MU. O. COKDER’s rOUTUGUESE NOTES. 
179 
The Oriental IJezoar Stone, at one time esteemed of great value, 
is a concretion found in the intestines of this animal ; it is 
mainly composed of pliosphate of lime, with a small amount of 
animal matter. These concretions were formerly supposed to 
possess extraordinary antidotal power and medicinal virtues ; so 
much did this belief extend, that in process of time, other 
substances, regarded as antidotes, were called Bezoardical, and this 
woril came to be synonymous with antidotal. Certain Bezoars Avere 
once valued at even ten times their weight in gold ; they Avere 
not only taken internally, but also Avorn as amulets ; they have, 
hoAvever, long since fallen into disu.se in this country. These 
Bezoars vary in size from that of a bean to as large as a hen’s 
egg. Like most valuable productions, the old Avriters say they 
Avere basely imitated ; the artilicial being compo.sed of pipe clay, a 
little ox gall, Avith a judicious admixture of hair and avooI, 
and these gave a yelloAV tint Avhen rubbed Avith chalk, and a 
green one Avith lime, Avhich tests AA’erc* used for the genuine 
Bezoars. 
The Bed Beer is still believed to linger in the Estrtdla nuige, 
and the FalloAV Deer, probably as a re-introduced species, is fairly 
abundant, and as all game laAvs are ignored, the sportsman has free 
licence to kill ; but, 1 believe, the people are very careful as to the 
rights of property, and trespassers Avould bo Avarned of!'. I did 
not hear of any close season ; but a sort of tacit agreement seems 
to exist Avith sportsmen as to the time of shooting. 
In the loAvlands Quails and Snipe are very abundant, the 
former especially so, and affords excellent sport. Partridges are 
also plentiful. 
I heard that Wild Boars Avere occasionally seen. I can readily 
imagine this to be true, for those in the farm-yards Avei*e long, lean, 
razor-back brutes, and a very feAv Avceks’ running Avould transfer 
them into the feral nature of Wild Pigs. But in this they have 
.some idea of improvement, for the Allamantaj porkers aiT? remark- 
able for their rotund figures. 
It is said that the Civet {Viverra civetta) has become acclimatized 
in some districts. If correct, this is an extremely interesting fact, 
for Ave have here an animal a native of Africa, brought into 
captivity for a special purpose, and noAv run Avild; due to .some 
escapes at probably a distant period ; and as but little is knoAvn 
N 2 
