rapidity through the waves, by which many are killed in the manner just narrated. The apparatus by which this bird is furnished for its aerial powers, as well as for aiding its arrowy descent, is very beautiful and instructive. Professor Owen, by inserting a tube into the windpipe, was enabled to inflate the whole body with air, and found that air-cells communicating with each other pervaded every part, separating even the muscles from each other, and isolating the very vessels and nerves, and penetrating the bones of the wing. A large air-cell was found to be placed in front of the forked bone, or clavicles, which was furnished with muscles, whose action was instantaneously to expel the air, and thus in a moment to deprive the bird of that buoyancy, so necessary for its flight, but equally detrimental to its swoop. In some interesting observations by Colonel Montagu on the habits of this bird in captivity, the same fact is noticed. "When the bird was placed on the water of a pond, nothing could induce him to attempt to dive; and from the manner of his putting the bill, and sometimes the whole head, under water, as if searching for fish, it appears that the prey is frequently so taken. It is probable more fish are caught in their congregated migrations, when the shoals are near the surface, than by their descent upon wing; for the herrings, pilchards, mackarel, and other gregarious fishes, cannot at that time avoid their enemy, who is floating in the midst of profusion. In the act of respiration there appears to be always some air propelled between the skin and the body of this bird, as a visible expansion and contraction is observed about the breast; and this singular conformation makes the bird so buoyant that it floats high on the water, and does not sink beneath the surface, as observed in the cormorant and shag. The legs are not placed so far behind as in such of the feathered tribe as procure their subsistence by immersion, the Gannet, consequently, has the centre of gravity placed more forward, and when standing the body is nearly horizontal, like a goose, and not erect, like a cormorant." 4 The Gannet collects a slight heap of withered grass and dry seaweeds, on which it lays and hatches its eggs. They perform this duty by turns, one foraging while the other sits. The roamer, after a predatory excursion, returns to his partner, with five or six herrings in his gorge; these she very complacently pulls out one by one, with much address. Marten says that they frequently rob each other, and that one which had pillaged a nest artfully flew out towards the sea, with the spoil, and returned again, as if it had gathered the stuff from a different quarter. The owner, though at a distance from his nest, had D observed the robbery, and waited the return of the thief, whom he attacked with the utmost fury. "This bloody battle," adds the narrator, was fought above our heads, and proved fatal to the thief, who fell dead so near our boat that our men took him up, and presently dressed and ate him."-GoSSE'S 'Ocean.' 66 1. "Vast quantities of Solan geese resort to the Bass in March, for the purpose of breeding, and depart in September."-McCulloch. 2. "The islands being resorted to by vast numbers of sea fowl, the inhabitants are principally engaged in fowling, and are mainly dependent on the eggs, flesh, and feathers of the birds. Fowling is here, as in all similar localities, an extremely perilous occupation, and one requiring great nerve and dexterity.' Idem. 3. The herring moves in large shoals; and the name is said to be derived froni a Teutonic word here or herr, an army or multitude. 4. What do you understand by a "predatory excursion?" THE SEA-FOWLER. THE baron hath the landward park, the fisher hath the sea, I've faced the eagle in her nest and snatched her young away. MARY HOWITT. THE ass has long slouching ears and a short mane. The tail is covered with long hairs at its termination only; and the body is generally of an ash colour with a black bar across the shoulders; its hoof consists of one piece; and he has six cutting teeth in each jaw. This animal, even when examined with minute attention, has the appearance of a degenerated horse. The exact similarity in the structure of the brain, lungs, stomach, intestinal canal, heart, liver, and other viscera, and the great resemblance of the body, legs, feet, and whole skeleton, seem to support this opinion. The slight differences which take place between these two animals may be attributed to the long-continued influence of climate and food, and to a fortuitous succession of many generations of small wild-horses, who, by gradually degenerating, at last produced a new and permanent species, or rather of a race of similar individuals, all marked with the same defects, and differing so widely from the genuine horse, as to be regarded as constituting a new species. The greater variety of the colour of horses than of asses appears to favour this idea this circumstance shows that the former have been longer in a domestic state; for the colour of all domestic animals varies much more than that of wild ones of the same species. Besides, the wild horses mentioned by travellers are generally small, and have, like the ass, grey hair and a naked tail, tufted at the extremity. Some wild as well as domestic horses have likewise a black line on the back, and other characters which make them nearly approach to the ass. In his disposition, the ass is equally humble, patient, and