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A COMPANION 
 
 TO THE 
 
 LONDON MUSEUM 
 
 AND 
 
 PANTHERION, 
 
 CONTAINING 
 
 A BRIEF DESCRIPTION 
 
 OF UPWARDS OF 
 
 FIFTEEN THOUSAND NATURAL AND FOREIGN 
 
 CURIOSITIES, ANTIQUITIES, 
 
 AND 
 
 PRODUCTIONS OF THE FINE ARTS; 
 
 NOW OPEN FOR PUBLIC INSPECTION IN 
 
 Xfie €gj>pttart Xemple, 
 
 PICCADILLY, LONDON, 
 
 By WILLIAM BULLOCK, 
 
 Fellow of the Linvuean Society of London, of the Wernerian Society of Natural 
 History of Edinburgh, and Honorary Member of the Dublin Society. 
 
 O Nature ! how in every harm supreme ! 
 
 Whose vot’ries feast on raptures ever new, 
 
 O ! for the voice and fire of Seraphim, 
 
 To sing thy glories with devotion due' BEATTIE. 
 
 THE SEVENTEENTH EDITION 
 
 LONDON: 
 
 PRINTED FOR THE PROPRIETOR, 
 
 BY WHITTING HAM AND ROWLAND, GOSWELt STREET. 
 
 1816 
 
/ 
 
 The full value given for rare and uncommon Quadru- 
 peds, Birds, Fishes, Reptiles, Shells, Old Paintings, 
 Carvings on Wood or Ivory, Stained Glass, ancient and 
 foreign Arms and Armour , or any uncommon production 
 of Art or Nature . 
 
ADDRESS. 
 
 Mr. Bullock respectfully begs leave to solicit the 
 attention and patronage of the Nobility, Gentry, 
 and the Public, to an Establishment for the ad- 
 vancement of the Science of Natural History , which 
 in magnitude and expense, he presumes, is un- 
 paralleled, as the work of an individual. 
 
 The very flattering and general approbation 
 which honoured the Exhibition 4 of his Museum, 
 on its opening in a temporary situation in London, 
 was a convincing proof that his future efforts for 
 the extension and improvement of the Collection 
 would be duly appreciated. His exertions to ob- 
 tain articles of rarity and interest, have, therefore 
 been unceasing. In most departments, the subjects 
 have been doubled in number ; the specimens are 
 choice, in the highest possible preservation, and 
 are arranged according to the Linnsean system. 
 They consist of upwards of Fifteen Thousand 
 species of Quadrupeds, Birds, Reptiles, Fishes, 
 Insects, Shells, Corals, &c. &c. collected during 
 
IV 
 
 twenty years of unwearied application, and at an 
 expense exceeding thirty thousand pounds. 
 
 In adapting the Edifice which Mr. Bullock has 
 just completed for the present collection, by dis- 
 playing it advantageously for the Study of the 
 Naturalist, the Instruction of the Curious, and the 
 Amusement of those who are delighted in viewing 
 the Beauties of Nature, or the Curiosities of Art, 
 he has endeavoured to render it worthy of the 
 British Metropolis, whilst he has also provided the 
 means for enlargement, as future additions shall 
 accumulate. 
 
 One department of the Museum (the Panthe- 
 rion) completed with much labour and great ex- 
 pence, is entirely novel, and presents a scene 
 altogether grand and interesting. Various animals, 
 as the lofty Giraffa, the Lion, the Elephant, the 
 Rhinoceros, &c. are exhibited as ranging in their 
 native wilds and forests ; whilst exact Models, both 
 in figure and colour, of the rarest and most lux- 
 uriant Plants from every clime, give all the appear- 
 ance of reality ; the whole being assisted with a 
 panoramic effect of distance and appropriate 
 scenery, affording a beautiful illustration of the 
 luxuriance of a torrid clime. 
 
 The Museums of France have been enriched 
 with the spoils of nearly the whole Continent, and 
 
v 
 
 the Gallery of the Louvre contains more treasure 
 in Painting and Sculpture than perhaps will ever 
 again be amassed in one Collection. But though 
 her active and persevering Ruler, desirous of mak- 
 ing his capital the centre of every attraction, has 
 contributed to the Museum Naturale, every speci- 
 men of Natural History which in the present state 
 of the Continent could be procured, our unrivalled 
 Navy, and the extension of our Colonies through- 
 out the habitable world, present such advantages 
 to this country, that the writer feels confident, that 
 if his exertions are seconded by the Public as they 
 have hitherto been, he will very shortly be enabled 
 to make a Collection of Natural History far sur- 
 passing any thing of the kind at present in exist- 
 ence ; and he pledges himself to exert his utmost 
 power in accomplishing this important work. 
 
 To the numerous Royal, Noble, and liberal 
 Contributors to his Museum, by whose kindness 
 his Collection has been enriched by so many 
 valuable articles, which could not have been pro- 
 cured by pecuniary means, Mr. Bullock returns 
 unfeigned thanks. 
 
 When the information and delight which may 
 be derived from this Exhibition, especially by the 
 rising generation, are considered, the great sum 
 expended in forming it, and the erection of the 
 present large and commodious building for its re- 
 
 a 2 
 
VI 
 
 ception, the Proprietor trusts that the terms on 
 which the Public are admitted, will be thought 
 moderate and approved of. 
 
 \ 
 
 Admission to each Exhibition, One Shilling. — 
 Annual Ticket, not transferable, £ 1 . Is. — Subscriber 
 for Life, of 10. 10s. 
 
 Museum, Piccadilly, 
 
 March 28, 1813. 
 
NAMES 
 
 OF THE 
 
 LADIES AND GENTLEMEN 
 
 WHO HAVE PRESENTED 
 
 CURIOSITIES 
 
 TO 
 
 3Ci)e Museum. 
 
 HER MAJESTY. 
 
 HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS 
 
 THE PRINCE REGENT. 
 
 HER ROYAL HIGHNESS THE 
 
 PRINCESS CHARLOTTE OF COBOURG. 
 
 HER ROYAL HIGHNESS 
 
 THE PRINCESS ELIZABETH. 
 
 THEIR ROYAL HIGHNESSES THE 
 
 DUKE AND DUCHESS OF YORK. 
 
 Athol, His Grace the Duke of. 
 
 Adams, Mr. R \ Charlotte- str.Fitzroy. 
 
 ( square 
 
 Adams, W. Esq . King'sRoad^Sloane-sq . 
 
 Aiton, Wm. Esq. F.L.S Kew 
 
 Allen, Thomas, Esq. F. R. $. E. Edinburgh 
 
 Anderson, Mr. F.L, S .. 
 
 Ashton, N. Esq.... Liverpool 
 
 Balfour, Captain | ^ofkJy^™* 
 
 Banks, Lady 
 
 Banks, Sir Joseph London 
 
 Barclay, Dr.. Edinburgh 
 
 Barrow, Captain Liverpool 
 
 Beaufoy, Mark, Esq... Mount-str . Grosv.-sq . 
 
Till 
 
 Bedford, H is Grace the Duke of... 
 
 Birchall, S. Esq. Leeds 
 
 Blackburn, J. Esq. M. P Hale 
 
 Blandford, Marchioness of 
 
 Bligh, late Mrs Durham Place 
 
 Bligh, Vice Admiral 
 
 Blois, Sir Charles Cockjield Hall, Suffolk 
 
 Blundell, Henry, Esq I?ice Hall 
 
 Blundell, Bryan, Esq Liverpool 
 
 Bolton, John, Esq Liverpool 
 
 Bolton, Mrs Liverpool 
 
 Bootle, W. Esq. M. P Latham House 
 
 Bowden, Joshua, Esq Liverpool 
 
 Boscawen, Hon. Mrs St. James's Palace 
 
 Brettargh, Mr. J Tr afford Hall 
 
 Bright, , Esq Bristol 
 
 Broad bent, Mr Hull 
 
 Biogden, H. Esq. F.L.S Clapham 
 
 Bruce, Miss Demerara 
 
 Buckingham, Marquis of. 
 
 Castlereagh, Lord 
 
 Caldwell, Charles, Esq Liverpool 
 
 Campbell, Captain Liverpool 
 
 Chatham, Countess of. 
 
 Chichester, Earl of 
 
 Clarke, Captain......... Liverpool 
 
 Clarke, Rev. Dr. A London 
 
 Coltman, Dr Liverpool 
 
 Comyns, W. Esq Dawlish , near Exeter 
 
 Cox, Lady Hippesley 
 
 Courtown, Lord 
 
 Cranch, Mr. T Kingsbridge , Devon 
 
 Crawford, Captain J. Couts H. M. S. Modeste 
 
 Cullum, Sir Thomas, Bart Bury St. Edmunds 
 
 Cullum, Rev. Mr Bury St. Edmunds 
 
 Currie, Mrs Liverpool 
 
 Dadford, Thomas, Esq Wolverhampton 
 
 Dalrymple, Lieutenant-General... 
 
 Dartmouth, Countess of 
 
 Davies, (late) Gen Blackheath 
 
 DeanandChapterof Christ Church Oxford 
 
3X 
 
 Directors of the Blue-coat School.. Liverpool 
 Drake, J. Esq..... Great Berkhamstead 
 
 Dundas, Lord 
 
 Durham, Bishop of.. ............ ........ 
 
 Durrazzo, Marquiss. ............ ........ Genoa 
 
 Edmonson, Dr, Lerwick, Zetland 
 
 Edmonson, Mr. L Isle q/Unst 
 
 Edwards, Rev. Mr.. Lynn 
 
 Edwards, Mr. S. F.L.S Brompton 
 
 Egerton, Hon. Miss..................... Windsor Castle 
 
 Ellis, Edward, Esq.......... Sirens al Hall, York 
 
 Essex, Countess of.. 
 
 Fawkes, Walter, Esq...... Farnley Hall 
 
 Fisher, Lieut. R. N Liverpool 
 
 Foljambe, F. F Esq Osherton,nearWorksop 
 
 Forbes, William, Esq,... Liverpool 
 
 Ford, Mrs......... Upper Brook- street 
 
 Fran ci lion, John, Esq. F.L. S Norfolk -street 
 
 Frazier, Mr. F. L. S Chelsea 
 
 Gage, Lord 
 
 Gascoyne, Mrs. I Childw all Hall 
 
 Geddes, J. Esq Glasgow 
 
 Geddes, Mr. G... Stromness 
 
 Gordon, Col Chelsea 
 
 Gordon, — Esq 
 
 Graham, Coi Glasgow 
 
 Green, (late) Mr Litchfield 
 
 Gurney, (late) B. Esq Norwich 
 
 Haldane, Lieut. Col.. ............. ...... Croydon 
 
 Halford, Sir Henry........ 
 
 Halford, Lady 
 
 Hamilton, Rev. G ... Isle of Hoy (Orkneys) 
 
 Harcourt, Lady.. 
 
 Hardy, James, Esq...... Glasgow 
 
 Barland, Sir Robert, Bart 
 
 Harrington, Lady I... 
 
 Harrison, A. Esq. F.L.S.,... Westminster 
 
 Harper, William, Esq. Liverpool 
 
 Haywood, — , Esq. F.L.S. Collingham, near Hull 
 
 Hanson, , Esq S^ookery,Woodfori t 
 
 Henley, H. H. Esq. F.L.S.. HM ' 
 
 Heward, Mr 
 
 Holland, Lord.,,... 
 
X 
 
 Holswilders, D. Esq , 
 
 Horner, Col 
 
 Hoy, M. Esq . 
 
 Hoy, John, Esq 
 
 Humphries, Mr. G.... 
 
 Hunter, Admiral 
 
 Irby, J. Esq <,..... 
 
 James, Mrs. 
 
 Jamieson, Sir J 
 
 Jennings, C. Esq 
 
 Johnson, James, Esq. F. A.S 
 
 Johnson, Robert, Esq 
 
 Johnson, Col 
 
 Kilderbee, S. Esq 
 
 Knox, Mr 
 
 Koster, J. T. Esq 
 
 Lane, Mrs 
 
 Laurence, Charles, Esq 
 
 Lambert, A. B. Esq. V. P. L. S 
 
 Leach, Dr. W. E. F.L.S 
 
 Leathes, Rev. G. R. F.L.S 
 
 Lefevere, Mrs. Shaw 
 
 Leger, Hon. Col. St 
 
 Lettsom, Dr. F.L.S 
 
 Leicester, Sir John, Bart 
 
 Liverpool, Earl and Countess of... 
 
 Lowndes, Mr 
 
 Macdonald, Angus, Esq 
 
 M‘Dougal, Dr 
 
 Mackenzie, Sir George, Bart 
 
 M‘Nalley, L. Esq 
 
 M'Neil, Lieut. -General 
 
 Madden, , Esq 
 
 Mawe, Mrs 
 
 Middleton, W.T. Esq 
 
 Miller, Captain 
 
 Mitford, Miss 
 
 Moira, Earl of. 
 
 Montagu, Col. F.L.S 
 
 Moodie, Major .... 
 
 Moore, Henry Glover, Esq 
 
 Mulgrave, Lord 
 
 Munro, Dr 
 
 Museum of Paris, Directors of the 
 
 Surinam 
 
 Mills Parky Somerset . 
 
 Gordon Castle , N. B. 
 London 
 
 Britwell House , Mai- 
 denhead 
 St. Lucia 
 London 
 Chelsea 
 Bristol 
 Liverpool 
 Calcutta 
 
 Campsey Ash , Suffolk 
 
 Chichester 
 
 Liverpool 
 
 3, Fenchurch-street 
 
 Liverpool 
 
 Grosvenor- street 
 
 Spring Gardens 
 Dublin 
 
 Tabley 
 
 Liverpool 
 
 Pall Mall Court 
 
 Glasgow 
 
 Dublin 
 
 Bath 
 
 Dublin 
 
 Strand 
 
 Shrubland Park , 
 Suffolk 
 Hull 
 
 Cliff 'or d-street 
 
 Knowle House , Devon 
 Walls , Isle of Hoy 
 Liverpool 
 
 Edmburgh 
 
XI 
 
 Neilson, William, Esq Liverpool 
 
 Niel, Patrick, Esq. F.L.S Edinburgh 
 
 Nixon, Mr Coventry 
 
 Nugent, Dr Bury-st* St . James's 
 
 Ogle, Rev. Mr 
 
 Parke, W. Esq Rickevich in Iceland 
 
 Parry, Henry, Esq.. Liverpool 
 
 Pasco, Captain, R. N 
 
 Perth, Lady 
 
 Phillips, Leigh, Esq. F. L. S. ...... .. Manchester 
 
 Pious VII, H is Holiness.. Rome 
 
 Plaisted, Mr Chelsea 
 
 Pollock, Mrs.................. Dublin 
 
 Polito, Mr. S . Exeter f Change 
 
 Powell, Captain.... Liverpool 
 
 Powell, Mrs Sunderland 
 
 Price, Major............ Frogmore 
 
 Puleston, Col. Emral... ................. Wrexham 
 
 Ray, Mr 22, Gower -street 
 
 Ranier, Captain, R. N... 
 
 Read, (late) Lady Curzon- street 
 
 Reeve, John, Esq Hailesworth } Stiff o 
 
 Rendlesham, Lord.. 
 
 Roach, Captain Liverpool 
 
 Robinson, Col. M. P„. Denston Hall> SuJ 
 
 Roscoe, William, Esq. F.L.S Liverpool 
 
 Ross, G. Esq.» Lerwick , Zetland 
 
 Rowley, Lady 
 
 Salt, Jonathan, Esq. F. L. S e ......... Sheffield 
 
 Sandbach, Mr.. Liverpool 
 
 Sartorius, Mr Chelsea 
 
 Salisbury, Bishop of .................... 
 
 Scott, Corse, Esq Edinburgh 
 
 Scot, Walter, Esq Edinburgh 
 
 Seaforth, Lord 
 
 Sharp, Thomas, Esq. . Coventry 
 
 Sharp, Rev. Mr.-.. Coventry 
 
 Sheffield, Lord... 
 
 Sheridan, Thomas, Esq 
 
 Smith, Dr. J. E. P. L. S. Norwich 
 
 Smith, William, Esq * Dublin 
 
 Smyth, Rev. John Liverpool 
 
 Somerscales, Mr..... ..... „ Hull 
 
 Sowerby, Mr. F. L.S. Mead-place , Lambeth 
 
 Staini forth (late) Thomas, Esq Liverpool 
 
 Stainiforth, Samuel, Esq. Liverpool 
 
X1L 
 
 Stanley, Lord, M. P 
 
 Stanley, Coi. M. P 
 
 Stanhope, Spencer, Esq. M. P 
 
 Snow, Mr. Surgeon 
 
 Spires, Mr. T 
 
 Steel, Mrs 
 
 Stephenson, W. Esq 
 
 Strong, W. Esq... 
 
 Strang, James, Esq 
 
 Stuart, Captain 
 
 Symmons, , Esq. F. L. S 
 
 Taylor, Col 
 
 Teignmouth, Lord 
 
 Thorald, Rev. G 
 
 Thorpe, J. Esq 
 
 Townley, John, Esq 
 
 Townsend, Rev. J 
 
 Trail, Tho. Esq.... .. 
 
 Trail, Miss 
 
 Trigge, Lady 
 
 Tratford, John, Esq 
 
 Turmeau, John, Esq 
 
 Turner, William, Esq 
 
 Unit, Mr 
 
 Urquhart, John, Esq 
 
 Vaillaint, Mons. 
 
 Vandes, Le Count De 
 
 Vaughan, Sir Robert 
 
 Vaughan, Rev. Ker, F.L.S 
 
 Walker, Sir Patrick, F. L. S 
 
 Wallis, Mr 
 
 Ward, R. Esq 
 
 Warre, J. Esq 
 
 Webber, W. Esq 
 
 Weston, Rev. Mr 
 
 Wilkinson, J. Esq 
 
 Wilson, Mr..... 
 
 Wilson, Mr 
 
 Wilson, Lady • 
 
 Wilson, Sir Thomas 
 
 Wright, Dr. Peter.... 
 
 Wright, R. Esq. F. L» S 
 
 York, Dean of... 
 
 Young, Dr. F. L*S 
 
 Knowsley 
 
 London 
 
 Highgate 
 Leadenhall Market. 
 Anglesea 
 Norwich 
 Isle of Sanda 
 Fair Isle 
 Edinburgh 
 P aldington House 
 
 L/ 
 
 Windsor Castle 
 London 
 
 Syston Parky Lincolns . 
 
 Townley 
 
 Bath 
 
 ( of Holland , Papa 
 \ W estra ( Orkney ) 
 Ditto , Ditto 
 Saville Row 
 Tr afford House 
 Liverpool 
 Llangollen 
 Birmingham 
 Kirkwall 
 Paris 
 London 
 
 Devonshire 
 
 Edinburgh 
 
 Hull 
 
 Sheffield 
 
 Georg e-st . Hatiov. sq. 
 Melina-place, Lambeth 
 
 Bath 
 
 Glasgow 
 
 College , Edinburgh 
 
 Charlton 
 
 South End 
 
 Glasgow 
 
 Litchfield 
 
 Sheffield 
 
A 
 
 COMPANION 
 
 TO THE 
 
 LONDON MUSEUM. 
 
 The Number at the Corner of each Case refers to the Page of this 
 Catalogue , in which it is described . 
 
 SANDWICH ISLANDS. Case No, lg| 
 
 Letter A.— A superb Cloak , made of the black fea- 
 thers of the Powh.ee bird, ornamented with a broad 
 checquered border of red and yellow. This cloak is 
 so long as to touch the feet of the wearer, and is con- 
 sidered of the greatest value. It is worn by none ex- 
 cept the chiefs, and by them only on particular occa- 
 sions ; as they never appeared in them but three times 
 during Captain Cook's stay at Owyhee; viz. at the pro- 
 cession of the king and his people to the ships, on 
 their first arrival ; in the tumult when the unfortunate 
 commander fell a victim to their fury and mistaken re- 
 sentment ; and when two of the chiefs brought Ms bones 
 to Captain Clarke. 
 
 B.— Red-feathered Cloak , decorated with yellow, 
 from ditto. The ground of these elegant and singu- 
 larly beautiful cloaks is net-work wrought by the hand, 
 
 * Several of the articles in this Case were once the property of 
 the celebrated Captain Cook, 
 
 B 
 
upon which the feathers are so closely fixed* that the 
 surface resembles the thickest and richest velvet, both 
 in delicate softness and glossy appearance. 
 
 C. — A Helmet , composed of wicker work, covered 
 with red feathers. 
 
 D. — Another Helmet of a different construction, co- 
 vered with black feathers. These helmets, with the 
 dresses, form the principal riches of the chiefs of the 
 South Sea Islands. 
 
 E. — A large Hat , made of red, yellow, and black fea- 
 thers ; remarkable for its resemblance in form to those 
 of Europe. 
 
 F. — Two Neck Ornaments , made of different co- 
 loured feathers, from the Sandwich Islands. 
 
 Breast-plate, or Gorget , from Otaheite, made 
 of wicker, covered with feathers, and ornamented with 
 rows of shark's teeth. 
 
 H. — Small Idol , of black wood, from ditto. 
 
 I. — -War-club, from the Sandwich Islands. This club, 
 which belonged to a chief of Owyhee, is armed with a 
 very hard, sharp, polished stone, which makes it some- 
 what like a battle-axe ; the other end is pointed, for the 
 purpose of a pahoo or dagger. 
 
 K. — A j Basket, from the Friendly Islands. — That the 
 untutored Indians of the South Seas exceed the artists 
 of every civilized nation in this kind of work, the above 
 basket is a proof ; as it is of so close a texture as to hold 
 any liquid. It was used by the gentleman who brought 
 it from the South Seas (and who presented it to this 
 Museum) as a punch-bowl. 
 
 L. — Fish-hook , from the north-west coast of Ame- 
 rica. 
 
 M. — A Necklace , made of the teeth of the Peccary. 
 
 N. — Head Ornament , made of mother-of-pearl and 
 tortoiseshell.— New Caledonia. 
 
 O. — A beautiful Fly-flap , purchased at the sale of 
 the late Leverian Museum. In the first part of the Re- 
 
ference Catalogue to this once celebrated repository of 
 curiosities, an account is given, in a note, of the manner 
 in which it came into the possession of Mr. Samwell, 
 the late surgeon of the ship Discovery, who published 
 a Narrative of the Death of Captain Cook ; he informs 
 us he brought this Fly-flap home with him, and of which 
 he gives the following account : “ The natives of the 
 Sandwich Islands always endeavour to carry off the dead 
 bodies of their friends slain in battle, even at the hazard 
 of their own lives. This custom is probably owing to 
 the barbarity with which they treat the body of an 
 enemy, and the trophies they make of his bones ; a re- 
 markable instance of which I met with at Atowai. TV 
 mataherei, the queen of that island, one day paid us a 
 visit on board the Discovery, accompanied by her hus- 
 band, Taeob, and one of her daughters by a former hus- 
 band, whose name w r as Oteeha. The young princess, 
 who was called Orereemo-horanee, carried in her hand 
 a very elegant Fly-flap, of a curious construction. The 
 upper part of it was variegated with alternate rings of 
 tortoiseshell and human bone ; and the handle, which 
 was polished, consisted of the greater part of the os 
 humeri (bone of the upper arm) of a chief, called Ma- 
 iiowra ; he had belonged to the neighbouring island of 
 Oahoo ; and, in an hostile descent he made upon this 
 coast, had been killed by Oteeha, who was then king 
 of Ootwai. His bones were in this manner carried 
 about by Orereemo-horanee, as trophies of her father's 
 victory. The mother and daughter set a great value 
 upon it, and were not willing to part with it for any of 
 our iron ; but Tomataherei happening to cast her eye 
 upon a w ash-hand -basin of mine, which was of queen's 
 ware, it struck her fancy, and she offered to exchange. 
 I accepted of her proposal, and the bones of the unfor- 
 tunate Mahowra came at last into my possession.^ 
 
 Po— An Under Garment , made of the bark of the 
 Touta, or Cloth tree, curiously decorated, from the 
 Sandwich Islands ; presented by the Rev. Dr. Clarke. 
 
 Q. and R .— Two Caps from Africa ; one made of 
 grass, which for fineness of workmanship and regularity 
 
 B 2 
 
4 
 
 of pattern exceeds any thing of the kind of European 
 manufacture. What must appear wonderful in this work 
 of art is, that it is knit with wooden sticks, after the 
 manner of stockings. The one marked R, was presented 
 by Captain Campbell, and is made of the fibres of bark. 
 
 In the other Case of South Sea articles is the upper 
 part of the Chief Mourner's Dress of Ceremony at the 
 Funerals of Otaheite. The part worn over the face is 
 of large plates of mother-of-pearl shell, fastened toge- 
 ther with fibres of the cocoa-nut : opposite the right eye 
 is a hole for the purpose of seeing through ; the edges 
 of the face-plates are bordered with the long tail-feather 
 of the tropic bird, and make an elegant appearance ; 
 across the breast is stretched a most elaborate drapery, 
 composed of several thousand pieces of mother-of pearl, 
 each separately drilled and fastened together in a man- 
 ner that would be found difficult for an European artist 
 to copy, even with the advantage of iron tools, which 
 were totally unknown to these Islanders. 
 
 This very interesting article was, (with many other 
 valuable curiosities) presented to the Museum by Sir 
 Joseph Banks, whose liberality and patronage of every 
 thing connected with the promotion and diffusion of 
 knowledge and science are too well known to be noticed 
 here. 
 
 In the same Case are two of the monstrous and un- 
 couth Idols, made by the natives of these islands. The 
 ground is of wicker, worked into a rude and enormous 
 representation of the human head. They are covered 
 with red feathers, and the mouth (near a foot long) is 
 thickly set with teeth of the seal. The eves are com- 
 posed of pieces of mother-of-peal, with a round knob 
 of black wood in the centre, and the head of one them 
 is rendered more, terrific by being adorned by a large 
 quantity of the snaky tresses of the natives. 
 
 A fine Feather Helmet and Cloak from the Sandwich 
 Islands, presented to the Museum by the Rev. Dr. 
 Clarke ; and an extremely curious pair of Bracelets , 
 made of boar’s teeth, presented by Mr. G. Humphrey. 
 
 On the Rail of the Gallery are hung a number of the 
 
D 
 
 weapons, &c. of the South Sea Islanders, among which 
 are, 
 
 Tabooing Rods or Wands. One of them is made 
 of a beautiful close-grained red wood, and is pointed : 
 on the other is the head of the Eatooa, or God, finely 
 carved. These wands are carried by the priests, and 
 sometimes by another person particularly appointed to 
 that office, who is called Tonata, (or the Taboo Man.) 
 They are made use of on various occasions, both pub- 
 lic and private, and any thing touched by them is 
 considered as prohibited or forbidden. The word 
 Taboo, used emphatically to denote any thing sacred, 
 eminent, or devoted. When a particular space of 
 ground is tabooed , several of these rods or wands, 
 tufted with dogs hair, are fixed up, and until they are 
 removed, no person will presume to tread on that ground. 
 Oiaiteile. 
 
 Different kinds of long War-dubs used in the Friendly 
 Islands. These are made of wood, equal in hardness 
 to the Brazilian, and superior in beauty to mahogany ; 
 and when it is remembered that iron and steel are wholly 
 unknown to these people, few specimens, for laborious 
 and skilful workmanship, can vie with them. The carv- 
 ing, though executed with no other instrument than a 
 shell, a shark's tooth, or a flint, by dint of industry and 
 ingenuity, is perfectly uniform in pattern, and highly 
 ornamental. 
 
 Paddle or Oflr, with which the natives of the Friendly 
 Islands row their canoes. It is about five feet long, 
 and six inches across the widest part, and yet is so light 
 as to weigh little more than a pound ! 
 
 Various kinds of short Hand-dubs , or Pattapattoos , 
 of different forms and materials. They are worn by the 
 natives of the South Seas, in the same manner as daggers 
 are worn by the Asiatics, and are usually made of hard 
 wood, bone, green jade stone, or basaltes. 
 
 A Knife , from the Sandwich Islands, made of wood, 
 edged with shark's teeth, used by the natives of those 
 islands for cutting up their enemies taken in battle. 
 
Basket , from New Zealand. 
 
 Axes, or Adzes , made of very hard black stone of the 
 basaltes kind. The hatchets are wrought in a regular 
 form with much labour, by rubbing one stone against 
 another; with these the natives cut the wood for their 
 canoes, war- clubs, and household utensils; the heads of 
 these axes are firmly fastened on to the handles with 
 strong cords, made of the fibres of the cocoa-nut twisted 
 together. 
 
 A large Fish-hook , for taking the shark ; it is one foot 
 long and six inches broad, and is made of a crooked piece 
 of wood, pointed at the end with a substance resembling 
 horn. Otaheite . 
 
 Near these are several of the military and domestic 
 implements of New Holland, presented by Dr. Jamieson. 
 
 SMALL GLASS CASE, MARKED A. 
 
 A pair of ponderous Ear-rings, made of white shells, 
 from Christian's Island. 
 
 A Necklace of human bone, from New Zealand. 
 
 Beautiful Feather Necklaces, from the Sandwich Isles. 
 
 Gaiters , worn by the dancers of the Sandwich Isles. 
 The ground-work is a strong close netting, on which are 
 fastened several hundred small shells, w hich, when put in 
 motion, produce a rattling sound, to the music of which 
 the dancers keep time. 
 
 In this Case is also a variety of the Fishing-tackle of 
 the Sandwich and Friendly Islands. The hooks are made 
 of mother-of-pearl, bone, or wood, pointed or barbed with 
 small bones or tortoise-shell. They are of various sizes 
 and forms ; that marked A is the most common : it is be- 
 tween two and three inches long, and made in the shape of 
 a fish, which serves as a bait. B is of a tortoise* shell. 
 
 The lines are made of different degrees of strength and 
 fineness. That marked C is the finest kind, and is of 
 human hair plaited together, and is used chiefly for things 
 
of ornament. D is a specimen of the common kind, made 
 of the bark of the cloth- tree, neatly and evenly twisted in 
 the same manner as our common twine. E is a softer 
 kind, made of the bark of a small shrub called Areemah , 
 plaited together, and is flat. That marked F is of great 
 strength, being made of the plaited sinews of some sea 
 animal. 
 
 They likewise make another sort of cordage, which is 
 flat and very strong, and used principally in lashing the 
 roofs of their houses, or whatever they wish to fasten to- 
 gether ; it is made of the fibrous strings of the cocoa-nut 
 husk, in the same manner as our sailors make their points 
 for the reefing of sails. That on the shark-hook is of 
 this kind. Considering the materials of which these hooks 
 and lines are formed, their strength and neatness are 
 really astonishing : *' e and in fact/' says Captain Cook, 
 i( we found them upon trial far superior to our own/' 
 
 The Combs marked G are from the Friendly Islands, 
 and are specimens of their exquisite wicker-work, 
 
 A quantity of Fishing-lines , made from human hair, 
 brought from the South Seas. 
 
 A Net-mesh , from the South Seas. 
 
 A Shoe of a Chinese lady. 
 
 A Shoe of Count Bomlaski, the Polish dwarf. 
 
 A Tati owing Instrument , from Otaheite. Captain 
 King, in his Continuation of Captain Cook's Third Voy- 
 age, vol. iii. p. 135, observes, “ That the Sandwich 
 Islanders have the custom of tattowing the body in com- 
 mon with the rest of the natives of the South Sea Islands. 
 The arms and hands of the women are also very neatly 
 marked, and they have a singular custom among them, 
 the meaning of which, ” Captain King says, 46 we could 
 never learn, that of tattowing the tips of the tongues of 
 the females. From some information we received relative 
 to the custom of tattowing, we were inclined to think it 
 was frequently intended as a sign of mourning on the 
 death of a chief, or any other calamitous event ; for wc 
 
s 
 
 were often told, that such a particular mark was in me- 
 mory of such a chief, and so of the rest. It may be here, 
 too, observed, that the lowest class of natives are often 
 ^ tattowed with a mark that distinguishes them as the pro- 
 perty of some chief/' 
 
 Model of a Canoe.— Nootka Sound. 
 
 New Zealand Canoe . 
 
 ■ '• A - i . , • # 
 
 Models of Canoes of different nations, Eskimaux, Da- 
 vis's Straights, New Zealand, &c. 
 
 Lines for Fishing , made of human hair. 
 
 Basket to hold liquids, from the Sandwich Islands, 
 South Seas. 
 
 Bread Pounder , from Otaheite. It is made of black 
 basal tes, and is an astonishing effort of labour, executed 
 by a people to whom the use of iron instruments are un- 
 known. It is used in pounding the bread-fruit. 
 
 Spear-caster , from New Caledonia, by means of which 
 the natives strike fish with a surprising celerity. 
 
 Caps , from Nootka, or King George's Sound, made 
 of sea-grass finely woven together ; on one is designed the 
 process of their whale fishery. “ This/’ says Captain 
 Cook, “ though rudely executed, serves to show, that 
 though there is no appearance of the knowledge of letters 
 among them, they have some notion of representing ac- 
 tions in a lasting way, independent of what may be re- 
 corded in their songs and traditions/' They are worn by 
 both sexes without distinction. 
 
 Hats , from South America, made of the feathers of 
 parrots and other birds. 
 
 Matting , from the South Sea Islands. 
 
 A Mantle, from New Zealand. This kind of ornament 
 passes under the right arm, and ties over the left shoulder, 
 by which means both arms are at liberty. It is made of 
 flax so curiously knotted together, that on examination it 
 
9 
 
 must astonish the beholder ; more especially when he con- 
 siders that it was made by a nation to whom the loom is 
 unknown. 
 
 Wooden Sword, from Botany Bay. It is worthy ot 
 remark, that when Captain Cook first discovered New 
 Holland, he was surprised to behold the natives so ex- 
 pert in handling the sword after the European manner,, 
 from which he concluded they had seen and copied the 
 use of that weapon. 
 
