395 



has subjected to his sway. In Greenland the 

 dog eats the refuse of the fisheries ; and, when 

 fish are wanting, feeds on seaweed. The ass, 

 and the horse, originally natives of the cold and 

 barren plains of Upper- Asia, follow man to the 

 New World, return to the savage state, and 

 lead a restless and painful life in the burning 

 climate of the tropics. Pressed alternately, 

 by excess of drought and of humidity, they 

 sometimes seek a pool in the midst of a bare 

 and dusty soil, to quench their thirst ; and at 

 other times flee from water, and the overflowing 

 rivers, as menaced by an enemy that threatens 

 them on all sides. Harrassed during the day 

 by gadflies, and moschettoes, the horses, mules, 

 and cov/s find themselves attacked at night by 

 enormous bats, that fasten on their backs, and 

 cause wounds that become dangerous, because 

 they are filled with acaridee and other hurtful 

 insects. In the time of great drought, the mules 

 gnaw even the thorny melocactus *, melon 

 thistle, in order to drink it's cooling juice, and 

 draw it forth as from a vegetable fountain. 

 During the great inundations these same animals 

 lead an amphibious life, surrounded by crocodiles, 

 water-serpents, and .manatees. Yet, such are 



* The asses are particularly adroit in extracting the 

 moisture contained in the cactus melocactus. They push 

 aside the thorns with their hoofs ; but some become lame in 

 consequence of this operation. 



