CAVE LODGERS. 20l 



history supply abundant evidence of his general confor- 

 mation as a member of the plantigrade family, of the 

 adaptation of the broad, callous soles of his feet for walk- 

 ing, sitting on his haunches, or standing erect, and of 

 the long but not retractile claws fitted for digging, by 

 which he can easily ascend a tree, or split the fallen 

 rampike — -like a Samson as he is — striking them into 

 its surface, and rending it in twain, in search of ants ; 

 and what a fearful weapon the fore-hand becomes, armed 

 with these terrible claws, when they are sent home into 

 the flesh of an enemy or intended victim, whenever the 

 rascal takes a notion of laying aside his frugivorous 

 propensities to satisfy a thirst for stronger meat 1 



Having noticed his tastes as a herbivorous and pisci- 

 vorous animal, we have yet to mention this, in which, 

 though it has been but slightly implanted in him by 

 nature, he sometimes indulges, and which, once indulged 

 in, becomes a strong habit, and stamps him as being also 

 carnivorous. Poor Mooin ! still unsatisfied, and half- 

 starved — perhaps unsuccessful in his spring-fishing, or 

 in berrying — hears the distant tinkling of cattle-bells 

 as the animals wander through the woods from some 

 neighbouring settlement. Nearer and nearer they come ; 

 and he advances cautiously to meet them, keeping a 

 sharp look-out in case they might be attended by a 

 human being, of whom he has a most wholesome dread. 

 By a little careful manoeuvring he drives them into a 

 deep, boggy swamp where he can at leisure single out 

 his victim, and, jumping on its back, deals it a few such 

 terrific blows across the back and shoulders, that the 

 poor animal soon succumbs, and falls an easy prey. 

 Stunned, torn, and bemired, it is then dragged back to 



