106 HABITS AND INSTINCTS OF ANIMALS. CHAP. IV. 



to labour. The zebra, or some kindred species, was 

 probably the wild ass of the Scriptures, and confirms, 

 at the present day, all that has been intimated of its 

 celerity. But the most remarkable property of the 

 domestic ass is, the skill with which it descends pre- 

 cipices almost impassable to the horse ; conducting the 

 traveller in safety over passes of fearful declivities, and 

 avoiding, with the most astonishing dexterity, the ob- 

 stacles which beset its path. " When they come to 

 the edge of one of these descents," we are told, " they 

 stop of themselves, without being checked by the 

 rider ; and, if he inadvertently attempt to spur them 

 on, they continue immoveable. They seem, all this 

 time, ruminating on the danger that lies before them, 

 and preparing themselves for the encounter. They not 

 only attentively view the road, but will sometimes 

 tremble and snort at the danger. Having prepared for 

 their descent, they place their fore feet in a posture as 

 if they were stopping themselves ; they then also put 

 their hinder feet together, but a little forward, as if 

 they were about to lie down. In this attitude, having 

 taken a survey of the road, they proceed forward." 

 The reindeer is almost proverbial for its swiftness, a 

 quality which renders this animal of the utmost im- 

 portance to the winter-bound Laplander, whom it con- 

 veys in a sledge, over vast wastes of ice and snow, with 

 a speed and precision truly admirable. A couple of 

 reindeer, yoked to one of these carriages, have been 

 stated to travel 112 miles in a day. They are also 

 said to swim with such rapidity, that a boat with oarc 

 can scarcely keep pace with them. 



(128.) Monkeys, of all quadrupeds, are the most 

 expert climbers ; their four feet being, in fact, so many 

 hands. With the exception of the baboons, the shape 

 of the whole of this tribe is particularly slender ; and 

 they are thus calculated, in every way, for performing 

 those feats of agility which every one has witnessed in 

 our menageries. The typical perfection of quadrupeds, 

 as in birds, consists in the highest development of the 



