232 THE HISTORY OF 



yet to have learned to swim. I have also in my collection 

 a family oif very curious chameleons (believed to be), but 

 none of which are supplied with the usual caudal extremity 

 yclept a tail. 



" My friend Durivage — who, as you are aware, is now 

 in the Boston Custom-house, and whose ojjinion, conse- 

 quently, is n't worth much — examined this family, and at 

 once pronounced them hop- toads ! But I don't mind his 

 jokes. You must see them. They are beautiful creatures, 

 and ' do live on air,' I assure you ; I have seen them do it 

 frequently, without changing color. Dr. Bennett, of Fort 

 des Moines, has recently sent me a fine male porcupine, — 

 a nice little fellow to handle, so long as you rub his feathers 

 the right way, — which I purpose to cross upon my Chinese 

 Mandarin sow, at a future day, for experiment. In addi- 

 tion to all these, I have, of fowls, the Mum-chums, Hong- 

 Kongs, Whamphoas, Quittaquongs, Hoanghos, Bramapoot- 

 ers, Damphules, Rocky-mountain-Indian-wharhoops, Nin- 

 compoops, etc., and an endless variety of white blackbirds, 

 sleeping weasels, very fine mules (for breeding), fan-tail 

 tumblers and tumbling fantails, no-wooUed sheep, etc. etc., 

 and so forth. 



" The principal object of this communication, however, is 

 not to particularize my stock, but rather to call attention 

 to my new breed of Hogs, which I have lately imported ; 

 and of which I send you a striking likeness herewith. I 

 call it the Chinese Mandarin Hog. 



