, the roebuck, and the hare, and with one bound often seizes them by the throat. When in possession of of its prey, it first sucks the blood of the animal, and then lays open his head in order to devour thebrains. This done, it generally abandons the victim of itfs fury, goes in search of fresh prey, and is seldom known to return to the former ; a circumstance which has given rise to the vulgar remark, that of all the animals the lynx has the shortest memory. The skin of this animal changes its colour according to the season and the climate. In winter it is in every respect better than it is in the summer; and its flesh, like the flesh of all beasts of prey, it is not proper to eat.

THE CARACAL.

Though the caracal resembles the lynx in size, in the formation of the bod)/ , the aspect of the head ; and though, like that animal, it seems to have the peculiar, and almost singular characteristic of a stripe of black hair at the extremity of the ears ; I do not scruple, nevertheless, from their disagreement in other respects, to treat of them as animals of different species.

THE CARACAL.

The caracal is not spotted like the lynx; it has hair rougher and shorter, its tail is larger, and of an uniform colour, its snout is more elongated; in appearance it is less mild, and in dispositionit is fiercer. The lynx is an inhabitant of the cold, or of most of the temperate regions ; the caracal is only found in , hot countries ; and it is as much from their difference in disposition and climate that I have judged them to be of two different species, as from the inspection and comparison of the animals themselves.

The caracal is common in Barbary, in Arabia, and in all those countries which are inhabited by the lion, the panther, and the ounce ; like them it depends on prey for its subsistence; but unlike them, from its inferior size, its inferior strength, to procure that prey it has much difficulty. Hardly, indeed, has it aught to subsist on but what the more potent carnivorous animals are disposed to leave for it. It keeps at a distance from the panther, because that animal exercises its cruelty even after he is satisfied with food ; but it follows the lion, who, when the immediate cravings of his appetite are gratified, is of a disposition altogether unhostiie. From the refuse of

NATURAL HISTORY.

what this noble animal has devoured, the caracal frequently enjoys a comfortable meal. Sometimes even while the other is in search of prey, depending on his agility in climbing trees, it accompanies him at a certain distance, and when self preservation seems to render it necessary, perching itself aloft, it braves the fury of the lion, who cannot ascend after it like the panther. For all these reasons it is that the caracal has been called, “ the lion’s guide,” “ the lion’s provider and that the lion, whose smell is far from being acute, is said to employ this animal to find out prey for him by its scent, of which, for its trouble, it enjoys the remains when its master is satisfied.

THE HYAENA.

So striking, and even so singular are the characteristics of the hyaena, that it is hardly possible to be deceived by them. It is, perhaps, the only quadruped which has but four toes to either the fore or hind feet ; like the badger it has an aperture under the tail, which does not penetrate into the interior parts of the body; its ears are long, straight, and bare; its head is more square, and shorter than that of the

THE HYJENA wolf ; its legs, the hind ones especially, are longer ; its eyes are placed like those of the dog; the hair of its body and its mane are of a dark grey, with a small intermixture of yellow and black disposed all along in waves ; and though in size it equals the wolf, yet it has a contracted appearance, on which account alone it could ever have been considered as smaller than that animal.

This solitary creature resides in the caverns of mountains, in the clefts of rocks, or in dens which it has formed for itself under the earth. Though taken ever so young, it is yet incapable ofbeing tamed. It lives by depredation like the wolf; but it is a ► stronger animal and seemingly more daring. It sometimes attacks man, carries off cattle, follows the flocks, breaks open the sheep-cotes by night, and ravages with a voracity insatiable. By night also its eyes shine ; and it is maintained that he sees better than in the day. If we may credit all the naturalists who have treated of this animal, its cry resembles the sobs or Teachings of a man in a violent fit of vomiting; but, according to Ksempfer, who was an ear-witness of the fact, it sounds like the lowing of a calf.