 Bows and Arrows of different nations. 
 
 Two small Cloaks , made of feathers, to cover the 
 shoulders, from the South Seas. 
 
 GLASS CASE OF BOTANICAL SUBJECTS. 
 
 Most of the articles in this case were presented to the 
 Museum by Dr. Janies E. Smith, President of the Liu 
 naean Society. 
 
 Specimens of the Bark of the Lagetto Tree, the curious 
 structure of which resembles gauze. King Charles II. it 
 is said, had a pair of ruffles and a cravat made from this 
 bark, which were presented to him by a merchant from 
 Jamaica, which he frequently wore. The cloth of the 
 South Sea Islands is made from a similar bark. 
 
 Fine specimen of the Banks! a Serrata , in fiower. 
 This is one of the four species of Banksia described in the 
 Supple men turn Plantarum of Linnaeus, specimens of which 
 are contained in the Herbarium of that great naturalist, 
 now in the possession of Dr. J. E. Smith. 
 
 The Banksia Serrata is considered as the most stately 
 of the genus : its trunk is thick and ruggid. It is a nati ve 
 of New Holland, and received the denomination of Bank- 
 sia in complement to Sir Joseph Banks, 
 
 Banksia Serrata in Fruit, a fine specimen. —New 
 Holland. 
 
 Wooden Pear (Xylomelum Pyriforme). This species 
 was first discovered at Botany Bay, when the coast of 
 
 b 3 
 
New South Wales was first explored by Sir Joseph 
 Banks and Dr, Solander. The natives call it the Merry- 
 dugur-ro. The tree which bears this ligneous pear is an 
 evergreen. 
 
 Heath-leaved Banksir (Banksia Erici-folia), from New 
 Holland. 
 
 Yellow Gum (Xanthorrhoea Hastile) from Botany Bay. 
 
 Cylista Comosa, from Sierra Leone. 
 
 Afzelia Speciosa , from Sierra Leone. 
 
 New Zealand Flax , (Fhormium Tenax) of which the 
 natives make their cloaks, twine, &c. 
 
 Strings of Beads , made of aromatic berries, from South 
 America. 
 
 Cotton in the pod and in flower. 
 
 CURIOSITIES 
 
 FROM NORTH AND SOUTH AMERICA. 
 
 A Dress worn by the Eskimaux Indians, principally 
 made of seal skins, with the hairv side outwards. It is a 
 kind of jacket, nearly resembling a carter’s frock, with a 
 hood to it, that fits tight round the face, which is the only 
 part of the body that is seen ; the skirts of the frock reach 
 nearly to the knee, and under it are worn a kind of draw- 
 ers, made of the same materials as the above : the legs are 
 covered with stockings made of skin, with very thick hair 
 on, and over these are drawn a pair of curious boots, made 
 of the skin of some sea animal. The whole of this dress 
 is well calculated for the cold climate where it is worn. 
 The sewing is performed with small sharp hsh bones, and 
 the sinews of the whale split into thin fibres for thread ; 
 yet we believe that few' European tailors could exceed 
 either the neatness or strength of the work. 
 
11 
 
 Halter's made of the bark of the Lagetto or Cabbage 
 tree. 
 
 Mancassons, or Shoes , worn by the Indians of North 
 America, ornamented with porcupine quills and tassels of 
 red hair. The leather is said to be dressed in blood, 
 which prevents the wearer's feet from freezing ; on which 
 account they are often used by Europeans in that coun- 
 try. 
 
 A Quiver of poisoned Arrows , with the Tube used in 
 discharging them ; brought from Demerara. These in- 
 struments of destruction are nine inches long, and about 
 the thickness of a small quill; they are made of a light 
 wood, sharply pointed, and are dipped in poison to the 
 depth of two inches, which generally proves fatal to the 
 object that is wounded by them : they are discharged with 
 unerring certainty, by being blown through a hollow tube 
 of wood, nine feet long. Near the quiver hangs a small 
 basket, which contains a down-like substance, a small 
 piece of which is put into the tube after the arrow, which 
 prevents the escape of the air, and causes it to fly with 
 almost incredible velocity. 
 
 An ornamental Belt , used by the North American In- 
 dians, for bringing home the skins of animals taken in 
 hunting excursions. 
 
 Bow and Fish Arrows, from the north-west coast of 
 America. 
 
 Several Pouches , some of them very curious, from North 
 America. 
 
 Fair of ornamental Garters, principally made of por- 
 cupine quills, from North America. 
 
 A Purse, or Tobacco Pouch , made of the skin of the 
 stiffling or squash, ornamented with tassels of deer's hair, 
 from North America. 
 
 Ornament for the neck, made of the shells of some 
 small hard nut, from Demerara. 
 
 Bow and Quiver of Arrows , from Demerara. 
 
12 
 
 Several Musical Instruments , from Demerara, among 
 which is a kind of flute. 
 
 A great variety of Bows and Arrows from Surinam. 
 
 Calumet , or Pipe of Peace , used by the North Ameri- 
 can Indians, to smoke tobacco, bark leaf, or herb, when 
 they enter into an alliance on any serious occasion, or so- 
 lemn engagement ; this being among them the most sa- 
 cred oath that can be taken, and the violation of it is 
 thought deserving of the punishment of heaven. 
 
 A Snow Shoe , from Hudson's Bay, upwards of five 
 feet long ; it is very light, and covers such a space as 
 prevents the feet of the wearer from sinking into the snow. 
 
 A pair of Snow Shoes , for a child. 
 
 A pair of Snow Shoes , from Canada, not so long as 
 the preceding, but broader and rounder in front. 
 
 Neck Ornament , made of feathers, from South Ame- 
 rica. 
 
 Two Hammocks , of curious workmanship, from South 
 America; presented to the Museum by the Hon. Col. 
 St. Leger, of Dublin. 
 
 SMALL GLASS CASE, MARKED C. 
 
 A Wampum Belt , of great value among the Indian 
 chiefs of North America, often given and received as a 
 token of peace. 
 
 A Cap , from Africa, made of plaited grass. 
 
 Chinese Money . These pieces have square holes 
 
 through them, and are always strung together. Seventy- 
 six of them are the value of an English sixpence. 
 
 Rouge, used by the Chinese ladies to colour their 
 faces. 
 
 Specimen of the Cloth made of amianthus, a soft spe- 
 cies of asbestos, that will remain in the hottest fire with- 
 out burning. Pliny mentions his having seen napkins of 
 this doth, which being taken from the table after a feast. 
 
 
were thrown into the lire, and by that means were better 
 cleansed than if they had been washed in water. But its 
 principal use, according to that author, was for making 
 shrouds for royal funerals, to wrap up the corpse, so that 
 the human ashes might be preserved distinct from those 
 of the wood. 
 
 Asbestos, or Mineral Flax , in its natural state. 
 
 Mica, or Talc , used for windows before the invention 
 of glass. Clear white plates of this substance are used for 
 glazing the lanterns of men of war, as fire has little effect 
 on it. 
 
 AFRICAN CURIOSITIES. 
 
 African King’s Sceptre , in shape like a rod, being made 
 of small split pieces of bamboo cane. These are valued 
 according to their length, for by that the rank of the 
 person is known; that of the king’s being made of the 
 longest joints of bamboo that can be found in his do- 
 minions. 
 
 Curious Sword, formerly the property of a Mandingo 
 chief. Inclosed in the hilt is a fettish or charm, to pre- 
 serve the wearers life, composed of a piece of skin of the 
 Iguana, which in that country is held sacred. 
 
 Curious Cart ouch-boxes. 
 
 A circular Fan, covered with a parchment-like skin, 
 curiously painted. 
 
 Several Pouches , some of them very singular in con- 
 struction. 
 
 A pair of Sandals, or Shoes . These, in Africa, are 
 seldom used. 
 
 Common Black Bottle 9 curiously cased with wicker 
 work. 
 
 African Comb; similar to that of the Sandwich Islands, 
 
14 
 
 A rude Necklace , composed of stones that have holes 
 naturally through them, without boring. 
 
 African Spoon , made of wood. 
 
 Curious Wooden Fan. 
 
 A lady's large Pocket , or Pouchy finely embroidered 
 with the needlework of the country. 
 
 African Bows and Quivers of long poisoned Arrows . 
 
 Great variety of African Lances , Arrows , and Dag- 
 gers. 
 
 A small instrument, similar to a Scottish Mull , used 
 for the purpose of grinding* tobacco into powder. 
 
 An African Flambeau, made of flag-leaves, filled with 
 a resinous gum. 
 
 Pouch , or Pocket , made of grass, used by negro ser- 
 vants to carry letters, &c. 
 
 A kind of Hammock , of singular net-work, used in 
 Africa, either for sleeping or travelling. 
 
 Small Gourds , covered with net-work, on the mesh- 
 knots of which are: strung a kind of Black-Berries, that 
 produce a sound similar to castinets. They are used by 
 the Africans wdien they dance. 
 
 An African Charm , called Fettish , consisting of a 
 Ram’s-Horn f to which is suspended a brass chain and 
 bell. This is worn round the neck, and is imagined by 
 the wearer to charm or drive away evil and tormenting 
 spirits, and preserve life. It was taken from the breast of 
 a black man engaged in battle, by Captain Clarke, of the 
 ship Roebuck, of Liverpool, who presented it to the 
 Museum. 
 
 Specimen of African Cloth, made of grass. 
 
 A curious Sleeping Net or Hammock, from Africa 
 presented by Captain Roberts, of Liverpool. 
 
15 
 
 WORKS OF ART. 
 
 Beautiful Equestrian Model of Edward the Black 
 Prince in Armour, finely executed by Mr. G. Bullock of 
 Liverpool. 
 
 Portrait of Mrs . Siddons , in Queen Catherine, and 
 Mr. Kemble , in Coriolanus, by ditto. 
 
 Capital Group of Figures , representing the Progress 
 of Inebriety. 
 
 A Blind Beggar led by a Child. 
 
 Frederick the Great in his last illness. 
 
 And, a Bead Christ . 
 
 [The last four pieces are all modelled by Mr. Piercy, in 
 coloured wax, and are universally admired by every lover 
 of the arts, for the correct and spirited manner in which 
 they are executed.] 
 
 An exquisite Model , in Rice Paste, of the Death of 
 Voltaire , by Mons. Oudon, of Paris. 
 
 Gothic Model of an Ancient Armoury , on the scale of 
 an inch to a foot. It contains accurate models and repre- 
 sentations of every kind of Armour and Warlike W eapon 
 used in the British armies, from the Norman Conquest to 
 the Restoration of Charles II. 
 
 Group of Flowers , wonderfully cut in white Marble. 
 
 Model of a Chinese Pagoda , made of mother of-pearl^ 
 ornamented with carving and gilding. 
 
 Complete Model of a Man of War, only six inches long* 
 
 A ditto, entirely of ivory. 
 
 Windsor Castle , with the Thames. 
 
 Greenwich Hospital , with Shipping, &c. 
 
 Two pieces with Stags in a Forest. 
 
 [The above four are all hi Ivory , carved in the most 
 exquisite manner by Messrs. Stephany and Dresh.] 
 
16 
 
 Sixteen hollow Balls of Ivory, cut within each other 
 out of one solid piece, by the Chinese, in the most won- 
 derful manner, every ball being pierced of a different 
 pattern, almost as fine as lace. 
 
 Another ditto, with only eight Balls. 
 
 Several beautiful turnings in Ivory, by Mr. Perry, of 
 London. 
 
 Picture of a Saint sailing on his Cloak, in Marble of 
 its natural colours. 
 
 Case of Flowers , made of Butterfly's Wings. 
 
 Holy Family , from Carlo Maratti, done in Wood, at 
 Rome. 
 
 Picture of Birds , executed with Feathers. 
 
 A Dutch Merry-making , from Teniers, in coloured 
 Straw. 
 
 A Jew Rabbi , done with a hot iron on Wood. 
 
 Several Copies of Engravings , with Pen and Ink, by 
 Mens. Mongenot. 
 
 Model of a Man of War , of sixty guns, entirely of 
 Crystal Glass ; an early work of the Proprietor. 
 
 Complete Model of a seventy-four gun Ship at anchor, 
 only six inches long. 
 
 IN A CASE NEAR THE ENTRANCE, ARE, 
 
 A curious ancient Dish, inlaid with mother-of-pearl 
 and various coloured glass, &c. Ancient Work Bas- 
 ket, made of cane and different coloured silk. Large 
 Hat, made of cane, curiously wrought, of the time of 
 
 Elizabeth. 
 
 Pair of ancient Stockings, of crimson silk and gold ; 
 they are very strong, and curiously ornamented on the 
 top: supposed to be of about the time of James L 
 
17 
 
 SHOES, 
 
 OF DIFFERENT NATIONS, 
 
 Roman Sandal, The strings which lace it in front, 
 the sides and bottom, most ingeniously made out of one 
 piece of leather ; it was found at the depth of fourteen 
 feet, in cutting peat in Hawford Moss, Cheshire. 
 
 Turkish Slipper, of yellow leather, 
 
 Persian Shoe, red leather, embroidered with silver. 
 
 East India Shoes, of curious form, and highly orna 
 men ted. 
 
 A Pair of Brainin' s Shoes, from the East Indies. Per- 
 haps no article of dress, to the eyes of Europeans, will 
 appear more extraordinary than these shoes they are 
 made of hard wood of one piece, in the form of the sole 
 of the common shoe, raised from the ground about the 
 height of a patten, by a projecting piece of wood being 
 left at the toe and at the heel. They are fastened to 
 the feet by a peg of wood that stands between the two 
 largest toes, which secures them in walking. 
 
 Chinese Men's Shoes ; one of them of cane, beautifully 
 wrought ; the other of satin, embroidered ; the sole of 
 woollen cloth, near two inches thick, and bent up before 
 in such a manner as to keep the toes constantly raised. 
 
 Pair of shoes worn by ladies in China, whose feet have 
 been cramped by the use of the iron shoe, and a Model 
 of the Leg and Foot. These are of a size so extremely 
 diminutive, that on the first view it appears impossible 
 they could have been worn by a full-grown person ; they 
 are rather more than four inches long, and are not an 
 inch wide in the middle. This ridiculous custom is said 
 to be performed by breaking the bones of the feet of the 
 females while infants, bending the toes under the soles 
 of the feet, applying a tight bandage, and over that an 
 iron shoe, which prevents the feet from enlarging, and 
 render these unfortunate victims of fashion cripples for 
 life. 
 
 An African SandaL 
 
NATURAL HISTORY. 
 
 BIRDS. (Class Avis) 
 
 Almighty Being ! 
 
 Cause and support of all things, can I view 
 These objects of my wonder; can I feel 
 These fine sensations, and not think of thee ? 
 
 i His Ornithological department of the Museum con- 
 tains probably a greater number of species than is to be 
 found in any other collection : they are in the highest 
 possible state of preservation, and arranged in their re- 
 spective families, according to the Linnaean Classification, 
 in a manner that has met the approbation of the scien- 
 tific naturalist as well as the general visitor ; as combin- 
 ing the whole of the Birds of one genus together, and 
 exhibiting them in the order they stand in the Sy sterna 
 Natural, in such a way as convey an idea of their haunts 
 and mode of life. 
 
 The landscapes at the back of each case are intended 
 to show the description of country in which the respec- 
 tive birds are generally found. 
 
 BIRDS OF PREY. (Order Accipitres.) 
 VULTURE (Vultur.) 
 
 The vultures are the most ravenous of the featliered 
 tribe, since they kill prey not from choice but in general 
 
19 
 
 devour only such animals as are dyings or found dead 
 and putrid . Their sense of smelling is so exquisite, that 
 they are able to scent a dead carcass at an amazing dis- 
 tance. They are/' says Pennant, “ greedy and vora~ 
 u cious to a proverb, and not timid, for they prey in the 
 u midst of cities, undaunted by mankind " In some of 
 the battles of the East, where vast slaughter takes place 
 of elephants, horses, and men, voracious animals crowd 
 to the field from all quarters, of which Jackalls and Vul- 
 tures are the chief. Even in the places where the last 
 are at other times seldom observed, the plain on these 
 occasions will be found covered with them. Vast mul- 
 titudes will be seen in the air, descending on every side 
 to partake in the carnage. These the Indians believe to 
 be brought by having an instinctive presentiment of 
 slaughter some days before the event. It is observed, 
 that Vultures in general become less numerous as the 
 climate becomes colder ; and that in the more northern 
 countries they are never found.— They are undoubtedly 
 a kind dispensation of Providence in the hotter regions, 
 to prevent the putrid effluvia of the dead from too much 
 injuring the health of the living. 
 
 Bearded Vulture. (Vultur Barbatu.) This fine spe- 
 cimen was presented to Mr. Bullock by the Museum of 
 Natural History of Paris. This species is distinguished 
 by the tuft of hair which grows beneath the under man- 
 dible. 
 
 In the same case are two specimens of a smaller species 
 of Vulture; of which no description appears hitherto to 
 have been given. 
 
 Fulvous Vulture . (Vultur Fulvus.) This large species 
 inhabits the mountains of Persia, and is occasional^ 
 seen in the warmer parts of Europe, but is no where 
 plentiful. 
 
 Crested Vulture . (V. Cristatus), from the Cape of 
 Good Hope. 
 
 Carrion Vulture . (V. Aura.) These inhabit the 
 
 greater part of America, where they are protected for 
 their use in devouring dead carcasses, serpents, &c. In 
 towns they will seize meat from the shambles. 
 
20 
 
 Their manners are filthy in the extreme, and their breath 
 emits a most unpleasant odour. 
 
 Is the female of the King Vulture. (See Case below.) 
 
 The King of the Vultures . (Vultur Papa.) This is 
 the most beautiful of the whole tribe ; it is an inhabitant 
 of South America, and is protected on account of its 
 services in destroving dead and noxious animals. 
 
 2. Is a young bird of the first year ; it is not till the 
 third that they attain their mature plumage. 
 
 Secretary Vulture , or Serpent Eater . (Falco Serpen- 
 tarius, Linn.) This remarkable bird is found in the 
 country in the interior of the Cape of Good Hope. Its 
 principal food is serpents, which it is extremely expert in 
 destroying. One that was kept alive some years since at 
 Exeter Change was fed on live eels, which it killed by 
 striking them severely near the head with its foot. Pre- 
 sented to the Museum by the Dean and Chapter of Christ 
 Church College, Oxford. 
 
 BRITISH EAGLES. (Falco.) 
 
 Male of the Sea Eagle . (Falco Ossifragus.) This 
 extremely fine specimen, which measures 7 feet 9 inches 
 in the extent of its wings, was killed in Lincolnshire in 
 March, 1810, in the park of Sir Joseph Banks, by whom 
 it Was presented to the Museum. 
 
 Female of the Sea Eagle , (which in the rapacious 
 birds are larger than the males) it was shot in the winter 
 of 1810, in the New Forest, whilst in the act of tearing 
 out the eyes of a deer on whose head it had fastened. 
 
 V 
 
 Presented by Michael Hoy, Esq. 
 
 Black Eagle . (F. Melanaetos.) 
 
 The Osprey , or Fishing Eagle , Male and Female. 
 (F. Halioetos.) 
 
 Golden Eagles . (Falco Chrysoeotos.) A matchless 
 group of these noble birds, consisting of the male and 
 
21 
 
 female, and young, beautifully preserved. The male is 
 represented as just arrived at the nest, with a white hare,, 
 the lungs of which it is tearing out for the unfledged 
 Eaglet, who stands ready to receive it. We procured 
 the young from the awful ciifts near the romantic village 
 of Rackwick, in the Isle of Hoy. The nest (if a bare 
 rock with a little grass strewed on it could be so called) 
 was on a small ledge of the rock, the upper part of 
 which projected in such a manner that rendered it impos- 
 sible for man to approach it. After several unavailing 
 attempts, we killed one of the young (there were two in 
 the nest) with the gun, the other, on being fired at the 
 following day, struggled over the ledge of the clift, and 
 was killed by falling several hundred feet on the rocks 
 beneath. The parent birds were in sight, but did not 
 attempt to defend their young. 
 
 The female was killed in the winter of 1 S 09 , in the 
 neighbourhood of London, and presented to the Museum 
 by the Count de Vandes. 
 
 A pair of these birds breed annually in the bold rocks 
 in Hoy, called the White Breast, the ground above the 
 place, for a considerable distance round, is strewed with 
 the numerous remains of sheep, lambs, pigs, poultry, rab- 
 bits, and fish, and exhibit a striking example of the 
 havoc and destruction caused by the numerous birds of 
 prey in that island. 
 
 Ring-tailed Eagles , male and female. (Falco Fulvus.) 
 These are described by naturalists as distinct from the 
 Golden Eagles ; but we have no doubt of their being 
 really the same in the most perfect adult state. They 
 were killed in the Isle of Hoy, where they breed. This 
 species is trained by the Tartars to hunt hares, antelopes^ 
 and foxes. 
 
 Cincerous Eagle , (Falco Albicilla) with its young . 
 This is somewhat less than the Golden Eagle, the colour 
 is also much lighter, and the bill straighter and larger 
 than in any of the other species ; it inhabits the northern 
 parts of Europe and America. The young ones were 
 taken on the 10th of June, 1812, when about three weeks 
 old, from their aeiry on the tremendous dill called the 
 
22 
 
 West Craigs, in the Isle of Hoy, (one of the Orkneys) the 
 towering rocks of which rise to the perpendicular height 
 of 1 200 feet from the sea. About one-third of the way 
 down this awful abyss a slender pointed rock projected 
 from the cliff, like the pinnacle of a gothic building ; on 
 the extremity of this is a hollow, scarcely of sufficient 
 size for the purpose these birds bad fixed on as a place 
 of security for rearing their young ; the situation was 
 such as almost to defy the power of man to molest their 
 habitation ; yet with the assistance of a short slender rope, 
 made of twisted hogs* bristles, did the well-known ad- 
 venturous climber, or Rocksman, 4 4 Woolley Tomson,” 
 traverse the face of this frightful precipice, and for a 
 trifling remuneration brought up the young birds. 
 
 After a fatiguing scramble up the sides of the moun- 
 tains, we arrived at the place from whence we could see 
 the aeiry beneath, the distance was so great that the 
 young Ragles appeared no larger than pigeons ; after 
 placing us in a secure situation on a projecting ledge of 
 the rock, that commanded a view of the scene of action, 
 Tomson left us, carrying his rope in his hand, and dis- 
 appeared for upwards of half an hour ; when, to our 
 great joy, we discovered him creeping on his hands and 
 knees up the spiry fragment, on which lay the unfledged 
 Eaglets ; when knowing he was then in our sight, he 
 knelt on the top, and looking towards us, waved his hat. 
 At this time it was impossible to see the situation he was 
 in without trembling for his safety ; the slender point 
 of the rock on which he knelt was at least 800 feet 
 above the surges of the Atlantic, which with unbroken 
 violence were foaming beneath him. Yet he deliberately 
 took from his pocket a cord, and tying the wings of the 
 young birds, who made some resistance with their bills 
 and talons, he put them into a basket, and began to de- 
 scend, and in a few minutes the overhanging masses hid 
 him from our view. The old birds were in sight during 
 the transaction, and made no attempt to defend their 
 young: but soaring about a quarter of a mile above, 
 occasionally uttered a short shrill scream, very different 
 from their usual barking noise. Had they attempted a 
 rescue, the situation of the climber would have been 
 
23 
 
 extremely dangerous, as the slightest deviation or false 
 step would have precipitated him into eternity, a misfor- 
 tune that a few years since befel his brother, on the same 
 spot, when in his company. 
 
 After waiting in a most painful state of suspense for 
 near an hour, our climber suddenly made his appear- 
 ance, and, laughing, presented his prize. 
 
 In the Isle of Hoy we discovered all the species of 
 British Eagles, except the Osprey : they are extremely 
 numerous, and are the greatest pest of the poor inha- 
 bitants, frequently carrying off their lambs, pigs, and 
 poultry. Near the nest of one we found the remains 
 of several lambs, and the legs of 48 fowls were found 
 near another. It is but a few years since a person died, 
 who in his infancy had been carried off by an Eagle, and 
 recovered by his parents. By an ancient law in the 
 Orkneys, any person destroying an Eagle is entitled to 
 a hen from every farm in the parish in which it occurred. 
 
 BRITISH HAWKS. (Falco.) 
 
 This Case contains most of the Hawks found in Britain, 
 with their names attached to them. They are all birds 
 of prey, many of them may with care be brought to a 
 state of partial domestication, and were formerly used in 
 the noble diversion of hawking ; among them are. 
 
 Rough-legged Falcons. (F. Lagopus.) Three speci- 
 mens of these British birds, which seldom visit the British 
 Isle, being natives of the north of Europe and America. 
 
 Goshawk . (F. Palumbarius.) This bird, which is now 
 becoming scarce in England, is admired for the beauty 
 of its plumage : it was formerly used in falconry. 
 
 Merlin. (F. iEsalon.) This is one of the birds that 
 migrate to the southern countries on the approach of 
 winter. 
 
FOREIGN EAGLES. (Falco.) 
 
 In this case is a variety of birds of the Falco genus ; 
 several of them are very rare, from South America: 
 those known have their names attached to them. Among 
 the most conspicuous is a tine specimen of the Bald, or 
 White-headed Eagle . (Falco Leucocephalus). It is 
 found in great plenty on the shores of Hudson’s Bay ; 
 and I am informed by my brother (Lieut. Bullock, 
 R. N.) who passed several winters at a Block-house on 
 the coast of Labradore, that these birds were so bold as 
 to be extremely troublesome, by watching for and seizing 
 the game killed by the guns of our people, and often 
 contending with them for the prize. 
 
 The Imperial or Crested Eagle. (Falco Imperialis.) 
 This majestic bird is a native of the woods in the inte- 
 rior of Cayenne and Guiana, where it preys on the va- 
 rious species of Monkeys and Ant-Eaters ; it is said also 
 frequently to destroy the large Serpents of that country, 
 in which act it is preserved, combating an undescribed 
 poisonous species, whose deadly fangs are erected as in 
 the moment of inflicting its fatal bite. The Imperial 
 Eagle is perhaps the most powerful of this rapacious 
 family, the size of its legs and talons (the hind ones in 
 particular) sufficiently mark its strength. It is repre- 
 sented here in the act of destroying a formidable serpent : 
 and is the only specimen of this bird known to have been 
 brought to Europe. 
 
 Sonnini’s Eagle. This is is one of the most beau- 
 tiful of the Falco genus. Its form is more slender and 
 elevated than its co-geners : its colour, dark chocolate 
 feathers down to the toes, and the feathers of the head 
 lengthened into a crest. It is a native of Brazil. 
 
 Superb Eagle . An elegant bird, found near the Cape 
 of Good Hope. 
 
 Pondicherry Eagle . (F.) Found in India and New 
 Holland. 
 
 Zone-tailed Eagles. Male and female. 
 
23 
 
 AFRICAN HAWKS. 
 
 A collection of Hawks from Africa, consisting of twelve 
 species, several of which are undescribed. 
 
 BRITISH OWLS. (Strix.) 
 
 Every species of Owl hitherto recorded as found in 
 Britain is contained in these Cases, to the list of which 
 we now add one of the most beautiful and majestic of 
 the genus, the Great Snowy Owl (Strix Nyctea). In 
 July, 1812 , in the Island of North Ronaldshaw, one of 
 the Orkneys, we were informed that a bird of this kind 
 had been seen on the rabbit warren on Links for several 
 weeks, and shortly after I had an opportunity of examin- 
 ing it for some time, at the distance of about forty yards. 
 It was a male, (the specimen now in the Museum) and 
 its companion had been killed a few months before on 
 the Island ; one of them had likewise visited the adjacent 
 Isle Westra, and remained there for some time. In Sep- 
 tember I was so fortunate as to procure one in Unst„ 
 the most northerly of the Shetland Isles. It had been 
 killed a few weeks before by Mr. L. Edmonston, a young 
 gentleman well versed in the Ornithology of that country, 
 and from whose testimony, as well as that of several 
 gentlemen of the Isle, I have not the smallest doubt of 
 its breeding and remaining the whole year in the moun- 
 tainous precipices of both that Island and Yell. They 
 are seen there at the end of the summer, in company 
 with their young, three or four together; the latter are 
 then brown. Their flight, which I had several opportu- 
 nities of observing, was more light and buoyant than any 
 of the Hawks, but not so much so as our common Barn 
 Owl. They prey by day on various animals. One 
 wounded on the Isle of Balta, disgorged a young rabbit 
 whole, and that now in my possession had in its stomach 
 a Sand-piper, with the plumage entire. The Case con- 
 tains nine species of British Ow!s« 
 
 c 
 
26 
 
 Long-eared Owl . (Strix Otus.) This bird owes its 
 British name to the black and yellow feathers which 
 stand upright on its head. 
 
 « Tll» 
 
 FOREIGN OWLS. 
 
 The Sooty Owl, or Cinerous Owl . (S. Cineria.) One 
 of the peculiarities of the Owl genus, is the dispropor- 
 tionate largeness of the eyes : this species however is an 
 exception to that circumstance, for in this, although one 
 of the largest of the family (30 inches long), the eyes 
 do not exceed those of the most minute. This does 
 not appear to have been noticed by any author, probably 
 from their not having examined them while living. It is 
 a native of Hudson’s Bay, and is said to prey in the day 
 on hares, grouse, &c. Presented by Mrs. Lean, of Fen- 
 church-street. 
 
 The Great Snowy Owl of Hudson's Bay . (Strix 
 Nyctea.) This beautiful and majestic species is now 
 added to the list of British birds ; we described it in the 
 pth Vol. Part I. p. 1 75, of the Linnean Transactions. 
 
 A pair of Canada Owls . (S. Canadensis.) From 
 North America. 
 
 A Brown Owl, from New Holland. 
 
 A small Brown Owl, brought from New Zealand b} 
 Captain Cook. 
 
 The Young of the Wood-Owls , in their curious downy 
 covering, before the appearance of the first feathers. 
 
 A variety of other Owls, some of which are unde- 
 scribed. 
 
 BUTCHER BIRDS. (Lanius.) 
 
 These are the last genus of the rapacious tribe; they 
 are bold and quarrelsome, mostly preying on small birds, 
 which they tear in pieces, sticking the fragments on 
 thorns. Some of them are natives of this country. 
 
27 
 
 Great Ash-coloured Shrike , or Butcher Bird . (La* 
 nius Excubitor.) It receives its name from its ferocious 
 sod cruel habit of seizing small birds by the throat, 
 strangling them, and afterwards fixing them on a sharp 
 thorn and tearing them to pieces. 
 
 Barbary Shrike. (Lanius Barbatus.) Remarkable 
 for the splendour of its plumage, in which it differs from 
 its co-geners. 
 
 Wood Chat. (L. Rutilus)* A very rare British bird. 
 
 BIRDS THAT INHABIT LOFTY TREES 
 
 (Order Piece.) 
 
 PARROTS. (Psittacus.) 
 
 These Cases contain a numerous and elegant display of 
 the Parrot tribe, consisting of about one hundred species 
 of Maccaws, Cockatoos, Lories, Parrots, and Paroquets, 
 of the most splendid and beautiful plumage, properly ar- 
 ranged and named. 
 
 Of all the foreign birds, the Parrot is best known in 
 this country, and is most admired, not without reason, 
 as it unites the greatest beauty with the greatest docility. 
 Its voice more exactly resembles the human than that of 
 any other bird, and is capable of numerous modulations, 
 which even the tones of man cannot reach. The facility 
 with which this bird is taught to speak, and the degree of 
 memory which it possesses, are not a little surprising. So 
 numerous are the stories respecting the loquacious faculty 
 of the Parrot, that they would fill a volume. Parrots are 
 uncommonly numerous in the tropical climates : the fo- 
 rests swarm with them, and the beauty of their plumage, 
 though not their natural voice, adds a degree of vivacity 
 to the loveliest of scenes. Though the Parrot is com- 
 monly domesticated in Europe, it will not breed here on 
 account of the cold. It indeed can survive our cold 
 winter, but its spirits and appetite are both visibly at 
 
 c 2 
 
28 
 
 feeted by severe weather. It then becomes torpid and 
 inactive, and seems quite changed from that bustling bird 
 which it appears beneath a more genial sky. Neverthe- 
 less, with proper attention, it will live a number of years 
 under the protection of man. The extreme sagacity and 
 docility of this bird, forms the only apology that can be 
 made for the time which is spent in teaching it to talk. 
 At first it obstinately resists all instruction, but seems to 
 be won by perseverance ; makes a few attempts to imi- 
 tate the first sounds, and when it has once acquired the 
 articulation of one word distinctly, the rest of the lesson 
 is generally learned with great ease. The sagacity and 
 docility, however, which Parrots show in a domestic state, 
 seem also natural to them in their residence among the 
 woods. They live together in flocks, and mutually assist 
 each other against their enemies, either by their courage 
 or their notes of warning. They breed in the hollows of 
 trees, where they make their nests. The larger kind lay 
 only two or three eggs : but it is probable that the smaller 
 ones lay more. The natives are very assiduous in finding 
 out the places where they nestle, for the purpose of pro- 
 curing the young ; because those prove the most tractable 
 and lively which are reared in confinement. Indeed the 
 Indians are not anxious to possess these birds for their 
 talking alone, for sale, or for their beauty, but also for 
 food ; since, though some are ill- tasted, others are very 
 delicate eating, particularly the paroquet kind. Nume- 
 rous as the species are, and widely as they are disseminated 
 over Asia, Africa, and America, yet it appears that they 
 were not very generally known to the Greeks. The 
 Green Paroquet with a red neck was the first of this fa- 
 mily imported into Europe ; for Onesicrites, the con- 
 ductor or admiral of the fleet of Alexander the Great, 
 brought them from the island of Taprobane, the modern 
 Ceylon. They were indeed so new and uncommon, that 
 Aristotle, in his eighth book of animals, seems not to have 
 &een them, and mentions them only from report; for he 
 says, “ there is an Indian bird, called the Psittace, which 
 is said to speak.’ 7 The beauty of these birds made them 
 however objects of luxury among the Romans, who 
 lodged them in cages of silver, shells, or ivory; and 
 
29 
 
 the price of a parrot often exceeded that of a slave. 
 To enumerate what number of distinct species of these 
 birds have already been discovered, would be impossible, 
 since our vessels from New Holland and the southern 
 islands are daily adding new ones to this extensive and 
 beautiful genus. 
 
