192 Scientific Intelligence. — Zoology. 



America, was at the second voyage of Columbus. In his first 

 battle with the Indians in South America, he had twenty blood 

 hounds, which were afterwards employed in Mexico and New 

 Grenada, where their race remains almost without change. They 

 are now used chiefly for stag-hunting ; and are as formidable in 

 their attack upon that animal, as they were formerly to the 

 natives. Many of the South American dogs of pure race in- 

 herit the necessary instinct for the chase of the wild hog, in 

 which they are employed. The address of this dog consists in 

 moderating its ardour, so as not to attack any particular animal, 

 but to keep in check the number by which it may be surround- 

 ed ; whereas a dog of bastard race, whatever may be its 

 strength, is, for want of this precaution, instantly devoured. The 

 sheep introduced into America were not the rnerinos, but the two 

 species called tana hasta and bur da. In temperate climates, they 

 have multiplied abundantly, without shewing any tendency to 

 submit to the domination of man. In the burning climate of 

 the plain?, they do not propagate freely ; and a curious phenome- 

 non is there witnessed. The wool of the lambs grows at first, 

 as in more temperate climates, but rather slowly. When in 

 a fit state for shearing, there is nothing remarkable about its quali- 

 tv ; and, when removed, it grows again as in temperate climates : 

 but if the proper time for shearing is allowed to go by, the wool 

 becomes thick, falls off* in patches, and leaves underneath, 

 not a new growth of wool or a barren place, as if from disease, 

 but a short shining and close hair, exactly like the hair of the 

 goat, in the same climate : and, where this hair once appears, 

 there is never any return of wool. The goat, notwithstanding 

 its form, which appears adapted to mountainous situations, 

 thrives much better in the low valleys of South America, than 

 on the high points of the Cordilleras. It undergoes a lacti- 

 ferous change similar to that of the cow. Among birds, the 

 changes have not been great. The fowls brought by the 

 Spaniards multiplied abundantly in most situations ; but, on 

 some elevated points, such as Cusco, and all the valley, it was for 

 a long time impossible to get them to propagate. By dint of 

 perseverance, a few chickens were obtained. In these there was 

 little fecundity ; but their descendents were more fruitful, and 

 they now produce with tWksame facility ay in our climates. 



