THE MAMMALIA— MAN AND BEASTS. 



97 



rist. In the same manner that Vegetables, when transplanted from a burning to a cold 

 «limate, multiply but seldom and with difficulty in the ordinary way, we remark that 

 animals imported from a very warm to a very cold country often become unfruitful. 

 It has frequently been noticed, that Arabian Mares, when brought to Britain under 

 diiFerent circumstances, either become unfruitful, or yield feeble and unprofitable re- 

 sults. The Stallions of many races are sometimes in the same situation, even when 

 transported to a much shorter distance. M. Yvart remarks, that the Asses of Tus- 

 cany and Spain are not always productive in France, or in countries lying farther to 

 the northward ; and it is well known, that in all the Northern countries of Europe, 

 animals of this species yield products greatly inferior in appearance to those of the 

 South. The other domestic animals present us with results, which may be regarded 

 as equivalent to the preceding, after making due allowances for the differences between 

 the climate of their residence and that of their original country. Thus, we may re- 

 mark that the Sheep and Bull seem rather to deteriorate on removing from the North 

 to the South of Europe ; now these animals appear to have belonged originally to 

 countries where a cold and moist atmosphere was more prevalent, than one of an op- 

 posite character. On the contrary, as we have just observed, a different result is ob- 

 tained in respect to the Horse and Ass, which were originally natives of the South. 

 That degeneration of individuals, so frecjuently remarked in animals and plants, 

 results inevitably from their being imperfectly acclimated, and many of the diseases 

 with which they are afflicted proceed from a similar cause. In the Southern coun- 

 tries of Europe, the insensible exhalations which transpire from the surface of the 

 skin are usually considerable, while the contrary takes place in its more Northern 

 reo'ions. Hence, in importing animals from the South to the North, due care should 

 be taken to overcome their constitutional habit in a gradual manner. There is a 

 constant determination of all useless or hurtful matters towards the skin in warm 

 climates ; while, in cold countries, transpiration is counteracted, arrested, or suspended, 

 and always modified in a greater or less degree. Hence, unless their change of situa- 

 tion is cautiously effected, animals become predisposed to several cutaneous disorders, 

 to obstructions, enlargement of the liver, and other maladies of this nature. Again, 

 when animals are suddenly transported from the North to the South, and without the 

 necessary precautions, the consequences are not less dangerous than those already 

 enumerated, as the excretory functions of the skin are less energetic in cold than in 

 warm countries, the internal functions possess a greater relative energy; and, on re- 

 'moving them to the South, their constitutional habit becomes modified. The insen- 

 sible transpiration of the skin necessarily becomes greater, and the active, forces of 

 the system tend towards the surface, — a change which may occasion many dangerous 

 maladies, such as putrid fevers. The only effectual way of counteracting these serious 

 "inconveniences, is by adopting a system proper to all the circumstances of the locality, 

 according to the principles laid down ia our best Medical treatises. 



Climate exercise? an important influence over many of those characteristics, which 

 commonly serve to distinguish one species from another ; and it is highly probable, that 

 many animals, which are commonly considered by Naturalists as belonging to allied 

 species, may in reality be nothing more than permanent races, descended from the 

 same original stock, and preserved distinct solely by the influence of climate. The 

 \isual characters of animals, when long exposed to dry and warm climates, may be 

 stated in general terms to be the following: — Their skin is thin, supple, and oily; 

 their hair scanty and fine ; their limbs long ; the tendinous parts distinct ; their horns 

 ■hsffd, dry, and bi ittle ; the hoof contracted ; the feet narrow and sound ; the muscles 

 'dry and but slightly fat ; and their temperament rather sanguineous than lymphatic. 