 The one in the larger case, marked unique, is the pro- 
 perty of A. Harrison, Esq. of Parliament-street, West- 
 minster, to whose liberality we are indebted for many of 
 the rare productions of New Holland : it w as received 
 from Port Jackson, where it was shot by Colonel John- 
 son, and the only one known to have been killed at the 
 colony. The Papuan Lory is considered by some persons 
 to be the most beautiful bird in nature. 
 
 TOUCANS (Ramphastos.) 
 
 This Case contains twelve of these highly curious Birds , 
 several of them are undescrihed ; among the rest are 
 the following : 
 
 White-throated Toucan . (Ramphastos Toco). Male 
 and female. The bill of this curious bird is of a most 
 uncommon size, being nearly as large as the whole body, 
 which gives the bird somewhat the appearance of having 
 thrust its head into the claw of a large lobster; this ex- 
 traordinary bill is seven inches and a half long, and seven 
 in circumference ; it is extremely slight, and as thin as 
 parchment. This bird, so formidable in appearance, is 
 quite harmless and gentle ; it feeds principally on pepper, 
 which it devours very greedily, gorging itself in such a 
 manner, that it voids it crude and unconcocted ; this, 
 however, is no objection to the natives using it again. 
 They even prefer it to that which is fresh gathered from 
 the tree ; and seem persuaded that the strength and heat 
 of the pepper is qualified by the bird, and that all its nox- 
 ious qualities are thus exhausted. It is a native of South 
 America. 
 
so 
 
 The Pip erineTouc on. (Ramphastos Piperivorus.) Male 
 and female. 
 
 Aracari Toucan. (Ramphastos Aracari). Is a native of 
 South America,, remarkable for the great size of its bill, 
 as well as the beauty of colour. 
 
 Yellow-breasted Toucan. (Ramphastos Tucanus). In- 
 habits South America: habits, similar to the last. 
 
 In the same Case is the Brazilian Mot mot. (Momotus 
 Brasiliensis). This beautiful and remarkable bird is about 
 eighteen inches long, though the body is not larger than 
 that of a thrush : it inhabits unfrequented forests, build- 
 ing its nest on the ground, or in holes abandoned by the 
 Armadillo, and lays two eggs; feeds on insects, which it 
 macerates in water. 
 
 Near the last is a variety of it from Mexico, with the 
 crown of the head roufous, and the feather of the tail not 
 bare as in the other. 
 
 Above these is the Channel Bill of New Holland, 
 (Scythrops Psittacus). The only one of that genus known. 
 
 HORNBILL. 
 
 » 
 
 The African Hornhill. (Buceros Africanus). Of all the 
 various forms which are met with in the heads of animals, 
 those of the Hornbill appear the most extraordinary; to 
 the enormous bill of the Toucans, nature has added a 
 still larger projection from the forehead along the upper 
 mandible, the precise use of which has baffled the research 
 of the most attentive naturalist. Sixteen different species 
 of these birds are enumerated by travellers and writers, 
 the heads of many of which are preserved in this collection. 
 
 Pied Barnhill (Buceros Malabaricus), 
 
 Black-billed Hornbills. (B. Nasutus). Male and fe- 
 male. They are natives of Senegal, and feed on fruits. 
 
 Bed-billed Hornbill. Dr. Latham, in his Synopsis, 
 makes these only varieties of the former. Linnaeus thought 
 
them male and female, and - Ruffon thought they differed 
 only from age; but by comparing them, the beak will be 
 found to differ exceedingly in shape, so much so, as to 
 leave no doubt of their being distinct species. 
 
 In a separate case are three heads of Hornbills, of very 
 large dimensions. 
 
 CROWS (Oorvus.) 
 
 This Case contains a great variety of the birds of this 
 genus, some of which are highly beautiful in their plum- 
 age, while others surprise by their singularity. The va- 
 rious kinds are found by navigators inhabiting every pan 
 of the known world. They are in general clamorous 
 and mischievous, easily tamed, and several imitate the 
 human voice distinctly. They are promiscuous feeders : 
 carrion is a favourite food, but they do not object to cafei 
 for themselves by killing rabbits, young ducks, chickens, 
 or any small animals they have strength to overpower. 
 This genus includes the ravens and jays. The Peruvian, 
 jay is very handsome. 
 
 Tee species, all natives of this Island, are contained in 
 this Case. 
 
 HOLLER (Cor aci as.) 
 
 These are, in their manner and general habits, much al- 
 lied to the last; many of them are of the most vivid 
 plumage, of which the Senegal Roller will serve as an ex- 
 ample. 
 
 ORIOLES (Oriolus.) 
 
 AND 
 
 G HACKLES (Gracula.) 
 
 This Case contains about 40 Orioles and 8 Grackles. 
 
 The Orioles are chiefly natives of America, where by 
 their prodigious numbers, and their voracity, they do great 
 
32 
 
 injury to the plantations of corn ; many of the species 
 build pendulous nests, some of which are suspended at the 
 extreme ends of the branches of trees, with the entrance 
 either at the bottom or side. 
 
 They are birds of considerable beauty, the general pre- 
 vailing colour being black, contrasted with bright red and 
 yellow. 
 
 The Grackles are mostly natives of India, where they 
 are frequently kept in cages : some of them imitate the 
 human voice much nearer than any of the parrot kind, for 
 which reason they are frequently brought to this country. 
 They principally feed on vegetables. 
 
 BIRDS OF PARADISE (Paradjsea.) 
 
 This Case contains, it is presumed, the finest collection 
 of the birds of this kind in Europe, either in respect of 
 number, variety, or preservation. 
 
 Greater Bird of Paradise. (Paradisea Apoda). No 
 birds have perhaps more puzzled the naturalist than those 
 which are termed Birds of Paradise. They have been 
 described as the inhabitants of the air, never resting on 
 the earth, and living on the dews of heaven. Others 
 have asserted, that they live on insects ; while some have 
 insisted, that they have no legs ; others again contend, 
 that they have not only strong and large legs, but that 
 they are birds of prey. But the fact is, that the inhabi- 
 tants of the Molucca Islands, perceiving the inclinations 
 the Europeans have to obtain these birds, and at the same 
 time taking advantage of their credulity, originally prac- 
 tised many deceits in order to enhance their value. Error 
 however is not of very long duration, and, in the present 
 instance, it was at length discovered that these birds had 
 not only legs, but that they were so disproportionally 
 large, that they took away a considerable share of the 
 elegance of the birds ; on this account it is not improba- 
 ble they were deprived of them by the islanders. Buffon, 
 in his history of birds, says, this beautiful bird is not much 
 
33 
 
 diffused, it is in general confined to that part of Asia 
 which produces the spiceries, and especially the islands 
 of Arou. It is known also in the part of New Guinea 
 opposite to those islands ; but the name which it there 
 receives, B wrung Arou , seems to indicate its natal soih 
 The Bird of Paradise is supposed to subsist on the aro- 
 matic productions of these islands ; at least it does not 
 live solely on dew. Linnaeus says, it feeds on large 
 butterflies; and Bontius, that it sometimes preys upon 
 birds. Its ordinary haunt is in the woods, where perch- 
 ing in the trees, the Indians watch it in slender huts, which 
 they attach to the branches, and shoot it with their 
 arrows of reeds. The ancients seem to have been totally 
 unacquainted with the Bird of Paradise, Belon pretends 
 that it was the Phoenix of antiquity ; but his opinion is 
 founded on the fabulous qualities of both. The Phoenix, 
 too, appeared in Arabia and Egypt, while the Bird of 
 Paradise has remained always attached to the Oriental 
 parts of Asia, which were very little known to the an- 
 cients. — The extreme elegance of the tail-feathers of this 
 bird have made them expensive articles of female deco- 
 ration. 
 
 Less Bird of Paradise . (Paradisea Minor.) This 
 differs from the last, in being considerably less, and in 
 having a long flowing feather at the sides, of a much finer 
 texture and colour. 
 
 The Magnificent Bird of Paradise. (Paradisea 
 Magnifica.) 
 
 The Gorget Bird of Paradise. (Paradisea Nigra.) 
 This is a most splendid and beautiful bird, and likewise 
 extremely rare. Presented by Lady Banks. 
 
 Gold-breasted Paradise Bird . (P. Aurea.) A re - 
 markabty fine specimen . 
 
 King Bird of Paradise. (Pardisea Regia.) This 
 superb bird is usually called the King of the Birds of 
 Paradise ; but this appellation is drawn from fabulous 
 accounts. Clusius was informed by the mariners, from 
 a tradition which prevailed in the East, that each of the 
 species of the Birds of Paradise had its leader whose 
 
 c 3 
 
royal mandates were received with submissive obedience 
 by a numerous train of subjects; that his majesty always 
 dew above the flock, and issued orders for inspecting 
 and tasting the springs, where they might driok with 
 safety. It inhabits the islands of the Indian Ocean, and 
 returns to New Guinea in the rainy season ; feeds on 
 berries, is a solitary bird? and is highly valued on account 
 of its rarity and beauty of plumage. 
 
 Black-bodied Bird of Paradise. This beautiful and 
 uncommon bird, which does not appear to have been 
 seen by any English writer, is, like the others, a native of 
 the Molucca Islands, but is a rarity even in that country ; 
 the plumes being worn only by persons of the first rank ; 
 the whole of the head, neck, body, and tail, is a fine 
 black, with a velvet-like gloss, the latter changing in some 
 lights to a rich purple. The bill is long, black, and some- 
 what hooked ; the feathers under the lower mandible 
 leaching a considerable part of its length : from the back 
 of the neck rises a divided tuft of long, thick, close-set 
 feathers, edged with resplendent emerald green ; from 
 the sides of the body and wings rise two tufts of long 
 delicate silky feathers, as in the common Bird of Paradise, 
 only smaller, six on each side of which have strong black 
 wire-like terminations about nine inches long, destitute 
 of every appearance of feathers. 
 
 Blue Green Bird of Paradise. (Paradisea Virilis). 
 
 Golden Bird of Paradise . (Latham’s Synopsis, vol. i. 
 page 483). 
 
 Superb Bird, of Paradise. (Paradisea Superba). 
 
 Pair of Birds of Paradise , undescribed. 
 
 The Red Bird of Paradise . This beautiful and very 
 rare bird we are acquainted with through the figure in 
 the splendid publication of Giseaux Dores, in which it 
 is called Me Paradis Rouge* it seems to be nearest 
 allied to the Greater Bird of Paradise, the principal dif- 
 ference being in the colour of the long side feathers 
 which rise under the wings, being in this of a fine red, 
 and that instead of the long wire feathers in the tail, it 
 
8 5 : 
 
 lias two curious appendages resembling flat pieces of po- 
 lished whalebone. This specimen is believed to be the 
 only one ever brought to England. 
 
 Black Bird of Paradise . (Paradisea Furcata). 
 
 The Grand Hoopoe (Latham's Synopsis, voh ii. page 
 605). * 
 
 ( Le Grand Promerops Aparemetis ft'ises, Buffou, vol. 
 iv. page 4 72). 
 
 This magnificent bird is thus described by Mr. La- 
 tham: — “ This most extraordinary and beautiful bird is 
 near four feet in length from the tip of the bill to the 
 end of the tail; the body is the size only of a middling 
 pigeon, though much elongated in shape. The bill is 
 three inches long, pretty much curved, and black ; the 
 head, hind part of the neck, and upper part of the belly, 
 are of a shining green ; the rest of the plumage, on the 
 upper parts, black, mixed with a gloss of changeable violet, 
 but the wings, in some lights, appear blue ; the fore part 
 of the neck, and lower part of the belly, without gloss. 
 The scapular feathers are of a singular construction, the 
 webs on one side of the shaft being exceedingly short, 
 and on the other of a great length ; the shape of them 
 falciform ; they are of a purplish black colour, with the 
 ends for three quarters of an inch of a most brilliant, 
 gilded, glossy green, though some of them in a different 
 light reflect a blue gloss; beneath each wing rises a thick 
 tuft of feathers eight inches and a half in length, and of a 
 texture resembling the herring-bone ones in the greater 
 Bird of Paradise." 
 
 A pair of New Holland Birds of Paradise. (P. Park- 
 insoma) ; one presented by the Countess of Liverpool, 
 the other by Dr. Smith, President of the Linnaean Society. 
 
 CUCKOW3 (Cuculus.) 
 
 This Collection contains nearly 40 species of this family. 
 Fhe habits of the common Cuckow are well known, and 
 
36 
 
 may serve to give a general idea of most of them. They 
 are scattered over most parts of the world. Some of them 
 are of tine plumage, as the Cupreous, which is an inhabi- 
 tant of the hottest parts of Africa, where however it is 
 rare ; the rich metallic glossy green with which the whole 
 upper parts are covered, can only be equalled by the 
 glowing tints of the Humming Bird, 
 
 Royal Cuckow. (C. Regius). This bird is larger than 
 the others : its colour is a beautiful green, and it is dis- 
 tinguished by a pointed crest. This specimen lived seve- 
 ral years in the aviary of Her Royal Highness the 
 Duchess of York, by whose liberality the Museum has 
 been enriched with several curious specimens. 
 
 Beneath the above are placed the Barbets, Trogons, 
 and Anis. 
 
 WOODPECKER (Picus.) 
 
 The birds of this genus climb up and down trees in search 
 of insects, which they transfix and draw out from the 
 clefts of the hark by means of the tongue, which is bony 
 at the end, barbed, and furnished with a curious appara- 
 tus of muscles for the purpose of throwing it forward 
 with great force. They build in decaying and dead trees, 
 which they perforate with their hard, wedge-shaped bill. 
 Their feet are very strong, having the toes placed two 
 before and two behind, and in climbing are assisted by 
 the strong pointed feathers of their tail : some of them 
 are found in England. There are upwards of forty in 
 this Case, in which are also a few of the next genus in 
 the Linnsean arrangement, the Sitta, ( Nutnach ) whose 
 mode of life are much like the Woodpecker, from which 
 they differ in having the toes placed three before and one 
 behind. 
 
 KING FISHER (Alcedo.) 
 
 The birds of this family vary much in size; some of 
 them are very splendid in their plumage, in which bright 
 blue is the colour that predominates in the whole tribe, 
 
37 
 
 They mostly frequent rivers, and feed on fish, which they 
 eafeh with much dexterity : they swallow their prey 
 whole — their wings are short, yet they fly with great 
 swiftness. The only one found in this country is the 
 common Alcedo Ispida. 
 
 The Greeks celebrated this bird by the name of Alcyon , 
 or Halcyon ; the epithet Alcyonium was applicable by 
 them to the four days before and after the winter solstice, 
 when the sun shone brilliantly, the sky serene, and the 
 sea smooth and tranquil. It was then the timorous ma- 
 riners of antiquity ventured to lose sight of shore, and 
 shape their course on the glassy main. The King-fisher 
 is the most esteemed of British Birds for the brilliancy of 
 its colours. It nestles on the banks of rivers and brooks, 
 in holes made by water-rats. Gesner observes, that it 
 can never be tamed, and that it is always wild. Its flesh 
 has the odour of bastard musk, and is very unpalatable 
 food; its fat is reddish ; its stomach roomy and flaccid, 
 as in birds of prey ; and like them too it discharges by 
 the bill the undigested fragments, scales, and bones, rolled 
 into little balls. 
 
 In the same Case are a few of the Jacamars, (Galbula) 
 the plumage of some of which partakes of the metallic 
 lustre of the Humming-Bird, 
 
 BEE-EATERS (Merops.) 
 
 The birds of this genus are mostly natives of the Old 
 Continent, few being found in America; but the disco- 
 very of New Holland has brought us acquainted with a 
 number of species that were unknown to us before. Their 
 general food is said to be insects, and that they build their 
 nests in holes on the banks of rivers, in the same manner 
 as the King-fisher, to which they seem much alied. 
 
 The European Bee- Eater (Merops Apiaster), is a na- 
 tive of many of the warmer parts of Europe, but is rarely 
 seen in the British dominions. It is extremely common in 
 Greece, and the islands of the Archipelago : and in Crete 
 is most plentiful. It is in this latter island that the curious 
 
38 . 
 
 mode of bird-catching, described by Bellonius, is said to 
 be frequently practised with success, viz. a cicada is fast- 
 ened on a bent pin, or a fish-hook, and tied to a loop 
 line. The insect, when thrown from the hand, ascends 
 into the air, and flies with rapidity ; the Merops, ever on 
 the watch, seeing the cicada, springs at it, and swallowing 
 the bait, is thus taken by the Cretan boys. 
 
 CREEPERS (Certhia) 
 
 These birds bear a strong resemblance to the Humming- 
 Bird, as to size and the varied tints of glossy colouring, 
 but the legs are always longer, and the bill in general 
 more bent and sharper at the point. They are likewise 
 dispersed over every part of the world, while the Hum- 
 ming-Birds are confined to America. 
 
 Their food is insects, which they find under the bark 
 of trees. The Certhia Familiaris, Common Creeper of 
 this country, is an example (says that excellent Ornitho- 
 logist, Dr. Latham) of the facility with which they run in 
 every direction on the smoothest tree like a fly on a glass 
 window. 
 
 HUMMING-BIRDS (Trochilus.) 
 
 Say, who can paint 
 Like Nature? Can Imagination boast. 
 
 Amid her gay creation, hues like these ? 
 
 THOMSON. 
 
 This Case contains nearly one hundred various Hum- 
 ming-Birds , and is allowed to be the finest collection in 
 Europe : such as are known have their names in the order 
 they stand in the system of Linnaeus. Of all animated 
 beings (says .Button) the Fly Bird is the most elegant in 
 form, and superb in colours. The precious stones, po- 
 lished by art, cannot be compared to this jewel of nature. 
 
39 
 
 Her miniature productions are ever the most wonderful; 
 she has placed in it the order of birds, at the bottom of 
 the scale of magnitude ; but all the talents that are only 
 shared amongst the others, she has bestowed profusely on 
 this little favourite. The emerald, the ruby, and the 
 topaz, sparkle in its plumage, which is never soiled by the 
 dust of the ground. It is inconceivable how much these 
 brilliant birds add to the high finish and beauty of the 
 western landscape. No sooner is the sun risen, than nu- 
 merous kinds are seen filtering abroad ; their wings are 
 so rapid in motion, that it is impossible to discern their 
 colours, except by their glittering ; they are never still, 
 but continually visiting flower after flower, and extracting 
 the honey. For this purpose they are furnished with a 
 forked tongue, which enters the cup of the flower, and 
 enables them to sip the neetared tribute ; upon this alone 
 they subsist. In their flight they make a buzzing noise, 
 not unlike a spinning- wheel : whence they have their 
 name. 
 
 The nests of these birds are not less curious than their 
 form : they are suspended in the air at the extremity of 
 an orange branch, a pomegranate, or a citron tree, and 
 sometimes even to a straw pendant from a hut, if they 
 find one convenient for the purpose. The female is the 
 architect, while the male goes in quest of materials, such 
 as fine cotton, moss, and the fibres of vegetables. The 
 nest is about the size of half a walnut. They lay two 
 eggs at a time, and never more, in appearance like small 
 peas, as white as snow, with here and there a yellow 
 speck. The time of incubation continues twelve days, at 
 the end of which the young ones appear, being then not 
 larger than a blue-bottle fly. u I could never perceive 
 (says Father Dutertre) how the mother fed them, except 
 that she presented the tongue covered entirely with honey 
 extracted from flowers/' Those who have tried to feed 
 them with syrups could not keep them alive more than a 
 few weeks; these aliments, though of easy digestion, are 
 verv different from the delicate nectar collected from the 
 fresh blossoms. It has been alleged by various natu- 
 ralists, that during the winter season they remain torpid, 
 suspended by the bill from the bark of a tree, and awa- 
 
kened into life when the flowers begin to blow; but these 
 fictions are rejected ; for Catesby saw them through the 
 year at St. Domingo and Mexico, where nature never 
 entirely loses her bloom. Sloane says the same of Ja- 
 maica, only that they are more numerous after the rainy 
 season ; and prior to both, Marcgrave mentions them as 
 being frequent the whole year in the woods of Brazil. — 
 The method of obtaining these minute birds is to shoot 
 them with sand, or by means of the trunk-gun; they will 
 allow one to approach within five or six paces of them. 
 It is easy to lay hold of the little creature while it hums 
 at the blossom. It dies soon after it is caught, and serves 
 to decorate the Indian girls, who wear two of these 
 charming birds as pendants from their ears. The Indians, 
 indeed, are so struck and dazzled with the brilliancy of 
 their various hues, that they have named them the Beams , 
 or Locks of the Sun. Such is the history of this little 
 being, who flutters from flower to flower, breathes their 
 freshness, wantons on the wings of the cooling zephyrs, 
 sips the nectar of a thousand sweets, and resides in climes 
 where reigns the beauty of eternal spring. 
 
 In the Case with these birds are specimens of their 
 nests, and of their curiously minute eggs. 
 
 WATER-FOWL. (Order Anseres.) 
 
 We are now arrived at the third Order in the Linnaean 
 classification, called Anseres. The whole of the birds in 
 this order have webbed feet, and reside principally on the 
 water. 
 
 ANAS (Swans, Geese, and Ducks.) 
 
 The birds of this numerous and useful family, of which 
 there are upwards of eighty species in this collection, con- 
 sisting of great variety of Swans, Geese, Ducks, Teals, and 
 Widgeons, from every part of the world, are arranged 
 in eight Cases, and are named as far as known. The 
 Black Swan from New Holland; the Egyptian, Canada, 
 
41 
 
 Brent, Bean, and Bernacie Geese, with several curious and 
 beautiful Ducks were all from the aviary at Frogmore, 
 and weds graciously presented to the Museum by Her 
 Majesty, to whose condescension and liberality I am in- 
 debted for many of the finest subjects of natural history in 
 the collection. 
 
 The Spur-winged Geese . (Anas Gambensis.) Male 
 and female; and the highly curious non-descript species, 
 having a very high crest-like protuberance, the whole 
 length of the upper mandible : were lately sent from the 
 interior of Africa, on the banks of the Gambia, by M. de 
 Bonay, of Senegal, by whose exertions this collection has 
 been considerably enriched, by the addition of many ex- 
 tremely curious and hitherto unknown quadrupeds and 
 birds. 
 
 Eider Duck . (A. Mollissima.) There is a pair of 
 these birds, with their nest, their eggs, and some speci- 
 cimens of their young. They are well known, on account 
 of the valuable down which they pluck from their breasts 
 and of which they make their nests. 
 
 The Chinese or Mandarine Duck . (Anas Galericu- 
 lata.) Which is perhaps the most beautiful of this elegant 
 and highly useful family. 
 
 The Pintail Duck . (Anas Acuta.) 
 
 The Gadwalh (A. Strepera.) 
 
 The Gargany . (A Querquedula ) 
 
 The Tufted Duck . (A. Fuligula.) 
 
 The Harlequin Duck . (A. Histriomia.) 
 
 The Buffel-headed Duck , and some undescribed spe- 
 cies. 
 
 Under a separate glass shade is a beautiful specimen 
 of this genus: being a goose of varied plumage, not 
 larger than a pigeon, which was brought from the river 
 Gambia in Senegal ; it was presented to the Museum by 
 Lord Darnley, 
 
AUKS AND GUILLEMOTS. 
 
 In this Case are the whole of the birds of these families, 
 found in Great Britain with their eggs and young; they 
 were collected in the summer of 1812 , in the North of 
 Scotland and the Orkney Islands. Many of them are 
 extremely rare. Besides these there is 
 
 The Tufted Auk. (Alca Cirrata.) This curious bird 
 was taken by Capt. Cook at Kamtschatka, and is the only 
 specimen in any public collection. 
 
 PENGUINS (Aptenodytes.) 
 
 The Patagonian Penguin. (Aptenodytes Patachonia.) 
 These highly curious birds seem to form the connecting 
 link between the feathered and scaly race. It is upwards 
 of three feet in height ; its tin- like legs being placed at 
 the extreme end of its body, it can stand in no position 
 but quite upright ; in place of wings it has two dangling 
 daps, which when in the water serve as fins, but are of no 
 use on shore, as it is totally incapable of flight ; it seldom 
 comes to land, but for the purpose of depositing its eggs ; 
 it is then so easily taken, that Capt. Cook says, a man 
 might kill with a stick, in a few hours, as many as would 
 load a large boat. 
 
 The Crested Penguin. (Aptenodytes Chrysocome.) 
 
 The Little Penguin. (A. Minor.) Inhabits New 
 Zealand. 
 
 PETRELS (Procellari a.) 
 
 A very extensive collection of these remarkable marine 
 birds, principally collected by Captain Cook ; they live 
 chiefly at sea. and seldom approach land, except at the 
 breeding season ; they have the faculty of spouting a large 
 quantity of oil from their bill to a considerable distance, 
 and feed on the fat of dead whales and other fish. 
 
43 
 
 The Wandering Albatross , or Man-of-War Bird . 
 
 Biomedea Exulans.) This bird is frequently mentioned 
 by navigators, as being met with several hundred leagues 
 from land : in its figure and manner it bears a strong 
 resemblance to the Gulls, but is of such an extraordinary 
 size as to measure 1 3 feet from the tip of one wing to the 
 other. —Presell ted by the Marquis of Buckingham. 
 
 PELICANS (Pelicanus.) 
 
 The whole of these are extremely expert in catching fish, 
 and are sometimes tamed for that purpose, when their la- 
 bours amply repay their keeper for the trouble of their 
 education. 
 
 The Great White Pelican . (Pelicanus Onocrotalus.) 
 Is a native of Asia, Africa, and South America ; it is five 
 feet long, of a white colour, slightly inclining to rosy ; it 
 is said to build its nest in dry sandy deserts, where it car- 
 ries water in its immense pouch for its young, from which 
 probably arose the fabulous account of their feeding their 
 young with their blood, and of their being made an em- 
 blem of parental attention by the ancients. 
 
 The Lesser Frigate Pelican . (Pelicanus Minor.) The 
 length of this bird is about two feet eight inches ; the 
 extent of wing more than seven feet ; the colour, sooty 
 black; the pouch or gullet, bright scarlet. Perhaps none 
 of the feathered tribe continue so much on the wing as 
 this ; they are met with at sea, at an immense distance 
 from any land, and generally flying very high. 
 
 Red-faced Shag. (Pelicanus Uriel.) From Kams- 
 cliatka. 
 
 Corvorant . (Pelicanus Carbo.) 
 
 Shag . (Pelicanus Graculus.) 
 
 Tufted Shag of the Bass Island. Two of these birds, 
 both females, were shot by myself, on the 9th of May, 
 1807, on the Bass Island, in the Frith of Forth, where 
 they are believed to breed and remain the whole year ; 
 
44 
 
 the general appearance, both in size and colour, was 
 nearly similar to the common Shag, and the number of 
 tail feathers the same ; the most striking difference arises 
 from a singular tuft of forty-six narrow and nearly straight 
 feathers, two inches long, standing close together upright, 
 with a slight bend forward on the front of the forehead, 
 in so remarkable a way as at once to distinguish it from 
 any described species. The origin of the lower mandible, 
 and the naked pouch under the throat, was of a blight 
 yellow, approaching to orange, with small spots cf black; 
 the irides, a beautiful grass green, and it had no bare 
 space round the eyes ; the ovaries of both specimens con- 
 tained a number of small eggs, and from the account of 
 the person who takes the young Gannets at the Bass, and 
 who possesses considerable knowledge of the birds that 
 visit it, there can be little doubt of its being anew species, 
 and of its rearing its young in the inaccessible precipices 
 of that island ; and it is somewhat surprising that it should 
 have remained so long unnoticed in the neighbourhood of 
 so many naturalists and ornithologists as Edinburgh con- 
 tains : the flesh was eaten, and found to be entirely desti- 
 tute of that rancid smell and taste that affect the general- 
 ity of the cormorant tribe. I have observed what appear- 
 ed to me to be the same species, on Lambay Island, on 
 the east coast of Ireland. 
 
 Gannets , or Soland Geese . (Pelicanus Bassanus.) 
 
 This beautiful species of Pelican is diffused over most 
 parts of the ocean, but seldom approaches the land ex- 
 cept at the breeding season ; it received its trivial name 
 from its frequenting, in immense quantities, the Bass Is- 
 land, in the Frith of Forth, on the east coast of Scotland. 
 In the spring of 1807, I visited this celebrated rock (once 
 the state prison of Scotland,) accompanied by Arthur 
 Strickland, Esq. of York, for the purpose of procuring 
 specimens of the various water-fowl that annually resort 
 to it at that season of the year for security, during the 
 important business of rearing their young. 
 
 We arrived under the towering and tremendous pro- 
 jecting cliffs of the east end, just before sunrise, and ap- 
 proached as silent as possible. At a little distance, the 
 precipice appeared as if composed of chalk ; but on a nearer 
 
45 
 
 approach, we discovered that this effect was produced 
 by the excrement, as well as by the white plumage of the 
 innumerable water-fowl that covered the cliffs. The 
 whole of the various families were just awake, and pre- 
 paring, by shaking their feathers and pluming their wings, 
 for the busy occupation of the coming day. After atten- 
 tively observing them for some time, on a given signal we 
 fired our guns, and the boatmen shouted altogether, when 
 such a scene took place as I had never witnessed : in an 
 instant our ears were assailed and deafened by the varied 
 and continued cries of at least 100,000 birds— Gannets, 
 Cormorants, Shags, Puffins, Razor-Bills, Guillemots, and 
 the various kinds of Gulls, raised their discordant notes 
 at the same moment, and by their numbers formed a ca- 
 nopy over our heads that darkened the air, while their ex- 
 crement, occasioned by the sudden alarm we had put 
 them in, fell in a thick shower on every side. After the 
 confusion had somewhat subsided, we proceeded to the 
 west end of the island, and ascending to the summit, found 
 ourselves above the cliffs, where the Gannets were sitting, 
 close to each other, on their eggs. We crept cautiously 
 down amongst them, and so attentive were they to their 
 occupation of sitting, that it was with difficulty they could 
 be forced from their eggs, though at other times they are 
 extremely shy. — -They lay but one, which is perfectly 
 white, and in shape and size nearly resembles that of a 
 crocodile ; it is placed on the bare rock, surrounded by a 
 circle of wet sea-weed, which is constantly replenished by 
 the male as it becomes dry. I had been told, but doubt- 
 ed the fact, that during the time of incubation the female 
 holds the egg in her foot ; this I found to be the case. 
 
 In a visit I made in the August following, the young 
 were many of them gone : but still I had an opportunity 
 of examining them in their different ages, previous to 
 their leaving the island. When first produced from the 
 egg, they are black and very ugly ; in a few days they be- 
 come covered by a resplendent white down; in about a 
 month afterwards, their first feathers begin to appear; 
 they are black the first year, spotted with white the second, 
 and on the third attain their mature plumage. The spe- 
 cimens are in the regular progression* 
 
DIVERS (Colymrus.) 
 
 Irnber Divers . (C. Imner.) Male and female, shot in the 
 Long Hope, Isle of Hoy. 
 
 Red-throated Divers. (C. Septentrionalis.) Male and 
 female, very rare, with their eggs ; taken in Hoy. 
 
 Black-throated Diver . (C. Arcticus.) 
 
 BRITISH GREBES. 
 
 A complete collection of the birds of this family, contain- 
 ing male and female of every species known in Great Bri- 
 tain; they inhabit still water, and several of them make 
 foaling nests, and breed in the fens of Lincolnshire and 
 the meres of Cheshire. 
 
 GULLS (Larus.) 
 
 Nearly every species of the British Gulls with their 
 eggs and young, are contained in this Case ; they were 
 collected during two voyages to the Orkney and Shetland 
 Isles, undertaken in the spring and autumn of 1812, for 
 the purpose of investigating the natural productions of 
 those sequestered countries. 
 
 The principal breeding place in Great Britain, of the 
 larger brown species called the Skua Gall , (Larus Ca- 
 taractes,) is on the top of a mountain in the secluded isle 
 of Foula, distant about eighteen leagues from the Ork- 
 neys, We visited this romantic spot early in the month 
 of July, and received a hearty welcome from the poor 
 but hospitable inhabitants, to whom the sight of a stranger 
 is an unusual occurrence; on learning the object of our 
 visit, the person who acts as schoolmaster and minister, 
 for they have no resident clergyman, offered to attend us 
 to the top of the hill, where the Bonxies (the Shetland 
 name of the Skua) were then hatching their young. We 
 had scarcely arrived at the place before we were attacked 
 
in the most furious manner by these enraged and formi- 
 dable birds, who flew with the utmost violence in the di- 
 rection of our eyes, and were not at all intimidated by 
 the report of our guns, or the numbers that we killed : a 
 large dog that we took with us was so roughly treated, 
 that it was obliged to come to us for assistance, and my 
 son received a violent blow on the back of his head, 
 whilst stooping to secure a bird he had wounded. They 
 lay their eggs, four in number, of a dull olive colour with 
 large dusky spots, on the ground, among the short heath 
 and grass, and it was with difficulty we could find them ; 
 the young were covered with a fine cinnamon-coloured 
 down, exceedingly soft and beautiful. We brought 
 some of them alive to England ; they were very tame and 
 affectionate, but were much longer in getting their first 
 feathers, than the young of any other of the Gulls ; their 
 voice was very remarkable, strongly resembling the horns 
 used by the guards of the mail-coaches. 
 
