The first variety is the terrarius or Terrier, which takes its name from its subterraneous employ: being a small kind of hound, used to force the fox, or other beasts of prey, out of their holes; and (in former times) rabbits out of their burrows into nets. The Leverarius, or Harrier, is a species well known at present; it derives its name from its use, that of hunting the hare : but under this head may be placed the fox-hound, which is only a stronger and fleeter variety, applied to a different chase. The Sanguinarius or Blood hound, or the Sleuthounde of the Scots, was a dog of great use, and in high esteem with our ancestors: its employ was to recover any game that had escaped wounded from the hunter; or been killed and stole out of the forest. It was remarkable for the acuteness of its smell, tracing the lost beast by the blood it had spilt; from whence the name is derived this species could with the utmost certainty, discover the thief by following his footsteps, let the distance of his flight be ever so great, and through the most secret and Shepherd's Dog. Mastiff, or band-dog. Wappe Turnspit Dancer thickest coverts: nor would it cease its pursuit, till it had taken the felon. They were likewise used by Wallace and Bruce during the civil wars. The poetical historians of the two heroes frequently relate very curious passages on this subject; of the service these dogs were of to their masters, and the escapes they had from those of the enemy. The blood-hound was in great request on the confines of England and Scotland; where the bor derers were continually preying on the herds and flocks of their neighbours. The true blood-hound was large, strong, muscular, broad breasted, of a stern counte nance. of a deep tan colour, and generally marked with a black spot above each eye. The next division of this species of dogs, comprehends those that hunt by the eye: and whose success depends either upon the quickness of their sight, their swiftness, or their subtilty. The Agasæus or Gaze-hound, was the first; it chased indifferently the fox, hare, or buck. It would select from the herd the fattest and fairest deer: pursue it by the eye and if lost for a time, recover it again by its singular distinguishing facul ty ty; and should the beast rejoin the herd, this dog would fix unerringly on the same. This species is now lost, or at least unknown to us. It must be observed that the Agasæus of Dr. Caius, is a very different species from the Agasseus of Oppian, for which it might be mistaken from the similitude of names; this he describes as a small kind of dog, peculiar to Great Britain and then goes on with these words: Γυρὸν ἀσ αρκότατον, λασιότηχον, όμμασι κωθές Curvum, macilentum, hispidum, oculis pigrum. Ρίνεσι δ' αὖτε μαλιςα πανεξέκος εσὶν Naribus autem longè præstantissimus est agasseus. From Oppian's whole description, it is plain he meant our Beagle. The next kind is the Leporarius, or Grey-hound. Dr. Caius informs us, that it takes its name quod præcipui gradus sit inter canes, the first in rank among dogs: that it was formerly esteemed so, appears from the forest laws of king Canute; who enacted, that no one under the degree of a gentleman should presume to keep a gre-hound and still more strongly from an old Welsh saying, Wrth ei Walch, ei Farch, a'i Filgi, yr adwaenir Bonheddig: which signifies, that you may know a gentleman by his hawk, his horse and his gre-hound. : Froissart relates a fact not much to the credit of the fidelity of this species; when that unhappy prince, Richard the Second was taken in Flint castle, his favourite gre-hound immediately deserted him, and fawned on his rival Bolingbroke: as if he understood and foresaw the misfortunes of the former. The variety called the highland gre hound, and now become very scarce, is of a very great size, strong, deep-chested, and covered with long and rough hair. This kind was much esteemed in former days, and used in great numbers by the powerful chieftains in their magnificent hunting matches. It had as sagacious nostrils as the blood-hound, and was as fierce. This seems to be the kind Boethius styles celerrimum tum genus venaticum cum audacissimum : : nec modo in feras, sed in hostes etiam latronesque; præsertim si dominum ductoremve injuriam affici cernat aut in eos concitetur. The third species is the Levinarius.or Lorarius; The Leviner or Lyemmer: the first name is derived from the lightness of the kind, the other from the old word Lyemme, a thong; this species being used to be led in a thong, and slipped at the game. Our author says, that this dog was a kind that hunted both by scent and sight, and in the form of its body observed a medium between the hound and the grehound. This probably is the kind now known to us by the name of the Irish gre-hound, a dog now extremely scarce. in that kingdom, the late king of Poland having procured from them as many as possible. I have seen two or three in the whole Island: they were of the kind called by M. de Buffon Le grand Danois, and probably imported there by the Danes who long possessed that kingdom. Their use seems originally to have been for the chase of wolves, with which Ireland swarmed till the latter end of the last century. As soon as those animals were extirpated the numbers of the dogs decreased; for from that period they were kept only for state. The Vertagus or Tumbler, is a smooth species; which took its prey hy mere subtilty, depending neither on the sagacity of its nose, nor its swiftness: if it came into a warren, it neither barked nor run on the rabbits; but by a seeming neglect of them or attention to something else, deceived the object till it got within reach, so as to take it by a sudden spring. This dog was less than the hound; more scraggy, and had prickt-up cars ; and by Dr. Caius's description seems to answer to the modern lurcher. The third division