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new firmament. Another pole presents itself; and shadows point to the south. Cassiopeia, the Bear, the Pleïades, and the northern constellations, are no longer witnessed at night; and the soul sinks, as it were, at one time, and is elevated at another, in the contemplation of the power and magnificence of the SOVEREIGN CHANGER OF THINGS.

It is curious, that when sheep were introduced to Van Diemen's Land, they acquired remarkable fertility. They bred twice a year, and, for the most part, had twins: In consequence of which, a few sheep had multiplied, seventeen years after their introduction, to the number of 127,883. In 1818, there were, also, in this island 264 horses; and 15,356 horned cattle. But to show how little mere climate has to do, in respect to the increase, we may observe, that ewes in Lapland have frequently twins twice a year; and goats constantly two kids, and often three at a birth.

Captain Cook left a buck and a doe, with two rabbits, in Mooa; a bull and cow, a Cape ram, and two ewes, with a horse and mare, in Tongataboo; and various domestic animals in Otaheite and other islands. Captains Vancouver,. Wilson, and other navigators, have followed the example:-in a few years, therefore, islands, which have a tropical vegetation, will abound in animals from the temperate

zone.

The Spaniards have done great service to the western world in this manner. They introduced dogs, swine, horses, and horned cattle into St. Domingo, which, after exterminating the original inhabitants, they permitted to run wild in the woods and savannahs. They performed the same service for Chili. In that country horses became so numerous, that in Molina's time they sold for only four shillings a head; and in 1798 there were exported from Buenos Apres not less than

• When Vancouver visited Otaheite, he found that most of the herbs, plants, and animals, left by Capt. Cook, were destroyed during the wars, that had taken place in that island: vol. i. 98. 4to.

43,752 skins of horses, and 874,593 untanned hides. Horned cattle have not improved in Chili, or the Brazils; but the horses are equal to the finest breeds of Europe. Mules are larger and more handsome; and swine more prolific, though not so large.

The horse originally is a native of Asia a. Led in a domestic state into these vast regions, they have resumed the wild habits and manners of their forefathers; but are subject to evils, to which those ancestors were strangers. In the season of heat, they are tormented by musketoes and gadflies by day; and in the night by large bats, which leave holes in their skins for insects to deposit their eggs. During the season of inundations, when the savannahs become lakes, they are seen running about in all directions, as if they were frantic; surrounded by manatees, water-serpents, and crocodiles. Upon the subsiding of the waters, however, the earth becomes enriched with an odoriferous herbage; and they enjoy, till the season of heat returns, the sweets of existence in large herds.

British horses were so much admired by the Romans, that they imported great numbers of them, for the purpose of recruiting their cavalry. Of late years the horse, the ox, and the sheep have been much improved, both in size and symmetry, by crossing the respective breeds. The art of improving stock was carried to a curious height by the ancient natives of Spain and Egypt; who, depending much upon the efficacy of association, placed the handsomest oxen before their cows, when in conception. In modern Greece, where cows are not milked, many farmers entertain the same ideal impressions. In Britain, however, to such an extent has the art of breeding been carried, that 400 guineas have not unfrequently been given for a bull; and 100 guineas for the use of a ram for only one season.

In Chili, too, are the hare and otter, with many varieties of European fowls, as well as in Peru, Mexico, and the

a Humboldt.

South Sea Islands. Chili is happy in having no wolves, or tigers; even the lion is harmless; and men sleep in the forests in perfect security: there being no poisonous reptile any sort; nor any wasps, or musketoes.

of

The rat was introduced to America by a ship from Antwerp; and the first cat was presented to Almagrod by Montenegro, who received for the present no less than 600 pieces.

Some writers have asserted, that all animals degenerate in America. This idea has arisen chiefly from the unphilosophical rage for generalization, which prevailed so extensively, some years since; and which still partially remains to the discomfiture of true science. So far from this having been the case in Chilie, all European animals, as before observed, have increased in size rather than diminished: particularly horses, asses, sheep, and goats. Ewes, indeed, have lost their horns; but rams have acquired four; and not unfrequently six.