 The Great Black-hacked Gull . . (Lams Marinus.) 
 This is the largest of the genus, and is when living a beau- 
 tiful species ; it is a northern bird, but during winter in 
 severe weather is occasionally seen on our shores ; it does 
 not breed in England, nor has its place or manner of in- 
 cubation been described. We found it on the Sou! i skerry, 
 a small uninhabited and desert island, about ten leagues 
 to the west of the Orkneys, in great numbers, so that it 
 was difficult to walk in some places without treading on 
 their eggs, which are laid on the bare flat ground with a 
 few weeds round them, four in number, of an olive colour 
 with brown blotches, nearly the size of those of a goose, 
 but of a rounder shape; the young are covered with a fine 
 grey down, spotted with black, and are scarcely to be 
 distinguished from those of the lesser black- backed, which 
 breed on the same retired and melancholy spot, but in 
 separate places. This island is solely in the possession of 
 myriads of sea-fowd, and the great seal which breed there 
 in undisturbed security, in the month of November; we 
 saw several hundred of their skeletons, some of which 
 were ten feet long. Till our visit, the island had not been 
 disturbed by human foot for several years, owing to the 
 
48 
 
 distance from any human habitation, and the difficulty of 
 landing. 
 
 Arctic Gulls. (Lams Parasiticus.) This is a fierce 
 and rapacious species, attacking whatever approaches its 
 nest; and the arts they make use of to decoy an intruder 
 from its neighbourhood, exceed those of any other bird. 
 They never fish for themselves like the other gulls, but 
 watch the Kittiwake, the common gull, &c. and as soon 
 as they observe they have taken their prey, attack them, 
 and by striking them on the back, oblige them to disgorge 
 the fish they have just taken; and, with wonderful adroit- 
 ness and rapidity, catch it a few yards in its descent 
 toward the water. 
 
 The Black-toed Gull. (Laurus Cripidatus.) Is a rare 
 British bird ; shot in Lincolnshire. Presented by Sir 
 Joseph Banks. 
 
 The Black Skimmer. (Rhynchops Nigra.) Is re- 
 markable for its singular bill, the lower mandible of 
 which projects considerably beyond the upper, into 
 which it fits like a razor in its handle. It inhabits 
 America and Asia, and is continually flying about and 
 skimming over water, out of which it scoops small fisb 
 with its oddly projecting bill. 
 
 WADERS; 
 
 Birds that derive their subsistence from water, but 
 which do not swim. (Order Grallae.) 
 
 The Red Flamingo. (Phoenicopterus Ruber.) One 
 of the most remarkable birds of this order, the body not 
 being much larger than that of a Duck; while the 
 height, owing to its extremely long legs and neck, is up- 
 wards of four feet. The colour in the full grow n bird is 
 bright scarlet, except the tips of the quills, which are 
 black ; the bill differs from every other bird, and when 
 
 i 
 
49 
 
 used in feeding is turned the contrary way, so that the 
 top of the head comes near the ground. They inhabit 
 Africa and South America, and I am informed by a 
 friend who has just returned from Spain, that he killed 
 one near Cadiz, and that they are there brought to the 
 market of that city, and sold as food. 
 
 Their nest is of mud, in the form of a high cone, 
 indented on the top to receive the eggs ; across this the 
 bird stands during the time of incubation. 
 
 WHITE SPOONBILLS. (Platalea Leu corode a.) 
 
 The bill of this remarkable species is long, and toward 
 the extremity spread out in a spoon-like form. They 
 were formerly not uncommon in this island ; but since 
 the introduction of fire-arms, and the improvement that 
 has gradually taken place in the art of shooting, they 
 have, with other birds then found in plenty, left this 
 country for others more retired. 
 
 Rose-coloured Spoonbills. (Platalea Ajaja.) These 
 beautiful birds are natives of South America ; the one 
 with bright crimson plumage is considered a new species ; 
 * in the same case is the Boat Bill (Cancroma Cochlea- 
 ria.) 
 
 JABIRU. (Mycteria.) 
 
 American Jabiru. (Mycteria Americana.) This ex- 
 traordinary and majestic bird is nearly six feet long ; it 
 inhabits the extensive marshes of South America, feeding 
 on fish, which it devours in large quantities ; it builds its 
 nest in trees which hang over the water, and lays two 
 eggs. Presented by Lord Teignmouth. 
 
 Senegal Jabiru. (Mycteria Senegalensis.) Measures 
 upwards of six feet from the bill to the toes ; it is the 
 
 D 
 
50 
 
 only one known in this country ; it was first described, 
 from an imperfect specimen, by Dr. Shaw, in the fifth 
 volume of the Linnaean Transactions. It was lately 
 received from the river Gambia, and presented, with 
 several other rare and valuable birds of Africa, by Henry 
 Brogden, Esq. 
 
 A non-descript species of Jabiru, the native country 
 unknown ; it lived some time in a state of confinement in 
 Exeter 'Change, and was fed with fish. 
 
 CRANES. (Ardea.) 
 
 / 
 
 Numidian Crane , or Demoiselle . (Ardea Virgo.) This 
 beautiful bird has received the name of Demoiselle, or 
 Miss, on account of its elegant form, its rich garb, and 
 its affected airs. It was famous amongst the ancients, 
 though it was little known or seen in Greece or Italy. 
 
 A large species of Crane, from New Holland; seems 
 nearly allied to Ardea Antigone of Linnaeus. Length, 
 five feet nine inches; breadth of the wing, six feet three 
 inches; general colour, bluish ash, except the quills 
 and chin, which are black ; top of the head without fea- 
 ther, ash colour ; the regions 6f the eyes and back of the 
 neck covered by a carunculated skin of bright vermilion 
 colour. Presented by Dr. Munro, jun. who received 
 it from New Holland, where it was killed by Dr. Jamie- 
 son. 
 
 Great White Heron . (A. Alba.) 
 
 Green Heron. (A. Virescens.) 
 
 Cinereous Herons. (A. Cyanopus.) Male and female. 
 
 Gigantic Heron. (Ardea Dubia.) A fine specimen 
 of this singular and highly curious bird, which, when 
 standing upright, measures upwards of six feet ; it is 
 common in India and Africa, and partly domesticated 
 and protected on account of the quantity of pernicious 
 reptiles it destroys ; the mouth is so wide that it with 
 ease can swallow a cat whole, and its voracious appetite 
 
51 
 
 is scarcely to be satisfied. This remarkable bird was 
 kept in the menagerie of her Royal Highness the Duchess 
 of York several years, and when at ease, usually placed 
 itself in the grotesque position in which it is preserved. 
 
 Pair of Crowned African Cranes. (Ardea Pavonia.) 
 These owe their title of Royal to a sort of crown which 
 decorates their head. They inhabit Africa, especially 
 Gambia, the Gold Coast, and Cape Yerd. They are of 
 a gentle and pacific disposition ; their defence is their 
 stature, and the rapidity with which they run and fiy« 
 They are less afraid of man than of their other enemies: 
 we are assured, that at Cape Yerd these birds are half 
 domesticated, and that they come into the court-yards to 
 eat grain with the Guinea fowls. Their cry is like the 
 peacock's. The Portuguese, in the 15th century, it is 
 supposed, were the first people that brought these birds 
 into Europe, at the time they discovered the Gold 
 Coast. 
 
 In the bottom of this Case is the Bull Frog of Ame- 
 rica. (Rana Maxima.) 
 
 Agami Heron. (A. Agami.) Is a beautiful bird, in- 
 habiting the swamps of Cayenne* Few birds have more 
 splendid plumage* 
 
 The Striated Heron is likewise from Cayenne, and, 
 when closely examined, has much beauty of plumage. 
 
 Tiger Bittern. (A. Tigrina.) Remarkable for the 
 strong contrast of its rich colouring, which resembles the 
 animal from which it is named. 
 
 Little Bittern. (A. Minuta.) Shot in England, 
 where it has lately been several times killed. 
 
 Minute Bittern. (A. Exiils.) The smallest of the 
 genus, only eleven inches long: From Monte Video. 
 
 Common Heron . (A. Major.) 
 
 Great Egret . (A. Egretta.) 
 
 Little Egret. (A. Garzetta.) This very beautiful 
 bird was formerly very common in England. 
 
 D 2 
 
52 
 
 Blue Heron . (A. Coerulea.) 
 
 Squacco Heron . (A. Comafa.) 
 
 Snowy Heron . (A. Candidissima.) 
 
 Malacca Heron. (A. Malaccensis.) 
 
 Bittern . (A. Stellaris. ) 
 
 The White Stork . (Ardea Ciconia.) These birds are 
 partly domesticated in Holland, and are held sacred by 
 the inhabitants for their use in destroying frogs, lizards, 
 &c. They have been occasionally killed in Britain. 
 
 IBIS. (Tantalus.) 
 
 Sacred Ibis. This remarkable bird, which is the first 
 exhibited in this country, has just been received from 
 Africa, and lately described by a French naturalist as the 
 celebrated sacred bird of the Egyptians (the identity of 
 which has long been disputed ;) and there is every reason 
 to believe it to be the species of which the mummies, in 
 the bird-pits at Saccarra, are composed. 
 
 It has been examined at the house of Sir Joseph Banks 
 with the most perfect mummy known, in which the fea- 
 thers are still entire, and the result left no doubt on the 
 minds of the gentlemen present, of its being the true spe- 
 cies of Ibis, held sacred and preserved by the ancient 
 Egyptians. See the Mummy . 
 
 The Glossy Ibis . (T. Igneus.) This was lately killed 
 
 in Wales. It was likewise shot a few years since in Lan- 
 cashire. 
 
 Egyptian Ibis . (T. Ibis.) This large species is what 
 
 most naturalists have considered as the sacred; but on 
 examination with those mummies that have come under 
 my observation, I find it much longer, and the bill very 
 different from any of them. 
 
 Scarlet Ibis. (T. Ruber.) Inhabits the borders of 
 the great lakes and rivers of South America. The colour 
 
53 
 
 of the whole bird, except the tips of its wings (which are 
 black) is bright scarlet. It feeds on small insects and 
 crabs, and will breed in a domestic state. 
 
 Brown Ibis. (T. Fascus.) 
 
 Black-faced Ibis . (T. Melanopis.) 
 
 CURLEWS. (Scolopax.) 
 
 Common Curlew. (Scolopax Arquata.) With its nest 
 and eggs, taken on the moors between Edinburgh and the 
 falls of the Clyde. 
 
 The young one was kept alive for some time ; its 
 food was small pieces of raw flesh ; the bill, at their ex- 
 clusion, is little larger than our domestic fowls, and it is 
 not till the bird is nearly at its grow th that it attains any 
 considerable length. 
 
 In this Case are a number of the Scopolax genus, some 
 of which are rare. Almost all of them are delicacies for 
 the table ; among which are the Woodcock , Snipes , and 
 other birds equally well known ; of all of which there are 
 specimens. Under a separate glass covering are a Wood- 
 cock with its entire brood. 
 
 The Thing a genus also includes many birds that 
 are well known, and esteemed as articles of luxurious 
 living. Among them are the Plover , the Lapwing or 
 Bastard Plover , the Sea Dottrel , and others. 
 
 Sandpiper . (Tringa.) Many of these are natives of 
 our own shores, where they run in quest of their food 
 with amazing celerity, uttering at the same time a sharp, 
 shrill cry — whence their name. 
 
 Amongst the most remarkable is the 
 
 Ruff. (T. Pugnax.) Its British name is taken from 
 the remarkable feathers that stand upon its neck and 
 
54 
 
 shoulders. They are taken in large quantities in the 
 spring, in the fens of Lincolnshire, and fattened on bread 
 and milk for the London markets: owing to the strong 
 propensity of the males to fighting, they are obliged to be 
 kept in the dark. 
 
 Grey Pkalarope. (T. Lobata.) 
 
 Red Pkalarope . (T. Uyperborea.) With its egg 
 
 taken at Sanda in Orkney. 
 
 Little Sandpiper. (T. Pusilla.) The three last are 
 among the most rare of the British birds, and are in bell 
 
 glasses. 
 
 PLOVER. (Charadrius.) 
 
 A number of rare, and several new species of this genus 
 of birds are in this Case. 
 
 Austrian Pratencole. (Glareola Austriaca.) This 
 extremely rare British bird was killed in September, 
 1812, in the Isle of Unst, within three miles of the north- 
 ern extremity of Great Britain. 
 
 Cream-coloured Plover. A beautiful specimen of 
 this rare bird is under a separate glass shade. 
 
 Scooping Avocet. (Recuvirostra Avocetta.) This 
 curious bird derives its British name from the circumstance 
 of its scooping the worms and insects on which it feeds, 
 out of the sand and mud, with its curved bill. 
 
 White Sheath Bill. (Vaginalis Alba.) This curious 
 bird, the only one of the genus and the only specimen 
 presumed to be in Britain, was brought from New Zea- 
 land by Capt. Cook, and has, with many other valuable 
 subjects of Ornithology collected during the voyages of 
 
55 
 
 that celebrated circumnavigator, been lately added to 
 this Museum by the liberality of the Royal College of 
 Surgeons. 
 
 JACANA. (Parra ;) and RALLUS. (Rail.) 
 
 In this Case are several species of these birds, remarkable 
 for the extreme size of their feet, by which they are 
 enabled to run over the marshy ground and swamps 
 which they inhabit: some of them are also remarkable 
 for the sharp spurs with which the shoulders are armed. 
 They are natives of the warmer parts of India, Africa, and 
 America. The habits of both genera are very similar. 
 
 PSOPHIA. (Trumpeter.) 
 
 Gold-hreasted Trumpeter . (P. Crepitans.) This bird 
 inhabits Brasil and Guiana ; and is remarkable for the 
 harsh noise, not unlike a child’s trumpet, with which it 
 annoys people. 
 
 BIRDS HAVING affinity to DOMESTIC FOWLS. 
 
 (Order 5th Gallime.) 
 
 BUSTARDS. (Otis.) 
 
 A fine collection of the birds of this genus, from Africa 
 and India, several of them are undescribed, some of them 
 brought by Sir Joseph Banks and Captain Cook, in their 
 first voyage of discovery 
 
 The Great Bustard . (Otis Tarda.) This is the largest 
 of the British land birds, weighing 28lb.; it was formerly 
 common, but the few now remaining of this noble species 
 in England, seem to be confined to the Downs in Nor= 
 folk. 
 
56 
 
 Little Bustard . (Otis Tetrix.) Male; this is one of 
 the rarest British birds. 
 
 OSTRICH. (Struthio.) 
 
 Black Ostrich. (S. Camelus.) Male; a full grown 
 specimen, having attained its complete plumage ; from the 
 menagerie of Mr. Polito, at Exeter ’Change. A most 
 superb bird of this kind ; perhaps the finest ever brought 
 to Europe ; it reaches 1 1 feet in height. 
 
 Cassowary . (S. Casuarius.) Fine specimen of the 
 
 male of this highly curious bird. 
 
 Great Emu , or New Holland Cassowary. (S. Nova 
 Holiandia.) Upwards of 7 feet high. 
 
 Lesser Emu , a distinct species, not half the size of the 
 above. 
 
 American, or Three-Toed Ostrich. (S. Rhea.) 
 
 PEACOCK. (Pavo.) 
 
 Japan Peacock . (P. Muticus.) This magnificent 
 
 specimen was presented to the Museum by Her Majesty : 
 it is considered equal, if not superior, to any bird of the 
 species that has yet been seen in England. 
 
 A beautiful species of Peacock , from the Island of Java, 
 not described by any Naturalist ; presented by the Coun- 
 tess of Darnley. 
 
 An extremely splendid bird, nearly the size of the 
 common Turkey, to which it is allied ; it was brought 
 from the Bay of Honduras, as a present for Sir Henry 
 Halford, who gave it to the Museum c It is not noticed 
 by any writer. 
 
 The Wild Turkey of America. Also presented by the 
 Queen. 
 
57 
 
 CURASSOWS, (Crax.) 
 
 Crested Curassows. (Crax Alector.) Male and fe- 
 male. Inhabits Surinam and other warm parts of S. Ame- 
 rica ; its size is nearly that of a Turkey, the male is black* 
 but in the female the feathers of the head and neck are 
 black and white ; and the whole of the body is a rich 
 mixture of fine cream-colour and black ; the head is orna- 
 mented with an erect crest, each feather being bent a 
 little forward, which gives the bird a very majestic ap- 
 pearance. They are domesticated in South America, aod 
 are said to be excellent food. 
 
 Cashew Curassow. (Crax Pauxi.) It is a native of 
 New Spain, and is remarkable for the singular blue pear- 
 shaped protuberance on the front of the head ; they are 
 easily tamed ; I kept one for some time in a poultry yard, 
 where it associated with common fowls in the most friendly 
 manner. 
 
 In this Case are two others of the family, both from 
 Cayenne, not yet described. 
 
 PHEASANTS. (Phasianus,) 
 
 Argus Pheasant , or Luen . (Phasianus Argus). This 
 superb and majestic bird was first described by Edwards, 
 in the 55th volume of the Philosophical Transactions, 
 who says, “ It is the largest of the pheasant genus yet 
 known, being in size equal to a full grown turkey.” 
 The wings and tail are besprinkled with a multitude of 
 round spots like eyes ; whence it has received the name 
 of Argus. Tiie feathers in the middle of the tail are 
 very long, and project much beyond the rest. (A much 
 longer, and equally beautiful feather, of an unknown 
 species of Chinese Pheasant, five feet long, is in the same 
 Case.) Its head is covered with a double crest. It has 
 been doubled whether this bird had not originally more 
 
 D 3 
 
than two long tail-feathers ; this, however, on examina 
 tion of the rump, seems never to have been the case. 
 Mr. Pennant describes it as having spurs like the com- 
 mon cock, but this also appears to be an error ; for this 
 bird, although a male, and of full growth, has not the 
 slightest appearance of them. — This extraordinary bird, 
 with its wings extended, measures eighteen feet in cir- 
 cumference. It is a native of the North of China. 
 
 African Pheasant . (P. Africanus.) This bird is a 
 native or Senegal, and differs so much from the rest of 
 the family, as scarcely to deserve a place with them. 
 
 Crested Pheasant . (P. Cristatus.) Native of South 
 
 America. 
 
 BRITISH PHEASANTS. (Phasianus.) 
 
 None of the birds of this family are originally natives of 
 Britain, but as they now brave our winter, and breed with 
 us, they may be considered as naturalized. 
 
 The Golden or Painted Pheasant , (P. Pictus.) Of 
 
 the brilliancy with which nature so often decorates the 
 feathered tribe, the Golden Pheasant is one of the most 
 striking examples ; a bird of which the colours are so 
 powerfully lucid, as to dazzle in a full light the eyes of 
 the spectator, and can only be exceeded by the polished 
 lustre of the Humming-bird; even the Peacock himself, 
 with all his gaudy plumage, falls short in the comparison. 
 This splendid bird is now bred in this country, and will 
 stand our winters tolerably well. 
 
 The female was presented to the Museum by Her Ma- 
 jesty. 
 
 Common Pheasant . (P. Colchicus.) 
 
 The Ringed Pheasant.. (P. Colchicus var.) Presented 
 by the Bishop of Salisbury. 
 
 A pair of Bohemian Pheasants , presented by Lady 
 Reade, who was the first person that succeeded in breed- 
 ing this species in England. 
 
59 
 
 White variety of the common Pheasant. 
 
 Pied variety of the common Pheasant ; a beautiful bird, 
 presented by Colonel Taylor of Windsor Castle. 
 
 A beautiful pair of Silver Pheasants. (P. Nycthe- 
 snerus.) Presented by the Bishop of Durham. 
 
 A pair of Indian Fowls , bred in the woods of R. 
 Hammond, Esq. in Norfolk. 
 
 Wild Cock of India , or Jungle Cock. (P. Varius.) 
 This beautiful bird is supposed to be the parent, or orb 
 ginal stock, of all the varieties of our domestic poultry ; 
 it. is placed under a bell glass in the recess. 
 
 WOOD GROUS, OR CAPPERCAILE. 
 (Tetrad Urogallus.) 
 
 The male of this noble species of game is nearly as large 
 as a Turkey, but the female is considerably smaller. 
 They were formerly found in Ireland and Scotland, but 
 are now believed to be extinct, as I hear of no authentic 
 account of any having been met with for several years. 
 
 They are found in various parts of the Old Continent, 
 principally in the northern, in the large pine forests ; and 
 many of them are sent every winter from Sweden to Lon- 
 don, and used at the tables of the great, being by many 
 considered a luxury, although they are said to taste 
 strong of the pine buds on which they feed. 
 
 BRITISH GAME. 
 
 Pair of Red Grous . (Tetrao Scoticus.) These birds 
 are streaked cross-wise with black and reddish brown. 
 
 P air oj the Black Grous . (T. Tetrix.) This species 
 
 are almost entirely black ; the tail is forked and curved. 
 
60 
 
 Pair of the Ptarmigan. (T. Lagopus.) These bird? 
 are much esteemed far the table : they are almost white. 
 
 The White Hare . (Lepus Variabilis.) This species 
 is found on the northern hills of Europe, Asia, and Ame- 
 rica, from whence in the winter it migrates to the plains 
 in troops, and returns in spring. The limbs and tail are 
 shorter than the common hare : they change from a red- 
 dish grey to white in the winter, except the tips of the 
 ears, which are black. 
 
 A great variety of the birds of this genus from all parts 
 of the world are here ; many of them are extremely rare, 
 and some new ; among them are the 
 
 Spotted Grouse. (Tetrao Canadensis.) Male and 
 female. 
 
 Pinnated Grouse . (T. Cupido.) 
 
 Hazel Grouse. (T. Bonasia.) Male and female. 
 
 Red-legged Partridge , (T. Rufus.) These were 
 
 presented by the Queen. 
 
 Pearl Partridges . (T. Perlatus.) Male and female. 
 
 Senegal Partridges. (T. Bicalcaratus.) 
 
 Maryland Quail. (T. Marilandus.) 
 
 Crested Quail. (T. Cristatus.) 
 
 And the Common Quail. (T. Coturnix.) 
 
 The Common Partridge and Young, are beautifully 
 preserved, under a large glass shade. 
 
 BIRDS HAVING AFFINITY TO SPARROWS. 
 (Sixth Order, Passeres.) 
 
 PIGEONS. (Columba.) 
 
 In this Case are a great variety of the Pigeons and Doves 
 from almost every part of the world, with their names 
 
 affixed to them. 
 
61 
 
 The Bronzed-winged Pigeon . (C. Chalcoptera.) Is 
 a beautiful species, inhabiting New Holland ; the covert 
 of its wings, exhibiting all the prismatic colours on a 
 metallic ground. 
 
 The beautiful White Fan-tailed Dove was presented 
 by her Majesty, who received it front Walcheren. 
 
 Several beautiful and rare birds of this family, col- 
 lected during Cook's voyages. 
 
 Crowned Pigeon . (Colombo Coronata.) The gigantic 
 size of this species, which is not far short of a turkey, 
 has caused some naturalists to place it rather among the 
 gallinaceous tribe than in the genus Columba. Its cha- 
 racters are however so clearly and decisively marked, as 
 to declare at once its proper genus. It is undoubtedly 
 one of the most elegant of birds, and is a native of the 
 Molucca Islands. Its voice resembles that of the Wood 
 Pigeon, but in so loud and hoarse a tone, that it is re- 
 corded of some of Mons. Bougainville's sailors, that they 
 were greatly alarmed on hearing it for the first time in 
 the unfrequented spots of some islands on which they 
 landed ; supposing it to have proceeded from the savage 
 cries of hostile and concealed natives. This bird is fre- 
 quently brought to Europe alive, and is considered as 
 one of the greatest ornaments of the menagerie. It was 
 presented to the Proprietor, with other articles, by her 
 Royal Highness the Princess Charlotte of Wales. 
 
 The Ground Dove. (C. Minuta.) Is a strong con- 
 trast to the last, being only five inches long ; it is found 
 in several of the West India Islands ; but cannot be 
 tamed. 
 
 LARKS. (Alauda.) 
 
 AND 
 
 STARLING. (Sternus.) 
 
 The birds of these families are not so numerous as many 
 of the smaller kinds ; almost all that are known are in 
 this collection, 
 
62 
 
 THRUSHES. (Turdus.) 
 
 AND 
 
 CHATTERERS. (Ampelis.) 
 
 This Case contains about 40 species of the Thrushes 
 and Chatterers. The first are not remarkable in general 
 for the splendour of plumage, though some strong excep- 
 tions will be observed in this collection; but the richness 
 of their melody makes ample amends. One species, the 
 Mocking Bird of America (Turdus Polyglottus), de- 
 serves particular notice ; without any exterior attractions, 
 it possesses faculties which renders it one of the greatest 
 objects of curiosity and admiration among the feathered 
 tribes. It is about the size of a thrush. Its natural 
 notes are musical and solemn; but it likewise possesses 
 the singular power of assuming the tones of every other 
 animal, whether quadruped or bird. It seems to divert 
 itself with alternately alluring or terrifying other birds, 
 and to sport with their hopes and their fears. Sometimes 
 it entices them with the call of their mates, and on their 
 approach terrifies them with the scream of the eagle, or 
 some other bird of prey. It frequents the habitations of 
 mankind, and is easily domesticated ; it builds its nest in 
 the fruit-trees near the houses of the planters; and sitting 
 sometimes most of the night on the tops of their chim- 
 neys, assumes its own native melody, and pours forth the 
 sweetest and most varied strains. The savages call it 
 Cencontlatolii, or Four Hundred Languages. It is found 
 in Carolina, Jamaica, New Spain, &c. In Jamaica, it is 
 very common in the Savannahs, where it perches on the 
 highest trees to chant its song. 
 
 The Glossy Thrush . (T. fEneus.) Is a magnificent 
 
 species, near 18 inches long, of the most shining and 
 vivid colour, which changes as seen in different lights. 
 
 The Chatterers are mostly natives of South America, 
 and remarkable for the rich and varied tints of their fea 
 thers. 
 
GROSBEAK. (Loxia.) 
 
 AND 
 
 BUNTINGS. (Emreriza.) 
 
 About seventy birds of the above species are collected 
 together in this Case, all properly named. The Gros- 
 beaks feed principally on hard seeds, which their strong 
 bills enable them easily to open. The Bull-finch, which 
 is one of the species, is an illustration of their powers. 
 Many of them are inhabitants of the cold parts of Europe 
 and America. 
 
 The Buntings are likewise seed-birds, and have a 
 tooth-like process in the upper mandible, which enables 
 them to split their food with great facility. So this genus 
 are included the several species of Whidah Birds , re- 
 markable for their elegance and great length of tail. 
 
 BRITISH GROSBEAKS, FINCHES, AND BUNT- 
 INGS. 
 
 This Case contains a complete collection of the above 
 birds, in the most beautiful preservation, many of them 
 have their nest and eggs. 
 
 TANAGER. (Tanagra.) 
 
 AND 
 
 FINCHES. (FliINGILLA.) 
 
 About eighty of these are contained in this Case. The 
 Tanagers are mostly natives of South America, and no 
 family of birds exhibit a greater diversity of splendid co- 
 lours. They, as well as the Finches, feed on grain and 
 seed, and are often troublesome and destructive to the 
 plantations, in whose neighbourhood they abound. Many 
 of these are not yet described, but others will be recog- 
 nised as familiar acquaintance: among them are the Chaf- 
 finch, the Goldfinch, the Canary Bird, the Linnet, the 
 Sparrow, and others. 
 
64 
 
 FLY-CATCHERS. (Muscicapa.) 
 
 The birds of this genus are perhaps more universally 
 dispersed over every part of the globe than any other. 
 Their food is entirely insects, which, but for the multi- 
 tudes that are consumed by them, would render some 
 countries unfit for human residence : about one hundred 
 species are described. 
 
 WARBLERS. (Motactlla.) 
 
 This genus is more numerous than any other of birds. 
 Dr. Latham, in his excellent work, “ The general Synop- 
 sis of Birds,’" describes one hundred and ninety-eight 
 species. The major part of them inhabit the warmer 
 countries, where insects, their proper food, abound. 
 They are in general not remarkable for gaiety of plumage, 
 but their melody amply compensates for their deficiency 
 in that respect. 
 
 The Nightingale. (Motacilla Luscina.) Though com- 
 mon in this country, never visits the northern parts of our 
 island, and is seldom seen but in the neighbourhood of 
 London and the western counties. The following de- 
 scription of the varied song of this unrivalled bird, is 
 taken from the ingenious author of the Histoire des 
 Oiseaux s—- i( The leader of the vernal chorus begins with 
 a low and timid voice, and he prepares for the hymn to 
 nature by essaying his powers and attuning his organs ; 
 by degrees the sound opens and swells, it bursts with 
 loud and vivid Hashes, it Hows with smooth volubility, it 
 faints and murmurs, it shakes with rapid and violent arti- 
 culations : the soft breathings of love and joy are poured 
 from its inmost soul, and every heart beats in unison and 
 melts with delicious languor. But this continued richness 
 might satiate the ear ; the strains are at times relieved by 
 pauses, which bestow dignity and elevation. The mild 
 sileuce of evening heightens the general effect, and not a 
 rival interrupts the solemn scene.” They begin to build 
 in May. 
 
65 
 
 Taylor Bird . (M. Sutoria.) This bird is much re- 
 
 garded on account of the curious and extraordinary con- 
 struction of its nest, (a specimen of which accompanies the 
 bird.) The little fabric is formed of leaves, which the 
 bird sews together with vegetable fibres, using its beak as 
 a needle. 
 
 MANAKIN. (Pipra.) TITMICE* (Parus.) 
 
 AND 
 
 SWALLOWS. (Hirundo.) 
 
 The Manakins , at first sight, resemble the next genus, 
 or Titmice . They are mostly natives of South America, 
 and are in general beautiful in their colours. The most 
 remarkable species is the Cock of the Rock , or Crested 
 Manakin (Pipra Rupieola.) Though this bird is of an 
 uniform orange colour, it is one of the most beautiful of 
 South America. They are found in great numbers on the 
 mountain Luca, near Oyapoc, and on the mountain Oou° 
 rouaye, near the river Aprouack. They are esteemed for 
 the sake of their plumage, and are very scarce and dear ; 
 because the savages, either from superstition or fear, will 
 not venture into the dark caverns where they lodge. 
 
 The Titmice are a very active and fertile race, laying 
 from eighteen to twenty eggs at one hatch. 
 
 They feed on fruit, seeds, and insects, and a few on 
 flesh ; most of them are fond of the brains of other birds 3 
 which they get at by cleaving the skull of such as they 
 find dead. Several are natives of Britain, and are an 
 extremely entertaining bird in captivity, but are dan- 
 gerous to introduce into an aviary, on account of their 
 cruelty and boldness. 
 
 The natural history of the Swallow is extremely inte- 
 resting, and has been the cause of much controversy 
 among authors ; but we are still in much doubt respect- 
 ing their manners and habits. A few species visit this 
 country in the summer, and skim over moist and wet 
 places in search of insects, which they dexterously take 
 on the wing. 
 
GOATSUCKERS. (Caprimulgus.) 
 
 The birds of this family (the last in the Limiaean arrange- 
 ment) have their mouths of extraordinrry size, opening 
 far beyond the eyes, which enable them to take large in- 
 sects on the wing. They seldom appear in the day-time, 
 except when disturbed, or in dark cloudy weather. They 
 lay two eggs, which they deposit on the naked ground. 
 The voice of the European one resembles the none made 
 by a large spinning wheel. 
 
 Among a number of these birds, is that highly curious 
 species Tke Sierre Leone Goatsucker. (Caprimulgus 
 Longipennis.) Presented by A. Haworth, Esq. of Chel- 
 sea. 
 
 BIRDS IN SEPARATE CASES NUMBERED, EACH HAV- 
 ING A REFERENCE TO THE PAGE IN THIS CATA- 
 LOGUE, IN WHICH THEY ARE DESCRIBED. 
 
 Northern Divers . (Colymbus Glacialis.) Male and 
 female. The largest of the Divers measures three feet 
 and a half in length. It is sometimes shot on our coast. 
 
 Horned Screamer . (Palamedea Cornuta.) This ex- 
 traordinary bird is of the size of a large turkey; from 
 the front of the head rises a sharp horn, about four inches 
 long, and each joint of the wings is furnished with an 
 extremely strong, triangular and very sharp spur ; those 
 on the shoulder being nearly as large as a man’s linger : 
 they inhabit the fens of South America, and are always 
 found in pairs, feeding on seeds and reptiles. The female 
 makes a nest on the ground, of mud, shaped like an 
 oven, and lays two eggs. 
 
 Barbary Partridges. (Tetrao Rufus.) Male and 
 female. Beautifully preserved, and placed under a glass 
 shade : presented by Her Majesty. 
 
 A pair of beautiful Maccaws, from the interior of 
 Cayenne, the whole plumage, except the tips of the wings, 
 
67 
 
 which are green, is of a resplendent deep yellow; they 
 are undescribed by naturalists. 
 
 The Great Auk or Northern Penguin . (Alca Im- 
 pennis.) Of this rare and noble bird, we have no ac- 
 count of any having been killed on the shores of Britain, 
 except this specimen, for upwards of one hundred years. 
 It was taken at Papa Westra in Orkney, to the rocks of 
 which it had resorted for several years, in the summer of 
 1813, and was finely preserved and sent to me by Miss 
 Trail of that island, a lady to whom l am under consi- 
 derable obligation for procuring me many valuable and 
 rare subjects from the northern Isles, and much interesting 
 information respecting their habits. 
 
 I had the pleasure of examining this curious bird on 
 its native element ; it is wholly incapable of flight, but 
 so expert a diver, that every effort to shoot it was in- 
 effectual. 
 
 AMPHIBIOUS ANIMALS, 
 
 u Were ev’ry falt’ring tongue of man, 
 
 Almighty Father! silent in thy praise, 
 
 Thy works themselves would raise a general voice 
 Even in the depth of solitary woods, 
 
 By human foot untrod, proclaim thy power.” 
 
