AND OF THE PHYSICAL SCIENCES. 



23 



millet, which it rather sucked in than masticated. It was not without dif- 

 ficulty that it approached its master, but it attempted to follow him, espe- 

 cially when it had the prospect of receiving nourishment at his hand." 



BIRTH OF A GIRAFFE IN BRITAIN, AND DEATH. 



Many of the members of the London Zoological Society in particular, 

 and Naturalists generally throughout the country, have lately felt deep 

 interest in the present announcement. It was on the 19th of June that 

 the beautiful Giraffe in the garden of the Zoological Society gave birth, 

 after a gestation of fifteen lunar months, to a fine young male animal, — 

 the first of its species ever born in this country, or indeed in Europe. 

 Professor Owen stated at a meeting of the Society, that the young ani- 

 mal, when born, was perfectly motionless, and apparently dead ; but 

 when gentle friction was applied, it unexpectedly gave a sudden shudder, 

 and respired, whilst motion quickly followed. It made vigorous efforts 

 to stand, raising itself on the fore-knees, and was able to support itself 

 two hours after birth. The next day it was capering about, showing a 

 remarkable degree of development and strength, as might be expected 

 from the long period of gestation. The length of the young Cameleopard 

 from the muzzle to the setting of the tail was six feet ten inches, the tail 

 terminating with the usual tuft of long black hair, and its head reached 

 the height of six feet. It was not a little remarkable that the mother, 

 thougli not unkind to her offspring, yet refused to suckle him ; a misfor- 

 tune, however, which seemed to have been got over by the young animal 

 imbibing with avidity warm cow's milk from a bottle. For the first few 

 days of its existence it appeared very healthy, occasionally uttering low, 

 gentle bleatings, like a fawn or calf. It died in about a week ; an event 

 which has been attributed to the strange conduct of the dam, and the dis- 

 agreement of the cow's milk. 



We now return to the interesting work of Captain Harris, and will 

 supply a few additional extracts: — 



Hunting at Meritsane, South Africa Crossing a river, we took a north- 

 westerly direction through a park of magnificent camel-thorn trees, many 

 of which were groaning under the huge nests of the Social Grosbeak: 

 whilst others were decorated with green clusters of misletoe, the bright 

 scarlet berries of which were highly ornamental. We soon perceived 

 large herds of Quaggas and Brindled Gnoos, which continued to join 

 each other until the whole plain seemed alive. The clatter of their hoofs 

 was perfectly astounding, and I could compare it to nothing but to the 

 din of a tremendous charge of cavalry, or the rushing of a mighty tem- 

 pest. I could not estimate the accumulated numbers at less than 15,000 ; 

 a great extent of country being actually chequered black and white with 

 their congregated masses. As the panic caused by the report of our 

 rifles extended, clouds of dust hovered over them ; and the long necks of 

 troops of Ostriches were also to be seen, towering above the heads of 

 their less gigantic neighbours, and sailing past with astonishing rapidity. 

 Groups of purple Sassaybags, (Acronotus lunatus,) and brilliant red 

 Hartebeests, (Acronatus Caama,) likewise lent their aid to complete the 

 picture. The savages kept in our wake, dexterously dispatching the 

 wounded Gnoos by a touch on the spine with the point of an assagai, 

 and instantly covering up the carcasses with bushes, to secure them from 

 the voracity of the Vultures, which hung about us like specks in the fir- 

 mament, and descended with the velocity of lightning, as each discharge 

 of our artillery gave token of prey. As we proceeded, two Elands (Bo- 

 selaphus Oreas) made their appearance, the savages at the same moment 

 exclaiming with evident delight, Imponfo, Impoofo, and pressing our horses 

 to the utmost speed, we found ourselves, for the first time, at the heels 

 of the largest and most beautiful species of the Antelope tribe. Notwith- 

 standing the unwieldy shape of these animals, they had at first greatly the 

 speed of our jaded horses, but being pushed, they soon separated; their 

 sleek coats turned first blue, and then white with froth; the foam fell from 

 their mouths and nostrils, and the perspiration from their sides. Their 

 pace gradually slackened, and with their full brilliant eyes turned implor- 

 ingly towards us, at the end of a mile, each was laid low by a single ball. 



In size and shape, the body of the male Eland resembles that of a 

 well conditioned Guzerat Ox, not unfrequently attaining the height of 

 nineteen hands, and weighing 2000 lbs. The head is strictly that of an 

 Antelope, light, graceful, and bony, with a pair of magnificent straight 

 horns, about two feet in length, spirally ringed, and pointed backwards. 

 A broad and deep dewlap, fringed with brown hair, reaches to the knee. 

 The colour varies considerably with the age, being dun in some, in others 

 an ashy blue, with a tinge of ochre, and in many also sandy grey, ap- 

 proaching to white. The flesh is esteemed by all classes in Africa above 

 that of any other animal; in grain and colour it resembles beef, but is 

 better tasted, and more delicate, possessing a pure game flavour, and the 

 quantity of fat with which it is interlarded is surprising, — greatly exceed- 

 ing that of any other game quadruped with which I am acquainted. 

