THE GRISON, OR HURON. 



that of a hen calling to her chicks. The eye of the Tayra is small, bright, and brown in 

 color. It is sometimes known by the title of the Great Weasel, under which name it 

 has been described by Azara, who has, unfortunately, not left any account of its habits 

 in a wild state. Its nature, manners, and customs, are, however, said to resemble 

 those of the following animal. 



The size of the Tayra is nearly equal to that of the common Marten. 



The GRISON, or HURON, is a native of the Brazils, and is very common about the 

 vicinity of Paraguay. 



In its natural disposition it is exceedingly fierce, and is a terrible foe to almost every 

 animal that it chooses to attack. Even in a state of domestication the savage instinct 

 cannot be eradicated, for even when the Grison is rendered sufficiently tame to suffer 

 the touch of the human hand, and to return the caresses of those to whose presence it 

 was accustomed, it has been known to break loose from its confinement, and to slaugh- 

 ter some unfortunate animal that happened to be within its reach. 



A Grison that belonged to Mr. Bell contrived to get out of a cage in which it had 

 been placed, and to attack a young alligator that had been brought into the same cham- 

 ber. The alligators were, as the above-mentioned author quaintly remarks, " stupidly 



TAYRA. Os/era barbara. 



tame, and had, on a certain evening, been laid before a fire in order to rejoice in the 

 welcome heat. In the morning, when their owner entered the room, he found that the 

 Grison had made its escape, and had attacked one of the alligators with such savage 

 fury that it had torn a considerable hole under one the fore-legs, just where the large 

 nerves and blood-vessels run, and had inflicted so terrible an injury that the poor crea- 

 ture died from the effects of its wound. The other alligator, although unhurt, was in a 

 strongly excited state, snapping angrily at every one who approached it." 



Another Grison, that was domesticated by M. F. Cuvier, committed a similarly fatal 

 assault on a rather valuable animal. Although it was always well supplied with food, 

 it became so excited at the presence of a lemur, that it broke the bars of its cage, and 

 inflicted a mortal injury on the poor animal which had so unexpectedly called forth 

 the innate ferocity of its character. 



Yet this animal was remarkable for its docility and gentle playfulness, and was 

 always ready for a game with any one who would spend a few minutes in the mock 

 combats in which it delighted. The play of all wild-natured animals is a mock fight, 

 and is often rather prone to become a real battle, if their combative nature be too 

 much excited. The Grison would, when challenged to play, turn on its back, seize the 

 fingers of its human playfellow between its jaws, hold them to its mouth, and press, 