 The circulation of the blood becomes accelerated ; they ptissess much ardour, encrg)', 

 and courage ; while the several parts of their bodies seldom acquire very voluminous 

 ^proportions. On the contrary, animals exposed to a cold and moist climate, along 

 with more strongly marked proportions, have their skin thicker, harder, and dryer, 

 their hair longer, coarser, and more bushy ; their extremities shorter, with the ten- 

 dons less strongly pronounced ; the horns softer and more spongy ; the feet larger, 

 broader, more flattened, and less compact; the muscles stronger, closer, and well sup- 

 plied with fat. Their temperament is rather lymphatic than sanguineous; their cir- 

 culation is slower ; they possess less physical and mental energy, and may almost be 

 said to consist wholly of matter, as they are visibly deficient in ardour, energy, and 

 courage. The animals of temperate climates occupy in all respects a mean between 

 these two extremes. 



Animals have, as well as vegetables, their natural habitations and stations, to 

 which they should be approximated as much as possible in the state of domestication; 

 and it is always dangerous to separate them from these localities without the greatest 

 caution. Nature often places insurmountable obstacles to their migrations, by 

 depriving them, as we have already seen, of the power of reproducing any where 

 except in their native countries. The study of habitations and stations is therefore 

 of the highest importance in the management of the domestic animals. 



By the term habitation, we commonly understand the climate which each animal 

 prefers, because it is best adapted to its organization; and hy statlo7iy that particular 

 place which each of them chooses in the same country and under the same climate, 

 from its finding more resources in that locality for living and satisfying all the con- 

 ditions of its organization. 



Thus, the habitation of the Reindeer appears to be irrevocably fixed to the frozen 

 countries adjoining the North Pole, where this animal has long been domesticated, 

 and yields the most important services. After the many unsuccessful trials which 

 have been made, it may be considered as almost impossible to render it acclimated 

 in the temperate plains of Europe, Perhaps it might succeed, with the proper 

 precautions, on the summits of our coldest mountains. Again, the natural station 

 of the Rabbit is on a sandy and dry soil; that of the Sheep and Goat in dry and 

 elevated regions ; the Buffalo and Bull delight in low and moist situations. These 

 animals cannot be separated entirely and suddenly from their natural stations, with- 

 out exposing them to inconveniences more or less serious. In all attempts at accli- 

 mating foreign animals it is, therefore, as important to study their natural station as 

 their habitation. 



Wherever the same temperature prevails, and in w"hatevcr latitude, it is goncrallv 

 25 



possible to find some spots where animals may be imported with success, where they 

 will multiply like plants in analogous situations. It appears also, that those animals 

 which Nature has placed in the temperate climates, may extend themselves insensi- 

 bly towards the opposite extremes of heat and cold ; for, as Pallas has judiciously 

 observed, all our domestic animals of the North and South are found wild and 

 apparently native, in the temperate regions of Central Asia. 



It has long been remarked that those animals, as well as plants, which have their 

 natural station in dry and elevated countries, are analogous to the living productions 

 of cold countries; and that those species which delight most in low and moist grounds 

 approach more nearly in general character to the productions of the South. This 

 serves to indicate that it is commonly more advantageous to attempt the acclimation 

 of animals from warm countries in low localities, whilst those of the North are most 

 easily naturalized in dry and elevated regions, and it is always useful in practice to 

 study these analogies by attending to the natural disposition, whether low or elevated, 

 ■which a cold or warm country is capable of affording. It seems probable, also, that 

 individuals will be more easily acclimated in places which form the natural stations 

 of congenerous species, than of those greatly removed from them, for the same dis- 

 positions and qualities are usually found to exist in animals belonging to the different 

 species of the same genus. The chances of a successful acclimation are further 

 increased by the adoption of a similar, or at least a kind of food analogous to that 

 which they would have received in their native country ; and, in some instances, 

 this is indispensable to their existence. Thus, we often see Birds, directed by the 

 migratory instinct, resorting to localities where they can find that kind of food 

 which is necessary to their existence, and of which they have been deprived by the 

 severity of the climate. 