 MILTON. 
 
 TORTOISE. (Testuda.) 
 
 Common Tortoise, (Testudo Grseca.) This animal 
 is considered as the most common of the European 
 species, and is a native of almost all the countries bor- 
 dering on the Mediterranean Sea. It lives to a most ex- 
 traordinary age, instances being adduced of its having 
 considerably exceeded the period of a century. 
 
 Geometrical Tortoise. (T. Geometrica.) From its 
 strong and well-contrasted colours, and regularity of pat- 
 tern, the present species is more readily distinguishable at 
 
68 
 
 first view than most others of this perplexing tribe. The 
 native country of this beautiful tortoise is perhaps not 
 truly known ; though the shell is more frequently seen in 
 Europe than that of any other kind. 
 
 Close Tortoise . (T. Clausa.) The Close Tortoise ob- 
 
 tains its name from the unusual manner in which the 
 under part of the shell is applied to the upper, being con- 
 tinued in such a manner round the margin, that when the 
 animal withdraws its head and legs, it is enabled accu- 
 rately to close all parts of the shell entirely together, so 
 as to be in a complete state of security ; and so strong is 
 the defence (says Shaw 7 , in its Zoology) of this little ani- 
 mal, that it is not only uninjured by having a weight of 
 5 or 6'00lbs. laid upon it, but can walk in its usual man- 
 ner beneath the load. It is a native of many parts of 
 North America, being chiefly found in marshy places. It 
 is principally sought for on account of its eggs. It feeds 
 on beetles, mice, and even serpents, which it seizes by the 
 middle, and draws into its shell, and thus crushes them to 
 death. 
 
 Concentric Tortoise . (T. Concentrica.) This species 
 
 is a native of North America, and is sold in the market 
 of Philadelphia and elsewhere, by the name of Terrapin . 
 It is an inhabitant of waters, and is said to be a whole- 
 some and even delicate food. It is also found in Ja- 
 maica. 
 
 Snap or Snake Tortoise. (T. Serpentina.) This spe- 
 cies, first described by Linnaeus, appears to have been 
 obscurely known. It is a native of North America, w here 
 it inhabits stagnant waters, growing to the weight of 15 
 or 20lbs. and preying on fish, ducklings, &c. Whatever 
 it seizes in its mouth, it holds with great force, and will 
 suffer itself to be raised up by a stick rather than quit its 
 hold. This animal conceals itself in muddy waters, in 
 such a manner as to leave out only part of its back, like 
 a stone or other inanimate object, by which means it the 
 more easily obtains its prey. In New York, it is called 
 the Snapping Tortoise. 
 
 It was kept alive in the Museum upwards of eight 
 months, during which tube it never tasted food. It 
 
69 
 
 possessed a most amazing strength, carrying 200lbs. with- 
 out any apparent inconvenience. Its disposition was ex- 
 ceedingly fierce. 
 
 Logger-head Turtle . (T. Caretta.) This turtle ex- 
 
 ceeds in size every other known species. It inhabits the 
 same seas with the Green Turtle, but is also diffused into 
 very remote latitudes, being often found in the Mediter- 
 ranean, and about the coasts of Italy and Sicily. In a 
 commercial view, it is of little value; the flesh being 
 coarse and rank, and the plates of the shell being too thin 
 to be of use. It is a strong, fierce, and even dangerous 
 animal. 
 
 Several Tortoises, unknown. 
 
 The Indian Tortoise. (T. Indica.) This is the largest 
 known species of the Land Tortoise, the shell being up- 
 wards of three feet long, and six feet in circumference. In 
 this specimen the tubercles on the fore part ot 4he shell 
 are wholly wanting. 
 
 The Fimbriated Tortoise. (T. Fimbriati.) This is 
 one of the largest species, and most extraordinary in its 
 appearance : it inhabits the rivers of Cayenne and Guiana. 
 
 LIZARDS. (Lacerta.) 
 
 These Cases contain above 100 species of Lizards fJ 
 beautifully preserved, and displayed on an artificial rock, 
 so as to exhibit them in their various attitudes, and convey 
 an idea of their haunts and mode of life : the greater 
 part of them being named, we shall only mention those 
 whose history and habits are known and remarkable. 
 
 Two specimens of the Flying Dragon . (Draco Volans.) 
 This very extraordinary species of Lizard is a native of 
 Asia and Africa. The very name (says Dr. Shaw) con- 
 veys to the mass of mankind the idea of some formidable 
 monster, and recals to the imagination the wild fictions of 
 romance and poetry ; but the animal distinguished by 
 that title in modem natural history, is a small, harmless 
 Lizard/' It is about ten inches long, and furnished with 
 
70 
 
 large expansible wing-like membranes, which enable it to 
 spring to a considerable distance in quest of its prey ; it 
 has a pouch under the throat of a singular appearance, 
 and is altogether different from every other creature. 
 
 A young Crocodile . (Lacerta Crocodilus.) This 
 sometimes attains the length of 25 to 30 feet, and is of 
 great swiftness, voracity, and strength, roars hideously, 
 and devours men and other large animals. 
 
 A Crocodile from the Island of St. Thomas, differing 
 considerably from the common one. 
 
 The Gangetic Crocodile . (L Gangetica.) A very 
 young specimen ; grown to the length of 30 feet. 
 
 The Alligator . (L. Alligator.) This animal bears so 
 
 near a resemblance to the Crocodile, that many natural- 
 ists have considered it as a mere variety, rather than a 
 distinct species. Catesby says, the largest and greatest 
 number of Alligators inhabit the Torrid Zone. They 
 frequent not only the salt rivers near the sea, but streams 
 of fresh water in the upper parts of the country, where 
 they lie lurking among the reeds to surprise cattle and 
 other animals. In Jamaica, and many parts of the Con- 
 tinent, they are found about twenty feet in length. They 
 cannot be more terrible in their aspect than they are 
 formidable and mischievous in their nature, sparing neither 
 man nor beast they can surprise, pulling them down 
 under water to drown them, that they may with greater 
 facility and without struggle or resistance devour them. 
 As quadrupeds do not often come in their way, they al- 
 most always subsist -on fish. This destructive monster 
 can neither swim nor run any other way than straight for- 
 ward, and is consequently disabled from turning with that 
 agility requisite to catch his prey by pursuit; therefore 
 they do it by surprise, in the water as well as by land. 
 The Alligator is supposed to be a long-lived animal, and 
 its growth is extremely slow. 
 
 j Dragon Lizard . (L. Draco.) Is a native of South 
 America, and measures two feet four inches in length ; it 
 is a harmless animal, and much esteemed as an article of 
 
71 
 
 food, though to persons unaccustomed to see it, it pre- 
 sents a formidable appearance. 
 
 The Iguana . (L. Iguana.) Though the Lizard tribe 
 affords numerous examples of strange and peculiar forms, 
 yet few species are perhaps more eminent in this respect 
 than the Iguana, which grows to a very considerable size, 
 and is often seen the length of from three to five feet. It 
 is a native of many parts of America and the West India 
 Islands, inhabiting rocky and woody places, and feeds on 
 insects and vegetables ; is reckoned excellent food, being 
 exceedingly nourishing and delicate; but observed to 
 disagree with some constitutions. The common manner 
 of catching it is by casting a noose over the head, and thus 
 drawing it from its situation ; for it seldom makes an 
 effort to escape, but stands looking intently at its disco- 
 verer, inflating the throat at the same time in an extraor- 
 dinary manner. Iguanas are sometimes salted and bar* 
 reled up for use in Jamaica and other West India islands, 
 in considerable quantities; may easily be tamed while 
 young, and in that state is both an innocent and beautiful 
 creature. The larger one in this Case lived some time in 
 the stove of the Liverpool Botanic Garden, but never was 
 observed to take food ; but was easily irritated, at which 
 time it puffed up the pouch under the throat in an extra- 
 ordinary manner ; and on the near approach of dogs, to 
 which it seemed to have an aversion, suddenly struck 
 them forcibly with the tail, but was never known to bite. 
 
 Several Chameleons. (L. Chamasleon.) Few animals 
 have been more celebrated by natural historians than the 
 Chamaeleon, which has been sometimes said to possess 
 the power of changing its colour at pleasure, and of assi- 
 milating it to that of any particular object or situation. 
 This, however, must be received with great limitations; 
 the change of colours which this animal exhibits varying 
 in degree, according to circumstances of health, tempe- 
 rature of the weather, and many other causes, and con- 
 sisting chiefly in a sort of alteration of shades, from the 
 natural greenish or bluish grey of the skin into pale yel- 
 lowish, with irregular spots of patches of dull red. The 
 Chamaeleon is a creature of a harmless nature, and sup- 
 
72 
 
 ports itself by feeding on insects, for which purpose the 
 structure of the tongue is finely adapted, consisting of a 
 loug missile body, furnished with a dilated and somewhat 
 tubular tip, by means of which the animal seizes insects 
 with great ease, darting out its tongue in the manner of a 
 Woodpecker, and retracting it instantaneously with the 
 prey secured on the tip. It can also support a long ab- 
 stinence, and hence arose the idea of its being nourished 
 by air alone. Is found in many parts of the world, and 
 particularly in India and Africa, and also in Spain and 
 Portugal. One that was kept alive in Liverpool was re- 
 gularly fed with sugar and bread, and appeared to have 
 an affection for the person who had the care of it. Its 
 change of form w r as as remarkable as that of colour. 
 
 A very fine specimen of the American Iguana; pre- 
 sented to the Museum by Lady Cox Hippesley. 
 
 The African Iguana . 
 
 The Monitor Lizard . (L. Monitor.) The Monitor 
 
 Lizard is one of the most beautiful of the whole tribe, and 
 is also one of the largest, sometimes measuring not less than 
 four or five feet from the nose to the tip of the tail. This 
 elegant animal is found with little variation in South Ame- 
 rica, New Holland, and Africa, where it frequents woody 
 and watery places ; and if credit may be given to the re- 
 ports of some authors, is of a disposition as gentle as its 
 appearance is beautiful. It has gained the name of Mo- 
 nitor, from its supposed attachment to the human race, 
 and it has been said that it w arns mankind of the approach 
 of the Alligator, by a loud and shrill whistle. 
 
 The Galliwasp . (L. Oecidua.) The Galliwasp is a 
 
 native of the American Islands, and seems to be particu- 
 larly common in Jamaica, where it is said to frequent 
 woodv and marshy districts. The Galliwasp (according 
 to Brown, in his Natural History of Jamaica,) is reckon- 
 ed the most venomous reptile in that island, and it is said 
 that no creature can recover from its bite : but this he very 
 properly considers merely a popular error. This animal 
 is not noticed by Linnaeus. 
 
73 
 
 SERPENTS. (Serpentes.) 
 
 In these Cases are preserved about 200 different Serpents , 
 finely prepared, and exhibited in their natural positions, 
 with the English and Linnaean names attached to them. 
 
 The Great Boa , (Boa Constrictor.) By those who 
 are unacquainted with the wonders of nature, the descrip- 
 tions given by naturalists of some of the more striking 
 and singular animals are received with a degree of scepti- 
 cism, or even rejected, as exceeding the bounds of credi- 
 bility.— Amongst these animals may be numbered the pro- 
 digious serpents which are sometimes found in India, Afri- 
 ca, and America; serpents of so great a size as to be able 
 to gorge even some of the largest quadrupeds, and of so 
 enormous a length as to measure upwards of thirty feet. 
 There is reason to believe, that these immense serpents are 
 become less common than they were some centuries back; 
 and that in proportion as cultivation and population have 
 increased, the larger species of noxious animals have been 
 expelled from the haunts of mankind. They are, how- 
 ever, occasionally seen, and sometimes approach the plan- 
 tations nearest to their residence. It is happy for man- 
 kind that these serpents are not poisonous ; they are 
 therefore to be dreaded only on account of their size and 
 strength, which latter is so great as to enable them to kill 
 cattle, deer, and other animals, by writhing themselves 
 round them, so as to crush them to death by mere pres- 
 sure ; after which they swallow them in a very gradual 
 manner, and when thus gorged with their prey, grow al- 
 most torpid with repletion : and if discovered in this 
 state, may without difficulty be dispatched.— These enor- 
 mous serpents are natives of Africa, India, the Indian 
 Islands, and South America, where they inhabit marshy 
 and woody places. There are several species of the Boa 
 in this collection, one of which is considered by natural- 
 ists, in respect to beauty of colour, size, or preservation* 
 to be the finest specimen ever brought into this country ; 
 it measures thirty-two feet in length, and two feet seven 
 
 E 
 
inches in circumference, and is preserved in the act of 
 destroying a royal tiger, which is crushed and expiring in 
 the enormous folds of its merciless enemv. 
 
 SERPENTS.— No. 2. 
 
 A young specimen of the Boa Constrictor. 
 
 Striped Rattle Snake . (Crotalus Durissus.) The Rat- 
 tle Snake is the most poisonous of reptiles that inhabit 
 America. The most conspicuous distinction this animal 
 bears from all other of its species, is the rattle, which 
 makes so loud a noise while the creature is in motion, 
 that its approach may be known, and danger avoided. 
 Many naturalists are of opinion, that this snake acquires 
 an additional bone to the rattle every year; from the 
 number of which bones, the precise age of the snake may 
 be known. Catesby, in his History of Carolina, says, 
 “ the Rattle Snake is the most inactive and sluggish of 
 animals, and is never the aggressor, except upon what he 
 preys ; for unless disturbed he never bites, and when 
 provoked gives warning by shaking his rattles, so that 
 a person has time to escape/' It is said that this snake 
 has the power of charming or fascinating small ani- 
 mals within reach, which it devours. Squirrels and birds 
 are its principal prey, and no sooner do they spy the 
 snake than they skip from bough to bough, and approach 
 by degrees nearer to the enemy, regardless of any danger, 
 until they enter the extended jaws that are open to seal 
 their ruin. Bartram observes, that some Indian nations 
 never kill the Rattle Snake, or any other species, alleging 
 as their motive, that it would influence its living kindred 
 to revenge the injury or violence done to it when alive. 
 The flesh of the Rattle Snake is said to be much relished, 
 even by Europeans. 
 
 Spectacle Snake, or Cobra de Capello. (Coluber Naja.) 
 The Coluber Naja, or Cobra de Capello, is a native of 
 India, where it appears to be one of the most common, 
 as well as the most noxious of the serpent tribe; very 
 
75 
 
 frequently proving fatal in the space of a few minutes to 
 those who unfortunately experience its bite. In India it 
 is exhibited as a show, and is of course more universally 
 known in that country than almost any other of the 
 race of reptiles. It is carried about in a covered basket, 
 and managed by the proprietors in such a manner, as to 
 assume a dancing motion at the sound of a musical instru- 
 ment. The Indian jugglers, who thus exhibit the animal, 
 deprive it of its fangs, by which they are secured from its 
 bite. 
 
 A poisonous Serpent from Senegal, of considerable di- 
 mensions, which is hitherto undescribed. 
 
 The Striped Rattle Snake. The appearance of this rep- 
 tile is as disgusting and terrific, as its qualities are destruc- 
 tive : it is of very large size, and is remarkable for the 
 flat shape of the head. 
 
 The Crimson-sided Snake. (Coluber Porphyriacus.) 
 Is remarkable for the beautv of its colours : it is about 
 four feet in length ; and its sides are marked with alter 
 nate lines of crimson and yellow. 
 
 THE ROYAL TIGER. (F. Tigrina.) 
 
 This animal is represented expiring in one of those 
 dreadful combats which sometimes take place betwixt 
 this powerful and sanguinary destroyer of the human spe- 
 cies, and the immense serpent of India, called the Boa 
 Constrictor, in whose enormous folds its unavailing strength 
 is nearly exhausted, and its bones crushed and broken by 
 the strength and weight of its tremendous adversary. 
 
76 
 
 FISHE S. 
 
 See through the air, the ocean, and this earth, 
 
 All matter quick, and bursting into birth ; 
 
 Above how high progressive iife may go, 
 
 Around how wide, how deep extend below ! 
 
 Vast chain of being, winch from God began, 
 
 Nature’s ethereal, human, angel, man, 
 
 Beast, bird, fish, insect, what no eye can see, 
 
 No glass can reach ; from infinite to Thee, 
 
 From Thee to nothing! 
 
 Coryphene y or Dolphin . (Coryphoena Hippuris.) The 
 Dolphin is an inhabitant of the Mediterranean, Indian, 
 and Atlantic seas, where it often appears in large shoals, 
 and is sometimes observed to follow ships, devouring with 
 avidity any occasional article of food which may happen 
 to be thrown overboard ; it will also swallow substances 
 of a different nature ; and we are informed, from the au- 
 thority of Plunder, that in the stomach of one which was 
 examined, w ere found four iron nails, one of w hich mea- 
 sured more than five inches. When taken out of the wa- 
 ter, the beautiful colours (with which the fish is decorated 
 when living) fade as it expires ; the lustre vanishing by 
 degrees, till at length it becomes of a dull grey colour. 
 This gradual evanescence of colour in the dying Coryphene 
 is contemplated by sailors with as much delight as the 
 Romans are said to have exhibited on viewing similar 
 changes in the expiring Mullet, when brought to their ta- 
 bles before the feast began. The Coryphene is a strong 
 and vigorous fish, and swims with great rapidity. It is 
 perpetually engaged in the pursuit of smaller fishes, and 
 is considered as one of the most cruel persecutors of the 
 Flying Fish. The flesh is said to be excellent. 
 
 Flying Gurnard . (Trigla Volitans.) This highly 
 
 singular and beautiful species is a native of the Mediter- 
 ranean, Atlantic, and Indian seas, where it swims in shoals, 
 and is often seen flying out of the water, in the same 
 maimer as the Flying Fish, Exocectus . In its native ele- 
 
77 
 
 ment, the colours of this fish are extremely brilliant. It 
 is crimson above; pale, or of a white colour underneath. 
 The pectoral fins are extremely large, transparent, of an 
 olive green, richly varied with numerous bright blue spots. 
 The tail is pale violet, with the rays crossed by dusky spots, 
 and strengthened on eacli side the base by two obliquely 
 transverse bony ribs or bars. 
 
 Small Saw Fish. (Fristis Antiquorum.} The Saw 
 Fish is a species of Shark, growing to the length of fifteen 
 feet or more ; is an inhabitant of the Mediterranean and 
 Northern seas, and was known to the ancient writers by 
 the name of Pristis. 
 
 Striped Chcelodon . (Chaetodon Striatus.) This fish 
 is a native of the Indian and American seas. 
 
 Unknown . (Spar r us.) 
 
 Porcupine Fish. (Diodon Hystrix.) In point of ha- 
 bit or external appearance, the remarkable genus Diodon 
 may be said to connect in some degree the tribe of fishes 
 with that of the spiny quadrupeds, such as the porcupines 
 and hedge-hogs ; it is also allied in a similar manner to the 
 jEchini, or Sea Urchins. The Diodon Hystrix, com- 
 monly termed the Sea Porcupine, is said to afford an amu- 
 sing sight when taken by a line and hook, baited by a 
 species of crab : after seizing the bait, by a sudden spring , 
 on finding itself hooked, it exhibits every appearance of 
 violent rage, inflating its body, and elevating its spines to 
 the highest possible degree, as if endeavouring to wound 
 in all directions : till after having tired itself by its vain 
 efforts, it suddenly expels the air from its body, and be- 
 comes flaccid for some time : but when drawn towards 
 the shore, redoubles its rage, and again inflates its body : 
 in this state it is left on the sand, it being impossible to 
 touch it without danger till it is dead. It is a native of 
 the Indian and American seas, and is considered as a 
 coarse fish, but is 5 sometimes eaten by the inhabitants of 
 the West Indian Islands. 
 
 Unknown . (Lophius.) 
 
 Torpedo Ray. (Raja Torpedo.) The Torpedo has 
 been celebrated, both by ancients and moderns, for its 
 wonderful faculty of causing a numbness or painful sensa- 
 
78 
 
 Mon in the limbs of those who touch or handle it. The 
 shock or sensation given by this Ray, is attended with all the 
 effects of that produced by the electrical machine, so far as 
 experiment hitherto has enabled us to discover. Although 
 this fish does not appear to be furnished with any striking 
 exterior qualities ; although it lias no muscles formed for 
 great exertions ; nor any internal conformation differing 
 from the Ray kind; yet such are the wonderful powers it 
 possesses, that in an instant it can paralyse the hand or 
 body that touches it, and cause for a while a total suspen- 
 sion of the mental faculties. Reaumer has by several 
 experiments attempted to demonstrate, that it is not ne- 
 cessarily, but by a voluntary effort, that the Torpedo be- 
 numbs the hand that touches it. On every trial he could 
 readily perceive when it intended to give the stroke, and 
 when it was about to continue inoffensive. In preparing 
 to give the shock, it flattened its back, raised its head and 
 tail, and then by a violent contraction in the opposite di- 
 rection, struck with its back against the finger that touched 
 it ; and its body, which before was flat, became round 
 and lumped. It is said, that the Negroes can handle the 
 Torpedo without being affected ; and we are told the 
 whole secret of securing themselves from its bite consists 
 in keeping respiration suspended at the time. The elec- 
 trical power, however, is known to terminate with the life 
 of the animal, and when dead it is handled or eaten 
 with perfect safety. It is an inhabitant of the Northern, 
 European, and the Mediterranean seas. 
 
 Sea Horse. (Syngnathus Hippocampus.) The Hip- 
 pocampus is a fish of a highly singular appearance. In 
 its dry or contracted slate, this animal exhibits the fancied 
 resemblance from which it takes its name ; but in the 
 living fish, this appearance is somewhat less striking, the 
 head and tail being carried nearly straight. It is a native 
 of the Mediterranean, Northern, and Atlantic seas. A 
 finer specimen of this species of Pipe-fish is in another 
 place under a glass ; and one of a more curious form, the 
 Foliated Pipe-fish. 
 
 Lon®; -finned Chcetodon. (Chaitodon Teira.) This 
 curious fish is a native of the Indian and Arabian seas, 
 and is said to arrive at a considerable size. 
 
79 
 
 Harlequin Angler . (Lophius Histrio.) This species 
 is a native of the Indian and American seas, growing to 
 the length of ten or twelve inches, and in manners resem- 
 bles the European Angler. Monsieur Renard, in his his- 
 tory of Fishes, affirms, that he knew an instance of an in- 
 dividual of this species kept for three days out of water, 
 and which walked about the house in the manner of a 
 dog. 
 
 Young Frog-fish , or Angler . (L. Europseus.) The 
 
 Frog-fish is remarkable for its uncouth appearance. The 
 one under consideration is an inhabitant of the European 
 seas, where it sometimes arrives at a great size. It is ob- 
 served to frequent shallow parts of the sea, lying in am- 
 bush, covered with weeds and mud, in such a manner 
 that the smaller fishes, deceived by its tentacula, or long 
 processes on the head, by their resemblance to worms, on 
 attempting to seize them become a prey to the Lophius. 
 
 Beaked Angler , or Bat fish. (L. Restrains.) A native 
 of South America ; it preys upon small fisSies and worms. 
 
 Remora , or Sucking-fish. (Echeneis Remora,) This 
 fish has the power of adhering to whatever it comes in 
 contact with, in the same manner as a cupping glass ad- 
 heres to the human body. It is by such an apparatus 
 that this fish sticks to the body of a shark, drains away 
 its moisture, and produces a gradual decay. It is found 
 principally in the Mediterranean and Atlantic seas, where 
 it grows to the length of about eighteen inches. 
 
 The Bony -scaled Pike . (Esox Osseus.) This is a 
 fish of considerable size, and of very remarkable appear- 
 ance, being covered with strong bony scales, disposed in 
 long oblique rows, which give it the appearance of being 
 carved out of a solid piece of ivory. It is a native of the 
 fresh-water lakes and rivers of America, and the flesh is 
 said to be excellent. 
 
 Lump Sucker. (Cycloptems Lumpus.) 
 
 Pavonian Sucker . (C. Pavonius.) This beautiful 
 
 fish was caught in the river Mersey, near Liverpool. 
 
80 
 
 Armed Loricaria . (Loricaria Catafracta.) Found 
 in the American seas. 
 
 Yellow Loricaria, (L. FJava.) 
 
 Slender Fistularia, or Trumpet fish, (Fistularia Ta- 
 bacaria.) This very remarkable fish is a native of the 
 American seas, and subsists on the smaller fishes, sea-in- 
 sects, and worms. 
 
 Oceanic Flying-fish . (Exocaetus Evolans.) The 
 
 fishes of this genus, which are few in number, are re- 
 markable for the extreme length and size of their pectoral 
 fins, by which they are enabled to spring from the water, 
 and support a kind of temporary flight or continued 
 motion through the air to the distance of 2 or 300 feet ; 
 when the fins become dry, they are obliged to commit 
 themselves to their own element. The fish here described 
 is an inhabitant of the American and Indian seas, and is 
 occasionally observed in the Mediterranean. Pennant 
 records an instance of its being seen about the British 
 coasts. The celebrated Bonnet considered this species of 
 fish as forming a kind of connecting link between fishes 
 and birds, similar to that which bats may be supposed to 
 form between birds and quadrupeds. 
 
 Lasher Billhead . (Cottus Scorpius.) This fish is an 
 inhabitant of the Mediterranean and Northern seas; is 
 said to be plentiful about the coast of Greenland, where 
 it is esteemed good food. It is a strong fish, swimming 
 with rapidity, and preying on smaller fishes ; and is said 
 to live a considerable time out of the water, having a 
 power of closing the gill covers in such a manner as to 
 exclude the effect of the atmospheric air. When caught, 
 if held in the hand, it emits a strong and peculiar sound 
 by the expulsion of air through its mouth ; during this 
 action the mouth is opened to the utmost width, the 
 pectoral fins are strongly expanded, and the whole body 
 is agitated by a vibrating or tremulous motion. 
 
 Hare-mouth Globe fish. (Tetrodon Lagocephalus.)This 
 genus, like the Diodon, has the power of inflating its 
 body at pleasure. Is an inhabitant of the Indian and 
 American seas, but occasionally strays into the northern 
 
81 
 
 latitudes, and has been taken, according to Pennant, 
 about the British coasts, near Penzance in Cornwall. 
 
 Round Diodon , Sea Hedge-hog . (Diodon Orbi- 
 cularis.) 
 
 Lamprey. (Petromyzon Marinus.) This fish has long 
 held its place at the tables of the luxurious, having 
 always formed a part of the splendid feasts of our ancient 
 nobility. King Henry 1. lost his life by too great an 
 indulgence of this his favourite dish. In the early part of 
 the year they are met with in great numbers in the river 
 Severn, when they are potted in large quantities, and sent 
 to London. 
 
 The Hammer-headed Shark. (Squalis Zygeena.) This 
 is a very voracious and deformed animal, and differs from 
 any other known creature ; they sometimes attain the 
 length of 1 5 feet, and are natives of the Mediterranean 
 and Indian seas. 
 
 Angel Fish, or Shark . (S. Squatina.) 
 
 Jacksonian Shark . (S. Jacksonii.) This is a new 
 
 species, lately discovered in the harbour of Port Jackson. 
 
 Young Shark. (S. Carcharias.) The Shark is as for- 
 midable in appearance as he is dreadful for his courage 
 and activity. No fish can swim so fast, for he will out- 
 strip the swiftest ship. “ They are (says Mr. Pennant) 
 the dfead of sailors in all hot countries, where they con- 
 stantly attend the vessels in expectation of what may drop 
 overboard : a man that has that misfortune perishes with- 
 out redemption; they have been seen to dart at him, like 
 gudgeons at a worm/' They are said to attack Negroes 
 in preference to Europeans, and to attend with assiduity 
 the slave ships from Africa to the West Indies. The 
 Shark grows to an enormous size, sometimes 30 feet in 
 length. 
 
 Horned Trunk-Fish. (Ostracion Cornulus.) 
 
 Young Sturgeon. (Accipenser Sturio.) Inhabits the 
 European, Mediterranean, Red, Black, and Caspian seas, 
 and annually descends the rivers in spring. It is a fish of 
 
 R $ 
 
82 
 
 slow movement, and is very prolific. Its flesh is held m 
 great estimation. 
 
 Frog-Fish. (Lophius Europaeus.) Taken in the 
 .river Mersey. 
 
 INSECTS. (Jnsecta.) 
 
 — — — ■— — Each moss, 
 
 Each shell, each crawling insect, holds a rank ; 
 important in the plan cf Him who form’d 
 This scale of beings; holds a rank, which lost 
 Would break the chain, and leave a gap 
 That Nature's self would rue ! 
 
 In this Case is a brilliant display of the Insect tribe, con- 
 ' sisting of a selection of about 500 of those most remark- 
 able for their beauty of colours, extraordinary form, 
 or singularity of manner or economy. A bare recitation 
 of the names of this very numerous class would add but 
 little to the information or pleasure of the general reader, 
 and would increase the size and expense of this Catalogue 
 unnecessarily : we shall therefore give only those best 
 known or most remarkable. 
 
 Hercules Beetle . (Scarabseus Hercules.) The Beetle 
 here described is a native of the island of Guadaloupe; 
 on the continent of New Spain this species is said to be 
 often seen of very large dimensions. The horn is toothed 
 above on each side, and beneath it is covered with a 
 substance resembling yellow plush; the proboscis below 
 is also toothed. Between these, it is said, the insect 
 takes the smaller branches of trees, and by swiftly flying 
 round soon saws them off, for the purpose of building its 
 nest. The teeth cut away the wood, and the plush part 
 serves to brush away the saw-dust. Dr. Shaw, however, 
 in his Naturalist’s Miscellany, says, that on a narrow 
 
inspection of the proboscis of this Beetle, it will appear 
 no ways calculated for the sawing off branches from the 
 trees; he reckons therefore the whole operation as a 
 vulgar error. It is a very mischievous animal, and ex- 
 ceedingly difficult to be taken. It measures seven inches 
 in length. 
 
 Actteon Beetle . (S. Actaeon.) This is the largest of 
 
 insects, except the Crabs and Monocuii. It is a native of 
 South America. 
 
 Stag Beetle . (Lucanus .Cervus.) This is found in 
 England in decayed trees. 
 
 Patch-winged Diamond Beetle, (Curculio Splendens,) 
 
 Diamond Beetle . (Curculio Imperialis.) There are 
 several species of these, which, with the above, are natives 
 of South America ; and perhaps the whole insect race 
 does not display more splendour or richness; it may 
 be truly said, that “ Solomon in all his glory was not 
 arrayed like one of these. ” 
 
 Geramhyoc Giganteus . The body of this extraordi- 
 nary insect is nearly six inches long. It is a native of 
 Cayenne, and very rare. 
 
 The Giant Mantis . (Mantis Gigas.) 
 
 Praying Mantis . (M. Oratoria.) Most of the genus 
 Mantis, and this species in particular, are held sacred by 
 the natives of the country they inhabit. From the sin- 
 gular manner in which it raises the upper part of the body 
 and fore legs, it is supposed to point out the way to tra- 
 vellers that have lost their road. Many of the Mantis so 
 strongly resemble leaves, that at first they can scarcely 
 be known. 
 
 Great Locust . (Gryllus Giganteus.) 
 
 African Locust . (G. Capensis.) 
 
 Elephant Locust . (G. Elephas.) Of all insects which 
 are capable of adding to the calamities of mankind, by 
 devouring the products of the earth. Locusts seem to 
 possess the most formidable powers of destruction, Le~ 
 
84 
 
 gions of those voracious creatures are from time to time 
 produced in the various parts of Africa, and the eastern 
 world, where the havoc they commit is almost incredible, 
 changing in a few hours the most fertile plains into an 
 appearance of a desart; nay, even when dead they are 
 terrible, since the putrefaction which arises from their 
 inconceivable numbers, is such, that it has been regarded 
 as one of the principal causes of a pestilence. The 
 largest species of these insects are used as an article of 
 food, and in many markets of the Levant they are pub- 
 licly sold. The female is regarded as a very nutritious 
 sustenance, and is much sought after. 
 
 Great Lantern Fly . (Fulgora Lanternaria.) This 
 highly curious insect is a native of South America ; from 
 the large, hollow, transparent projection in front of the 
 head it emits a sufficient light for persons to read by ; 
 and travellers are said to be directed on their journey by 
 night, by fixing one or two of them on a stick. 
 
 Common Cicada . (Cicada Plcbia.) The Cicada, so 
 often commemorated by the ancient poets, and so gene- 
 rally confounded by the major part of translators with 
 the Grasshopper, is a native of the warmer parts of 
 Europe, and is particularly plentiful in Italy and Greece. 
 The common Cicada appears in the hottest summer 
 months, and continues its shrill chirping during the great- 
 est part of the day, sitting amongst the leaves of trees. 
 
 Atlas Moth . (Phalaena Atlas.) This is by much the 
 largest of Moths, measuring nine inches across the wings; 
 it is a native of the East Indies and South America. 
 
 Great Black Wasp of Pennsylvania. This Wasp sup- 
 plies itself with food by roving about the meadows, 
 catching grasshoppers and other insects; on these it 
 feeds, and not on fruits, as other Wasps do : but what is 
 more remarkable, is the method of making their nests, 
 and providing for their young. With great pains and in- 
 dustry they scratch an horizontal hole, near an inch dia- 
 meter and a foot long, in the steep side of a bank of 
 loamy earth ; then away the Wasp Hies, and catches a 
 large grasshopper, and lodging it in the further end of 
 
the nest, there she lays an egg, and then goes and catches 
 two more, and deposits them with the other, then plas- 
 ters up the hole. The egg soon produces a maggot ; 
 these grasshoppers are, by marvellous instinct, provided 
 for its food, until it changes into its pupa state, in which 
 it lies for a certain period, and then eats its way out, and 
 flies away, seeking its mate. What may deserve our 
 further attention is, the wonderful sagacity of this crea- 
 ture, not only in catching these large grasshoppers, 
 though bigger than itself, which are like ours, and are 
 very strong and nimble, but their peculiar skill is to be 
 admired in disabling them, either by bite or sting, so as 
 not to kill them ; for then they would soon putrefy, and 
 be unfit for nourishment. Life sufficient is left to pre- 
 serve them for the time the maggot is to feed upon them. 
 The sting of this Wasp is painful, but does not swell like 
 others. 
 