of the more generous dogs, comprehends those which were used in fowling; first the Hispaniolus, or spaniel: from the name it may be supposed that we were indebted to Spain for this breed: there were two varieties of this kind, the first used in hawking, to spring the game, which are the same with our starters. The other variety was used only for the net, and was called Index, or the setter ; a kind well known at present. This kingdom has long been remarkable for producing dogs of this sort, particular care having been taken to preserve the breed in the utmost purity. They are still distinguished by the name of English spaniels: so that notwithstanding the derivation of the name it is probable they are natives of GreatBritain. We may strengthen our suspicion by saying, that the first who broke a dog to the net was an English noble nobleman of a most distinguished character, the great Robert Dudley, duke of Northumberland. The Pointer which is a dog of a foreign extraction, was unknown to our ancestors. The Aquaticus, or Fynder was another species used in fowling; was the same as our water spaniel; and was used to find or recover the game that was shot. The Melitæus, or Fotor; the spaniel gentle or comforter of Dr. Caius (the modern lap dog) was the last of this division. The Maltese little dogs were as much esteemed by the fine ladies of past times, as those of Bologna are among the modern. Old Hollingshed is ridiculously severe on the fair of his days, for their excessive passion for these little animals; which is sufficient to prove that it was in his time a novelty. The second grand division of dogs comprehends the Rustici; or those that were used in the country. The first species is the pastoralis, or shepherd's dog; which is the same that is used at present, either in guarding our flocks, or in driving herds of cattle. This kind is so well trained for those purposes, as to attend to every part of the herd be it ever so large; confine them to the road, and force in every straggler without doing it the least injury. The next is the Villatticus or Catenarius: the mastiff or band dog; a species of great size and strength, and a very loud barker. Manhood says, it derives its name from masethefese, being supposed to frighten away robbers by its tremendous voice. Caius tells us that three of these were reckoned a match for a bear; and four for a lion but by an experiment made in the tower by James the First, that noble quadruped was found an unequal match to only three. Two of the dogs were disabled in the combat, but the third forced the lion to seck for safety by flight. The English bull-dog seems to belong to this species and probably is the dog our author mentions under the title of Laniarius. Great Britain was so noted for its mastiffs, that the Roman emperors appointed an officer in this island with the title of Procurator Cynegii, whose sole business was to breed and transmit from hence to the amphitheatre, such as would prove equal to the combats of that place. Magnaque taurorum fracturi colla Britanni. And British dogs subdue the stoutest bulis. Gratius speaks in high terms of the excellency of the British dogs; Atque ipsos libeat penetrare Britannos ? Strabo tells us that the mastiffs of Britain were trained for war, and were used by the Gauls in their battles; and it is certain a well trained mastiff might be of considerable use in distressing such halfarmed and irregular combatants as the adversaries of the Gauls seem generally to have been before the Romans couquered them. The last division is that of the Degeneres, or Curs. The first of these was the Wappe, a name derived from its note: its only use was to alarm the family by barking if any person approached the house. Of this class was the Versator, or turnspit; and lastly the Saltator, or dancing dog, or such as was taught variety of tricks and carried about by idle people as a show. Those Degeneres were of no certain shape, being mongrels or mixtures of all kinds of dogs. We should now, according to our plan, after enumerating the several varieties of British dogs, give its general natural bistory; but since Linnæus has already performed it to our hand, we shall adopt his sense, translating his very words (whereever we may) with literal exactness. "The dogs eat flesh and farinaceous vegetables, but not greens: its stomach "digests bones: it uses the tops of grass as a vomit. It voids its excrements on "place it intends to lie down on : its sense "of hearing is very quick when asleep : "it dreams. Procis rixantibus crudelis: "catulit cum variis: mordet illa illos: "coheret copula junctus: it goes with young sixty-three days; and commonly "brings from four to eight at a time: the "male puppies resemble the dog, the fe"male the bitch. It is the most faithful "of all animals; is very docible: hates strange dogs will snap at a stone thrown "at it: will howl at certain musical notes: "all (except the South American kind) will bark at strangers: dogs are rejected "by the Mahometans." 