THE EDINBURGH 



JOURNAL OF NATURAL HISTORY, 



AND OF 



THE PHYSICAL SCIENCES. 



NOVEMBER, 1836. 



ZOOLOGY. 



DESCRIPTION OF THE PLATE — THE ANTELOPES. 



The Antelopes are an elegant and active tribe of animals, inhabiting mountainous 

 countries, where they bound among the rocks with so much lightness and elasticity, 

 as to strike the spectator with astonishment. They browse like Goats, and frequently 

 feed on the tender shoots of such trees as are found on their rocky fastnesses. In 

 disposition they are timid and restless, and Nature has bestowed on them long and 

 tendonous legs, peculiarly appropriate to their habits and manners of life. Almost 

 the whole tribe are remarkable for the lively and fine expression of their eyes, and 

 in the East they are considered as the standard of perfection ; — a higher compliment 

 cannot be paid to a female, than to say "She has the eyes of an Antelope." 



Fig. 1. The Chamois {j47iuhpe rvpicopraj. — This extremely active animal is a 

 native of the rocky and mountainous districts of Dauphinc, Piedmont, Savoy, 

 Switzerland, and various parts of Germany. The flesh of this animal is well flavored, 

 on which account it is hunted by the natives of Switzerland. This delicacy of its 

 flesh may arise from its nicety in the choice of food, which consists of the best 

 herbage, the most tender shoots of plants, the flowers, and young buds. It is also very 

 fond of such aromatic herbs as are natives of mountainous districts. It runs along 

 the rocks with great ease and seeming indifference, and leaps from one to another 

 with unerring security. 



Fig. 2. Duvaucel's Antelope (A. Duvaucelii). — This species is a native of 

 Sumatra, and was discovered by M. Duvaucel. It is somewhat allied to the Camb- 

 ing-Ootan, but its horns are more recumbent, with longer, larger, and more pointed hoofs ; 

 and it differs materially in point of coloui", being of an ashy-gray, with a tinge of 

 brown, whereas the former is black. 



Fig. 3. The Four-tufted Antelope (^A. quadriscopa) is one of the rarest 

 of the tribe ; one specimen only having been seen in Britain, and was exhibited in 

 Exeter 'Change, London. It is a native of Senegal. This and the following species 

 are nearly allied to the Goats. 



Fig. 4. The Cambing-Ootan {A. Sumatrensis). — The hair on the head, neck, 

 and whole body, is longer and rougher than is common with Antelopes, which gives 

 it much the appearance of an animal of the genus Capra ; and the character of annu" 

 lations of the horns adds still further to this peculiar aspect. It inhabits Sumatra. 



Fig. 5. The Prong- Horned Antelope {A. furcifcr) inhabits the New Conti- 

 nent, and its geographical range is further North by several degrees than any other 

 species of its tribe. It is common on the fertile plains which border the Missouri in 

 the United States, and has been observed by Dr Richardson as far North as the 53d 

 parallel, on the north branch of the Saskatchewan. It is a beautifully-formed ani- 

 mal, somewhat larger than the Roebuck. 



Fig. 6. The Vlackte-Steenbock {A. rufescens). — This animal is found on the 

 plains of Southern Africa, and was first noticed by Mr Burchell. It is one of the 

 most elegant of the smaller Antelopes, and measures only two feet six inches from 

 the muzzle to the insertion of the tail. 



Fig. 7. The Four-horned Antelope (^A. quadricornis). — This is a native 

 of Nepaul, and must not be confounded with the Chickara of Duvaucel. It is re- 

 markable on account of its four horns, a character peculiar to it and the Chickara 

 only, of all the numerous species of their tribe. 



Figs. 8 & 9. The Bomtebock {A. personata) .— An individual of this rare 

 species belonged to Mr Cross, in whose possession it died. Its skin was purchased 

 by Mr Morgan, and presented to the Museum of the Zoological .Scciety. This was 

 a young animal, and measured only two feet and a half in length ; but when full 

 grown it is said to be little inferior to the Red- Deer in magnitude. It is an inhabitant 

 of the Cape of Good Hope, and has received the appellation of Bomtebock from the 

 colonists. 



alilorded a theme to many a bard. In this family Is classed the Mocking Bird of 

 America, whose extraordinary powers of vuice exceed those of all other Birds. 



The figures in our plate are all inhabitants of North America, and are represented 

 the size of life. 



Fig. 1. The Little Tawny Thrush {Mervla minor) is found on the banks of 

 the Saskatchewan. It leads a solitary life, and migrates to Pennsylvania in April, 

 where it continues all the summer, employed in incubation and the rearing of its bi ood. 



