his apprehensions to be well founded, he again hisses with increased violence; at the same time striking the ground with his fore feet, bounding from rock to rock, and evincing the utmost agitation, till the alarm be spread to a very considerable distance, and the whole flock provide for their safety by a precipitate flight.

Their agility is wonderful, as they will throw themselves down across a rock nearly perpendicular and twenty or thirty feet in height, without a single prop to support their feet. Their motion has, indeed, rather the appearance of flying than of leaping. The Chamois hunters of the Alps are so fond of their occupation that it almost becomes a mania, and they will brave every danger in pursuit of this animal. They have generally a wild and somewhat haggard and desperate air.

M. Saussure knew a handsome young man, of the district of Chamouni, who was about to be married; and the adventurous hunter thus addressed the naturalist: “My grandfather was killed in the chase of the Chamois; my father was killed also; and I am so certain that I shall be killed myself, that I call this bag, which I always carry hunting, my winding-sheet. I am sure that I shall have no other; and yet if you were to offer to make my fortune, upon the condition that I should renounce the chase of the Chamois, I should refuse your kindness." Two years

afterwards he perished.

I have thus told you of some of the principal animals of the sheep and goat kind: the Sheep, Goat, Ibex, Antelope, and Chamois. I might have told you, also, of the Argali, which has a body like a deer, and horns like a sheep. All these animals resemble each other in chewing the cud, in having permanent horns, and a divided hoof. The antelope might seem more to resemble a deer than a sheep, but all animals of the deer kind shed their horns annually.

THE Moose, or, as this species is called in Europe, the Elk, is the largest of the deer kind, and often exceeds the largest horse in size and bulk. His form is not so handsome as that of the other species of deer. His head is large, and his horns are long and heavy, having been known to weigh over fifty pounds. His neck is short, his legs very long, and his body short and thick. The hair of the male is, at the tip, black, and within of an ash-colour; that of the female is a sandy brown, but whitish under the throat and belly.

HABITS. COUNTRIES.

The Moose feeds on the twigs, buds, and small branches of trees, and moss. He is easily tamed, although of a wild and timid disposition. In summer he lives principally near lakes and rivers, in which he delights to swim. In

winter he ranges through the forest. The flesh of the Moose, though coarse, is esteemed excellent food.

Ths Moose is common to both continents; it used to be seen in the New England States, but is now seldom seen so far south as Maine. It is still frequently met with in the more northern regions of North America; it exists in the northern parts of Europe and Asia, but is not common there.

THE AMERICAN ELK.

THIS stately animal resembles the stag in form, but is much larger. His horns, which rise with numerous sharp-pointed branches, are sometimes five feet in height. His colour is gray in winter, and brown in summer.

The Elk is shy and retiring, and his sharp sight and acute scent enable him generally to elude pursuit. He is sometimes killed, however, and his flesh is much valued.

The Elk is occasionally found in the northern parts of Pennsylvania, but is seldom met with except in the western country, where it is common. They are fond of the solitude and rich vegetation of the great forests, and there they chiefly live.

THE BLACK-TAILED, OR MULE DEER.

THIS animal, which is found in the plains of the Missouri, and on the western shore of North America, resembles its kind and species; it does not, however, run at full speed, but bounds along, lifting all its feet from the ground at once. It frequents the prairies, and in size exceeds the common deer.

THIS animal is about three and a half feet high, and five and a half feet in length. The general colour is brown, and white under the belly. His horns are long, slender,

and branching.

In summer, this animal feeds on various plants, and seeks the highest hills to avoid the gad-fly, which is very tormenting to him. In winter he lives on moss and lichen, which he digs from the snow. He is common to the northern parts of both the eastern and western continents. In the countries of the former he is used for draught, but in America he is only regarded as game.

CURIOUS PARTICULARS.

The Rein-deer constitutes the sole wealth of the Laplanders, and supplies to them the place of the horse, the cow, the sheep, and the goat. Alive and dead, the Reindeer is equally subservient to their wants. When he ceases to exist, spoons are made of his bones, glue of his horns, bowstrings and threads of his tendons, clothing of his skin, and his flesh becomes a savoury food.

During his life, his milk is converted into cheese, and he is employed to convey his owner over the snowy wastes of his native country. Such is the swiftness of this race, that two of them yoked in a sledge will travel a hundred and twelve English miles in a day.

The sledge is of a curious construction, formed somewhat in the shape of a boat, in which the traveller is tied like a child, and if attempted to be guided by any person unaccustomed to it, would instantly be overset. A Laplander who is rich has often more than a thousand Rein-deer.

THE Stag has a round and handsome body; his legs are long and slender, and his head is crowned with a pair of horns, which are as ornamental as they are useful. The eyes of the stag are peculiarly brilliant, and his sense of smelling is very acute. He is generally about three and a half feet high, and from four to six in length. His colour is reddish, and sometimes a brown or yellow.