1824.) — 
title of the work is: “ Jos. Dobrowsky, 
Presbytere, &c. 
Slavicz dialecti veteris, quae quum apud 
Russas, Serbos, aliasque ritus greeci, tum 
apud Dalmatas Glagolitas ritus. latini: 
Cum 
Slavos, in libris sacris obtinet. 
Vindo- 
tabulis re incisis quatuor. 
bone 1822.”’. (Svo.pp. 720.) 
nett 
To the Editor of the Monthly Magazine. 
Sir, 
E very extensive circulation of 
your scientifie Miscellany, induces 
me to request I maybe permitted to 
correct, through its medium, an error in 
the last number but one, respecting the 
chronometer, manufactured by Mr. Mur- 
ray of Cornhill, which accompanies Cap- 
tain Parry in his present expedition. I 
am fully aware, that any person who 
may be inclined to make a calculation, 
will easily discover the said error; yet 
as the number of your readers who 
would take such pains would be com- 
paratively but small, I beg to state, that 
the mean daily rate of the chronometer, 
in the month of December, was not 
1” 95, but only 0” 95, its greatest gain 
having at one time exceeded 1” 49. 
I am, Sir, yours, &c. 
September 14, 1824. L. M. L. 
—— 
Mone of Hunt1vc the Bapcrn, Jacuar, 
and OrrER in SouTH AMERICA. 
The Badger. 
UNTING this useful animal forms 
a source of amusement and ento- 
lument to the Indians of Bocca Mon- 
tana Albarregas, and most tribes that 
inhabit the higher regions of the Cor- 
dilleras, from Coro to Cumana. As 
there are no stated periods for taking 
it, although in the months of August, 
September, and October it is certainly 
fattest, they continue to search for ‘it 
the whole year round, unless during 
the breeding season, when the flesh 
is rank and lean, and the lard or 
butter, manteca, rancid. In making 
their hunting dispositions, they form 
arties of seven or eight, or more: 
hen the tribe is numerous, they will 
sometimes take five, six, or seven miles 
in a sweep over the country: and such 
is their dexterity and address in taking 
these animals, that they will nearly 
clear it for five or six years of badgers, 
notwithstanding all the obstruction of 
brushwood, cover, &c: &c. In these 
excursions they are accompanied by a 
number of women and boys, whose bu- 
siness it is toy build temporary huts, 
Mowtury Mac. No. 402. 
Mode of Hunting the Badger in South America. 
Institutiones Lingue- 
321 
cook, collect fruits, and, lastly, to cure 
what badger hams and gammons the men 
catch: this is no sinecure, and although 
they rest during the night, the day 
ushers them in :nore labour than comes: 
to the hunters’ share. When they ar- 
rive at the badgers’ haunts,—generally in 
high situations, contiguous to rocks, 
for the purpose of burrowing when 
hard pressed, —they soon discover. 
his traces by the manner in which 
he scrapes for pistachios and other ob- 
long nuts, the names of which I forget. 
They then search the rock until they 
find the burrow, and also under the pro- 
jecting roots of large trees, the hollows: 
of which afford them shelter. When the 
burrows are in trees, they seldom give 
themselves the trouble of erecting pit- 
falls for them, as their curs kill and drag: 
them out, or else they dig them out. 
When the burrows are in the rocks, they 
set to work to erect pitfalls, or traps, ini 
the building of which they display a re~, 
gularity and system that would do 
credit to an European mason. As the 
falls are four feet by four in height and. 
breadth, the flags with which they are 
built are so closely set, as to prevent the 
creature introducing his paw-nails be- 
tween them, for his strength is such that 
he would raise a stone of two or three 
hundred weight. As the badger’s. family 
generally consists of seven or eight, the 
hunters set as many of those pitfalls in 
their way as will intercept them, one by 
one, in making their passage to their bur- 
rows, and frequently one in the mouth 
of the burrow, provided it is large 
enough, covering them with turf, earth, 
and leaves over little twigs. As soon as 
they have made a sufficient number, with 
incredible labour and perseverance, 
using no other implements than their 
hatchets and stone-hammers, the co- 
vering-flag is placed over; at the 
back of this they place a quantity of 
rubbish, so as to give weight to its fall, 
and plant bushes so artfully as to de 
ceive a stranger, forming a lane, through 
which the creature must necessarily 
pass to his burrow. Then one or two 
ascend the trees or highest rock, to give 
notice of the badger’s approach; while 
another is buried in sight of the traps in 
such a manner as to be. covered with 
leaves, and in such a posture, as to ob+ 
serve the creatures coming toward the 
traps, and hurry them into them by mis- 
siles, but never attempts to shew him- 
self until the badger passes him. In 
this manner, the remainder of the party 
advance into the brushwood and then 
2-T let 