 The Female , or Queen of the Termites , or White Ant . 
 (Termes Fatale.) , Mr. Smeathman, who resided many 
 years in Africa, has, in the 71 st volume of the Philo- 
 sophical Transactions, given a beautiful and interesting 
 account of the manners, instinct, and wonderful economy 
 of these extraordinary animals, which, from their im- 
 mense number and power of annoyance, are the greatest 
 pest of that country. —To detail the whole of their 
 habits and mode of life would require a volume ; the 
 instinct of the Common Ant, the Bee, or the Beaver, are 
 trifling when compared with these. Though little larger 
 than the Common Ant, their buildings, from the number, 
 closeness, and magnitude, often appear like the villages 
 of the natives; and the depredations they commit render 
 them truly formidable : nothing but metal or glass can 
 escape the destroying fangs of these minute invaders. 
 The one in this collection is a pregnant queen, the general 
 mother of the whole community, and is a thousand times 
 heavier than the male, or king, who is considerably larger 
 than the labourer or soldier.— Mr. Smeathman's de- 
 scription of this Ant has been copied in Dr. Winter- 
 botham’s Account of Sierra Leone, and the second 
 volume of Wood's Zoography, page 446. A model of 
 
86 
 
 the nest of these remarkable insects, nine feet high, is in 
 the Pantherion. 
 
 The Bird-catching, or Great Surinam Spider. (Ara- 
 nea Avecularia.) The insect above mentioned is the 
 largest of all the Spiders, measuring from eight to ten 
 inches in the extent of its legs, which are covered with 
 rough hair: it is not uncommon in many parts of South 
 America. It resides amongst the trees, and seizes on 
 small birds, particularly humming birds, which it destroys 
 by sucking their blood, after having first w 7 ounded them 
 by its fangs. This Spider has eight eyes, which are dis- 
 posed somewhat in the form of an oblong square ; two 
 are perfectly round, the others are of an oval shape. 
 
 Tarantula Spider . (A. Tarantula.) With its curious 
 
 nest. This is the animal of which such long accounts 
 have been given of the wonderful and melancholy effects 
 arising from its bite, which is represented to be cured 
 only by music, which caused the patient involuntarily to 
 dance in the most violent manner: but the whole account 
 being clearly proved to have existed in vulgar error, is 
 not now worth repeating. The nest is highly curious 
 from its remarkable structure ; it is cylindric, with a valve 
 or door, which the animal opens and shuts every time it 
 enters ; the manner in which this is performed, as well as 
 the creature itself, is described by the elegant pen of 
 Darwin, in his Zoonomia. 
 
 African Scorpion . (Scorpio Afer.) There are several 
 species of Scorpions in this collection, but none of them 
 so remarkable, either for size or malignity of poison, as 
 the above, which is near nine inches long, and armed in 
 front by strong claws, resembling those of some species 
 of crab"; but its poisonous sting is situated at the end of 
 the tail, in which may be observed the reservoir for sup- 
 plying it with the fatal fluid, and the minute holes on 
 each side of the sting, through which it is injected into the 
 wound. 
 
 Great Centipede . (Scolopendra Morsitans.) This is 
 likewise a native of the hottest parts of the world, and 
 one of the pests of society, being highly poisonous; but 
 
87 
 
 what renders it particularly dangerous is, its frequenting 
 inhabited places, and biting persons during their sleep, to 
 prevent which, they are obliged to place the feet of their 
 bedsteads in water ; it measures twelve inches in length. 
 
 SHELLS. (Conchology.) 
 
 This department consists of an extensive collection of 
 beautiful and rare shells from every part of the known 
 world; they principally occupy the centre of the Great 
 Room, and are arranged in their respective families, ac- 
 cording to the Linnaean classification, in Cases, and under 
 large Glass Shades, upon appropriate bronzed stands, 
 and make with the Fishes, Crabs, Asterias Echini, Ma- 
 drepores, Gorgonias, Isis, Sponges, and other Marine 
 productions, a most interesting display of the inhabitants 
 of the waters. About one thousand four hundred have 
 their generic names attached to the Cases, and the most 
 remarkable have their specific also ; to enumerate the 
 whole of which would far exceed the limits of a work of 
 this description. The History of the Paper Nautilus 
 (Argonauto Argo) is, however, so remarkable, that it can- 
 not be omitted. Pope in his Essay on Man alludes to it, 
 where he says— - 
 
 44 Learn of the little Nautilus to sail ; 
 
 Spread the thin oaF, and catch the driving gale. 3 ’ 
 
 Pliny describes it thus: “ Rut amongst the principal 
 miracles of nature is the animal called Pompilos or Nau- 
 tilus: it ascends to the surface of the sea in a supine pos- 
 ture, and gradually raising itself up, forces, by means of 
 its tube, all the water from the shell, in order that it may 
 swim the more readily; then throwing back the two 
 foremost arms, displays between them a membrane of 
 wonderful tenuity, which acts as a sail, while with the 
 remaining arms it rows itself along, the tail in the middle 
 acting as an helm to directs its course; and thus pursues 
 its voyage like a little ship, till alarmed by any appear- 
 ance of danger, when it takes in the water, and de- 
 scends.” 
 
88 
 
 Several specimens of the Argonauta and Nautilus ge- 
 nera are in the same Case with the Cone Shells ; among 
 the latter of which are very fine specimens of the Lord 
 High Admiral, the Gold Brocade, the Cobweb, and other 
 esteemed shells of this genus. 
 
 Among the shells, denominated Multivalves, are speci- 
 mens of those which perforate the bottoms of ships ; they 
 appear to have bedded themselves in the wood, and thus 
 show the necessity for coppering vessels that perform long 
 voyages. 
 
 In the Murex genus is a beautiful specimen of the 
 Thorny Woodcock ; the long spines of which are as acute 
 as the points of needles. 
 
 The small Bell Glass, No. 4, contains several articles 
 which were once the property of the celebrated Sir 
 Charles Linnaeus ; a specimen of whose writing is likewise 
 inclosed. Presented by Dr. Smith, President of the Lin- 
 naean Society. 
 
 Among the Turbos is the finest specimen of that rare 
 shell the Wentletrap (Turbo Scalaris) ever known; it was 
 brought from Amboyna by the late Mr. Webber, of 
 Blackheath, who once refused the sum of 50©/. offered 
 for it by the late Earl of Bute. 
 
 ZOOPHYTES. 
 
 CORALS, MADREPORES, &c. 
 
 Gradual, from these what numerous kinds descend 
 Evading e’en the microscopic eye ! 
 
 Full Nature swarms with life ; one wondrous mass 
 Of animals, or atoms organized, 
 
 Waiting the vital breath, when Parent Heaven 
 Shall bid his spirit blow. Thomson. 
 
 The various Cases contain a rich and numerous assern 
 blage of the inhabitants of the marine world, disposed in 
 such a manner as they may be supposed to exist in the 
 
89 
 
 bottom of their native element: they consist of Corals*, 
 Corallines, Madrepores, Gorgonias, Sponges, &c. Sc c. to 
 describe which accurately would require the pen of an 
 Ellis or a Solander, and would far exceed the limits of 
 this little publication. We shall merely observe, that till 
 lately the principal parts of the contents of these Cases 
 were considered as marine vegetables, growing from the 
 bottom of the ocean ; but the observation of later natu- 
 ralists have decidedly proved them to be the fabrication 
 of different minute animals, which however insignificant 
 they may appear to the unobserving part of mankind, are, 
 from their immense, their inconceivable numbers, of more 
 consequence than generally supposed ; it is to the accu- 
 mulated myriads of them that we owe part of the island 
 on which we live ; our hills are in many places full of 
 them, and some rocks are entirely of their formation. 
 New islands have been formed within the memory of per- 
 sons now living : and many seas are becoming every year 
 more difficult to navigate, being nearly choaked up by 
 the habitations of animals almost too small for human 
 perception. 
 
 4fi The whole group of the Thousand Islands, and in- 
 deed the greater part of those whose surfaces are flat, in 
 the neighbourhood of the equator, owe their origin to the 
 labours of that order of marine worms which Linnaeus 
 has arranged under the name of Zoophyta. These little 
 animals, in a most surprising manner, construct the cal- 
 careous habitations under an infinite number of forms 
 yet with that order and regularity, each after its own man- 
 ner, which, to the minute inquirer, is so discernible in 
 every part of the creation. But, although the eye may 
 be convinced of the fact, it is difficult for the human mind 
 to conceive the possibility of insects so small being in- 
 dued with power, much less of being furnished in their 
 own bodies with the materials for constructing the im- 
 mense fabrics, which, in almost every part of the Eastern 
 and Pacific Oceans, lying between the tropics, are met 
 with in the shape of detached rocks or reefs, of great 
 extent, just even with the surface; or islands already 
 clothed with plants, whose bases are fixed at the bottom 
 of the sea, several hundred feet deep, where light and 
 
 
90 
 
 heat, so very essential to animal life, if not excluded, are 
 sparingly received and feebly felt. Thousands of such 
 rocks, reefs, and islands are known to exist in the Eastern 
 Ocean, within, and even beyond the limits of the tropics. 
 The eastern coast of New Holland is almost wholly girt 
 with reefs and islands of coral rock, rising perpendicularly 
 from the bottom of the abyss. Captain Kent of the 
 Buffalo, speaking of a coral reef of many miles in extent, 
 on the south-west coast of New Caledonia, observes, that 
 * it is level with the water’s edge, and towards the sea as 
 steep as the wall of a house ; that he sounded frequently 
 within twice the ship's length of it, with a line of one hun- 
 dred and fifty fathoms, or nine hundred feet, without 
 being able to reach the bottom/* How wonderful — how 
 inconceivable l that such stupendous fabrics should rise 
 into existence from the silent but incessant and almost im- 
 perceptible labours of such insignificant worms \” 
 
 To the Museum has just been added, the fine collection 
 of Fossih shells, and other Antediluvian remains collected 
 by the late Mr. Knight, of Bland ford : they are princi- 
 pally of this country, and those from Hordwell Cliff ex- 
 tremely perfect and interesting. 
 
 A very large Bell Glass, containing about 120 species of 
 Crabs and other Marine Animals, disposed in an appro- 
 priate manner on Corals, &c. 
 
 MINERALS. 
 
 Beautiful Group of Crystals , of extraordinary size, 
 from the mines of Dauphiny; presented by Thomas 
 Allan, Esq. of Edinburgh. 
 
 Pipe Chalcedony , from Iceland. 
 
 A large specimen of Opal in the matrix. 
 
 Three Opals , polished. 
 
91 
 
 Native Gold on Quarts, from Transylvania. 
 
 Native Gold, , from the Wicklow mountain in Ireland, 
 
 Oriental Cat's Eye . 
 
 Aqua Marine or Beryl ’, polished. 
 
 Fluor Spar , from Derbyshire, 
 
 Group af Amethist Crystals, from Hungary,, 
 
 Sulphur ets of Arsenic . 
 
 Beautiful Pearl Spar , with snow-like appearance, from 
 Transylvania. 
 
 Pearl Spar , crystallized, from Hungary, 
 
 Fine specimen of Crystallized Iron Ore, with an iride- 
 scent surface, from the Isle of Elbe, on the coast of Tus- 
 cany. 
 
 Splendid Iron Ore , from Hungary. 
 
 Bubbled Malachites , Carbonate of Copper, with 
 Mountain Blue, from Siberia. 
 
 Native Copper , from Cornwall, 
 
 Copper Ore, from ditto. 
 
 Model of the Pigot Diamond, valued at 35,0001. 
 
 Variety of Crystals, from Buenos Ayres; containing 
 silver-like appearances, and other extraneous matter. 
 
 MISCELLANEOUS ARTICLES. 
 
 Numerous, extraordinary, and stupendous remains of 
 nondescript animals, found in the vicinity of the rivers 
 Ohio, Wabash, Illinois, Mississippi, Osage, Missouri, &c. 
 brouglit to England by a gentleman who passed several 
 years on a mineralogical tour in the unfrequented parts of 
 North America. They consist of different parts of ani- 
 mals, such as heads, vertebras, ribs, grinders, and horns : 
 
92 
 
 among which, the most worthy of remark, is the foot of 
 a clawed animal of the fer<% order, or tiger species. This 
 paw, clothed with flesh, skin, and hair, filled with muscles, 
 flexors, and cartilages, when dilated on its prey, must have 
 covered a space of ground four feet by three. Did the 
 animal to whom it appertained partake of a strength of 
 body proportionate to the size of this foot, and at the 
 same time add the agility and ferocity of the tiger to his 
 unequalled magnitude, he must have been the terror of 
 the forest, and of mankind. That such an animal did 
 exist, this specimen is a sufficient proof ; nor did it alone 
 inhabit America, for we have reason to believe that an 
 animal, similar in some respects to the above, once bad 
 possession of our island ; for various remains of nonde- 
 script animals have been frequently dug up of late in dif- 
 ferent counties. The thigh-bone, marked A. which is 
 nearly four feet in length, was found in making the Elles- 
 mere Canal, in the year 1803, near the village of Wren- 
 bury, in Cheshire. B. is one toe of the clawed foot. C. 
 several joints of the tail, which must in the living animal 
 have been as thick as an ordinary oak tree. D. one of 
 the vertebrae of the back ; the passage for the spinal 
 marrow is so large, that a man's arm may with ease pass 
 through it. E. is a section of a spiral tusk, thirteen feet 
 in length. F. a carnivorous grinder, nine pounds weight, 
 being one hundred and forty-four times as heavy as that 
 of a horse. G. a large grinder of another species of 
 these stupendous nondescripts, evidently an herbivorous 
 animal. On the subject however of these Incognitia, but 
 a few words are necessary : they have been, on the whole, 
 the surprise of the enlightened naturalist, and the admi- 
 ration of the classical scholar ; we therefore refer those, 
 who wish to be more particularly informed respecting 
 these remains, to a pamphlet, entitled, “ Memoirs of 
 Mammoth , and other extraordinary and stupendous 
 Bones,” written by the gentleman who brought them to 
 England, and sold them to the Proprietor of this Mu- 
 seum. It may be had at the rooms, price Is. 6d. 
 
 A Glass Cover near the bones, contains a very inte- 
 resting article to the Naturalist, as it tends to throw some 
 light on an obscurity which envelops these objects. It is 
 
93 
 
 a portion of the different kinds of hair of a species of 
 Mammoth recently found entire, and brought to St* 
 Petersburg!] by Mr. Michael Adams, who has published a 
 particular account of it, of which the following is an ex- 
 tract. “ In the summer of the year 1799? during their 
 annual excursions, a chief of the Tongouses discovered 
 on the shore of the frozen sea, near the mouth of the river 
 Lenna, an entire Mammoth, enclosed in a rock of ice, 
 which rendered it impossible to be got at till about five 
 years afterwards, when during a warm summer, the ice 
 became so much dissolved, that the huge carcase fell out, 
 and slid down about a hundred paces from its bed ; when 
 the Tongouses cut off the ivory tusks (the only part con- 
 sidered of value by them) and left it a prey to the white 
 Bears, Gluttons, Wolves, and Foxes. It was near two 
 years afterwards, that, by a fortunate circumstance, Mr. 
 Adams heard of it, went immediately to the spot, and 
 rescued the complete skeleton and part of the skin, which 
 he transported by land to St. Petersburg!], (a distance of 
 7500 miles) where it is now set up in the Imperial Aca- 
 demy. A rude drawing made of it when prefect, repre- 
 sents it as having an appearance something between a Pig 
 and an Elephant, having pointed ears anS a long brisiy 
 mane, along the whole back; it was about 15 feet in 
 length, and 1 0 high, the bones of the head (without the 
 tusks) weighed 4fi0lbs. Upon the whole, there can be 
 little doubt but it was the species of Northern Elephant 
 now extinct, the bones of which are found both in America 
 and Europe ; large quantities having been lately disco- 
 vered in several parts of England .” 
 
 Sir Joseph Banks received a piece of skin and portions 
 of hair, similar to what is in this collection, as a present 
 from Mr. Adams, which is now in the Royal College of 
 Surgeons, Lincolns-Inn Fields. 
 
 Glass Case, containing an Egyptian Mummy, 
 
 The ancient methods observed by the Egyptians in em- 
 balming human bodies, according to Herodotus, were 
 performed after this maimer : “ There were certain per- 
 sons appointed for the business, who had three prices 
 according to the workmanship. In the most esteemed 
 
94 
 
 method of embalming, they extracted the brains by the 
 nose with a crooked iron, and then poured in drugs : af- 
 terwards, they opened the body, took out the bowels, 
 washed the inside with palm wine, and having rubbed 
 into it pounded perfumes, filled the cavity with myrrh, 
 cassia, and other spices, and then sewed it up. After 
 this they washed the body with nitre, and let it lie seventy 
 days ; and having washed it again, bound it up in folds 
 of linen, besmearing it over with gums, which the Egyp- 
 tians used instead of glue. The relations then took home 
 the body, and enclosing it in the wooden figure of a man, 
 placed it in the catacombs. Another method of em- 
 balming, was injecting turpentine of cedar with a pipe 
 into the body without cutting it ; they then salted it for 
 seventy days, and afterwards drew out the pipe, which 
 brought along with it the intestines. The nitre dried up 
 the flesh, leaving nothing but skin and bones. The third 
 way was only by cleansing the inside with salt and water, 
 and salting it for seventy days/' From what Diodorus 
 observes, one would imagine that there was a way of 
 preserving the bodies much superior to either of the 
 former ; for he says, their eye-brows and eye-lashes, with 
 the form and appearance of the whole body, were so well 
 preserved, that they might be known by their features ; 
 whence many of the Egyptians kept the bodies of their 
 ancestors in houses adorned at a great expense ; and had 
 the pleasure to see their forefathers for many generations 
 back, and to observe all their features as well as if they 
 were living. It does not, however, appear that any bo- 
 dies were ever discovered embalmed in this manner. 
 
 The Mummy in this collection was brought from Egypt 
 by the French, and taken from them by an English pri- 
 vateer, and was remarkable for containing only the head, 
 and part of the thigh and leg bones, which were enve- 
 loped in folds of fine linen, nearly three inches thick. The 
 linen in some parts was as white and perfect as when first 
 done, and on the legs there was some of the flesh still 
 remaining, although, from a moderate calculation, it must 
 have been embalmed upwards of two thousand years. 
 
 A Mummy of the White Ibis . The white Ibis, though 
 now unknown to the Egyptians, was formerly worshipped 
 
95 
 
 by them as a deity, in consequence of the great service 
 which it did them in destroying the vast quantities of 
 serpents and reptiles with which that country was in- 
 fested. The veneration for them extended even after 
 their death ; for whenever the body of a dead Ibis could 
 be found, it was carefully embalmed, after the manner of 
 the mummies, Mr. Bruce, the Abyssinian traveller, men- 
 tions his having opened several of them, in which the 
 bones, and even some feathers, were entire. Buffon says, 
 u he received several of these mummies from the bird 
 pits, in the plains of Saccara ; that the shape of all of 
 them was a sort of doll, formed by the bandages which 
 incased the bird, of which the greater part fell into 
 black dust when the ligatures were removed/* They 
 are generally preserved in earthern jars, with the cover 
 cemented down ; but sometimes, as is the case in this, put 
 into a kind of coffin made of sycamore, the covers of 
 which were decorated with hieroglyphics, which are yet 
 visible in the one in this Museum. 
 
 A Mummy of the Ibis , opened to show its contents. 
 
 Hasselquist, and other naturalists and travellers who 
 have visited the catacombs of Egypt, say that the mum- 
 uiies of the Ibis contain in general little but black dust, 
 which is believed to be the remains of the bird ; but that 
 they were informed that sometimes, though very rarely, 
 the bones and feathers were found in them : this is the 
 case with the one in this Museum ; the cloth in which it 
 was wrapped, the bill, bones, and feathers, are still entire. 
 This very interesting and curious article was added to 
 this collection by the liberality of Jacob Wilkinson, Esq, 
 of Bath, whose brother, C. Wilkinson, Esq. of Clapham, 
 brought it from Egypt. What are our boasted mo- 
 numents of antiquity ? the dates of our churches and ca- 
 thedrals (though crumbled and crumbling into dust) are 
 but as yesterday when compared with the age of a few 
 perishable feathers, which had existence on the banks of 
 the Nile perhaps two thousand years before the foundation 
 stone of the first of them was laid. What a field for 
 reflection does the contemplation of this article open to 
 our view ! 
 
96 
 
 a Son of to-day thy daring hopes are vain, 
 
 That aught of thee my lengthened date shall gain.” 
 
 A Mummy of the Ibis, in its orignai envelope, as taken 
 from the earthen vessel, the linen cloth, for the manufac- 
 ture of which the ancient Egyptians were celebrated, 
 remaining entire. Presented by the Bishop of Durham. 
 
 Elephant's Head and Grinders ; presented by Samuel 
 Staniforth, Esq. Liverpool. 
 
 Three Noses of the Saw Fish . The largest of these 
 is three feet seven inches long, eight inches broad at the 
 base, and four at the point ; it is armed at the sides with 
 thirty-eight strong teeth, about an inch and a' half long, 
 and two inches from each other. 
 
 The Jaws of an enormous Shark, which measure six 
 feet six inches in circumference. 
 
 The Fossil Tooth of a Shark, nearly four times as large 
 as those in the above jaws. 
 
 The Horn of the Narwhale , or Sea Unicorn , nine feet 
 six inches long, of the most beautiful ivory, finely 
 wreathed. 
 
 The Jaws of a Porpoise. 
 
 Skull of the Walrus . 
 
 Glass Case, containing four different Beaks and Heads 
 of the Calao, or Hornbill Bird ; remarkable for the sin- 
 gular appendages on the upper mandibles. No. 1 . Hel- 
 met Hornbill. No. 2. Pied Hornbill. No. 3. Rhino- 
 ceros Hornbill. No. 4. Philippa Hornbill. 
 
 Fossil of a Turtle ; the only one known. 
 
 Fossil of the Head of an Animal, resembling a Croco- 
 dile of enormous size. This wonderful object was found 
 in Dorsetshire. 
 
 Fossil of a Stag’s Head and Horns of enormous size* 
 found in Ireland. 
 
A 
 
 COMPANION 
 
 TO THE 
 
 FA N THE RIO N. 
 
 NATURAL HISTORY. 
 
 QUADRUPEDS. 
 
 These are thy glorious works, Parent of Good 1 
 * ^ $ % %%%#%: % % & 
 
 Thou sitt’st above those heavens 
 To us invisible, or dimly seen 
 In these thy lowest works ; yet these declare 
 Thy goodness beyond thought, and power divine. 
 
 MILTON* 
 
 The Fantherion is an exhibition of Natural His- 
 tory, on a plan entirely novel, intended to display 
 the whole of the known Quadrupeds, in a manner 
 that will convey a more perfect idea of their haunts 
 and mode of life than has hitherto been done, keep- 
 ing them at the same time in their classic arrange- 
 ment, and preserving them from the injury of dust 
 and air ; it occupies an extensive apartment, nearly 
 
 F 
 
98 
 
 forty feet high, erected for the purpose. The visitor 
 is introduced through a basaltic cavern (of the same 
 kind as the Giant’s Causeway, or FingalPs Cave, in 
 the Isle of Staffa) into an Indian hut, situated in a 
 Tropical Forest, in which are displayed most of the 
 Quadrupeds described by naturalists, with correct 
 models from nature, or the best authorities, of the 
 trees and other vegetable productions of the torrid 
 climes, remarkable for the richness or beauty of 
 their fruit, or the singularity of their foliage; the 
 whole assisted by an appropriate panoramic effect 
 of distance, which makes the illusion produced so 
 strong, that the surprised visitor finds himself sud- 
 denly transported from a crowded metropolis to the 
 depth of an Indian forest, every part of which is 
 occupied by its various savage inhabitants. 
 
 The Linnsean arrangement of Quadrupeds com- 
 mences at the first opening on the left-hand of the 
 entrance, where, dispersed on rocks and the branches 
 of a large Orange-tree, are about sixty species of 
 the genus Simia ; consisting of Apes, Baboons, and 
 Monkeys. It is difficult to determine the species 
 of many of them, and others are not yet described 
 by any Naturalist; those known are numbered, 
 and will be found as follows: 
 
99 
 
 MONKEYS. 
 
 J . The Barbary Ape, or Magot , (S. Inuus.) Is a 
 morose, ill-natured animal, but by means of severity may, 
 in a state of captivity, be made to perform a number of 
 actions, which surprise us by their near approach to those 
 of man. 
 
 2. The Pig-tailed Baboon . (S. Nemestrina.) Is a 
 native of Sumatra, and is very familiar and gentle in its 
 behaviour towards strangers, but appears melancholy in a 
 state of captivity. 
 
 3. Variegated , Tufted , or Ursine Baboon . (S. Mor- 
 mon.) This Baboon is very numerous about the Cape of 
 Good Hope, and is one of the largest of this tribe of ani- 
 mals, measuring, when full grown, nearly five feet in 
 height. It is very strong, fierce, and libidinous, yet at 
 the same time is capable of attachment and gratitude. 
 One that was sent to me in the year 1 803, had two deep 
 wounds in his loins, owing to the pressure of a heavy chain 
 by which he was confined ; on appearing anxious to exa- 
 mine the wounds, it readily presented the lacerated part 
 for inspection, and after one side was dressed with a very 
 sharp mixture (though at the same time it was agonized 
 with pain) it opened the other wound for the same appli- 
 cation, which it continued to do until such time as the 
 excoriated places were healed. It remained at the Mu- 
 seum some time afterwards, and although mischievous to 
 the family, yet, on the least motion of my hand, or on my 
 uttering an angry word, it was all attention and submis- 
 sion. These Baboons in their native country do consi- 
 derable damage to the gardens and plantations, carrying 
 on their depredations in large troops, with such boldness 
 and resolution as excite astonishment. 
 
 4. Ribbed-nose Baboon . (S. Maimon.) Is about two 
 feet from the nose to the tail; it is an active and sprightly 
 animal, greatly resembling the above Baboon, but not so 
 large, nor are the colours so bright ; it is equally playful, 
 but not so malignant. 
 
 The French naturalists have made this the young of the 
 
 F2 
 
100 
 
 former, and from the change I have observed in those of 
 different ages 1 , I have no doubt of their being right. 
 
 5 and 6 . Lion-tailed Baboon , male and female. (S. 
 Siliens.) These are very remarkable and highly extraor- 
 dinary animals: they are natives of Ceylon and other 
 parts of India, and are, in their native state, wild, fero- 
 cious, and mischievous : the female lived many years in 
 the menagerie of her Royal Highness the Duchess of 
 York, who presented it to the Museum. 
 
 7. Wood Baboon . (S. Silvatica.) An active, roving spe- 
 cies, inhabiting the woods of Africa. 
 
 8. Crested Baboon . (S. Cristata.) A native of India. 
 
 £). Dog-faced Baboon . (S. Hamadryas.) A very large 
 and fierce species, remarkable for the long grey hair with 
 which it is covered ; it is rarely brought to Europe ; it is 
 a native of the hottest part of Africa, where it is said to 
 be found in vast troops, and to be very fierce and dan- 
 gerous. This was brought from Arabia by Lord Valentia. 
 
 10. Green Monkey. (S. Sabaea.) A most gentle, play- 
 ful creature, inhabiting several parts of Africa and India; 
 in its native regions it is said to be of a beautiful green 
 colour, which fades to an olive grey soon after its arrival 
 in this country. 
 
 11. The Mustache. (S. Cephus.) Inhabits Guinea. 
 
 12. White -eyelid Monkey. (S. JEthiops.) A native of 
 Madagascar, gentle and diverting in its manners. 
 
 13. The Chinese Monkey. (S. Sinica.) 
 
 14. White-nosed Monkey. (S. Petaurista.) A native 
 of Guinea, only thirteen inches high ; tail twenty inches 
 long. An entertaining, gentle animal, showing great at- 
 tachment to the person who feeds it. 
 
 15. The Negro Monkey. (S. Maura.) From Africa. 
 
 16. Palatine Monkey. (S. Rolaway.) This beautiful 
 and gentle animal was brought from the Slave Coast in 
 Africa ; its colour appeared to have changed much on its 
 being confined, as the rich bay on the inside of the limbs 
 
10 ! 
 
 was turned to a yellowish white ; its singular white beard 
 gave it, whilst living, an air of great gravity, and its man- 
 ners were quite inoffensive and mild. It died in the col- 
 lection of Mr. Polito, in the winter of 1808, owing pro- 
 bably to the severity of the weather. 
 
 17. Long-nosed Monkey . (S. Nasau.) 
 
 18, 19, and 20. Three species of the Long-armed , 
 
 Four-fingered , or Spider Monkey . (S. Paniscus.) One 
 
 of these was received from South America in the summer 
 of 1 808, and lived for some time. In general, its appear- 
 ance was extremely disgusting ; the arms were of an ex- 
 traordinary length, and the hands destitute of all ap- 
 pearance of thumbs ; the tail is also of a great length, 
 and is bare for a considerable way near the tip, by means 
 thereof it could reach any thing as well as with its hands. 
 The whole animal, except the face, hands, and end of the 
 tail, is covered with long coarse black hair, thinly dis- 
 posed, except on the head, where it grew forward in the 
 same manner as the human species, giving to its mulatto- 
 coloured face the appearance of a miserably wretched old 
 man. Its disposition was extremely gentle and inoffen- 
 sive, but so timid, as never to be familiar; if held by the 
 hands, it uttered a doleful cry, and frequently tears ran 
 from its eyes, but it never showed the least inclination to 
 bite. 
 
 21. A white variety of the above. 
 
 22. Royal Monkey. (S. Seniculus.) Is a native of 
 Cayenne, and is sometimes called the Preacher or 
 Howler , from the custom of their assembling together, 
 and making a most horrible noise in the woods. 
 
 23 and 24. Fearful , or Ring-tailed Monkey . (S. Tie- 
 pida.) A native of Guinea ; and of a lively disposition ; 
 is frequently kept in France. 
 
 25 and 26. Varieties of the above. 
 
 27 and 28. Male and female of the Squirrel Monkey . 
 (S. Sciurea.) This is one of the smallest and most beauti- 
 ful of the monkey tribe ; it is a native of South America, 
 and with difficulty kept alive in this country. 
 
1 02 
 
 29' Fox-tailed Monkey . (S. Pithecia.) The hair of 
 this singular animal is very long, and of a dark brown, or 
 nearly black colour ; it is about the size of a large cat ; is 
 a native of Guinea, and is said to be very fierce in its dis- 
 position. 
 
 30 . Several specimens of the Striated Monkey , or 
 Sanglin . (S. Jacchus.) This extraordinary little animal, 
 
 no larger than a Squirrel, is an inhabitant of Brazil. In 
 a native state these Monkeys are supposed to feed upon 
 fruits, but in a state of confinement they will occasionally 
 feed on insects, snails, &c. Edwards, in his Gleanings, 
 makes mention of a pair of these animals, which belonged 
 to a London merchant, who resided at Lisbon ; they had 
 young at that place. These, at their birth, were exceed- 
 ingly ugly, having no fur: they would frequently cling 
 fast to the teats of the dam ; and when they grew a little, 
 used to hang upon her back and shoulders. When she 
 was tired, she would rub them oif against the wall, or 
 whatever else was near, as the only mode of ridding her- 
 self of them. On being forced from the female, the male 
 immediately took them to him, and suffered them to 
 hang round him, to ease her of the burden. Her Royal 
 Highness the Duchess of York has lately succeeded in 
 breeding these diminutive and delicate little animals. 
 
 31 and 32. The Great-eared Monkey. (S. Midas.) 
 About the size of a Squirrel ; the colour black, except 
 the bands and feet, which are orange. It is a native of 
 Cayenne and Brazil. 
 
 Red Monkeys , male and female. (S. Rubra.) They 
 are natives of Senegal and the hottest parts of Africa ; are 
 a harmless and playful species. 
 
 LEMUR. (Maucaucos.) 
 
 These are placed on the branch of a tree, near the third 
 window. They are generally mild and gentle in their 
 disposition, and inhabit the warmer parts of India. 
 
 1® Slow Lemur, or Tailless Maucauco . (Lemur Tar- 
 
103 
 
 diradus.) It is about half the size of a cat, and is a native 
 of the coast of Coromandel. According to the pleasing 
 description of the late learned Sir Wm. Jones, in the 4th 
 volume of Asiatic Researches, its manners are gentle and 
 interesting ; it sleeps during the day, and feeds on fruits. 
 
 2. Woolly Lemur , or Mongoz. (Lemur Mongoz.) 
 About the size of a cat, and a native of Madagascar ; it 
 feeds on fruits, and in a state of captivity is sportive and 
 harmless. 
 
 3. The Potto . (Lemur Potto.) This is an inhabitant of 
 Guinea. 
 
 4. Ring-tailed Lemur , or Maucauco . (Lemur Catta.) 
 This is a very beautiful, gentle, harmless, and entertaining 
 animal, frequently kept tame by ladies ; it is a native of 
 the warmer parts of India, and feeds on fruit, which it 
 eats sitting upright, holding it in its fore paws. The young 
 ones were lately bred in this country. 
 
 5. Little Maucauco . (Lemur Minutus.) Is about the 
 size of a mouse, an elegant little animal, and bears a 
 strong resemblance to the monkey tribe ; it is the only 
 specimen known in England. 
 
 Dr, Shaw has figured a small Lemur in the 14th vo- 
 lume of the Naturalist's Miscellany, but it is much larger, 
 and destitute of the mane, so conspicuous in this species. 
 
 BATS. (Vespertxlio.) 
 