Fig. 2. The GoLnEN-CROWNED Thrush {M. auricapiUa). — This is also a mi- 

 gratory species, arriving in Pennsylvania in April, and leaving it again late in Sep- 

 tember. It inhabits the woods, and is frequently to be seen on the ground runninr» 

 in the same manner as a Cock, and moving its tail like the Wagtails. It builds it* 

 nest on the ground. 



Fig. 3. Richardson's Thrush (il/. Rickardsonii) This richly-coloured Bird 



was discovered in Nootka Sound, during Captain Cook's third voyage. Richardson 

 found it at Fort Franklin, in latitude 65*^ 14', in April 1826, and it was also seen by 

 him on the banks of the Saskatchewan. It builds its nest in a bush. Being never 

 observed in the United States, its range to the East is probably bounded by the 

 Rocky Mountains. 



Fig. 4. Audubon's Thrush (A/. Ludoviciana). — This bird was discovered by 

 Audubon, who says it inhabits the States of Louisiana and Mississippi, wiiere it is 

 found at all seasons in deep and swampy cane brakes. He says its song is equal to 

 that of the Nightingale. It " begins on the upper key, and progressively passes from 

 one to another, until it reaches the bass note; this last frequently being lost when 

 there is the least agitation in the air." Its nest is built at the root of a tree. 



Fig. 5. The Tawny Thrush {M. inhonii). — This bird arrives at Pennsylvania 

 from the South about the beginning of May, where it remains a week or two, and 

 then passes northward to fulfil the business of incubation. It has also been ob- 

 served by Richardson to pass as far to the North as the Saskatchewan. Nothing, 

 however, is known of its nest. It frequents alder thickets and dense willow groves. 



Fig. 0. The Water Thrush (M. aquatica). — This is a shy species, fi-equenting 

 brooks and the shores of ponds and rivers, where it may be seen wading in search of 

 aquatic insects. It also passes through Pennsylvania for the North early in May, and 

 returns in Au;iust. 



DESCRIPTION OF THE PLATE — THE THRUSHES. 



A Striking peculiaiity of the Merulidae is their strong, sweet, mellow, and versatile 



voice, in which they are perhaps superior to all other Birds. Before the first rays 



of the sun have appeared above the horizon, this melodious tribe begin to pour forth 



theix varied and delightful notes, which have delighted mankind in all ages, and 



Astracan Sheep. — M. Leroux, of Franeonville, has a flock of Sheep, presented 

 to him by General Guilleminot, being the produce of a Ram and Ewe, which he 

 brought from Constantinople, and originally introduced from Astracan. At pre- 

 sent this small stock consists of two rams and a male lamb, some sheep of a pure race 

 between the first pair, and a considerable number of a mixed breed, between the 

 males and the native sheep of the country. The growth of the wool on these sheep 

 is V'.'ry rapid, so much so, that it is shorn twice a year, and yielding at each time a 

 greater quantity than any variety of the European sheep, which is only shorn once 

 a year. The wool is long and of a coarse texture, and fit only for the manufacture 

 of common stuffs, the stuffing of matresses, &c. Its colour is of a silvery gray, 

 and consequently would dye all colours. Underneath the long wool is a thick coating 

 of wool of fine silky or downy texture like that of Cashmere. These animals of the 

 pure breed have the quality of attaining a greater height in a given time, than any 

 other known variety of the sheep ; while the flesh is of a good and pleasant flavour. 



Obstinacy of a Weasel (Mustela vulgaris) The following anecdote is com- 

 municated by Lieut. John Brown : — " "WTiile fishing for Perch on Loch Fitty, a 

 beautifid and picturesque sheet of water, about a mile broad and two long, situate 

 about half way betwixt Kinross and Dunfermline, I observed near the centre of the 

 lake a small object making its way for that part where I stood knee-deep in water. 

 At first it struck me that it was a young Wild Duck (with which this lake abounds), 

 but on its nearer approach, I discovered it to be a full grown Weasel, swimming 

 with his head and back above water in the same manner as a Newfoundland Dog. I 

 called to a friend who fished at some distance from me, and as soon as the Weasel 

 nearcd us, we commenced an attack on him with our fishing -rods, aad he in his turn 

 gave us battle by biting at, and chnging to, the point of cur rods, grinning and gnash- 

 ing his teeth; and showed a determination to land at the very spot where we stood, 

 in spite of our combined efforts to drive him off, by lashing him with the points of 



