Part 2
The length of this animal does not exceed seven inches: its height is two inches and a half. The most usual colour of the Weasel is a pale reddish brown on the back, sides, and legs; the throat and belly are white. This animal is very common, and well known in this country; it is destructive to young birds, poultry, and rabbits, and is a keen devourer of eggs. It will follow a young hare, which becomes so terrified as to give itself up to it without resistance, making at the same time the most piteous outcries.
[Illustration:
THE WEASEL. ]
The Weasel is very useful to the farmer. During the winter it frequents his barns and granaries, which it clears of rats and mice; it is a more deadly enemy to them than even the Cat; for being more active and slender it pursues them into their holes, and kills them quickly. Though the Weasel is a wild little animal, there are instances to prove, that it is capable of being made quite tame. They have been taught to lick the hand from which they receive their food, and even to follow their master.
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THE MARTIN.
[Illustration:
THE MARTIN. ]
The Martin lives chiefly in the pine-tree forests of North America. The principal difference between the Pine-Weasel and the Martin is in the colour. The breast of the former is yellow; the colour of the body much darker; and the fur in general, greatly superior in fineness, beauty, and value. The Martin is about eighteen inches long; the tail is ten inches long, and full of hair, especially towards the end, which is thick and bushy; the ears are broad, round and open; the body is covered with a thick fur, of a dark brown colour: the head is brown, mixed with red; the throat and breast are white; the feet are broad, and covered on the under side with a thick fur; the claws are white, large, and sharp, well adapted for climbing trees, where it mostly lives. The skin has a very nice scent; its fur is valuable, and highly prized. When taken young, it is easily tamed, and becomes very playful and good-humoured, but is not to be depended upon. It readily takes advantage of the first opportunity to regain its liberty, and retire to the woods. The food of the Martin consists of rats, mice, poultry, game, birds, and grain, and it is also extremely fond of honey.
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THE FERRET.
[Illustration:
THE FERRET. ]
This little creature is a native of Africa, and is only known to us in a domestic state. It is unable to bear a cold climate, and cannot live without great care and shelter. It is usually kept in a box, with wool, of which it makes itself a warm bed. It sleeps a great part of the day; and the moment it awakes, it seems eager for its food, which is commonly bread and milk. The length of the Ferret is about fourteen inches; the tail is five inches long; its nose is sharper than that of the Weasel, its ears are round, and its eyes red and fiery: the colour of the whole body is a very pale yellow. When employed to clear the rabbit warren, it must be muzzled, that it may not kill the rabbits in their holes, but only oblige them to come out, that the warrener may catch them in his nets. If the Ferret be suffered to go in without a muzzle, or should free himself from it whilst in the hole, there is great danger of losing it: for, after satisfying itself with blood, it falls asleep, and it is then almost impossible to get at it. The most usual method is by digging it out, or smoking the hole. If these do not succeed, it continues during the summer among the rabbit holes, and lives upon the prey it finds there; but is sure to perish in the winter.
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THE POLECAT.
[Illustration:
THE POLECAT. ]
The Polecat is not afraid of mankind, but approaches our dwellings with confidence, mounts to their roofs, and often lives in barns, hay-lofts, or other places that are much frequented. From thence he prowls about under the shadow of night, to attack the poultry. He is very active, and runs fast. While running, his belly seems to touch the ground; but in preparing to jump, he arches his back very much, by means of which the force of his spring is greatly increased. The Polecat, during summer, lives in woods, or about rabbit-warrens. Here, if he cannot find a hole ready made that suits him, he forms a retreat for himself, in the ground, about two yards in length, which he contrives, if he can, to end among the roots of some large tree. From thence he often comes forth and destroys game and rabbits. These animals are also very fond of honey; and in winter when the bees are weakened by the coldness of the season, they have been known to attack the hives and to devour their contents very eagerly.
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THE BADGER.
[Illustration:
THE BADGER. ]
This animal is a native of Europe, but is known to live in warm countries. It is found, without any variety, in Spain, France, Italy, Germany, Britain, Poland, and Sweden. The usual length of the Badger is somewhat above two feet, and the tail is about six inches long; its eyes are small, and are placed in a black stripe which begins behind the ears, and runs towards the nose; the throat and legs are black; the back, sides, and tail, are of a dirty grey, mixed with black; the legs and feet are very short, strong, and thick; each foot has five toes; those on the fore feet are armed with strong claws, well adapted for digging.