 These are placed in front of the Lion's den, opposite the 
 entrance, 
 
 Madagascar 9 or VampyreBat . (VespertilioVampyms.) 
 This uncommon animal is called, by ButFon, the Rousette; 
 it measures upwards of three feet from the tip of one 
 wing to the other; the body is nearly as large as that of 
 a cat, but it resembles a rat in the shape of the head ; it 
 is covered with short hair of a reddish brown colour ; the 
 top of each wing is armed with a strong claw, with which 
 it fastens itself to the branches of trees ; it has likewise 
 
104 
 
 live sharp daws on eadi foot. Some of those animals 
 grow to an enormous size ; and in the islands of the East 
 Indies they are sometimes seen in such numbers, that they 
 darken the air at noon-day; they are carnivorous, and very 
 ferocious. In a scarcity of flesh and fish, they feed on 
 vegetables and fruits of every kind. This is the Bat to 
 which Linnaeus applied the title of Vampyre, on the sup- 
 position of its being the species of which so many extra- 
 ordinary accounts have been given relative to its power of 
 sucking the blood of men and cattle. Such is the account 
 of authors who have described it. 
 
 In the autumn of 1810 I had, for a short time, a living 
 one of a large size, from the East Indies, and, contrary 
 to what has been asserted, found it a most inoffensive, 
 harmless, entertaining creature ; it refused animal food, 
 but fed plentifully on succulent fruits, preferring figs and 
 pears, and licked the hand that presented them, seeming 
 delighted with the caresses of the persons who fed it, 
 playing with them in the manner of a young kitten ; it 
 was fond of white wine, of which it took near half a glass 
 at a time, lapping it like a cat. This had a very evident 
 effect on its spirits, as it then became extremely frolicsome 
 and diverting, but never once attempted to bite. It slept 
 suspended, with its head downwards, wrapping its satin- 
 like wings rounds its body in the form of a mantle. I 
 several times permitted it to enclose the end of my little 
 finger in its mouth, for the purpose of observing if it 
 would attempt to draw blood, but not the slightest indi- 
 cation of such intention appeared, and I have strong 
 reason to doubt the stories related so greatly to its dis- 
 advantage. 
 
 Madagascar Bat , with the wings closed. 
 
 The long-eared Bat . (Vespertilio Auristus.) This is 
 one of the most common English Bats, and may be fre- 
 quently seen, during the summer evenings, pursuing the 
 various insects on which it feeds. 
 
 Near this is a white variety of this animal, in which the 
 delicate and admirable structure of the wings is finely 
 shown. 
 
105 
 
 The Great Bat . (Vespertilio Noctula.) The largest of 
 the British species. 
 
 The Horse-shoe Bat with its young ; taken in the Ab- 
 bey Church, Bristol, where it is very common. (Vesper- 
 tilio Ferrum Equinum.) 
 
 SLOTH. (Bradypus Trydactylus.) 
 
 Three of these are on the stem of the American Aloe* 
 near the head of the Rhinoceros. 
 
 These are of all quadrupeds the most slothful and in- 
 dolent. “ Nature (says the Count de Buffon) seems to 
 have created this ill-constructed mass of deformity for 
 nothing but misery. v They have neither canine nor in- 
 cisive teetli ; their eyes are dull and heavy ; their mouth 
 wide and thick ; their fur resembles dried grass; their 
 thighs are almost disjointed from their haunches ; their 
 legs are very short and badly shaped ; they have no soles 
 to their feet, nor toes separately moveable : but only two 
 or three claws, excessively Jong, crooked downwards and 
 backwards. They can neither seize on prey, nor feed on 
 flesh, and are therefore reduced to live on leaves and wild 
 fruits. They take up a long time in crawling to a tree* 
 and are still longer in climbing to its branches. When at 
 last one of them has accomplished its end, it fastens it- 
 self to a tree, crawls from branch to branch, and by de- 
 grees strips the whole of its foliage ; in this manner it 
 remains several weeks without moistening its food ; and 
 when it has consumed its store, and the tree is left quite 
 naked, unable to descend, it continues on till hunger 
 presses, which becoming more powerful than the fear of 
 danger, or even death itself, it drops to the ground, with- 
 out being capable of exerting any effort to break the vio- 
 lence of the fall. Its manners are sluggish to an exces- 
 sive degree ; its general appearance disgusting ; its voice 
 plaintive, piteous, and even horrible. It can live a pro- 
 digious time without food : Kircher says forty days. It 
 has vast strength in the paws, and fastens its claws into 
 any thing with such force, that they cannot be disengaged : 
 
 F 3 
 
106 
 
 hence, when beasts of prey attack this animal, it adheres 
 to them so strongly, that they are both found dead in 
 each other’s grasp. 
 
 ANT-EATERS. (Myrmecophaga.) 
 
 These are placed next the Monkeys, near the model of 
 one of the turrets or nests of the Termites, or White Ants 
 of Africa, which are often of the height of ten feet, ap- 
 pearing at a distance like the villages of the natives. 
 
 The Ant-eaters are destitute of teeth, but have protrud- 
 ing snouts, through which they draw the insects which 
 form their food on their long clammy tongues. 
 
 The Great Ant-eater , or Tamanoir. (Myrmecophaga 
 Jubata.) This is the largest of the Ant-eaters, as well as 
 the most singular in its appearance ; it is upwards of six 
 feet in length , and has a very slender snout, out of which 
 it protrudes its worm-like tongue into the nests of ants, 
 on which it feeds. It is a native of South America, 
 from whence one was some years since brought alive to 
 Spain: it was fed on raw meat, cut small, of which it ate 
 four or five pounds a day. 
 
 The Cape Ant-eater. (M. Capensis.) Though the 
 former is called the largest of this remarkable family, 
 yet this may be considered the heaviest, as its weight 
 sometimes exceeds 100 lb. It burrows in the ground, and 
 sleeps by day. 
 
 Little Ant eater. (M. Didactyla.) Inhabits Guinea* 
 and the hottest parts of South America. They climb 
 trees in quest of a species of ant that builds its nest among 
 the branches ; they thrust out their clammy tongues into 
 the nest, and draw them into their mouths covered with 
 insects. Their tail is of great use to them in climbing, as 
 they twist it round the branches to prevent their falling. 
 
 Middle Ant-eater . (M. Tetradactyla.) Inhabits South 
 America, goes out in the night, and sleeps during the day ; 
 when irritated, it seizes on a stick or other object with its 
 fore claws, and fights sitting on its hind legs ; the extre- 
 
107 
 
 mity of the tail is naked and prehensile, by means of 
 which it is enabled to suspend itself to the branches of 
 trees. 
 
 Porcupine Ant-eater . (M. Aculeata.) Shaw ? s Zoo- 
 
 logy, vol. i. page 175. This is one of those curious ani- 
 mals which have been lately discovered in New Holland ; 
 it differs from all the other Ant-eaters in having the body 
 covered with sharp spines, resembling porcupines* quills, 
 only they are shorter and thicker in proportion. It has 
 a remarkably long, tubular snout, with a very small 
 mouth, out of which it shoots its tongue, in the same man- 
 ner as the others. It burrows under the ground with the 
 greatest ease, nature having furnished it with amazing 
 strength in its legs and feet. 
 
 Another Porcupine Ant-eater ; it varies from the 
 above in the lightness of the colour of the spines, and in 
 their being shorter, and more covered with stiff whitish 
 hair ; it is probably of a different sex, or a younger 
 animal. 
 
 The Manis , or Scaly Ant-eaters , are placed with the 
 last, to which they have a strong affinity, except the co- 
 vering of the body, which in these is strong horn-like 
 scales. 
 
 Pangolin , or Short-tailed Manis . (Manis Penta- 
 dactyla.) A remarkably fine specimen of this extraordi- 
 nary and highly curious animal, measuring five feet in 
 length ; it is a native of Africa and India, and its principal 
 food is the white ant, against the united attacks of which 
 nature has given its impenetrable coat of armour. It was 
 brought to this country by Mr. Samwell, surgeon, who 
 was with Captain Cook during his voyages of discovery. 
 
 Long-tailed Manis . (M. Tetradactyla,) This rare 
 
 animal is a native of India and Africa. It is perfectly 
 gentle and harmless, though it has the most formidable 
 appearance, being entirely covered with large sharp scales, 
 which it erects when irritated. Buffon says, “ The most 
 cruel and voracious of beasts, such as the Tiger and the 
 Panther, make but useless efforts to devour these armed 
 
108 
 
 animals ; they tread upon and roil them, but when they 
 attempt to seize them, are grievously wounded ; they can 
 neither terrify them by their violence, nor crush them by 
 their weight/' 
 
 Another specimen of this singular animal, near it, dif- 
 fers in having double the number of scales, which are 
 only half the size. 
 
 Near the above are two specimens of the nine-banded 
 Armadillo , with a young one, and one of the eight- 
 banded It receives the name of Armadillo, or Hog in 
 Armour, from the Spaniards, and from the impenetrable 
 coat of mail with which it is furnished by nature for its 
 defence. It is a native of South America, where there 
 are several kinds ; but the principal difference consists in 
 the number of bands or folds, of which the armour that 
 covers the body is composed. It is a harmless, inoffen- 
 sive animal, feeds on roots, herbs, and other vegetables, 
 grows very fat, and is much esteemed for the delicacy of 
 its flesh. The Indians hunt it with small dogs, trained 
 for the purpose : when it is surprised, it runs to its hole, 
 or attempts to make=a new one, which it does with great 
 expedition, having strong claws on the fore feet, with 
 which it adheres so firmly to the ground, that if it should 
 be caught by the tail, whilst making its way into the 
 earth, its resistance is so great that it will sometimes leave 
 its tail in the hands of its pursuers ; to avoid this the 
 hunter has recourse to artifice, and by tickling it with a 
 stick, it gives up its hold, and suffers itself to be taken 
 alive. If no other means of escape be left, it rolls itself 
 up within its covering, by drawing in the head and legs, 
 and bringing the trail round them, as a band to connect 
 them more forcibly together ; in this situation it some- 
 times escapes by rolling itself over the edge of a precipice, 
 and generally falls to the bottom unhurt. 
 
 Next to these is the huge Rhinoceros (Rhinoceros 
 Unicornis), which may be considered as one of the most 
 powerful of animals ; in strength, indeed, it is inferor to 
 none, and its bulk (says Bontius) equals the Elephant, but 
 it is less in stature, on account of the shortness of its legs. 
 The length of the Rhinoceros, from head to tail, is usually 
 twelve feet ; and the circumference of the body nearly 
 
109 
 
 equals that length : its nose is armed with so hard and 
 formidable a horn, that the Tiger will rather attack the 
 Elephant, whose proboscis he can lay hold of, than the 
 Rhinoceros, which he cannot face without danger of hav» 
 ing his bowels tom out by the defensive weapon of his 
 adversary. The body and limbs of the Rhinoceros are 
 covered with a skin so hard and impenetrable, that he 
 fears neither the claws of the Tiger, nor the trunk of the 
 Elephant, It is said to turn the edge of a scimitar, and 
 to resist even the force of a musket- ball. The upper lip 
 of the Rhinoceros is capable of great extension, arid is 
 so pliable that the animal can move it from side to side, 
 twist it round a stick, collect its food, or seize with if 
 any thing it would carry to its mouth. The Rhinoceros, 
 without being ferocious or carnivorous, is totally untract- 
 able and rude: it seems at times to be subject to parox- 
 isms of fury. The one which the King of Portugal sent 
 to the Pope in the year 1513, destroyed the vessel which 
 transported it. Like the hog, the Rhinoceros wallows in 
 the mire, is a solitary animal, and delights to rove near 
 the banks of rivers. It is found in Bengal, Siam, or 
 China, and other countries of the East, where it feeds on 
 the grossest herbs, preferring thistles and shrubs to the 
 finest of pasturage. The female produces but one at a 
 time, which during the first month exceeds not the size of 
 a large dog : at the age of two years, the horn is not more 
 than an inch long ; at six years old, it is ten inches long, 
 and grow s to the length of three feet. From the peculiar 
 construction of the eyes, the Rhinoceros can only see 
 what is immediately before him. When he pursues any 
 object, he proceeds always in a direct line, overturning 
 any thing in his way. His sense of smelling is so acute, 
 that his pursuers are obliged to avoid being to windward 
 of him : they follow him at a distance, and watch till he 
 lies down to sleep ; they then approach and discharge 
 their muskets into the lower part of his belly. 
 
 A fine specimen of the Elephant. (Elephas Maximus). 
 This stupendous animal lived for many years in Exeter 
 'Change, and was remarkable for its docility and obedi- 
 
110 
 
 ence to its keeper. For a further description of this 
 identical animal, see “ Wonders of Animated Nature/ 
 just published, p. 111. 
 
 Close to the Elephant commence those animals deno- 
 minated by Linnaeus, Ftrcc , which contain all the beasts 
 of prey. 
 
 1. In alow den is the Wolf from Hudson^ Bay. (Ca- 
 nus Lupus). It is of an unusual size, and the colour is 
 lighter than in those of Europe. 
 
 2. The Striped Ffycena . (C. Hyaena.) A young animal 
 from the Cape of Good Hope, little more than half its 
 full size. 
 
 3. The Jack ah (C. Aureus.) These inhabit the warm 
 parts of Asia and Barbary, prowling by night, sometimes 
 in flocks of two hundred together, hunting in concert : at 
 the cry of one, all within hearing howl prodigiously, and 
 urge other beasts to hunt the Stag, whilst the Lion or 
 Tiger, lying in wait, seize the prey, and first satisfying 
 themselves, leave the remainder to the Jackals ; from 
 whence originates the tale of their being the LioiFs pro- 
 vider. 
 
 4. The Barbary Jackal . (C. Barbarus.) 
 
 5. Cape Jackal. (C. Mesomefes.) 
 
 6. Black Fox . (C. Lycaon.) This animal inhabits the 
 colder parts of America, and is said to be the most crafty 
 of its tribe ; its skin is also of the greatest value, as fur. 
 
 7. The Arctic Fox . (C. Lagopus.) In its summer 
 dress. 
 
 8 and 9 . Ditto in its winter clothing. These inhabit 
 the most northern parts of America, frequent the sea 
 shore, and occasionally feed on shell-fish. 
 
ill 
 
 FELINE TRIBE. 
 
 In dens, and on the large rocks facing the entrance, are 
 disposed the whole of the Feline tribe, containing the most 
 cruel and rapacious of animals. 
 
 1. In a cavern is the Lion (Felis Leo), and near its 
 feet sleeping on the ground, a Cub about four months old. 
 
 2. The Panther. (Felis Pardus.) Is seen issuing from 
 a den : it is an untameable animal, and next in size to the 
 Tiger. It inhabits Africa, Barbary, the remotest parts of 
 Guinea, and the interior of South America ; is extremely 
 fierce, and attacks every living creature without distinc- 
 tion, but happily prefers the flesh of brutes to that of 
 mankind. The ancients were well acquainted with these 
 animals. The Romans drew prodigious numbers from 
 Africa, for their public shows. Scarus exhibited 150 of 
 them at one time; Pompey 410; and Augustus 420. 
 They probably thinned the coast of Mauritania of these 
 animals ; but they still swarm in the southern parts of 
 Guinea. The skin of the Panther was presented by Mr. 
 Polifo. 
 
 3. The Jaguar. (F. Onca.) Is a most fierce and de- 
 structive animal, in its manner resembling the Tiger. It 
 is an inhabitant of South America. 
 
 4. Walking on the top of the rock, above the Lion’s 
 den, is the Hunting Leopard. (F. Jubata.) This animal 
 was received from Senegal, and was perfectly tame, having 
 never been subject to confinement. In India they are 
 trained for the taking of game : three living ones were 
 shown a few years since in the Tower, that were part of a 
 pack belonging to the late Tippoo Sultan. This animal 
 has not retractile or sheated claws, like the rest of the 
 feline tribe. 
 
 5. The Black Leopard . (F. Discolor.) This was of 
 a most untameable and ferocious temper, which it con- 
 stantly exhibited, not even distinguishing the person that 
 fed it from others. It is said to be an inhabitant of Java, 
 
6. The Puma , or American Lion , with its young, 
 (F. Concolor.) This is the largest of the American beasts 
 of prey, sometimes measuring five feet from the nose to 
 the insertion of the tail. It is an animal of great strength 
 and fierceness, sometimes climbing trees, and springing at 
 whatever may pass beneath. The young were produced 
 at Exeter 'Change, and are remarkable for tire spots with 
 which they are covered whilst in a state of infancy. 
 
 7. Mar gay , or Tiger Cat . (F. Tigrina.) This diminu- 
 tive species has all the evil propensities and appetites for 
 rapine of the Tiger ; it resides principally on trees, prey- 
 ing on birds. It is a native of South America. 
 
 8. The Serval. (F. Serval.) Was received from Se- 
 negal ; it likewise inhabits India and Thibet, residing 
 mostly on trees* and avoiding man, unless when enraged. 
 
 9- Cinerous Cat . This animal appears to have been 
 described only by Mr. Pennant. It is a native of Senegal, 
 and its disposition is not so fierce as the generality of its 
 kind. 
 
 10. The Persian Lynx . (F. Caracal.) Was received 
 from Senega]. It is sometimes tamed and used in the 
 chase of the smaller quadrupeds; also of Herons, Cranes, 
 Pelicans, &c. 
 
 11. American Lynx. (F. Lynx.) 
 
 At the end of the rocks on which the above are placed, 
 follow the 
 
 VI V ERR A, or WEASEL GENUS. 
 
 1. The Ichneumon . (Viverra Ichneumon.) In India, 
 but still more in Egypt, the Ichneumon has always been 
 considered as one of the most useful and estimable of ani- 
 mals ; since it is an inveterate enemy to serpents, rats, and 
 other noxious creatures which infest those regions. In 
 India it attacks with courage that most dreadful reptile the 
 Cobra de Capelio, or Hooded Snake. It also diligently 
 
113 
 
 seeks for the eggs of Crocodiles ; for which reason* as 
 well as for its general usefulness in destroying all manner 
 of troublesome reptiles, it was held in such a high degree 
 of veneration by the ancient Egyptians, as to be regarded 
 as a minor deity, or one of those benevolent beings pro- 
 ceeding from the Parent of the universe. For the pur- 
 poses above specified, it is still domesticated by the In- 
 dians and Egyptians in the same manner as the Cat. in 
 Europe ; and it has also the merit of being easily tamed, 
 and performing with alacrity all the offices of that crea- 
 ture. Like many others of this tribe, it is a most dan- 
 gerous enemy to several animals larger than itself, over 
 which it gains a victory, and sucks their blood. In a wild 
 state it frequents rivers in quest of prey, where it is re- 
 ported to swim and dive like an Otter, and continues a 
 length of time under water. As it is a native of warm 
 climates, it of course is greatly injured by a removal to 
 the cold regions of Europe, to the variations of which it 
 generally falls a victim. 
 
 2 and 3. The Coati Mondi , or Brasilian Weasel . 
 (V. Nasua.) A native of South America. They may 
 easily be domesticated. One that I kept a considerable 
 time was so familiar, that it was with difficulty it could 
 be kept from ascending to my shoulders, and when I was 
 present would at any time attack any strange dog that 
 approached his apartment. It afterwards conceived a 
 strict friendship, which continued till death, for a Long- 
 armed Monkey (Simia Paniscus): they were inseparable 
 companions ; but I suspect the object of attraction was 
 the warmth they received from each other in keeping 
 close together, 
 
 4. Striated Weasel . (V. Putorius.) It is a native of 
 North America, and remarkable for the intolerable stench 
 which it emits when irritated, which is so powerful as to 
 prevent either men or dogs from pursuing it : even the 
 clothes of persons who are near it are obliged to be 
 buried in the ground for some time before they can be 
 purified. 
 
 5. The Skunk . (V. Mephites). This animal, like the 
 
 last, defends itself by emitting so intolerable an odour, as 
 
to overpower whatever pursues it ; this sometimes hap- 
 pens in the houses of the settlers in North America, when 
 their whole stock of provisions is rendered useless. 
 
 6. The Civet . (V. Civetta.) This Cat is sometimes 
 erroneously called the Musk Cat. It is a native of the 
 hottest climates of Africa and Asia; yet it is capable of 
 living in temperate or even in cold countries, if it be care- 
 fully defended against the injuries of air, and provided 
 with delicate and succulent food. The Civet Cat is a 
 wild fierce animal, and feeds on its prey in the same man- 
 ner as the Fox. In Holland they are frequently reared 
 for the sake of their perfume, which greatly resembles 
 musk. This is produced in a pouch under the tail ; and 
 those that keep them for this purpose put them into a 
 long narrow box, in which they cannot turn ; this box is 
 opened behind twice or thrice a week by the person who 
 collects the perfume, who drags the animal backwards by 
 the tail, and keeps it in that situation by placing a bar be- 
 fore it, while with a small spoon he scrapes the odori- 
 ferous substance from the pouch in which it is produced. 
 
 7. Three-striped Weasel . (V. Hermaphrodita.) It is a 
 native of Barbary, and very destructive to poultry. 
 
 8. The Genet . (V. Genetta.) This beautiful little ani- 
 mal was kept for some time alive, and w as suffered to play 
 at liberty in the house : in some parts of the East it is 
 domesticated, and is very useful in clearing the houses of 
 vermin. 
 
 9 and 10. Spotted Fitches . (V. Maculata.) Of New 
 Holland. 
 
 11. The Otter. (Mustela Lutra.) Is pretty generally 
 diffused over Europe, North America, and Asia, as far as 
 Persia; it feeds principally on fish, and is very destruc- 
 tive to our ponds and rivers ; it lives in holes under 
 ground, the openings to which are beneath the surface of 
 the water. The bite of the Otter is extremely severe, 
 but they are capable of being tamed, and taught to fish 
 for their owners, which they do with the greatest address, 
 as they are capable of remaining a considerable time 
 under water. 
 
115 
 
 12. The Pekan , (M. Canadensis.) 
 
 13. The Martin . (M. Foina.) Inhabits the woods of 
 most parts of Europe, feeding on birds, and other small 
 animals. 
 
 14. Pine Martin. (M. Martis.) Is occasionally found 
 in the pine forests in the northern parts of our island. 
 
 15. Fisher Weasel . (M. Nigra.) 
 
 16 . The Stoat , or Ermine . (M. Erminea.) Is found 
 principally in the wilds of Russia* and other cold coun- 
 tries. It is from the skin of this animal that the valuable 
 white fur is made. They are said to change their colour, 
 being brown in summer, and white in winter. 
 
 On a tree near these is Ursus Gulo . (The Glutton.) 
 A voracious animal, inhabiting the northern parts of 
 Europe, Asia, and America : it preys on deer, hares, and 
 the smaller quadrupeds, frequently concealing itself 
 among the branches of trees, from whence, springing on 
 the shoulders of whatever passes, it adheres firmly to 
 them till they drop from fatigue or loss of blood. Their 
 skins are valuable as fur. 
 
 OPOSSUMS. (Didelphis.) 
 
 Near the farthest corner from the entrance are placed 
 the Opossums. (Didelphis.) Till the discovery of New 
 Holland, most of the then known animals of this genus 
 were natives of America. Australasia has, however, 
 added more new species to this extraordinary family than 
 were before known : they are most remarkable for the 
 abdominal pouch with which the females are furnished, 
 which can be opened or shut at pleasure, in which the 
 young are concealed in time of danger. 
 
 1 . Virginian Opossum . (D. Opossum.) Inhabits the 
 warmer parts of America, climbs trees, and springs from 
 branch to branch by means of its strongly prehensile tail, 
 
 2. The Marmose . (D. Murina.) 
 
116 
 
 3. New Holland Opossum . (D. Caudivolva.) Has 
 
 been brought alive to this country, and is a pleasing, 
 cleanly animal. 
 
 4 and 5. Kangaroo . (D. Gigantea.) Of all the cu- 
 rious animals which the vast Island, or rather Continent 
 of Australasia has presented to our view, the Kangaroo 
 must be considered as one of the most extraordinary; its 
 size, general conformation, teeth, and oilier particulars, 
 conspiring to render it a most interesting object to every 
 naturalist. The first discovery of this remarkable qua- 
 druped was in the year 1770, when Captain Cook was 
 stationed on the Coast of New Holland. It is the only 
 quadruped our colonists have yet met with in New South 
 Wales that supplies them with animal food. There are 
 two kinds ; the largest that has been shot weighed about 
 140lb, and measured from the point of the nose to the 
 end of the tail six feet one inch ; the tail two feet one 
 inch ; head eight inches ; fore leg one foot ; hind legs 
 two feet eight inches ; circumference of the fore part of 
 the body near the leg one foot one inch ; and of the 
 hind part three feet. The smaller kinds seldom exceed 
 6olb. This animal is furnished with a pouch similar to 
 that of the Opossum, in which its- young is nursed and 
 sheltered. It feeds on grass and other vegetable sub- 
 stances. In their native state these animals are said to 
 feed in herds of thirty or forty together; and one is ge- 
 nerally observed to be stationed, as if apparently on the 
 watch, at a distance from the rest. One of the most re- 
 markable peculiarities of the Kangaroo is the extraordi- 
 nary faculty w hich it possesses of separating at pleasure, 
 to a considerable distance, the two fore teeth in the lower 
 jaw. The Kangaroo may be considered in some degree 
 as naturalized in England, several having been kept for 
 many years in the royal domains at Richmond, which 
 have during their residence there produced young, and 
 promise to render this most elegant animal a permanent 
 acquisition to our country. 
 
 6. The Bush Kangaroo . Not described by any 
 writer. 
 
1 17 
 
 7 and 8. Kangaroo Rats . (D. Tridactyla.) Tins 
 species, which, from its colour and the general aspect of 
 its upper parts, has obtained the title of the Kangaroo 
 Rat, is about the size of a Rabbit ; the general shape of 
 the animal resembles that of the Kangaroo, but it is far 
 less elegant, the proportion of the parts less pleasing, and 
 the hair, which is a dusky cinerous brown, of a coarser 
 nature. In its teeth it agrees with the great Kangaroo, 
 except that it has eight instead of six front teeth in the 
 upper jaw, the two middle ones being sharp-pointed : the 
 fore teeth in the lower-jaw are like those of the Kanga- 
 roo as to shape and position, but are smaller in propor- 
 tion ; the grinders are three in number on each side, both 
 above and below, the foremost being fluted or channelled 
 with several longitudinal ribs ; the two remaining ones 
 plain. The structure of the hind feet in this species re- 
 sembles those of the Kangaroo, but the tore feet have 
 only four toes. The female is furnished with an abdo- 
 minal pouch for the reception of the young. Some of 
 this species were imported in a living state from New Hol- 
 land, and brought forth young. Its native name is Pate 
 Roo . 
 
 9* The Porcupine Opossum . (D. Obesula.) 
 
 10. Spotted Opossum . (D. Maculata.) 
 
 11 and 12. Flying Opossim. (D. Volans.) These are 
 natives of New Holland, and Dr. Shaw seems to speak of 
 them as the most beautiful of quadrupeds. Their general 
 appearance is that of a large Flying Squirrel, to which 
 they are nearly allied. 
 
 12. A white variety of the above. 
 
 13. Squirrel Opossum, (D. Sciurea.) Is a beautiful 
 animal, greatly resembling the former, except in size. 
 
 14. Zebra Opossum. (D. Cynocephala). This animal, 
 which is the only one known in any collection, is a native 
 of Van Diemen's Land, where it lives among the caverns 
 and rocks in the high and almost impenetrable glens of 
 the mountainous parts of that country : it is the largest 
 carnivorous animal vet discovered in New Holland, me a- 
 
118 
 
 suring from the nose to the end of the tail five feet 
 three inches; it is said to be extremely voracious, which 
 will scarcely be doubted, when it is known that the 
 one described in the ninth volume of the Linnaean Trans- 
 actions, p. 179 > had in its stomach the partly digested re- 
 mains of the Porcupine Ant-eater ; it is said to have a 
 short guttural cry, and to appear exceedingly inactive and 
 stupid. 
 
 1 5. Pigmy Opossum. (D. Pygmsea.) Th is is the 
 least of all the Opossums ; and is not larger than a com 
 mon Mouse : it is a native of New Holland. 
 
 WOMBAT. 
 
 The Wombat is a native of New Holland. A living one 
 was brought to this country by Mr. Brown, librarian 
 to the Linnaean Society, who went as a naturalist with 
 Captain Flinders, on his voyage of discovery ; it lived 
 in a domesticated state for two years in the posses- 
 sion of Sir Everard Home, to whom, in a paper read to 
 the Royal Society, June 23, 1808, we are indebted for the 
 following observations : — “ It burrowed in the ground 
 whenever it had an opportunity, and covered itself with 
 earth with surprising quickness ; it was quiet during the 
 day, but constantly in motion in the night ; was very sen- 
 sible to cold ; it eat all kinds of vegetables, but was par- 
 ticularly fond of new hay, which it ate stalk by stalk, 
 taking into its mouth like a Beaver, by small bits at a 
 time ; it was not wanting in intelligence, and appeared 
 attached to those to whom it was accustomed, and who 
 were kind to it ; and when it saw them it would put its 
 fore paw on the knee ; when taken up, it would sleep in 
 the lap : it allowed children to pull and carry it about, 
 and when it bit them, did not appear to do it with anger 
 or violence. It appeared to have arrived at its full growth, 
 weighed about twenty pounds, and was about two feet 
 two inches long/* 
 
 The Brazilian Porcupine. (Hystrix Prehen silis.) 
 This very curious animal measures about two feet six 
 
Inches in length, and is entirely covered, except the tip of 
 the tail, with short, strong, and very sharp spines, of 
 which the largest is about three inches ; it lives in woods, 
 and climbs trees, in which it is assisted by its prehensile 
 tail. It is an inhabitant of the warmer parts of South 
 America. — Both the specimens in this collection were kept 
 some time alive in London. Its food was entirely of a 
 vegetable nature, and their manners mild and inoffensive ; 
 their voice is a weak, tremulous cry, somewhat resembling 
 that of a young pig, but not so shrill or so loud. 
 
 Canada Porcupine. (H. Dorsata.) The spines of 
 this are longer and sharper than the last, but owing to 
 their being covered with long hair, are not visible but on 
 close inspection. This animal sometimes climbs trees, 
 and is killed by the Indians of North America as an article 
 of food ; the beautiful ornamental works on their dresses 
 and utensils are executed with the dyed quills of this ani- 
 mal. 
 
 CAVY. (Cavia.) 
 
 These are all natives of the warmer parts of America; 
 they feed on vegetables, and either burrow in the ground 
 or live in the hollows of trees. 
 
 1 and 2. Spotted Cavy 3 (Cavia Paca.) These ani- 
 mals burrow in the banks of rivers, having three outlets to 
 each dwelling; they are easily tamed, like the common 
 Cavy or Guinea Pig ; and their flesh is much esteemed, 
 and eaten by the Portuguese and Spaniards of America. 
 
 3, The Long-nosed Cavy . (Cavia Aguti.) Sometimes 
 called the Java Hare, and is frequently imported into this 
 country. 
 
 4. The Rock Cavy . (C. Aperea.) 
 
 5 and 6 . River Cavy . (C. Capybara.) It is the largest of 
 the Cavias, and the only one known to have been brought 
 to this country ; it lived two years in the possession of 
 Mr. Kendrick, of Piccadilly ; was extremely gentle, and 
 fed on vegetables, though in a state of nature they are 
 
120 
 
 said to dive and catch fish with great dexterity. A sin- 
 gularity in this animal, which has not been noticed by 
 writers, is, that on the outside of each hind foot, it has a 
 large horny projection, four inches long and two broad, 
 probably intended to assist in swimming. 
 
 BEAVER. 
 
 The Beaver . (Castor Fiber.) The Beaver is a native 
 of the most northern parts of Europe, Asia, and America ; 
 in its natural state it lives in well-regulated societies of 
 from two to three hundred each, constructing their habi- 
 tations of wood and clay in the most astonishing manner, 
 and w ith the greatest regularity ; but when taken from 
 their native haunts they are said, by all naturalists who 
 have had an opportunity of observing them, to lose their 
 instinct, and become a stupid and sluggish animal. The 
 following anecdote may, however, be relied on : — A pair 
 of them was purchased a few years since by Mr. Polito, 
 for the'purpose of exhibiting in his collection ; they were 
 put into an upper room or loft, with a quantity of green 
 sticks and boughs for their food; on visiting them in the 
 morning, only one could be discovered, which was lying 
 in a state of evident uneasiness in a corner of the room : 
 at last, after some search, the female was found to have 
 died in the night, and the male had removed her to an 
 obscure part of the place, and covered her carefully over 
 with wood, so that no part of her could be seen, and had 
 then retired to the place where he was found. 
 
 MARMOT. 
 
 The Marmot . (Arctomus Marmota.) The Marmot, 
 when taken young, is more capable of being tamed than 
 any other wild animal ; it will easily learn to perform 
 feats with a stick, to dance and obey the voice of its mas- 
 ter; it bears a great antipathy to the dog, and when it be- 
 comes familiar in a house, and is certain of being supported 
 by its master, it will in his presence attack the largest dogs, 
 and boldly fasten on them with its teeth. They are natives 
 
121 
 
 of the Alps and Pyrennean mountains, and remain in a tor- 
 pid state from the end of September to the beginning of 
 April. They live in societies, from five to fourteen in 
 number, in burrows which have several passages construct- 
 ed with great art ; the principal apartment at the end 
 is warmly lined with moss and hay ; and it is asserted 
 that this work is carried on by the whole company ; that 
 some cut the finest grass, others pull it up, others take it 
 n t heir turn to convey it to the hole ; upon this occasion 
 it is added, one of them lies on its back, permits the 
 hay to be heaped on its belly, keeping its paws upright to 
 make room, and in this manner is dragged, hay and all, to 
 their common retreat. Whenever they venture abroad, 
 one is placed as a centinel, sitting on an elevated rock, 
 while the others amuse themselves in the fields below ; and 
 no sooner does he perceive a man, an eagle, a dog, or any 
 other enemy, than he informs the rest by a kind of whis- 
 tle, and is himself the last to take refuge in the ceil. These 
 animals run much swifter up hill than down; they climb 
 trees, and run up the clefts of rocks with great ease : in- 
 deed it is ludicrously said of the Savoyards, who are the 
 general chimney-sweepers of Paris, that they have learn- 
 ed their trade from the Marmot, 
 
 SQUIRRELS. (Sere rus.) 
 
