480 PORTLAND. 



limbs together, galloping, in fact. The Indian Cony, 

 on the contrary, walks like a horse, or, applying its 

 plantigrade feet as the bear, moves onward like a dog 

 trotting. In its gait it waddles rather grotesquely. 

 I am describing a living specimen before me, which 

 is, as I understand, about eight weeks old, and would 

 weigh ten ounces. It is of a dark-brown colour, 

 very familiar, and almost affectionate ; gratified by 

 kind notice, and utterly void of fear. It sleeps with 

 one or other of the children in the house, and eats 

 anything which they feed on, vegetables and flesh, and 

 it is very fond of salt-fish. If handled by a stranger 

 it is more shy, squeaks, and even threatens to bite 

 and scratch if displeased, but has scarcely as yet 

 proceeded to these extremities. It was taken when 

 very young from under a limestone rock on the 

 northern ridge of the Carrion Crow Mountains, and 

 was raised with little trouble on milk and vegetables. 

 It now waddles about the table when permitted, 

 picking up crumbs, or any fragments of food, and 

 when it can find no more it jumps down without 

 fear, although this effort has a very awkward ap- 

 pearance. The soles of the feet are black, soft, and 

 raspy. It had a respectable moustache, but being 

 a little too inquisitive about the flame of a candle, it 

 singed these almost entirely off". Though it waddles 

 in its common motion, it jumps like a rabbit when 

 hurried or impatient. 



" The Cony is easily procured, being abundant up 

 here [Portland] ; it is inoffensive until attacked ; 

 then it becomes as savage as a badger. It ' chaws ' 

 the dogs. The flesh of the young is very good indeed." 