Although furnished with powerful weapons of offence, and having besides strength to use them with great effect, it is very harmless and inoffensive; and unless attacked, employs them only for its support. The Badger retires to the most secret places, where it digs its hole, and forms its dwelling under ground. Its food consists chiefly of roots, fruits, grass, insects, and frogs. Few creatures defend themselves better, or bite with greater keenness, than the Badger. On that account it has been often baited with dogs trained for the purpose; but, happily, little is now heard of this very cruel sport. The Badger is a very sleepy animal. It keeps its hole during the day, and feeds only in the night.
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THE FOX.
[Illustration:
THE FOX. ]
The Fox is a native of almost every quarter of the globe; and is of so wild and savage a nature that it is said to be impossible fully to tame him: when partially so, he is very playful; but will on the least offence, bite those with whom he is most familiar. He possesses more cunning than any other beast of prey. This quality he shows in his mode of providing for himself a place of security, where he retires from pressing dangers, and brings up his young; and his craftiness is also discovered by his schemes to catch lambs, geese, hens, and all kinds of small birds.
When he can conveniently do so, the Fox fixes his abode on the border of a wood, in the neighbourhood of some farm or village. He listens to the crowing of the cocks, or the cries of the poultry. He scents them at a distance; he chooses his time with judgment; and conceals his road, as well as his design. He slips forward with caution, sometimes even trailing his body; and seldom misses his booty. If he can leap the wall, or creep in beneath the gate, he ravages the court-yard, puts all to death, and retires with his prey. He hunts the young hares in the plains; and seizes the old ones in their seats. The eye of the Fox is of a lively hazel colour, and very expressive.
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THE WOLF.
These animals are natives of almost all the temperate and cold countries of the globe; and were formerly so numerous in this island, that King Edgar, about a thousand years ago, changed the punishments for some offences, into a demand of a certain number of Wolves’ tongues from each criminal; and once converted a heavy and oppressive tax on one of the Welsh princes, into a yearly tribute of three hundred Wolves’ heads. Some hundred years after, these animals increased to such a degree, that great rewards were given for destroying them.
[Illustration:
THE WOLF. ]
The Wolf is very savage indeed when it is hungry. It then braves every danger, and even attacks those animals that are protected by man. Man himself, upon these occasions, frequently falls a victim to its power; and it is said, that when Wolves have once tasted human blood, they always give it the preference. The Wolf has great strength, especially in the muscles of his neck and jaw: he can carry a sheep in his mouth, and easily run off with it in that manner. His bite is cruel and deadly, and keener as it meets with no opposition: but when opposed, he is cautious and careful, and seldom fights but from necessity. Sometimes whole droves of them join in the cruel work of destruction.
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THE SHEPHERD’S DOG.
[Illustration:
THE SHEPHERD’S DOG. ]
This useful animal, ever faithful to his charge, reigns at the head of the flock, where he is better heard, and more attended to, than even the Shepherd himself. In the few remaining large tracts of land which are appropriated to the feeding of Sheep, this dog is of the utmost importance. Large flocks range over extensive tracts of land, seemingly without controul: their only guide being the Shepherd, attended by his Dog, the constant companion of his toil. It receives his commands, and is always prompt to execute them; it is the watchful guardian of the flock, prevents straying, keeps them together, and conducts them from one pasture to another: it will not suffer strange sheep to mix with them, but carefully keeps off every intruder. In driving a number of sheep to any distant part, a well-trained Dog never fails to confine them to the road; he watches every avenue that leads from it, where he takes his stand, to prevent them from going out of the way. He pursues the stragglers if any escape, and forces them into order, without doing them the least injury. If the Shepherd be at any time absent he depends upon his Dog to keep them together; and as soon as he gives the well-known signal, this faithful creature conducts them to his master, though at a great distance.
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THE BULLDOG.
[Illustration:
THE BULLDOG. ]
When little children meet any dogs they should take care not to tease them, more particularly the Bulldog, for when that dog is completely roused it is the fiercest of its kind, and is probably the most courageous creature in the world. It is low in stature, but very strong. Its nose is short; and the under jaw projects beyond the upper, which makes it look very fierce. Its courage in attacking the bull is well known; its fury in seizing and its obstinacy in keeping its hold, are truly astonishing. It always aims at the front, and generally fastens upon the lip, the tongue, the eye, or some part of the face; where it hangs in spite of every effort of the bull to get away from it.
Many stories are told us of this most cruel sport; but of late years the inhuman custom of baiting the bull has been almost entirely laid aside, and there are now few Dogs of this kind to be seen. The great danger of the Bulldog is, he always makes his attack without barking.
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THE NEWFOUNDLAND DOG.
