62 



PART III. 



COLLECTANEA. 



Art. I. Zoology. 



The Attachments formed hy Animals, from living together, have produced 

 several remarkable facts. Feeling has been evinced by those reckoned most 

 insensible, and even the strongest laws of nature have been set aside. The 

 cobra di capello and the canary bird, who have, for years, inhabited the 

 same cage at Mr. Cross's, in Exeter Change, are strong instances of the lat- 

 ter ; but my communication more particularly alludes to the former. 



When I lived in Paris, there were two remarkably fine ostriches, male 

 and female, kept in the Rotunda of the Jardin du Roi. The skylight over 

 their heads having been broken, the glaziers proceeded to repair it, and, in 

 the course of their work, let fall a triangular piece of glass. Not long after 

 this, the female ostrich was taken ill, and died after an hour or two of great 

 agony. The body was opened, and the throat and stomach were found to 

 have been dreadfully lacerated by the sharp corners of the glass which she 

 had swallowed. From the moment his companion was taken from him, the 

 male bird had no rest ; he appeared to be incessantly searching for some- 

 thing, and daily wasted away. He was moved from the spot, in the hope 

 that he would forget his grief; he was even allowed more liberty, but 

 nought availed, and he literally pined himself to death. I heard of a curious 

 expedient the other day, which prevented a similar catastrophe, and which 

 has led me to address you : —A gentleman residing in this country, had for 

 some years been possessed of two brown cranes (^'rdea joavonina) ; one of 

 them at length died, and the survivor became disconsolate. He was appa- 

 rently following his companion, when his master introduced a large looking- 

 glass into the aviary. The bird no sooner beheld his reflected image than he 

 fancied she for whom he raoui-ned had returned to him'; he placed himself 

 close to the mirror, plumed his feathers, and showed every sign of happi- 

 ness. The scheme answered completely, the crane recovered his health 

 and spirits, passed^almost all his time before the looking-glass, and lived 

 many years after, at length dying from an accidental injury; — S. Boivdich, 



The Chile Horse. — One sent by the supreme director of Chile to His 

 Majesty is of a milk-white colour, of the most perfect symmetry, and 

 equally remarkable for strength and activity. — W. T. 



African Horses. — The Mandara horse is very beautiful, large, and power- 

 ful ; some of a bright bay colour. The Bornou horse is small, but very 

 perfect. — Id, 



The Dalecarlian Horse. — Marshall, in his Travels (vol. iii. p. 45.), says, 

 " And here let me say a word or two in praise of the little Dalecarlian 

 horses, which have brought me with such expedition through some of the 

 most dangerous roads in Europe, and without having once failed us, though 

 six in number ; and I think they look as well as before they set out on a 

 journey of so many hundred miles. 1 have so great a value for them, that 

 I am determined to carry them to England." — Id. 



