An Alphabet of Quadrupeds Comprising descriptions of their appearance and habits

APE.

Apes play many odd tricks, and try to act like men, for they are very fond of imitating every thing they see. They are also very mischievous, and sometimes spiteful, so they should be either tied up in a safe place or well watched.

Apes are a species of monkeys. They live in a country called Africa, where there are a great many forests, and where the trees are much larger than any in the settled parts of America. The apes can climb to the top of the very tallest trees, and cling to the branches in safety. They are very quick in their motions, and can fling themselves from tree to tree with great readiness, holding on with their long arms and legs. In their native woods, they are very wild; they go on all fours; and sometimes visit the Negroes' huts and fight hard battles with the inhabitants, throwing sticks and branches with great dexterity. They are usually of a dull brown color, but some are black, and others grey. They should be fed upon bread soaked in water, and any kind of fruit that may be convenient to give them; they are very fond of nuts and biscuit, both of which may be given them in moderation.

BEAR.

The bear is found in Europe and North America, but it is among the icy regions around the North Pole, that he attains his greatest size and fierceness. One of his principal modes of attack is the employment of his fore-legs in hugging his enemy, and few creatures can resist the crushing embrace of a large bear.

The people of the cold countries, where he mostly lives, make bedding and clothing of the skins, and either eat the fat or melt it into oil for their lamps. Bears, when at rest, are in the habit of constantly sucking their paws, which curious custom has puzzled many wise men to explain.

The bear is a good swimmer, and often takes to the water; he climbs well, but in descending trees always comes down backwards. His sight is sharp, and his hearing and smelling is excellent. He walks easily on his hind-legs, and in that position can support heavy burdens. Though his gait is awkward, he can, if he pleases, go at a great pace. He is said to grow to about his twentieth and live to his fiftieth year. Some bears are black, others brown, and a few grey, but those in cold countries are always white.

COW.

The cow is a very useful, and well known animal. The cow furnishes us with an abundance of good sweet milk, which we put into our tea and coffee, or make into butter and cheese. The flesh is most excellent food, and is called beef. England is a famous country for beef, which is of such a good quality that the people have an old song about it, called the "Roast beef of old England." The hide is made into leather, and is much used in the making of shoes.

The cow is a very quiet animal, and will hurt no body, it feeds upon grass, which it swallows and brings up again before digesting it, and chews a very long while, and on that account is called a ruminating animal.

Cows are of different colors, some red, white, black, and others spotted. The cow will live to the age of fourteen or fifteen years, and its age may be known by the rings or knots on its horns, for a new ring grows every year. A great many country people are employed in selling milk to the people of large cities and towns, and are called "milk people." Before the white people came to America there were no cows, but now they are raised in great numbers, especially in the eastern country.

DOG.

Dogs are most faithful, attached creatures. They are of all sizes, from the large Newfoundland dog, as big nearly as a donkey, down to the little lap-dog, no bigger than a kitten. Dogs are of various colors, and their skins of all kinds, the hair sometimes smooth and close, like a grey hound's; sometimes very rough and shaggy, as in the Scotch terrier; sometimes smooth and flowing, like silk, as in a spaniel.

They are soon taught to be obedient, and become very clever. The shepherd's dog knows every sheep in the flock. The house dog knows the sound of his master's footsteps. The Newfoundland dog will rush into the water to save any one from drowning. There are many interesting stories about dogs, which will please you very much to read when you are older and better able to understand them.

ELEPHANT.

How heavy and clumsy the elephant looks! yet he is very active, and able to do many things with neatness. If you hold a sixpence in your hand, he will take it up in his large trunk, and place it where the keeper tells him. With the same trunk he is able to tear up large trees, and to strike so hard that the blow would kill a man. In foreign countries he is used to ride upon, as we ride upon horses. He is a very good swimmer. He is born chiefly in warm climates. His tusks are ivory, and are very useful for handles of knives, and many other things. His trunk serves him instead of a hand to feed himself with, and to hold and carry what he pleases.

He is very clever, and soon learns to do whatever he is taught. His temper and nature are kind, but when he is teased he becomes very fierce. He eats grass and hay, but no flesh.

Below is an elephant hunt.

FISHER.

This is the name of an animal found in the northern and middle states of our country, and in Canada. He is called the fisher, by the hunters, probably from his frequenting the lakes and river shores. But he does not catch fish like the otter. He robs the traps of the hunter of their captured or dead game, and he kills squirrels, rabbits, and wood chucks. In the picture he is represented as killing a rabbit.