66 5. The WILD CAT. This animal does not differ specifically from the tame cat; the latter being originally of the same kind, but altered in colour, and in some other trifling accidents, as are common to animals reclaimed from the woods and domesticated. The cat in its savage state is three or four times as large as the house-cat; the head larger, and the face flatter. The teeth and claws tremendous: its muscles very strong as being formed for rapine the tail is of a moderate length, but very thick, marked with alternate bars of black and white, the end always black: the hips and hind part of the lower joints of the leg, are always black; the fur is very soft and fine. The general colour of these animals is of a yellowish white, mixed with à deep grey these colours though they appear at first sight confusedly blended together, yet on close inspection will be found to be disposed like the streaks on the skin of the tiger, pointing from the back downards, rising from a black list that runs from the head along the middle of the back to the tail. : This animal may be called the British tiger it is the fiercest and most destructive beast we have; making dreadful havock among our poultry, lambs, and kids. It inhabits the most mountainous and woody parts of these islands, living mostly in trees and feeding only by night. It multiplics as fast as our common cats ; and often the females of the latter will quit their domestic mates, and return home pregnant by the former. They are taken either in traps, or by shooting: in the latter case, it is very dangerous only to wound them, for they will attack the person who injured them, and have strength enough to be no despicable enemy. Wild cats were formerly reckoned among the beasts of chace: as appears by the charter of Richard the Second, to the abbot of Peterborough, giving him leave to hunt the hare, fox, and wild cat. The use of the fur was in lining of robes; but it was esteemed not of the most luxurious kind; for it was ordained, that no abbess or nun should use more costly apparel than such as is made of lambs' or cats' skins.' In much earlier times it was also the object of the sportsman's diversion. Felemque minacem Nemesiani Cynegeticon, l. 55. $ 6. The DOMESTIC CAT. This animal is so well known as to make a description of it unnecessary. It is an useful, but deceitful domestic; active, neat, sedate, intent on its prey. When pleased purrs and moves its tail; when angry spits, hisses and strikes with its foot. When walking, it draws in its claws, it drinks little is fond of fish it washes its face with its four-foot, (Linnæus says at the approach of a storm :) the female is remarkably salacious; a piteous, squalling, jarring lover. Its eyes shine in the night its hair when rubbed in the dark emits fire; it is even proverbially tenaciou: of life: always lights on its feet: is fond of perfumes, marum, cat-mint, valerian, &c. Our ancestors seem to have had a high sense of the utility of this animal. That excellent prince Hoel dda, or Howel the Good, did not think it beneath him (among his laws relating to the prices, &c. of animals) to include that of the cat ; and to describe the qualities they ought to have. The price of a kitling before it could see, was to be a penny; till it caught a mouse, two pence; when it commenced mouser four-pence. It was required besides that it should be perfect in its senses of hearing and seeing, be a good mouser, have the claws whole, and be a good nurse: but if it failed in any of these qualities, the seller was to forfeit to the buyer the third part of its value. If any one stole or killed the cat that guarded the prince's granary, he was to forfeit a milch ewe, its fleece and lamb: or as much wheat as when poured on the cat suspended by its tail (the head touching the floor) would form a heap high enough to cover the tip of the former. This last quotation is not only curious, as being an an evidence of the simplicity of ancient manners, but it almost proves to a demonstration that cats are not aborigines of these islands; or known to the earliest inhabitants. The large price set on them, (if we consider the high value Fig. of specie at that time) and the great care taken of the improvement and breed of an animal that multiplies so fast, are almost c rtain proofs of their being little known at that period. $ 7. EXPLANATION of some TECHNICAL TERMS in ORNITHOLOGY. 1 Cere. Cera 2. Capistrum 3. Lorum The naked skin that covers the base of the bill in the Hark kind. A word used by Linnæus to express the short feathers on the forehead just above the bill. In Crows these fall forwards over the nostrils. The space between the bill and the eye, generally covered with feathers, but in some birds naked, as in the black and white Grebe. 4. Orbits. Orbita. The skin that surrounds the eye, which is generally bare, par ticularly in the Heron and Parrot. 5. Emarginatum 6. Vibrissæ 7. Bastard wing. Alula spuria. 8. Lesser coverts of A bill is called rostrum emarginatum when there is a small notch near the end; this is conspicuous in that of Butcherbirds and Thrushes. Vibrissa pectinate, stiff hairs that grow on each side the mouth formed like a double comb, to be seen in the Goat-sucker, Flycatcher, &c. A small joint rising at the end of the middle part of the wing or the cubitus; on which are three or five feathers. The sinall feathers that lie in several rows on the bones of the the wings. Tec-wings. The under coverts are those that line the inside of the trices prime 9. Greater coverts. wings. The feathers that lie immediately over the quill-feathers and Testrices secundæ secondary feathers. The largest feathers of the wings or those that rise from the first bone. 11. Secondary feathers. Secondarie 12. Coverts of the tail. Uropygium 13. Vent feathers, 14. The tail Rectrices Those that rise, from the second. Those that cover the base of the tail. Those that lie from the vent to the tail. Crissum Linnai. 15. Scapular feathers That rise from the sholders and cover the sides of the 16. Nucha 18. back. The hind part of the head. 17. Rostrum subulatum A term Linnæus uses for a straight and slender bill. To shew the structure of the feet of the Kingfisher. The foot of the Woodpecker formed for climbing. Climbing feet. 19. Pes scansorius. 20. Finned foot. Pes Such as those of the Grebes, &c. Such as are indented are lobatus pinnatus called scalloped ; such are those of Coots and scallop-toed San pipers. 22. Pes tridactylus. 23. Semi-palmated. Such as want the back toe. When the webs only reach half way of the toes. When the hind claw adheres to the leg without any toc, as a the Petrels. All the four toes connected by webs, as in the Corcorants. EXPLANATION |