32 



KIDD'S OWN JOURNAL. 



The force of these blows is tremendous. Should 

 the danger increase, she throws herself upon her 

 back, and strikes with both claws at her enemy. 

 To the last moment the young one clings to the 

 mother. It is in this manner that she receives 

 her fierce opponent, the jaguar. Those who had 

 witnessed the fight, described it to Dr. Schom- 

 burgk as being very characteristic. There is no 

 yielding on the part of the ant-eater, and it fre- 

 quently happens that both combatants remain 

 dead upon the spot, or that one does not survive 

 the other many hours. " The force," says Dr. 

 Schomburgk, " of the ant-eater is astonishing, and 

 I have no doubt that it is well able to rip up the 

 belly of its assailant." He adds : " If the ant- 

 eater should succeed in throwing its arms round 

 its enemy, and fixing its claws in the flesh, 

 nothing can disengage it from its embrace ; the 

 muscles grow stiff, and, as I have been told, 

 without being able to vouch for its veracity, in 

 this situation both animals die." 



When young individuals are captured, they at 

 first try to hide themselves, but, if approached, 

 put themselves into a resolute posture of defence, 

 growling at the same time like an irritated puppy. 

 That the ant-eater is capable of climbing has been 

 abundantly proved by Dr. Schomburgk, who wit- 

 nessed this operation most adroitly performed both 

 by young ones and adults, the fore limbs being 

 used alternately, and one secured by means of the 

 claws before the other is advanced. From witnes- 

 sing the agility thus displayed, Dr. Schomburgk 

 expresses his conviction that, should circum- 

 stances require it, these animals would climb 

 trees with the greatest readiness. Of the docility 

 both of adults and young, in a short time after 

 their capture, the following extracts from Dr. 

 Schomburgk's paper, in the " Proceedings of the 

 Zoological Society," relative to another specimen 

 of the ant-eater which came under his notice, may 

 not be uninteresting. 



" It appeared to be of a very cold nature ; not 

 only the extremities, but the whole body felt cold 

 to the touch, although we kept it wrapped up in a 

 blanket. It preferred, however, to be nestled and 

 to be taken up, and on putting it down it emitted 

 a whining but not unpleasant sound ; when it did 

 not succeed in attracting attention, and was not 

 taken up again, the whining sound was raised to a 

 harsh and grating noise. In following a person, 

 it directed its course more by the smell than by 

 sight, and carried its snout close to the ground. 

 If it found itself at fault, it wheeled round at right 

 angles upon the hind legs, and sniffed the air in 

 all directions until it found the right scent again. 

 Of the dimness of its sight we had^ various proofs; 

 it hurt itself frequently against objects that stood 

 in its way, not observing them till it came in con- 

 tact with them. Its power of smelling was ex- 

 quisite, and it could discover its nurse or any 

 person to whom it had taken a liking, at a con- 

 siderable distance. Upon these occasions it would 

 commence the whining sound so peculiar to this 

 animal. It was an expert climber. It happened 

 that I was one of its favorites, and whilst writing 

 on my table it used to come softly behind me, 

 and as soon as it was sure it had found me out, it 

 climbed up my legs with great dexterity. Out of 

 amusement we frequently held up its blanket, and 

 it climbed up its whole length. 



" When the Indian woman was not present, or 

 otherwise occupied, and did not pet the young ant- 

 eater, she used to throw some of the clothes she 

 had worn, or her own blanket before it, in which it 

 wrapped itself and was pacified. This effect could 

 not be produced by any other person's clothes. It 

 showed its attachment by licking, and was very 

 gentle and even sportive ; we all prized it highly. 

 It slept a great deal. We had it for nearly two 

 months, and as it began to feed itself, we had 

 great hopes of rearing it ; unfortunately we were 

 unable to procure milk, and whether in conse- 

 quence of the change of food, or some other cause, 

 it gradually declined. I found it sometimes as 

 cold as ice, and stiff; and, though I recovered it 

 repeatedly, it died one day during my absence." 



Having so far detailed the results of our per- 

 sonal observations relative to this extraordinary 

 specimen (introduced into the Gardens of the 

 Zoological Society at the cost of £200, through 

 the exertions of the indefatigable secretary of the 

 Institution), it is our duty to express our thanks 

 to the chief superintendent of the Vivarium, for 

 his kindness in affording the writer every facility 

 for a leisurely survey of this singular creature, 

 and for his compliance with our wishes in more 

 than one instance. 



THE OMNIPRESENCE OF GOD. 



BY ELIZA COOK. 



God hath a voice that ever is heard 

 In the peal of the thunder, the chirp of the bird ; 

 It comes in the torrent, all rapid and strong, 

 In the streamlet's soft gush as it ripples along ; 

 It breathes in the zephyr, just kissing the bloom ; 

 It lives in the rush of the sweeping simoom ; 

 Let the hurricane whistle, or warblers rejoice, 

 What do they tell thee but God hath a voice ? 



God hath a presence, and that ye may see 

 In the fold of the flower, the leaf of the tree; 

 In the sun of the noonday, the star of the night ; 

 In Ihe storm-cloud of darkness, the rainbow of 



light; 

 In the waves of the ocean, the furrows of land ; 

 In the mountain of granite, the atom of sand ; 

 Turn where ye may, from the sky to the sod, 

 Where can ye gaze that ye see not a God ? 



THE DUET. 



Come ! sing those tender words again, 



Sing them, I pray, with me ; 

 'Tis sweet, though but in music's strain, 



To hear of love from thee. 

 Thy watchful friends may stand around, 



Nor think of harm or wrong, 

 While with a trembling gush of sound 



We breathe our faith in song. 



Oh ! when we meet in yonder grove, 



How do we think and start, 

 Lest one should hear our murmur'd vows- 



Our language of the heart ! 

 But now we dare the tale to tell 



Before a list'ning throng ; 

 And safe in music's mighty spell 



Exchange our faith in song. 