The fisher was formerly abundant in the state of New York, but he is seldom found there now. He was greatly detested by the hunters, on account of his robbing their traps of beaver and other valuable game. His flesh is unfit for food, and his fur is of very trifling value.

GOATS.

We have not many goats in America, but you will sometimes see them about the houses of poor people who live on the out-skirts of large towns and villages. They abound in many foreign countries, chiefly those which are wild, and have high hills and mountains. These, let them be ever so high, the goat climbs very nimbly and safely. The goat is a very useful creature. Its young are called kids, and its flesh is very good to eat; out of its skin we make good leather for shoes and gloves. The goat's milk is pleasant to drink, and to make cheese from. It eats herbs and delights to nibble the bark of trees. You will often read in the Bible, that goats in ancient times were offered as sacrifices. In Switzerland they have a kind of wild goat, called the chamois. The cut below represents some Swiss hunters pursuing the chamois over rocks and mountains.

HYENA.

The hyena is one of the most fierce and disagreeable of all animals. The hyena is by nature a nocturnal animal; that is, it seeks its prey by night, and consequently during the day it remains in a state of repose. The hyena has been unfairly represented to be perfectly untameable on account of its great ferocity. If properly treated, however, and well fed, it is far from being savage or dangerous.

It possesses a great propensity for putrid and buried carcasses, which it will hunt, and dig for, and devour with disgusting greediness. Unlike many other animals, the hyena is an unsociable animal, for it lives a solitary life among rocks and ancient ruins. There are two kinds of hyenas, the spotted and the striped. The figure below represents the striped, and the other represents the spotted hyena.

IBEX.

The ibex is an animal of the goat kind, and inhabits the mountainous districts of the south of Europe, it is the most graceful of all its tribes; it is extremely active. It is very wild, and difficult to be shot, as it always keeps on the highest points. The horns of the ibex are large and knotty, its skin is of a yellow color, and its beard short and black. The chase of the ibex, although it is not a very powerful animal, is attended, at times, with considerable danger; it has been known, when driven hard, to run full-but at the huntsman, and force him over the rock, although in doing so, it has at the same time, sacrificed its own life, falling headlong with its pursuer. The ibex is said to be a short-lived animal. Its flesh is much esteemed, and its skin is very thin.

Below is a picture of a bear pursuing a male and female ibex.

JERBOA.

This odd-looking creature has been also called the two-legged rat; its fore-legs being so extremely small that they can hardly be seen, while the hind-legs are of enormous length. The tail is long and tufted at the end. Its general appearance closely resembles the rat. Instead of walking or running on all fours, it leaps, or hops, on the hind feet, making great bounds, and only uses the fore-paw for burrowing, or for carrying food to its mouth, like a squirrel. These curious little animals live in holes which they dig under ground. They are gentle, harmless, and not at all timid. Their dwelling places are very quiet, for they never fight or quarrel with one another, like some very bad children I could tell you about.

KANGAROO.

This curious animal, called a Kangaroo, hops on his hind-legs, which are very long; his fore-legs are short, and he has a very long hard tail. Kangaroos herd together in great numbers, for they are very timid creatures. At the least alarm they will run away, and leap over high bushes. They use their short fore feet for digging, and putting food in their mouths. They feed upon vegetables and grass, and do not eat flesh. The mother carries her young ones about her in a sort of pouch.

The kangaroo is brought from a very large island, a great many thousand miles from here. We have some in this country, which you may see by going to the Menagerie, where the keeper will tell you a great many stories about them. Their nature is not at all fierce. The picture below shows the manner in which the kangaroo leaps.

LEOPARD.

The leopard is a beautiful animal. He is of a yellowish fawn color, marked with black spots of different sizes. This animal in its habits and appearance much resembles a cat. He is very fierce and savage. He preys upon those animals which are weaker than himself. He always avoids man, except when closely pursued, when he offers an obstinate resistance. From the extraordinary flexibility of his limbs, he can climb a tree as readily as a cat. When taken young, he can be tamed to a certain degree.

The flesh of the leopard is said to be excellent, resembling veal. The skins are very valuable, and often sell for upwards of fifty dollars. The picture below represents a leopard watching a herd of antelopes. He is hid from their view behind a rock, and when they come near enough, he will leap into the herd and catch one of them.

MOOSE.

This animal is perhaps the only kind of deer whose general appearance can be called ungraceful. The head is large, the mane short and thick, and the horns knotty and heavy. The body, which is short and clumsy, is mounted on tall legs. The motion of the animal is a sort of shambling trot. The moose inhabits the northern parts of both Europe and America. Its flesh is much liked by the hunters, and much resembles beef.