 The female is smaller, and of slighter form, with less ponderous horns. 



The stoutest of our savage attendants could with difficulty transport the 

 head of the Eland to the waggons. 



The Water Buck (iEgocerus ellipsiprymnus) is about the size of an 

 Ass, and of somewhat browner colour. The hair is coarse, like that of 

 the Indian Rusa Stag, and in texture resembles split whalebone. The 

 appearance of the male animal is stately ; the eyes are large and brilliant ; 

 the horns ponderous, three feet in length, white-ringed, and placed al- 

 most perpendicularly on the head, the points being curved to the frond ; 

 a mane encircles the neck, and an elliptical wtiite band the tail, which 

 is tufted at the extremity. The female is similar, but hornless, and rather 

 smaller. The flesh of both is coarse, and so highly ill-favoured that even 

 savages are unable to eat it. On cutting off the head, the effluvium liter- 

 ally drove me from the spot. Mr Stedman had the merit, a few years 

 ago, of bringing this Antelope under the observation of the scientific world, 

 and Dr Smith brought down other specimens with the late expedition. 

 It is gregarious, and found only on the banks of rivers near the tropic, 

 the Limpopo and Marigua especially. 



Fight between Partridges and the Carrion Crow " A person 



engaged in a field, not far from my residence, had his attention arrested 

 by some objects on the ground, which, upon approaching, he found to be 

 two Partridges, a male and female, engaged in battle with a Carrion 

 Crow; so successful, and so absorbed were they in the issue of the com- 

 bat, that they actually held the Crow till it was seized, and taken from 

 them by the spectator of the scene. Upon search, the young birds (very 

 lately hatched) were found concealed among the grass. It would appear, 

 therefore, that the Crow, a mortal enemy to all kinds of young game, in 

 attempting to carry off one of these, had been attacked by the parent 

 birds, and with the above singular success." — Sclby on British Birds. 



Vanity of the Peacock The late Baron Ternanx, says an anony- 

 mous writer, decorated his grounds at St Ouen, near Paris, with splendid 

 looking-glasses, which reflected the varied landscape, and produced a very 

 fine effect. One day the gardener found one of the Peafowls before the 

 glass, with its tail displayed, and apparently contemplating itself with 

 great satisfaction. The gardener let it remain there until he went round 

 the grounds; he returned in a few hours, and found the Peacock still be- 

 fore the glass. He now drove it away, but it as constantly returned. 

 He at length took it to the aviary; but the Peacock, as soon as it could 

 get out, went back to the mirror, refusing all food for the delight of be- 

 holding itself in the glass. The Baron at last suffered it to remain, order, 

 ing food to be placed before it near the glass ; but it did not touch it: and, 

 on the third or fourth day, the bird of Juno was found lying dead uefore 

 the glass. A second Peacock, which had never seen the mirror, was 

 brought, that it might be observed whether the effect would be the same ; 

 when it was found that it was as proud of viewing its own image as its 

 predecessor ; and, to prevent its meeting a similar fate, it was not allowed 

 access to the grounds. The above anecdote was communicated to the 

 narrator by the Baron himself, on his la c t visit to Loudon. The same 

 phenomenon has been observed in other kinds of birds, as Goldfinches, 

 Turkeys, &c. ; in some cases the idea of the presence of a companion 

 must be the dominant feeling. 



BOTANY. 



GREAT GIANT GOLIATH RHUBARB. 



In the market gardens round London, a large species of rhubarb is ex- 

 tensively cultivated, with which the excellent markets of the metropolis 

 are well supplied; but beyond the range of a few miles, the paiticular 

 kind to which we would direct attention is comparatively little known ; 

 the generality of country gardens being disgraced with a root or two of 

 docklike plants, with stalks no thicker than a finger, fibres like a whip- 

 cord, and little or only a bad flavour. No wonder so few persons thus 

 possessed should not like rhubarb tarts. The noble plant which we would 

 recommend to every living being who owns a patch of garden-ground, is 

 as superior to the old-fashioned nauseous plant just mentioned, as our 

 cultivated celery to the rank weed of the same name growing by muddy 

 ditches. One would be led to suppose that, i'rom the rarity of the giant 

 ihubarb, it was difficultof cultivation, tender, and troublesome to manage ; 

 whereas it is as easily propagated as any other perennial vegetable ; is so 

 hardy, that no degree of frost which we have ever experienced will injure 

 it; and of all esculents for pies and puddings, it is the most readily pre- 

 pared. It is so prolific, that half a dozen roots would keepa small family 

 constantly supplied during four months of the year, from the beginning or 

 middle of April, until the beginning or middle of August. We have known 

 instances of this fruit (must we style it?) being preferred to a!! others for 

 the purpose of pastry, throughout the summer, even where fruits of every 

 kind abound. We have known stalks of this rhubarb measure six inches 

 in circumference, and nearly two feet in length ; so delicate and soft too 

 is its texture, that as soon as it arrives at the boiling point, it becomes a 

 fine pulp, and is already sufficiently cooked. As agaiden production for 