It follows from the above oDservations, that whenever animals are imported from 

 a country which is very hot or very cold, very dry or very moist, to one which is 

 less so ; and that it becomes desirable to maintain them in a state of health, so that 

 they may continue their species by generation, and in general maintain the healthy 

 exercise of all their functions, it becomes necessary to observe the following precau- 

 tions: — 1st, To approximate them by a convenient and suitable position to their 

 original and natural situation; and, 2dly, To avoid all sudden transitions with the 

 greatest caution, so as to acclimate them gradually. The climate, as we have al- 

 ready remarked, exercises a most direct and powerful influence upon the physical 

 and intelligent powers of all animals as well as upon their offspring ; and hence we 

 may readily anticipate alterations more or less sensible and permanent, on trans- 

 porting them suddenly, and without the suitable precautions, to remote distances, or 

 perhaps to situations of an opposite kind to those whence they were abstracted. 

 The effects become more apparent when their transportation is effected from the 

 warm to the cold climate. It may be added, that it is frequently more advantageous 

 to remove animals which are still young, because, from their being more phant at 

 this age, they habituate themselves readily to the change, and in the end endure 

 the unfavorable circumstances to which they are exposed. A very sudden and 

 powerful change is, however, better endured by the adult animal, whose frame being 

 more matured, is better capable of resisting the shock. 



"With the domestic animals, we commonly find that temperate climates, where they 

 arc exposed but little to sudden changes of the atmosphere, are in general those which 

 agree best with their natures, and where they are least subject to deformity and dis- 

 ease. In these situations they also become more mild and tractable, as their natures 

 assume the general aspect of the climate, while they seem to acquire a certain degree 

 of rudeness and asperity from the contagious influence of an unhospitable region. 



The particular kind of food which animals receive when domesticated, exercises 

 a most marked influence over tht'ir physical and intellectual constitutions ; and un- 

 questionably forms one of the most important branches of their management. 



As the attachment of each species to any particular kind of food is regulated by 

 its internal organization, it will often happen that a description of food which i^ 

 greedily sought after by one animal is rejected by another, and if taken by the. 

 latter may even become poisonous, of which numerous instances are to be found. 

 Animals, when unconfined, have the advantage of removing from place to plac, 

 often to very great distances, as well as with great rapidity, and, guided by an un- 

 erring instinct, are seldom deceived in the choice of their food. In their domesticated 

 condition, they are, on the contrary, confined within very narrow limits, and, being 

 entirely submitted to the absolute dominion of Man, who is not always guided by 

 the views of an enlightened economy, are reduced to the necessity of appeasing 

 their hunger with the food presented to them by his hand. The contrivances of 

 Art are often at variance with the instincts of Nature, and the most fatal accidents, 

 not alwavii attributed to this cause, are the consequences of a violation of her 

 laws. 



The character and habitual dispositions of the domestic animals are influenced, 

 in the most direct and well -marked manner, by the general description, and even 

 the particular variety, of their food. An animal feeding solely upon grass, especially 

 when very watery, is usually dull, slow, and possesses but httle activity and vigour, 

 although it may obtain a certain degree of embonpoint ; another feeding on grass 

 nearly ready for cutting, and deprived of its excess of moisture, acquires more force, 

 and a genuine plumpness. If its nature admit of the. use of fruit, these qualities 

 become still more apparent, or, if grain be made choice of, its energy is greatly im- 

 proved. Finally, an animal feeding upon flesh excels the others in its agility, and 

 its animal forces assume the highest degree of energy, or even ferocity. We have 

 frequent instances of the truth of these remarks in all the omnivorous animals, whose 

 characters undergo a considerable metamorphosis, according to the kind of food on 

 which they may happen to be maintained. Let two Dogs be made the subject of an 

 experiment, the one being fed constantly on flesh, and the other on bread, and we 

 shall soon be able to distinguish the former by the superiority of itj energy, 

 coura<Te, strength, and f<^rocity. The carnivorous animals are thus more robust 

 and active than the herbivorous, because flesh is more nutritive and sustaining thaa 

 a vegetable diet. 



It has been correctly remarked by Buffon, that the influence of food is greatest, 



