«0 
natural history. 
n his natural ftate, he is fleet, flerce, and 
formidable, but wlien domefticated, he is 
the mofl; gentle of all animals, and aflumes a 
patience and lubmiflion even humbler than 
IS ntuation. He is very temperate in eat- 
ing, and contents himfelf with the refufe of 
the vegetable creation. As to drink, he is 
extremely delicate, for he will flake his thirft 
at none but the clearefl; brooks, and thofe to 
which he IS moll accuftomed. When young, 
he IS Iprightly, and tolerably handfome ; but 
age deprives him, as well as all other parts of 
animated nature, of thofe qualities ; he then 
becomes flow, Hupid, and obftinate. The flie- 
als goes eleven months with young, and never 
produces more than one at a time. 
The ingenious author of the SpeCiacIe de 
la .mzi'iire; obferves in fubftance, that though 
he IS not polfelTed of very fliining qualities, 
yet what he enjoys are very folid ; that the 
want of a noble air hath its compenfation in 
a mild and modeft countenance ; that his pace 
IS uniform, and, although he is not extraordi- 
nary fwift, he purfues his journey a long 
while without intermiffion ; and that he is 
pcrfeaiy well contented with the firfl; thiftle 
thatprefentsitfelfinhis v^ay ; in fliort, that 
this indefatigable animal, without expence or 
pride, replcnilhes our cities and villages with 
all lorts of commodities. 
With refpeft to their general difpofition, 
the lame author informs us, “ That the als 
rcfembles 
