63 



The love of lions, tigers, lynxes, pards, and tigers for their 

 young is very powerful. When returning to their lair, they find their 

 cubs taken avi^ay, they raise a lamentable cry, like that of women 

 twining around their children, when they see their country laid 

 waste by the sword of the enemy, and their houses encircled by a 

 devouring conflagration. The power of parental affection a-ro^yri, in 

 all the anivual creation is here beautifully illustrated. When the 

 hen spies a hawk at a distance, immediately she screams aloud — 

 calls her young ones — curves her neck aloft in a posture of defence, — 

 ruffles up her feathers, and spreads out her wings. The timid brood 

 lie chuckling close under their protection, while she resolutely repels 

 the bird of prey. In the same cause do wild beasts shew the most 

 ferocious courage in contending with the hunter. They fear not 

 the multitude of armed youths advancing against them, nor tlie 

 glittering of iron and the missile rock, but dare even to die for their 

 beloved young. 



Bears are a savage and cunning race. They bring forth un- 

 formed masses of flesh, which they lick into shape. During the 

 winter they sleep in caves, and live by the suction of their paws, as 

 does the polypus in the Avaters. The onager, or wild ass, is ex- 

 ceedingly jealous, and delights in many females. When a young 

 one is brought forth, if it is a female, he licks it with great tender- 

 ness ; but if it is a male he rushes against it, and endeavours to in- 

 flict a severe proof of hostility. The dam, making all the opposi- 

 tion in her power, is compared to a mother whose child is slaugh- 

 tered in her arms by barbarous warriors. — The effect of jealousy is 

 finely described. — The wild horses of the ^Ethiopians are cloven- 

 footed like stags, and so impatient of servitude that they can never 

 be tamed to the yoke. — The wolf and hya3na, the one hostile to 

 sheep, the other to dogs, — both nocturnal robbers ; the one impelled 



