Quadrupeds. 429 



though in pursuit of insects. Both being frightened on my approach, immediately 

 made for the opposite bank, where they soon found a hiding-place secure from moles- 

 tation : but after the lapse of a few moments, all being still and quiet, both of them 

 reappeared, once more to be the objects of my attention and amusement. They were 

 busily engaged in searching with their long snouts amongst the dead leaves and rub- 

 bish at the water's edge, for their favorite food, insects and their larvae. After pro- 

 ceeding some distance along the bank, they again took to the water. And now I wit- 

 nessed a truly beautiful and pleasing sight : one of the little creatures repeatedly diving 

 under the water, as if in pursuit of some favorite and delicious morsel. On emerging 

 from the water its black and glossy coat was perfectly dry. They both seemed to use 

 the tail as a rudder, whilst swimming on the surface, and their sides were apparently 

 much dilated. The whole of the upper parts of these two little animals were jet black, 

 and the under parts a beautiful silvery white, presenting a very striking contrast to the 

 eye. The water being of a very dark colour, as is frequently the case in old pits, I 

 was not able to observe their feats whilst under that element. At last I was com- 

 pelled to leave these interesting and playful little companions by themselves, to paddle 

 their way up the tributary ditch of the pit. Though this, perhaps, is the first record 

 of this species in this immediate neighbourhood, I should be sorry to publish it with 

 the impression of its being its first appearance with us ; for I am inclined to think 

 otherwise, and that this is merely a first record of its appearance, for so minute, retir- 

 ing and timorous a creature is very likely to elude observation. — Vivian Walmesley ; 

 Westwood House, January o, 1844. 



A new Quadruped. " The buffalo or mountain elk is nothing in comparison to 

 this animal in the scale of worth. It sits on its hind legs, its front legs or arms are 

 short, but armed with sharp claws, and it bounds or jumps with its hind legs. It has 

 a tail, somewhat like that of a sheep, about ten inches long ; and round the middle of 

 the body it has a ring of flesh, about twelve inches wide and eight inches thick in the 

 middle or centre, which produces a large quantity of oil. On their heads they have two 

 horns, verysimilar to the horns of the deer, and they have the same kind of teeth ; but 

 what is more extraordinary that all the rest, their coat is of the most beautiful fur I 

 ever beheld, of a dark brown colour. The proportions of the one we killed were very 

 great ; it weighed, to the best of our calculations, upwards of 600 lbs., and it measured 

 from the top of the head to the end of the tail, 9 feet 4 inches. We had no sooner 

 killed this one, than some Indians, attracted by the report of the rifle, joined us. Our 

 interpreter conversed with them ; they said that in the woodlands similar animals 

 were in great abundance. They called it in their tongue the ke-ko-ka-ki, or jumper ; 

 they feed on grass, herbs and foliage. Upon observing us take off the skin, the Indi- 

 ans expressed a desire to have some of the flesh, which we gave them. We cooked 

 some of the same, and found it delicious ; it was very white and tender, and tasted 

 very similar to veal ; but the ring on the body was nearly all oil, and the whole upper 

 part will produce a great quantity. The Indians took us to their huts or village, which 

 consisted of six families ; there we saw no less than six of these animals domesticated." 

 — Extract of a Letter from Mr. Audubon which has gone the round of the Newspapers : 

 is it not a hoax P — Ed. 