There are many animals of Asia and America, which it would be wise to introduce into the south of Europe. A French writer recommends to this adoption the fowls of Chatigaon; the Cashmirian sheep; the musk deer of Thibet; the bulls of Berar; many kinds of birds, and several species of fish. The Indian camel would, assuredly, flourish in Italy', Sicily, Spain, Portugal, and Greece. It is true, the camel of the deserts can only be of use in level countries; since "uphill or downhill is equally the camel's curse :" but the camels of Dera have a more various capacity of movement, and ascend hills with little comparative difficulty. Of all Asia, the country most resembling Europe, is Af

a Molina, i. 34.

b Ulloa, iii. part ii.

c Wallis.

d Herera, dec. v. c. 9. The cat is not mentioned by Aristotle; it is probable, therefore, that cats were unknown in Greece at the time, in which that eminent naturalist wrote. e Molina, i. 267.

f In Pisa there is a breed of camels, said to have been introduced at the time of the Crusades.

ghaunistaun. There is nearly the same general climate, similar animals, and a similar vegetation; most of our best fruits; and not a few of our most common, as well as of our most beautiful, flowers. These are mixed with turtles, tortoises, and plantains, with other instances of Asiatic zoology and vegetation. Adelung assigns the table-land of Thibet as the birth-place of the human race; since vines, pulse, rice, barley, and all other plants, which man requires, grow there; and since it is the region, where all the domestic animals are found wild; as the dog, cat, pig, ass, horse, cow, sheep, goat, and camel.

Among the rocky mountains of North America is an animal, called the Rocky Mountain Sheep,—an intermediate genus between the goat and the antelope. It has fine white wool; and ought to be introduced into Great Britain. The gazelle, too, might embellish several districts of Spain and Italy. Mild, intelligent, active, and familiar with man, "the little four-eyed stag," (as the Ceylonese call it, from its having two marks under the eyes,) might feed on herbs and flowers, and milk and honey,-to all which it is particularly partial,—from the hands of Spanish and Italian beauty; and reward their attention with one look from its large, brilliant, fascinating eyes.

An attempt has lately been made to people the desert mountains of Stavanger with domestic rein-deer. In the winter of 1818, an inhabitant of that district purchased 200 in Sweden and Russia Lapland; some of which were of the white Siberian breed. The want of snow induced him to leave all his snow-shoes, furs, utensils, and tents, in Aamadt; and he killed more than twenty on the journey for food and beverage. They passed through Christiana on the 1st of

Professor Pallas says, the sheep is the result of intermixtures of the Siberian Argali, the Sardinian Monflon, the panseng, or goat of Persia; the bouquetin of the Alps, and the Caucasian sheep. He extracts the dog from the jackal, wolf, and fox.

January, and arrived at their place of destination in perfect safety a.

Some animals are better protected, and increase more by being under the guardianship of man, than they would do, if left entirely to themselves. Hence the large flocks of bustards, that are seen in Chili, where they are frequently domesticated; and hence the decrease of the black cock in Wales and Scotland; an animal which flies from cultivation, and prefers the birch forests of Lapland, Siberia, Finland, and some parts of Norway. They are decreasing every year. This rule, however, does not invariably apply; for though redbreasts and wrens in Europe, blue pigeons at Mecca, and storks in Germany, Greece, and Africa, are piously protected, we do not find, that they increase to any very considerable extent. On the rivers of Iceland are seen large flocks of swans; in some parts of America an immense number of turtle doves; while in Upper Canada, and in the state of Ohio, are beheld so vast a multitude of wild pigeons, that Wilson, the celebrated Ornithologist, calculated that he saw in one day a flock, containing not less than 2,230,000,000.

Some animals are found in distant latitudes; and not in their intermediate spaces. Thus in Kodjak, of the Northern Archipelago, are found beautifully speckled mice; the same animal is found 300 leagues distant; and in no part of the intermediate countries: and the mountain sheep (argali) of Kamschatka, in the same manner, is known in Europe only in Corsica and Sardinia. The dog of the arctic regions, visited

a In 1821, Mr. Bullock brought some rein-deer to England. They all died but two. For a curious instance of their docility and obedience, see New Monthly Mag. Oct. 1821, p. 506. Rein-deer were introduced into Iceland in 1770, from Norway, by Governor Thodal.-Hooker, i. 107. Capt. Parry found them in Melville Island. A strange epidemic prevailed among them in the north of Sweden in 1823-4. A letter from Stockholm states, that as soon as they were attacked, they ran at full speed, till they met a running stream, into which they plunged. In this manner more than 3,000 perished. d Howison's Sketches. e Stæhlin's Russian Discoveries, p. 34.

b Hooker, i. 273.

La Hontau, i. 62.

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