 These are a numerous and active race of animals, dis- 
 persed over most parts of the world ; their food is wholly 
 vegetable, of which they lay up stores for their winter 
 provision. 
 
 1. The Black Squirrel . (Sciurus Niger.) Inhabits 
 
 North America, where it does much mischief to the maize 
 plantations. 
 
 2. Grey Squirrel . [S. Cinerius.] This is also a na- 
 tive of America, and is so great a pest to the farmer that 
 very considerable sums have been paid for its destruction. 
 
 3. Pair of Russian Squirrels . A variety of S. Vul- 
 garis. 
 
 G 
 
122 
 
 4. Palm Squirrel . [S. Palmarum.] Inhabits the hot 
 parts of Africa and Asia : and feeds principally on cocoa 
 nuts. 
 
 5. and 6. Ground Squirrel . [S. Striatus.] A native 
 of the colder parts of America and Asia ; burrows under 
 ground, and has cheek pouches, in which it carries home 
 its winter stock of provisions. 
 
 7. Flying Squirrel of America. (S. Volucella.) This 
 animal is less than the common European, being not above 
 five inches long, and is of a grey ash colour on the back, 
 and white on the under parts ; he has black prominent 
 eyes like a mouse, with a large broad fiat tail. The name 
 seems to imply that he is endowed with wings like a bat, 
 which however is not the case ; for he has only a loose 
 skin on each side, extending from the fore to the hinder 
 feet, with which it is connected ; this skin he can stretch 
 out like a sail, which holds so much air, that it buoys him 
 up, by which means he can jump from one tree to another 
 at a great distance ; insomuch, that some have thought he 
 had the faculty of flying. He feeds on the same provi- 
 sions as other squirrels, and may easily be made tame ; 
 but he is apt to do a great deal of mischief in corn-fields, 
 by cropping the corn as soon as it begins to ear. 
 
 8. and 9. An undescribed species from Senegal. 
 
 HARES. (Lepus.) 
 
 1. American Hare. (Lepus Americanus.) 
 
 2. American Hare, just receiving its winter clothing, 
 which in the northern parts is entirely white. 
 
 3. Hare from Senegal, greatly resembling the common, 
 but the hair much shorter and finer, and the animal of a 
 less size than ours. 
 
 4. Angora Rabbit. (L. Augorensis.) 
 
 The Lama. (Camelus Glama ) This animal is a na 
 rive of the Peruvian mountains, and was the only beast 
 
123 
 
 of burden known to the original inhabitants : it resem- 
 bles the Camel in being able to abstain from drink for 
 a considerable time, and it travels about three German 
 miles a-day, carrying a burden of 1 50lb. This specimen 
 was about six months old; bred in 18 tl, by 1. Thorpe* 
 Esq. of Chippenham Park, near Newmarket, and is the 
 only one ever produced in this country. 
 
 The Vicuna . (C. Vicuna.) This is another of the Pe 
 
 ruvian animals, with which, till lately, we have not been 
 well acquainted. It inhabits the highest mountains of 
 the Andes in docks ; is timid and gentle, but very swift : 
 it carries small burdens, although it is not easily tamed; 
 their wool is extremely tine ; from it is manufactured 
 cloths of the most exquisite softness and beauty, known 
 by the name of Vigonia cloth. This specimen is the only 
 one ever brought alive to this country ; it was in the ex- 
 tensive menagerie of Mr. S. Polito, to whose liberality in 
 encouraging the importation of foreign animals the public 
 are indebted for the knowledge of many interesting sub- 
 jects before unknown. 
 
 The Memina , male and female. (Moschus Memina.) 
 These were received from Java ; one of them lived some 
 time in the menagerie of her Royal Highness the Duchess 
 of York, who presented it to the Museum. The other 
 was presented by her Royal Highness the Princess Char- 
 lotte of Wales. 
 
 The Stag. (Cervus Elephus.) A remarkable fine spe- 
 cimen of this noble animal ; presented by the Earl of 
 Derby, in whose park at Knowsley it led the herd for 
 several years. 
 
 CAMELOPARDALIS. (Giraffa.) 
 
 The Camelopardalis , or Giraffa. (Camelopardalis 
 Giraffa.) Which is by far the tallest of all known quadru- 
 peds, measuring the extraordinary height of seventeen 
 feet three inches from the hoof of the fore foot to the top 
 of the head, whilst (so disproportionate is the form) that 
 
124 
 
 the body scarcely exceeds that of a horse. Till lately 
 the existence of so wonderful an animal was doubted by 
 many European Naturalists, who ranked it amongst the 
 fabulous monsters of antiquity. 
 
 This specimen was lately killed at a considerable dis- 
 tance, in the interior of the Cape of Good Hope, by the 
 Rev. Mr. Edwards, an African Missionary, when travel- 
 ling in that country under the patronage of Lord Cale- 
 don, then Governor of the Cape. It is represented as an 
 harmless timid animal, living in small herds of six or seven 
 together, in the plains that border on Caffraria : they are 
 so extremely shy and wary, that it is with the greatest 
 difficulty they can be approached : they feed on the fruit 
 of the wild apricot, and on the tender branches of several 
 species of Mimosa. This specimen, which is a full grown 
 male, and very rich in colour, is allowed to be the finest 
 ever brought to Europe, and is in the most perfect pre- 
 servation. 
 
 Such is the excessive rarity of this singular animal, that 
 from the decline of the Roman Empire till the middle of 
 the eighteenth century its existence was deemed extremely 
 problematical, if not in the highest degree chimerical. 
 The contradictory accounts of Oppian, Heliodorus, and 
 Strabo, at periods when curiosity might have been amply 
 gratified, and investigation have received the fullest and 
 most satisfactory conviction, by attending the public 
 games (upon which occasions, Pliny informs us, it was 
 frequently exhibited), were alone sufficient to create justi- 
 fiable doubts, and propagate an opinion of the inaccuracy 
 of the statements and inadvertency of these writers upon 
 the subject. The narratives of succeeding travellers, who 
 felt little inclination to observe, or whose opportunities of 
 observation were limited and few, only tended to increase 
 this perplexity, already too intricate, and by their dark 
 ambiguous details, equally opposite and vague, to confirm 
 the previous supposition of its fabulous and imaginary 
 origin. 
 
 That this conjecture should have been strengthened by 
 a perusal of the several relations of our travellers and 
 naturalists, ought not to excite surprise, when we remem- 
 ber we are told, by one, that the length of its fore- legs is 
 
125 
 
 double that of those behind— by another, that this dispa- 
 rity does not exist — by a third, that such is their astonish- 
 ing height, that a man mounted on horseback may with 
 ease pass beneath its body — and by a fourth, that in point 
 of magnitude, it does not exceed the size of a small horse. 
 
 From such a contrariety of evidence, the veracity of 
 the traveller became disputed, and the credulity of the 
 naturalist an object of derision. The whole was rejected 
 as a fictitious invention — was classed with the crude abor- 
 tions of Pliny's fervid imagination ; and such was the in- 
 fluence of this variety of testimony, that though Captain 
 Carteret had given a distinct account of a Giraffa killed 
 at the Cape of Good Hope in the year 1?6'9, Mr. Pennant 
 still refused to yield his assent, till convinced by personal 
 inspection of a skin preserved in the University of Leyden, 
 The cloud of uncertainty, however, which has so long 
 hovered over the real form of this beautiful and extraor- 
 dinary animal, has of late years been dissipated by the 
 minute descriptions of Gordon, Vaillant, and Sparrman. 
 From them we have learned its size, its proportions, and 
 peculiarities, with an accuracy and fidelity both laudable 
 and decisive. Yet, whilst we are fully acquainted with 
 the external qualities of the Giraffa, it is to be lamented 
 we know so little of its habits. An extreme docility, and 
 remarkable passiveness of disposition, form the prominent 
 features of its character. Antonins Constantins, a writer 
 of the fifteenth century, and one of the earliest of modem 
 travellers who has noticed it, mentions one which he saw 
 led through the streets of Faoo, so gentle and quiescent in 
 its conduct, that the children of the town brought bread 
 and fruit, which it patiently ate from their hands, and 
 received the gratuitous offerings of the spectators at their 
 windows as it passed. Mr. Gordon also records an anec- 
 dote of the Giraffa slain by himself, which represents it 
 in a truly amiable and interesting light. Having wounded 
 it with a musket-ball, it suffered him to approach it as it 
 lay upon the ground, without offering to strike with its 
 horns, or showing any inclination to revenge itself. He 
 even stroked it over the eyes several times, which it only 
 closed without evincing any signs of resentment. When 
 its throat was cut, for the purpose of procuring the skin,, 
 
 G 2 
 
126 
 
 and whilst lying in the agonies of death, it struck the 
 earth with its feet, with a degree of violence and force 
 far exceeding that of any other animal. In these, M. 
 Vaillant informs us, lay his only means of defence ; yet 
 such is the rapidity with which he is enabled to exert 
 them, that the succession of their movements almost es- 
 capes perception ; and so powerful are the blows inflicted, 
 that they are sufficient to repel the attacks of the Lion, 
 though of little avail against the fury and impetuosity of 
 the Tiger. 
 
 Its general food consists of the leaves of a species of 
 Mimosa, called by the natives kannap , and by the plant- 
 ers kamel doom ; though when grass is to be obtained 
 (which from the scarcity of pasture in the southern pro- 
 vinces of Africa is but seldom), in common with other 
 horned cattle, it joyfully partakes of such a repast. An 
 erroneous opinion, however, has been promulgated, that 
 when feeding upon shrubs and herbage, it is compelled to 
 extend its legs to a considerable distance, in order to 
 bring its mouth in contact with the earth. This, M. Vail- 
 lant, who has been peculiarly explicit upon the subject, 
 contradicts from his own experience and observation, 
 both whilst grazing and drinking, and pertinently remarks, 
 that if we compare the length of the neck with that of 
 the legs and body, we shall discover there is no necessity 
 for this unnatural assistance. This testimony is also 
 confirmed by the representation given of the Giraffa 
 in the beautiful Praenestine pavement of Sylla,%here we 
 observg it delineated amidst a herd of African quadrupeds, 
 browsing in the customary posture of other beasts. 
 
 ANTELOPE. (Antilopes.) 
 
 i 
 
 1. The Blue Antelope. (Antilope Leucophcea.) Was 
 received from Senegal ; it is also found at the Cape of 
 Good Hope. 
 
 2. Corvine Antelope . (A. Corina.) 
 
 3 . Female of the above. 
 
127 
 
 4. The Harnessed Antelope . (A. Scripta.) A most 
 beautiful species, found near the Senegal river. Pre- 
 sented by his Royal Highness the Duke of York. 
 
 5. Pigmy Antelope . (A. Pygmaea.) This beautiful 
 
 and diminutive species is only nine inches high. It in- 
 habits the hotter parts of Africa, and is said by authors 
 to be capable of leaping a wall twelve feet high ; it is 
 easily tamed, but is so tender as not to survive a remo- 
 val from its native clime. 
 
 The Broad-tailed Sheep* A curious African species, 
 sent by the Dey of Algiers to the Earl of Liverpool, who 
 presented it to the Museum. 
 
 The Musk Ox. (Bos Moschatus) is an inhabitant of 
 the mountains of North America, where it is found in 
 herds, in which the number of females greatly preponde- 
 rate. They are said to be very fierce, and to run and 
 climb the mountains witli great rapidity. 
 
 The Zehra. (Equus Zebra.) This extremely beautiful 
 animal is a native of the hotter parts of Africa, and is 
 frequently seen in herds in the neighbourhood of the 
 Cape of Good Hope ; they are however so extremely 
 wild and cautious as rarely to be taken, and are of a dis- 
 position so vicious and untameable as seldom to submit to 
 the bridle, even when taken young. In size the Zebra 
 is superior to the Ass ; in its colour it is much more ele- 
 gant : the ground is white or cream colour, and the whole 
 animal is decorated with very numerous black or brown 
 stripes, disposed with the utmost symmetry in a manner 
 not easily to be described. 
 
 The Pecari , or Mexican Hog . (Sus Tajasu.) Inhabits 
 the warm parts of America, feeding on vegetables and 
 reptiles : is said to attack and devour the Rattlesnake 
 with impunity. 
 
128 
 
 On a Rock, near the Sea view , are placed 
 THE SEALS. 
 
 The Common Seal. (Phoca Vitulina.) This animal is a 
 native of the European Seas, and is found about all the 
 coasts of the Northern hemispheres, and even as far as the 
 opposite one, being seen in vast numbers about the south- 
 ern polar regions. We are informed by Mr. Pennant, 
 that it also inhabits some fresh-water lakes, as that of 
 Baikal, Aral, &c. Seals may often be observed sleeping 
 on the rocks near the coast ; but when approached too 
 near, they suddenly precipitate themselves into the water. — 
 Sometimes they sleep sound ; and it is affirmed by some, 
 that the Seal sleeps more profoundly than most other 
 quadrupeds. The structure of the Seal is so singular, 
 that, as Buffon well observes, it was a kind of model on 
 which the imagination of the poets formed their tritons, 
 sirens, and sea-gods, with a human head, the body of a 
 quadruped, and the tail of a fish. The Seal is possessed 
 of a considerable degree of intelligence, and may be 
 tamed so as to become familiar. The female Seals pro- 
 duce their young in the winter season, and seldom bring 
 more than two at a birth. It is said that they suckle 
 their young ones for about the space of a foitnight on the 
 spot where they are born, after which they take them out 
 to sea, and instruct them in swimming and seeking their 
 food, which consists of fish, sea- weeds, &c. 
 
 Falkland Isle Seal . (Phoca Australis.) Remarkable 
 for the structure of the hind-feet, the webs of which ex- 
 tend far beyond the claws, which in the fore feet are 
 wanting. 
 
 A small Seal from Davis's Straits, supposed to be Pho- 
 ca Pucilla. 
 
 Near this, on the right-hand side, is seen, as descending 
 from a rock, the White , or Greenland Bear (Ursus Ma- 
 ritimus.) This is a far larger species than the common 
 Bear, and is said to have been sometimes found of the 
 length of twelve feet. The head and neck are of a more 
 lengthened form than in the common Bear, and the body 
 
129 
 
 itself is longer in proportion. The whole animal is white, 
 the ears are round and small, the eyes little, and the 
 teeth of extraordinary magnitude ; the hair is of great 
 length, and the limbs are extremely large and strong. 
 It seems confined to the coldest part of the globe, being 
 found within eighty degrees of north latitude, as far as 
 any navigators have yet penetrated. The shores of Hud- 
 son’s Bay, Greenland, and Spitsbergen, are its principal 
 places of residence ; but it is said to be carried sometimes 
 on the floating ice as far south as Newfoundland. The 
 Polar Bear is an animal of tremendous strength and 
 fierceness. Barentz, in his voyage in search of a north- 
 east passage to China, had proofs of the ferocity of these 
 animals in the island of Nova Zembla, where they at- 
 tacked the seamen, seizing them in their mouths, carry- 
 ing them off with the greatest ease, and devouring them 
 in the sight of their comrades. It is said that they some- 
 times will attempt to board armed vessels at a distance 
 from shore, and have been repelled with difficulty. Pre- 
 sented by S. Staniforth, Esq. of Liverpool. 
 
 On one of the basalt columns near the sea, is the Pla- 
 typus, (Anatinus Platypus.) 
 
 Of all the quadrupeds yet known this seems the most 
 extraordinary, exhibiting the perfect resemblance of the 
 beak of a duck engrafted on the head of a quadruped ; 
 so great was the resemblance, that Dr. Shaw, who pub- 
 lished the first account of it, could scarcely refrain from 
 thinking it a deception ; but we are since become ac- 
 quainted with the animal and its habits. It is a native of 
 New Holland, and is found in fresh-water lakes in the 
 neighbourhood of Port Jackson, in the muddy banks of 
 which it procures its food. Governor Hunter observed 
 a native spear one with great dexterity ; but it used its 
 sharp claws with such strength, that it was necessary to 
 confine it between two boards in order to extract the barb, 
 when it ran off with greater speed than from the struc- 
 ture of the fore-feet it seemed capable of doing on the 
 land. 
 
 Near the Zebra is perhaps the largest specimen of the 
 Land Tortoise ever brought into this country, the shell 
 alone measuring three feet two inches in length, and near 
 
130 
 
 six feet in circumference ; it is the Testuda tndica of 
 Linnaeus. 
 
 Twisted round the trunk of the large tree behind the 
 Zebra, is a specimen of the Gnat Serpent of Surinam ; 
 and on the ground, with its head erect, near the window 
 opposite the Stag, is another from the Brazils; presented 
 by his Koyal Highness the Duke of York: they are 
 nearly twenty feet long, and are of the kind that has 
 usually been called the Boa Constrictor. 
 
 On the rocks, near the commencement on the land 
 side, is the Coryphene or Dolphin. 
 
 The Torpedo Ray . (Baja Torpedo.) 
 
 Frog Fish. (Lophius Europaeus.) 
 
 Young Shark . 
 
 Near these are a pair of those immense shells, the 
 Chama Gigas of Linnaeus They are the largest of all 
 known shell-fish, being three feet across, and weighing 
 upwards of three hundred pounds. This is the Cockle 
 mentioned by voyagers as capable of dining a whole ship's 
 company. The fish is said to weigh forty pounds ; it is 
 black, but not ill-tasted, and is generally cut into steaks 
 and broiled. 
 
BOTANICAL SUBJECTS 
 
 IN THE 
 
 PANT HE RI O N. 
 
 Through the windows on the left side of the entrance 
 is a fine specimen of Citrus Aurantium , the Seville 
 Orange. 
 
 On entering the room on the same side, forming the 
 division of the first and second windows, is Artocarpus 
 Incisa, the Bread-fruit tree. 
 
 The fruit of this tree the inhabitants of the Ladrone, 
 Philippine, and most of the islands in the South Seas, use 
 as bread. Dampier says, that in Guam, one of the La- 
 drone islands, there is a certain fruit, called the Bread- 
 fruit, growing on a tree as big as our large apple-tree, 
 with dark leaves. The fruit is round, and grows on the 
 boughs like apples, of the bigness of a good penny loaf: 
 when ripe it turns yellow, soft, and sweet ; but the na- 
 tives take it green, and bake it in an oven till the rind is 
 black ; this they scrape off, and eat the inside, which is 
 soft and white like the inside of new-baked bread, having 
 neither seed nor stone ; but, if kept longer than twenty- 
 four hours, it is harsh. This fruit is in season eight 
 months in the year, and the natives feed on no other sort 
 of bread during that time. 
 
 Somewhat to the right of the foregoing, at a distance 
 from the window, is the Agave Americana , American 
 Aloe, in bloom. 
 
 The next division of the windows is formed by Citrus , 
 the five-fingered Lemon, or Citron, an agreeable acid 
 fruit, which is used by the inhabitants of hot climates for 
 the same purposes as the common lemon. 
 
Fronting the third window is Musa Sapientum , the 
 Banana. This plant is to the inhabitants of the West 
 India islands what the Bread-fruit tree is to the countries 
 where it is indigenous, the staple article of food : the 
 fruit is so essential to the natives of tropical climes, that 
 they never go to a distance without taking a quantity of 
 it with them. When the West Indians undertake a 
 voyage, they make a provision of paste of Banana, which 
 in case of need serves them for nourishment and drink ; 
 for this purpose they take ripe Bananas, and having 
 squeezed them through a fine sieve, form the solid fruit 
 into loaves, which are dried in the sun or in hot ashes, 
 after being previously wrapped up in the leaves of the 
 Indian Flowering Reed.” 
 
 When they make use of this paste they dissolve it in 
 water, which is very easily done, and the liquor, thereby 
 rendered thick, has an agreeable acid taste imparted to it, 
 which makes it both refreshing and nourishing. 
 
 Twining round the stem of the Banana, is thePassiflora 
 Quadrangularis, the Square-stalked Passion-flower. This 
 is the only species producing an edible fruit, which in the 
 West Indies is known by the name of Granadilla. 
 
 The stem dividing the third and fourth windows is the 
 Annona Reticulata , Custard-apple. This, with two 
 other species, are frequently confounded under the ap- 
 pellation of sweet and sour sop. 
 
 Placed between the Rhinoceros and Elephant, is the Di- 
 mocarpus Litchi, which produces a beautiful strawberry- 
 like fruit. 
 
 At a short distance to the right is a variety known by 
 the name of Mandarin Orange ; when ripe it has a 
 peculiar fine flavour, and has the appearance of being 
 double. 
 
 Trained on the fourth window is a curious variety of 
 Peach, which is cultivated in China, on account of its 
 luscious fruit. 
 
 Trailing on the rocks over the den of the lion, is the 
 Bottle Gourd , a native of the West Indies. 
 
 Projecting, as from the back of the room, is seen the 
 Fruit of Adansonia Digitata , the Boabab. This is one 
 of the largest of the vegetable tribe, being (as we are in- 
 
133 
 
 ormed) sometimes found exceeding seventy feet in cir- 
 cumference ; the leaves as well as] fruit are used by the 
 Negroes for food : the latter they dry and then pound ; 
 after which they mix the powder with their drink, which 
 in some measure allays the violent perspirations that fre- 
 quently prove dangerous in hot climates. 
 
 From the centre division is seen a fruit known to the 
 Chinese by the name of Date. 
 
 The two centre window-frames and divisions are formed 
 of a branch of Quercus Ruber P the Cork Tree. 
 
 In the adjoining window, is a small branch of Passi - 
 flora Alata , the Wing-stalked Passion-flower. 
 
 Nearly opposite the centre of the same window, is the 
 Carica Papaya , the Papaw-tree, with its fruit in different 
 stages of maturity. 
 
 The division of the next window, is the Psidium Pyri- 
 ferum , the Guava, or Bay-plum, a fruit frequently im- 
 ported into this country in the form of a jelly, from the 
 West Indies. 
 
 In the background, to the right of the Papaw, is the 
 Borassus Flabelliformis , the Palmira Fan, or Malabar 
 Palm, From this plant the natives of India obtain a very 
 agreeable liquor susceptible of vinous fermentation, from 
 which they either distil a spirit, or by evaporation obtain 
 sugar. The leaves of this and other species are used by 
 the inhabitants of Asia and Ceylon as paper, requiring no 
 other preparation than to be separated and cut smooth 
 with a knife; they are written upon while fresh with a steel, 
 or stylus; the characters thus traced are rubbed over 
 with charcoal or other black substance, which gives them 
 the distinctness of engravings. The wood of this tree is 
 of a dark colour, elegantly veined with yellow, and is 
 used for buildings and domestic purposes. The leaves 
 are also used for umbrellas, one of which, Thunberg 
 asserts, “ is sufficiently large to shelter six persons from 
 rain/' 
 
 In front of the last is the Urania Speciosa , an interest- 
 ing and highly curious plant, nearly approaching in ex- 
 ternal appearance the Strelitzia and Helliconia . 
 
 Behind this, towards the corner, is Pandannus Odo* 
 
 H 
 
134 
 
 ratissimus , the Nicobar Bread-fruit. This, though of 
 so tempting an appearance, is but very indifferent food, 
 and is seldom eaten but in cases of necessity. 
 
 Behind the Pandannus is Citrus Decumana , the Shad- 
 dock, the fruit of which was cast from recently imported 
 specimens. 
 
 At a few paces to the right is Cocos Nucifera , the 
 Cocoa-nut tree. This well-known tree rises to the height 
 of sixty feet ; is crowned with a bunch of ten or twelve 
 leaves, each leaf being from ten to fifteen feet in length, 
 and composed of a double range of flag-shaped leaflets : 
 the cocoa is of slow growth, but, to compensate for this, 
 it lives long, and regularly bears fruit three or four times 
 in the year. In Ceylon it is a common practice to make 
 an incision in the flower-sheath, from whence issues a 
 white sweet liquor of a pleasant flavour, which the na- 
 tives call Toddy . This distils from the wound, and is 
 received in earthern pots or chatties, which are suspended 
 from the branches. 
 
 It is a wholesome and cooling drink, while fresh, but 
 this state does not continue long, as it contains a quantity 
 of sugar, and of course, in the warm climate of Ceylon, 
 it soon ferments; in the space of twenty-four hours it 
 becomes acid, and after a time proves intoxicating. The 
 fruit of this tree is the cocoa-nut so generally known in 
 this country ; when half ripe, it contains a quantity of 
 clear water, better known by the name of milk ; this has 
 a pleasant smell and most agreeable taste : in countries 
 where the heat is intense, and the ground frequently 
 parched for want of moisture, the milk of this nut proves, 
 from its coolness, a delightful and refreshing beverage. 
 
 Every part of this tree is destined for the service of 
 man: of the rind of the nut the natives make their 
 cordage and nets ; of a light loose substance, that grows 
 among the branches, cloth of various kinds, and for 
 various purposes is manufactured; the branches and stems 
 are used in buildings and for domestic purposes, while the 
 leaves are employed to cover the roofs and repel rain : 
 these last are also made into mats, baskets, and other do- 
 mestic utensils. 
 
] 35 
 
 Embracing the stem of the Cocoa, is a beautiful varie- 
 gated species of Gourd, cast from a specimen raised in 
 this country. 
 
 Fronting the last window on this side, is a beautiful 
 and high-flavoured, though diminutive, species of Orange, 
 modelled from a drawing in the possession of Sir Joseph 
 Banks, whose unbounded liberality in forwarding scien- 
 tific inquiry, the Proprietor of this Establishment has 
 gratefully to acknowledge; as, from Sir Joseph's per- 
 sonal directions, the use of his library and valuable col- 
 lection of fruit, the principal part of these curious exotic 
 vegetables was modelled. 
 
 On the stem, dividing the two last windows, is Mangi - 
 fera Indica, (the Mango) the fruit of which is well known 
 in this country as a pickle. 
 
 Fronting the Camel-leopard, is Areca Catechu , (the 
 Betel-tree) whose fruit is in this country known by the 
 name of betel-nut, and used here as a dentifrice ; it grows 
 in clusters at the top of the stem, in the manner of the 
 cocoa ; these nuts are about the size of a hen*s egg, and 
 the natives chew them in the same manner as tobacco is 
 used in this and other countries. 
 
 The nuts are prepared by first cutting them in slices, 
 and sprinkling them with slacked lime, and then wrapping 
 them in leaves of some species of pepper, which they 
 masticate with the nut. The wood is used in building 
 the habitations of the natives. In America the trunks of 
 the trees are used as water-pipes, for which purpose they 
 are admirably adapted, from the hardness and durability 
 of the wood. 
 
 The Passion-flower, climbing the tree, is of the same 
 species as the one already described with the Banana. 
 
 Continuing to the right, is The a Viridis , (the Green- 
 most plat) which is now pretty generally cultivated in neat 
 conservatories and green-houses in this kingdom. 
 
 Growing from behind the trunk of the large tree in the 
 corner, is the Mimosa Scandens , (Climbing Mimosa.) 
 The immense pods or seed-vessels are hanging pendent 
 from a small branch ; in one of the small windows front- 
 ing the sea-view, a pod is placed, which serves to show 
 
136 
 
 the exact form : it is not a large specimen, as they are 
 frequently met with full four feet in length. 
 
 From the last-mentioned window is seen Rhizophora 
 Gymnorhiza , the Mangrove, or Oyster-tree. This is a 
 native of the East Indies, where it attains the height of 
 ten or twelve feet ; it grows in moist situations, generally 
 within the influx of the sea, where the tide ran wash its 
 stem. There is something exceedingly curious in the 
 manner which nature has chosen to conduct the seed of 
 the Mangrove into the earth ; it is a remarkable deviation 
 from the general rule, and is simply this:— The fruit 
 produces a single seed, inclosed in an oblong capsule, 
 which, when ripe, begins to germinate without falling 
 from the tree. A little radicle makes its appearance from 
 the top of the capsule, from whence it proceeds, in the 
 form of a ligneous fibre, till it is more than a foot long ; in 
 this state the seed hangs pendent, till by its weight, added 
 to the continual oscillations to which it is subject from the 
 slightest breath of air, it is disengaged from the capsule 
 and falls to the ground. The process which follows is 
 common to other seeds. 
 
 The seeds are said to fall so as to rest in a vertical 
 position ; this may easily happen where the ground is 
 constantly moist and soft enough to receive any impres- 
 sion, which is constantly the case where these trees are 
 found. 
 
 In China, the bark is employed to strike a black dye ; 
 it emits a very strong sulphureous exhalation, and the 
 wood, which has the same odour, burns very briskly and 
 with a dazzling flame. 
 
 In consequence of the Mangrove growing as it were 
 m the water, it becomes the resort of fishes, particularly 
 oysters ; the last deposits its spawn upon the stems and 
 branches, which in time becomes loaded with them ; and 
 the oysters gathered from such situations may readily be 
 known by pieces of the wood, which are generally at- 
 tached to the shells. 
 
 From the circumstances above related, the tree has 
 taken the common appellation of Oyster-tree. 
 
 Rising on two green stems, are the heads or flow r ers of 
 
137 
 
 Cyperus Papyrus , the Papyrus, They are placed rather 
 to the left of the Mangrove, 
 
 From this plant the ancient Egyptians formed their 
 books or papers. For this purpose the thick part of the 
 stalk was cut in two; the pellicle between the pith and 
 the bark, or perhaps the two pellicles, were stripped off 
 and divided by an iron instrument* which was probably 
 sharp- pointed, but did not cut at the edges. This was 
 squared at the sides, so as to be like a ribband, and then 
 laid upon a smooth table, after being cut the length the 
 leaf required. 
 
 The Egyptians applied the Papyrus to several purposes, 
 independent of the manufacture of paper. The roots 
 sometimes served them for fire-wood, and were formed 
 into different domestic utensils. Of the stems, interlaced 
 together, they constructed a kind of boat, and of the 
 interior bark they made their sails, mats, clothes, cordage, 
 and coverlids of their beds. 
 
 The boats made of Papyrus resemble great baskets, 
 compactly woven together, and are plastered with some 
 resinous substance. It was probably in a vessel of this 
 kind that Moses was exposed, when he was found by the 
 daughter of Pharaoh on the banks of the Nile. 
 
 For the above , and other interesting accounts of the 
 botanical subjects in this Exhibition, we are indebted to 
 Wood’s Zoograph y. 
 
 FINIS, 
 
 WbiHingham and Rowland, Printers, Gcftweli Street, London. 
 
EXHIBITIONS 
 
 AT THE 
 
 EGYPTIAN HALL, 
 
 PICCADILLY, LONDON. 
 
 ROMAN GALLERY. 
 
 The celebrated and magnificent Picture, 26 feet long? 
 of the Judgment of Brutus upon his Sons , painted by 
 the President of the Academy of Rome, and removed 
 from the Louvre in June, 1814, is now open for exhibi- 
 tion in the superb Roman Gallery, erected for its recep- 
 tion at the Egyptian Hall, Piccadilly. Besides the com 
 manding interest which this elaborate work of art must 
 excite, the furniture and decorations of the gallery claim 
 unusual attention; the exquisite Mosaic floors of the 
 Baths of Nero, and other rare and curious articles of 
 antiquity, (recently brought from the Louvre and Mai- 
 maison, for the purpose) embellish this classic apartment ; 
 a descriptive account of which, in general, and of this 
 great picture in particular, is just published, with an 
 Etching, pi'ice One Shilling. 
 
 BUONAPARTE’S CARRIAGE. 
 
 A separate apartment contains the Military Car- 
 riage of Buonaparte, captured after the battle of 
 Waterloo; and which has been removed hither from the 
 King's Mews, by an order of Government, together with 
 the horses of the Ex-Emperor by which it was drawn ; the 
 gold and silver necessaire, his personal wardrobe, &c. 
 This carriage, together with its costly contents, was 
 
140 
 
 brought to England by the officer who took it ; and has 
 been already visited by sixty-five thousand persons. The 
 coachman of Napoleon, who was with the carnage when 
 taken, having suffered amputation of his arm, and reco- 
 vered from the other numerous wounds he received, is 
 now in England, and attends in the room with the car- 
 riage, the exhibition of which will shortly close. 
 
 Admission to each exhibition One Shilling. 
 
 Descriptive Catalogues of each may be had at the 
 Egyptian Hall, Piccadilly. 
 
 Mr. Bullock has the honour of submitting to the 
 Nobility and Public the arrangement he has made for an 
 Establishment of real importance to science, and of emi- 
 nent advantage to individuals. For this purpose he has 
 completed a magnificent suite of Apartments, one hun- 
 dred and twenty feet long, on the ground floor of the 
 Egyptian Hall, in Piccadilly, designed for the reception, 
 exhibition, and sale, by commission, of every article con- 
 nected with the Fine Arts, Antiquity, and Natural His- 
 tory : thereby to facilitate the wishes of those who are 
 forming collections, as well as the views of those who 
 seek remuneration for interesting objects which they have 
 procured, or ingenious works which they have executed. 
 Among the various departments that will be formed, the 
 Picture Gallery, just erected for the purpose, will com- 
 mand particular attention. This Apartment, from its 
 connection with the Museum, which is visited by most 
 strangers in the Metropolis, must possess considerable 
 advantage over any other establishment of a similar na- 
 ture. Valuable curiosities of every description (subject 
 to the approbation of the Proprietor) are allowed to re- 
 main on sale for one season, without expense, unless actu- 
 ally sold, when 10 per Cent, will be charged on the 
 amount. 
 
 Egyptian Hall } Piccadilly.