6o* THE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY. 



Excepting from man, the birds and beasts of prey have little to 

 fear. Their offensive weapons are terribly effective. And, besides 

 teeth Bud claics, the lion and tiger can strike such bloics with their 

 paws as will kill a buffalo at a stroke. The cud-chewing mammals 

 have horns which may, with even the most timid, be efficient as a des- 

 perate resort. These are of various kinds as regards form, structure, 

 growth, and duration. The principal kinds are represented by those 

 of the deer, giraffe, antelope, and ox. The efficiency of these natural 

 weapons is greater than would be imagined from a knowledge simply of 

 our domestic animals. The water-buffalo of India (to quote from TTood) 

 "is a most fierce and dangerous animal, savage to a marvelous degree, 

 and not hesitating to charge any animal that may arouse its ready ire. 

 An angry buffalo has been known to attack a tolerably sized elephant, 

 and, by a vigorous charge in the ribs, to prostrate its huge foe. Even 

 the tiger is found to quail before the buffalo, and displays the greatest 

 uneasiness in its presence." -Of the gaur y Wood says, "These herds 

 ... in their own domains bear supreme rule, neither tiger, rhinoceros, 

 nor elephant daring to attack them." Some antelopes are on occasion 

 quite a match for the lion. 



The horn of the rhinoceros is very different from those of the ru- 

 minants. Its peculiar situation on the nose makes it a very ugly and 

 efficient weapon. It is placed on the middle of an arch of bone, the 

 latter being free at one end so as to give elasticity. Many animals, 

 particularly the horse tribe, make excellent use of the feet. Of the use 

 of the hind-feet, the mule is a striking but somewhat threadbare illus- 

 tration. The elk and related animals strike with the fore-feet, and 

 are able to cope with a dog or wolf. 



The ostrich and the secretary-bird also hick; and the latter, as is 

 also true of many birds, gives heavy blows with its wing. 



The kangaroo uses his hind-feet less to kick than to cut and dis- 

 emboicel his antagonist. The bear employs much the same tactics. He 

 // vrjs and crushes his antagonist with his fore-legs, and strikes and tears 

 with either foot. 



The elephant uses his great weight to literally crush his foe. But 

 his weapon is his elongated nose. 



Another example of the nose used as a weapon is found in the 

 sword-fish. Here the bones of the skull are produced to form a thick 

 beak, or sicord, which points forward directly in a line with the body. 

 With this lance, five or six feet long, the fish is able to pierce even 

 through a ship's bottom. The British Museum is said to contain a 

 sword imbedded in the planking of a ship. Accounts have been given 

 of the sword-fish attacking and even killino; the whale. 



The saw-fish, a sort of shark, has a similar beak, not sharp pointed, 

 however, but blunt and armed with teeth on either edge. It can be 

 used as a lance, and has been deeply driven into a ship's timbers. It 

 is used mainly for striking, and, if the animal attacked is moving, the 



