cow 
Thus armed, the Indian ^vaits till the Cougar makes 
an aiTault on his left-hand, which wields the lance, 
and is wrapped up in a Ihort baize cloak. Some- 
times the animal, aware of it's danger, fcems to 
decline the combat; in which cafe it's antagonift: 
endeavours to provoke it by a flight touch of the 
lance, in order, while he is defending himfelf, to 
ftrike a fure blow. As foon, hov^'ever, as the crea- 
ture feels the lance, it grafps it with one of it's 
paws, and with the other ftrikes at die aflailant's 
arm. It is then that the negro nimbly aims a 
blow with his fcymitar, hitherto concealed in his 
other hand, and hamftrings the animal, which in- 
ftantly draws back, but being enraged, as fud- 
denly returns to the charge. Hov/ever, on re- 
ceiving another ftroke, it is totally deprived of the 
power of motion ; and the Indian, after difpatch- 
ing it without moleftation, flrips off it's Ikin, and 
cuts off it's head, with which he returns to his 
companions as trophies of his prowefs. 
But though man in general prevails over this 
ferocious creature, it often fuccefsfully attacks the 
crocodile; and, indeed, is the only Tranfatlantic 
animal which is not afraid of the contefi:. When 
the tiger, impelled by thirft, which it feems incef- 
fantly to feel, approaches a river for the purpofe 
of drinking, the crocodile, which indifcriminately 
preys on every creature, lifts it's head above water, 
in order to feize it; but the Cougar, not lefs ra- 
pacious than itfelf, and unacquainted with the 
power of the enemy, boldly ventuies to feize it, 
and plunges it's claws into it's eyes, the only vul- 
nerable part. On this the crocodile inftantly dives 
under water ; and, as the tiger will fqoner die than 
relinquifli it's hold, it of courfe ^efcends with 
it's antagonift. There the combat continues for 
fome time; namiely, till the Cougar either efcapes 
from it's difabled adverfary, as is fometimes the 
cafe, or is drowned. 
In Guiana, Cougars are extremely numerous; 
and, when the French firft fettled at Cayenne, thefe 
animals proved a dreadful fcourge to the infant co- 
lony; but by degrees they were repulfed and de- 
ftroyed, and are now no longer found in the vici- 
nity of that place. In Brazil, Paraguay, and the 
country of the Amazons, they are frequently feen 
climbing up trees, either in quell of prey, or to 
avoid their puriliers. Like all other animals of 
the cat kind, they are terrified at the fight of fire; 
and feldom venture near it, as they fufpeft their 
enemies to be always in it's vicinity, and their noc- 
turnal eyes are dazzled by it's brightnefs. 
The fur of the Cougar is foft, and much efteemed 
by the Indians, who wrap them.feives in it during 
the winter months. Tlie back, neck, rump, and 
fides, of this animal, are of a brov. nifh red, mixed 
with duflcy hairs; the belly and claws are whitifh; 
and the teeth are of a vail fize. It purrs like a 
cat; and it's tail is above two feet and a half long. 
From the nature and defcription of this animal, 
it might naturally enough be fuppofed that it's flefh 
is improper for food ; neverthelefs, there are feveral 
accounts which alledge the contrary, and aflert, 
that it is even fuperior to mutton. However, what 
Des Marchais obferves feems to be moft confonant 
to truth; namely, that the fls;in is the moft valua- 
ble part of the animal, and that the flefli is gene- 
rally lean and rank. 
COULTER-NEB, or COUNTER-NEB. 
AlU appellation given in fome parts of England to 
the anas arilica Clufii. See Duck. 
COW. A well-known animal ; the diftinguifh- 
-COW 
ing charaifteriftics of which are, that there are eight 
cutting teeth in the lower jaw, and none in the 
upper; that the flcin along the lower fide of the 
neck is pendulous ; and that the horns bend out la- 
terally. 
Of all ruminating animals, or thofe vi'hich chew 
the cud, the Cow kind deferves the firfi: rank 
both for beauty and utility. The horfe is more 
properly an animal which falls to the lot of the 
rich ; Iheep are chiefly gregarious, and require at- 
tendance; but the Cow is more particularly the 
poor man's blefllng, and equally conflitutes his 
riches and fupport. Many of the peafantry have 
no other poffeffion than a cow; and even of thofe 
advantages which are derived from this ufeful crea- 
ture, the poor are but the nom.inal pofl^efl"ors. It's 
'flefh they muft not prefum.e to tafl:e, fince their 
whole fortune would then at once be lofli; it's 
young they are obliged to fatten for fale, as a lux- 
ury to which they can have no pretenfions ; and 
it's very milk is converted into butter and cheefe 
for the tables of their iTiaflers ; while the only fnare 
they derive from their pOiTefTion, is the refufe of 
the milk, and the choice of their market. 
In thofe countries, however, where fome regard 
is paid to the natural rights of manlund, this ex- 
cellent animal is of mxore general advantage. In 
Poland, Germiany, and Sv/itzerland, every peafant 
keeps two or three Cows, not for the benefit of his 
mafter, but the fupport of his family. The mean- 
efc hind in thofe countries can kill one Cow for 
his own table, which he falts and hangs up, and 
thus preferves a delicacy through the revolving 
year. There is Icarcely a cottage in thofe coun- 
tries which is not adorned With this maik cf hof- 
pitallty; a piece of beef fu'pended there is confix 
dered as elegant furniture, and argues the poflTef- 
for's opulence and cafe. But in Britain, v/here we 
triumph in imaginary liberty, yet fabrnit to every 
evil of monopoly and extortion, the poor peafantry 
feldom have it in their power to purchafe meat; 
and even butter is confidered as an article of ex- 
travagance. 
However, the climate, as well as the pafture, of 
Great Britain, is excellently adapted to the niode- 
rate nature of the Cow; and the verdure and ferti- 
lity of our plains are perfeftly fuited to it's man- 
ner of feeding; for, being deftitute of the fuperior 
fore-teeth, it loves to graze in high and rich pai^ 
tures. It does not feem to be very anxious as to 
the quality of it's food, provided it has always an 
abundant fupply; and makes no particular difcri- 
mination in the choice of it's herbage, but eats 
without ceremony whatever com.es in it's way. 
For this reafon, in our Englifli paftures, where the 
grafs is rather high and flourifliing, than fucculent 
and nutritious, the Cow thrives admirably; and 
there is no part of Europe in which this animal 
grows larger, yields more milk, and fattens fooner. 
In a courfe of years, the horfe and the fheep are 
known to impoverifh the foil ; but, in that where 
the Cow has been bred, the paflure acquires a finer 
furface, and every year becomes more beautiful and 
level: for the horfe being furniflied with fore- 
teeth in his upper jaw, nips the grafs clofely, and 
felefts that vv'hich is the moft delicate and tender; 
the Iheep alfo, though with refpe6l to it's teeth 
formed like the Cow, only bites the mofi: fucculent 
parts of the herbage. Thefe animals therefore 
cut the finer grafs too clofely, and fuffer the high 
weeds and ranker grafs to vegetate and over-run the 
pafl;ures; but the Cow being obliged to feed on 
the 