This breed of Dogs was originally brought from the country of which they bear the name, where their great strength and sagacity render them extremely useful to the settlers on those coasts, who use them in bringing down wood from the forests to the sea side. Three or four of them yoked to a sledge, will draw two or three hundred weight of wood piled upon it, for several miles, with great ease: they are not attended by a driver, nor any person to guide them; but after having delivered their loading, they return immediately to the woods, where they are accustomed to be fed.
[Illustration:
THE NEWFOUNDLAND DOG. ]
During a severe storm in the winter of 1789, a ship, belonging to Newcastle, was lost near Yarmouth; and a Newfoundland Dog alone escaped to the shore, bringing in his mouth the captain’s pocket-book. He landed amidst a number of people, several of whom tried in vain to take it from him. The sagacious animal, as if sensible of the importance of the charge which in all probability was delivered to him by his perishing master, at length leapt fawningly against the breast of a man, who had attracted his notice among the crowd, and delivered the book to him. The Dog immediately returned to the place where he had landed, and watched with great attention every thing that came from the wrecked vessel, and tried to bring it to shore.
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THE GREYHOUND.
[Illustration:
THE GREYHOUND. ]
The Greyhound is the fleetest of all dogs, and can outrun every animal of the chase; but as it wants the faculty of scenting, it follows only by the eye. It was formerly held in such estimation, as to be considered the peculiar companion of gentlemen; and by the forest laws of King Canute, about a thousand years ago, it was enacted, that no person under that degree should presume to keep a Greyhound. It was supposed to be the Irish Greyhound, rendered thinner and more delicate by the difference of climate and of culture. The Irish Greyhound is the largest of the dog kind, and its appearance the most beautiful and majestic. It is only to be found in Ireland, where it was formerly of great use in clearing the country of wolves. It is now extremely rare, and is kept more for show than for use, being equally unserviceable for hunting the stag, the fox, or the hare. These dogs are about three feet high, generally of a white or cinnamon colour, and in make resemble a Greyhound. Their aspect is mild, their disposition gentle and peaceable, and their strength so great, that in combat the mastiff or bulldog is far from being equal to them. They commonly seize their antagonists by the back, and shake them to death, which their great size generally enables them to do with ease.
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THE FOXHOUND.
[Illustration:
THE FOXHOUND. ]
The Foxhounds generally preferred are tall, light-made, but strong, and possessed of great courage, speed, and activity. No country in Europe can boast of Dogs of this kind, of equal swiftness, strength, or agility, to those of Great Britain, where the utmost attention is paid to their training. The climate also seems congenial to their nature; for it has been said that when Hounds of English breed have been sent into France, or other countries, they in some degree lose those admirable qualities for which they were once so remarkable. In England attachment to the chase has been considered a trait in the national character; from the care and attention which have been given to the rearing of Dogs and Horses, it is no matter of surprise that this country should excel all others in that diversion.
Many years since a very large stag was turned out of Wingfield Park, in the county of Westmorland, and was pursued by the Hounds, till, by fatigue or accident the whole pack was thrown out, except two favourite Dogs which continued the chase the greater part of the day. The stag returned to the park from whence he set out; and, as his last effort, leapt the wall, and immediately expired. One of the Hounds pursued him thither; but, being unable to get over, laid down and died: the other dog was found dead at a little distance.
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THE HARRIER.
[Illustration:
THE HARRIER. ]
These Dogs are kept for the business of the chase. They pursue the hare with the greatest eagerness, hardly giving her time to breathe. The most eager sportsmen find it sufficient exercise to keep in with their speed. There is a kind of Dog between this and the large Terrier, which forms a strong, active, and hardy Hound, used in hunting the otter. It is rough, wire-haired, thick-quartered, long-eared, and thin-shouldered. There is reason to suppose, that the Beagle and the Harrier must have been introduced into Great Britain after the Romans became masters of the island a thousand years ago, as, before that time the Britons were occupied in clearing their extensive forests of the various wild beasts, such as wild boars, bears and wolves, with which they then abounded; and for that purpose larger and stronger dogs than the Harrier or the Beagle would be required.
In the New Forest, in 1810, a person, in getting over a stile observed there was blood upon it; he knew that deer had been killed, and sheep stolen. He obtained a bloodhound. The dog being brought to the spot and led to the scent followed in it, and at length came to a heap of furze, belonging to a cottager. The woman of the house attempted to drive away the dog, but was prevented. On removing the faggots a hole was found containing the body of a sheep and a quantity of salted meat.
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THE POINTER.