tranquil, as the horse is proud, ardent, and impetuous. Chastisement and blows he endures with constancy, and perhaps with courage. He is temperate both as to the quality and quantity of his food. He eats contentedly the hardest and most disagreeable herbage, which the horse and other animals pass by and disdain. With regard to water he is extremely nice. He drinks only from the clearest brook he can find. In drinking he is equally moderate as in eating. He never sinks his nose in the water, being afraid, as has been alleged, of the shadow of his ears. As nobody takes the trouble of combing him, he often rolls on the grass among thistles or ferns. Without paying any regard to the load he carries, he lies down and rolls as often as he can, seemingly with a view to reproach the neglect of his master; for he never wallows, like the horse, in the mire or in water. He is afraid of wetting his feet, and turns off the road to avoid a puddle. His legs are also drier and cleaner than those of the horse. He is so susceptible of education as to be sometimes exhibited in public shows. The ass, when young, is gay, handsome, nimble, and even graceful. But, whether from age or maltreatment, he soon loses these qualities, and becomes sluggish, untractable, and stubborn. As his love rises to a degree of madness, his attachment to his progeny is likewise excessive. We are told by Pliny, that when the young is separated from the mother, she will pass through flames to rejoin it. Though commonly abused, the ass has a great affection for his master, whom he scents at a distance, and distinguishes him from every other person. He knows likewise the places where his master puts up, and the road which he frequents. His eyes are extremely good and his sense of smelling is admirable. His ear is excellent, which has contributed to make him be ranked among the timid animals, who are all said to have long ears and acute hearing. When oppressed with too great a load, he discovers his uneasiness by inclining his head and lowering his cars. When tormented by abuse, he opens his mouth and draws back his lips in a most disagreeable manner, which gives him an air of scorn and derision. If his eyes be covered, he stands immovably still; and when lying on one side, if the one eye rests on the ground, and the other be covered with a stone or any other opaque body, he will continue in that situation without making the smallest effort to rise. He walks, trots, and gallops like the horse; but all his movements are slower and more circumscribed. Though he can run, when he first sets out, with considerable swiftness, he continues his carcer only for a short time; and whatever pace he assumes, if pushed hard, he is soon fatigued. Of asses there are different races as well as of horses; but they are not equally known, because they have neither been taken care of nor trained with the same attention. It cannot, however, admit of a doubt that they all originated from warm climates. Aristotle assures us, that in his time there were no asses in Scythia or other northern nations, nor even in France, the climate of which, he remarks, was too cold: he adds, that cold climates either render them barren or make them degenerate, which is the reason why they are small and feeble in Illyria, Thracia, and Epirus. They are still so in France, though they have been long naturalized, and though, within these two thousand years, the cold of the climate has been greatly diminished by the cutting down of vast forests, and the draining of marshes. But it is more certain, that they have not long resided in Sweden and other northern countries. They appear to have come originally from Arabia, and to have passed from Arabia to Egypt, from Egypt to Greece, from Greece to Italy, from Italy to France, and from thence to Germany, Britain, Sweden, &c.; for it is a known fact that they are weak and small in proportion to the coldness of the climate. Neither asses nor horses were found in America, though the climate of South America is very agreeable to their nature. Those transported thither by the Spaniards, and left in large islands or on the continent, have multiplied exceedingly. They pasture in troops, and are taken by snares, like the wild horses. As the skin of the ass is very hard and elastic, it is applied to many different uses. It is employed for making sieves, drums, shoes, and pocket-book parchment, which is laid over with a slight coat of plaster. The ass skin is likewise used by the eastern nations for making their sagri or chagrin. It is also probable that the bones of the ass are harder than those of other animals, since the ancients preferred it for making their best sounding flutes. In proportion to his size, the ass can carry more weight than any other animal. As he is fed at very little expense, and requires hardly any care, he is of great use for different kinds of country business. He may likewise be used for riding; all his motions are soft, and he is not so apt to stumble as the horse. In countries where the land is light he is often yoked in the plough; and his dung, in strong moist land, is an excellent manure.-BUFFON. 1. No competent naturalist would now subscribe to the account here given. 2. Aristotle was a distinguished Greek philosopher, born B.C. 384, at Stagira, in Macedonia, whence he is sometimes called the Stagirite. He was the preceptor of Alexander the Great. TO A YOUNG ASS. (Its Mother being tethered near it.) POOR little foal, of an oppressed race! |