THE QUADRUPEDS.

This diversified family take their name from the number of their feet and though one species alone go erect, like man; yet, with this exception, it is descriptive of the whole order, who, with their body parallel with the earth, thus run or walk. The Quadruped ranks above the other parts of the animal creation in three particulars :-It is viviparous; respires through lungs; and has red blood; and, in addition to this, almost in all cases, they are covered with hair. As in the Fishes and Birds, so in the Quadrupeds, their form, covering, &c., are all most minutely adapted to the country they live in, and the food they subsist on; the mouth is so situated, that with a slight inclination of the neck, it reaches its food. The beasts of prey devour their food at once; but the ruminating animals, as the Cow, &c., take in a good stock, and put it in keeping, like the Pelican; and then lie down, and bring out at leisure their supply—and chew their cud.

Linnæus has arranged this great family into six orders, under the general name of Mammalia, distinguished principally by the number, situation, and structure of their teeth. He has also added a seventh, comprising the Whale family, but this last we considered the fifth day. These six orders he divided into fortyfour gener, and subdivided into upwards of 800 species. The

names of the respective orders are all taken from the Latin, and are strikingly significant of their character. I subjoin them, with the English names opposite :

The Ourang Outang. This is the most extraordinary of all the quadruped family; as he always walks erect, like man, and uses foreign arms to defend himself; and the blow from the club or branch of a tree, that he carries as a staff, is very dreadful. So powerful is he with this weapon, that some naturalists say he will even attack the Elephant; and if he meets man alone, he seldom shows him mercy and yet the Ourang is not a cannibal, or carnivorous, feeding entirely on herbs, &c. Another singular property of this animal is, that when the sun is fervent, or the rains heavy, he builds himself a hut to sleep in. Various are the tales related of him; some of which are well authenticated. Buffon, the great naturalist, says he was acquainted with one of this family, who would sit at table; and whatever he saw others

* From Mamma, a breast; including all animals that suckle their young.

do, he would imitate, he would pour out his tea, put sugar and milk in it, then let it cool, and drink it afterwards as we do. His deportment was grave, tinctured with melancholy. Still, all he did was imitative; and thus he soon reached his bounds of knowledge.

The Ourang is a native of the Molucca Islands, Borneo, Madagascar, Africa, and India. Hunting them is the cruel but favourite amusement in some of these countries.

In stature this animal reaches at times six feet; but, perhaps, comparing the accounts of travellers, his stature varies as ours. The visage of the Ourang is very like the human, only the eyes are sunk very deep in the head, and the whole body is covered lightly with hair. He is fond of society, and possesses so little fear, that when the natives have a fire in the woods, if the weather is wet or cold, he will, during their absence, come and warm himself at it.

The Long-armed Ape. This animal is most expressively named; for its arms, although it walks erect, or rather stooping, literally touch the ground. It is much smaller than the Ourang, though, with the exception of its long arms, it is much like it.

The Pigmy Ape. This curious little animal is not larger than a cat it is found in numbers in Ethiopia. They are fond of eggs; and hence the legendary tales of "the Pigmies," who were represented as a nation, residing near the fountains of the Nile, annually levying war against the Cranes, to steal their eggs.

The Barbary Ape. This singular creature seems to link the Ape with the Baboon. It has something like a tail, and a face more like the quadruped family at large. It is more vicious and mischievous than any of the Ape family. They generally go in numbers; and will come and rob the traveller of his eatables, if they meet him alone. They are about three feet in stature; and are found in Arabia, India, and Africa.

BABOONS.

* The Large Baboon. This is a mischievous looking animal, very strong, and generally goes erect, though it can go on allfours. It lives on fruits and herbs, and rejects all kinds of flesh; but when caught, and detained a prisoner, it will drink immoderately of wine and brandy; but this, alas! is of man's teaching; and it is a species of refined cruelty, to make the animals partakers, if not of the sin, yet of the sufferings of drunkenness.

This animal sometimes grows to the height of five feet; and is very savage and ill looking. Its face approaches that of the hog, it is so truncated; and some parts of it very red.

A Cape Baboon having taken off some clothes from the Barracks, Lieut. Shipp formed a party to recover them:-"With twenty men," he says, "I made a circuit to cut them off from their caverns; they observed my movements, and detached about fifty to guard the entrance; the others kept their post. We could see them collecting large stones; and one old greyheaded one was seen distributing his orders as General. We rushed on to the attack, when, on a scream from him, they rolled down enormous stones upon us, so that we were forced to give up the contest."-Shipp's Mem., vol. i. p. 36.

The Pig-tail Baboon. As the Barbary Ape links the Ape family with the Baboon, so does this animal link the Baboon family with the Monkey. It has a curled tail, six inches long. It is found in Sumatra and Japan; and is about the size of a cat.

MONKEYS.

This family is very extensive and varied; and few people of England but are acquainted with them. They swarm in the warm latitudes; and are full of all kinds of mischief. They are hunted for amusement; but, my beloved children, I have before mentioned, that a christian cannot find pleasure in any thing that even gives a worm pain,-he delights in mercy; and it is his happiness to make all around him happy.

It is a curious fact, that almost all this order, and this species among them, employ watchmen. "At the time of the gathering of the sugar cane, a whole herd enters the ground, leaving a guard at the entrance. When he sees an enemy approach, he screams aloud; on which his companions instantly gather up all the booty they can, aud run off on their three legs.”—Bingham, vol. i. p. 71.

The Chinese Monkey. This is one of the greatest robbers of this family; and so fearless, that often he will watch till the person who may have driven him away has gone home; then he will return again. This animal has a long nose of a whitish colour; the body is a pale brown.

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