[Illustration:
THE POINTER. ]
This dog is highly esteemed for its use in the pursuit of game. It is remarkable for the quickness with which it receives instruction. It may be said to be almost self-taught; whilst the old English dog requires the greatest care and attention in breaking and training to the sport. The Spanish Pointer, however, is not so durable and hardy, nor so able to undergo the fatigues of an extensive sport. It is chiefly employed in finding partridges, and pheasants, either for the gun or the net. It is said that an English nobleman, Robert Dudley, Duke of Northumberland, in the days of King Edward VI. was the first who broke a setting-dog to the net. We are often astonished at the senses of the higher quadrupeds, such as the dog and the horse, by which man employs them for his use. The senses most called into action in the dog are those of smell and hearing. Accordingly the fox-hound can tell the scent of the fox he is pursuing from one that may cross his path; the spaniel or terrier will track his master by his scent through a crowded city; the watch-dog barks when no one else hears a foot fall. This is partly natural and partly attained by exercise and attention.
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THE SPANIEL.
[Illustration:
THE SPANIEL. ]
This kind of dog is of great value, from the readiness with which it receives instruction, the quickness with which it obeys commands, and its great docility and strong attachment to its master. Of this one striking proof may be given. Old Daniel, the gamekeeper to the Rev. Mr. Corsellis, had reared a Spaniel named Dash, which became his constant attendant both by night and day. Wherever the gamekeeper appeared, Dash was never far distant. When the gamekeeper died, little Dash would not quit the body, but laid upon the bed by its side. After his master was buried, this faithful dog would frequently visit the room where he breathed his last, and would remain there for hours. From thence, for fourteen days he constantly visited the grave, at the end of which time he died.
Perhaps the most remarkable instance of attachment is that of the little dog who crept within the clothes of Mary Queen of Scots just previous to her execution, and could not afterward be separated from the corpse but by force.
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THE TERRIER.
The Terrier is a very hardy dog, and is of much service to us, as he is an exceeding great enemy to rats and most other vermin: he has very great courage, and will even attack the badger, nor does he seem to care for the desperate wounds he often receives when fighting with it. He is more particularly useful, on account of having such a very acute scent.
[Illustration:
THE TERRIER. ]
There are two varieties of this dog, the one has got very short legs, a long back, and is commonly of a black or yellowish colour mingled with white; the other is of a more sprightly appearance, with a much shorter body, and the colour of this species is a reddish-brown or black.
When gentlemen go out a hunting, they generally take one of these dogs to accompany their hounds, for they are very expert in forcing foxes and other game from their coverts; and their scent being so very quick, they often cause a great deal of amusement.
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THE HARE.
[Illustration]
This animal not possessing any means of self defence is furnished by Providence with a high degree of fear. It is attentive to every alarm, and is furnished with very long ears, which are tube-like, and catch the most remote sounds. The eyes are so prominent, as to enable the animal to see both before and behind. The Hare feeds in the evening, and sleeps during the day, and, as he mostly lies on the ground, he has the feet protected, both above and below, with a thick covering of hair. In a moonlight evening many of these creatures may sometimes be seen starting together, leaping about and pursuing each other; but the least noise alarms them, and they then scamper off each in a different direction. Their pace is a kind of gallop, or quick succession of leaps; and they are very swift, particularly in ascending hills. In winter they generally choose a form exposed to the south, and in summer they change this for one looking to the north: in both cases, they have the instinct of commonly fixing on a place where the objects around them are nearly of the colour of their bodies.
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THE RABBIT.
[Illustration:
THE RABBIT. ]
The Rabbit abounds in Great Britain, where its skin forms a very considerable article in the manufactory of hats. Although the Hare and the Rabbit are so like each other, nature has placed a strong barrier between them, in their feeling of mutual aversion. Besides this, there is a wide difference in their habits and pursuits: the rabbit lives in holes in the earth, where it brings forth its young, and retires from the approach of danger; whilst the Hare prefers the open fields, and trusts to its speed for safety. The female makes a bed of down for her young, which she pulls off her own coat. She never leaves them, but when pressed with hunger, and returns as soon as that is supplied. During the time she tends them, she carefully conceals them from the male, lest he should devour them; and often covers up the mouth of the hole, that her retreat may not be discovered. The tame Rabbit is of various colours, and is somewhat larger than the wild Rabbit; but its flesh is not so good, being softer and more insipid. Its food is generally cabbage leaves, colewort, blades of corn, sourdock, and other moist plants; but sweet short hay, and a little clean oats, make the best diet.
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THE SQUIRREL.
[Illustration:
THE SQUIRREL. ]