Quadrupeds. 7701 



assumed principle " is strikinfrly paralleled in some unrelated part of creation; for 

 instance, the analogy between the sys-tera of arrangement of the heavenly bodies," &c. 

 In all this it is apparently taken for granted that such a thing as relationship l^eiween 

 the heavenly bodies on the one hand, and the so-called terrestiiil clenieuis on the 

 other, is altogether too absurd fur belief. But these analogies ni.iy be more than 

 analogies,— may be true homolugie-;. Our fifty or sixty assumed elementary bodies 

 may at any moment be reduced to a dozen or fewer; and eveu if tliey are not, the 

 bromides, iodides, (kc, do indeed form very pretty family groups ; and despite the 

 " loves of the triangles," the loves of the elements may have yet to be sung. Sexual 

 distinctions are wanting, but the generation of new forms (us water by the union of 

 oxygen and hydroyru) is ci^nstantly eflfected by the union of one or more parental ele- 

 ments. In the plamtiiry bodies the indications of common origin are more striking 

 and conclusive ; and there is ample room for believing that our solar system is literally 

 the family of the sun. If the great Creator has willed that from a few simple forms 

 the manifold yet subordinated varieties of heaven and earth should be eliminated, 

 have we cause to wonder that it should please Him to form us thus ? Of course I do 

 not attempt to identify' Mr. Darwin with the ideas mentioned above : he may or may 

 uot hold them ; but his theory, I would submit, is applicable, with modifications, to 

 the whole of the known creation.— /f. D. Crotch; Uphill House, Weston-super-Mare, 

 August 5, 1861. 



The Tiger in Amnij.— The tiger is an occasional visitor in the island of Anioy. In 

 a letter from xMr. Swiuhoe, dated November 21st, 1859, he writes : — " I have, since 

 iny last, met with liitle of interest except a Royal tiger, of large size, in a Chinese 

 village. I attacked him at close quarters with a fowling-piece, and made him bleed ; 

 but to avoid an awkward spring at me I fell down a precipice and nearly killed myself. 

 No assistance being at hand, and the Chinese not daring to come near the beast, I 

 need not tell you that I missed getting his skin. One was killed at Amoy, and I once 

 bought a cub out of three which a Chinese had for sale, but I never met with one of 

 the brutes before in my rambles. I was out after specimens, and was not of course 

 provided with ball, my stock being only shot and cartridges. When I reflect on this 

 adventure it seems a wonder that I was not killed, but a sight of that glossy striped 

 skin emboldened me to try the odds." I sincerely trust that my esteemed friend will 

 admit " discretion " to be " the better part of valour " on any future similar occasion. 

 He writes (Jan. 5) : — " Tigers, I am told, are greatly increasing in the neighbouring 

 high hills. The villagers report a number of lives lost, and numerous small cattle 

 carried away." Tigers appear to be very troublesome in the new Russian territory of 

 Amiir, as the following extracts from the 'Journal of the Royal Geographical Society' 

 for 1858 (vol. xxviii.) will show : — " In the same places where the elk is found the 

 tiger prowls ; and the latter animal may be called quite common, its constant abode 

 being there. I was infoimed by some Zolons that there are always a great number of 

 tigers in the mountains on the opposite or Chinese side. During winter they cross 

 the river and seize the horses of the Zolons, who hunt them at that time. * * * The 

 inquiries I made of those few Tungnses confirmed the fact of the tiger being found 

 all over the Hiug-gan, especially at its central and lower parts. The population are 

 accordingly preveuted from huntins tliere, as the tiger destroys their horses, particu- 

 larly during winter, * * * The tiger always follows the fresh "tracks of the wild boar. 



