106 EULOGIUM ON CUVIER. would then have told me that this volume would appear covered with the funeral crape! "The first pages were hardly printed when the Sciences had to deplore one of the greatest losses that they could sustain. The first naturalist of our age was destined not to see the termination of the great work, of which he had conceived the plan, and to which he consecrated a great part of his powers. "To a superior strength of genius, which Nature at remote periods grants to those privileged men whom she would raise above the scene of the world as monuments of the glory of the human intellect, M. Cuvier united two eminent qualities, which most other men are deficient in; an activity which no labour could fatigue, and a most astonishing patience in researches of the minutest kind, but which are always necessary to the discovery of truths. "These two qualities, aided by a great justness of thought and a vast erudition, have given to the Works of this great man a character which we seek for in vain in those of the other naturalists of our times. "The curiosity of his mind leads him to dissect the numerous animals whose organization still remained to be studied; his patience in observation brings such exactness in the knowledge of facts, that by this first labour the class Vermes emerges, one may say, out of chaos. Pursuing his first researches, he publishes that succession of admirable memoirs for the basis of the natural history of mollusca: they are models of literary critique, of precision in description, and of sagacity in the art of selecting and representing zoological characters. "His genius manifests itself with still greater superiority in his immortal Work on the researches of the fossil bones of extinct animals. "M. Cuvier had studied the beings which animate and adorn the actual surface of the globe. "He had made known their varied organization in the too modest title of Lectures on Comparative Anatomy.' "He had distributed them according to a methodical order, in a work which became classical the moment it was published; but this was not enough for a mind that would compel Nature to reveal her most hidden secrets. "M. Cuvier penetrates beyond the ages which the most ancient traditions make known to men; he soars above our planet, sees the earth peopled with species which he re-creates, and makes known to us their forms with as much certainty, as he himself said, as if he had seen the animals in our menageries: he penetrates the depths of ocean, and EULOGIUM ON CUVIER. 107 beholds swimming there those enormous marine reptiles, of which we now find only the scattered remains. "To arrive at that degree of certainty in the knowledge of extinct animals, M. Cuvier is obliged to make, on the living species which he compares to the antediluvian forms, observations which demonstrate his immense knowledge, and the justness of his mind in the art of discrimination. His work becomes a fruitful source of instruction for the zoologist and the anatomist. His critical and literary discussions on the animals known to the ancients, complete the natural history of many species commenced by Buffon. He sketches out the history of many others, discovered since the death of his predecessor and rival in glory. His osteological descriptions, full of facts as new as they are curious, commence a comparative osteology unknown before his time. The preliminary discourse of that work, now read as a distinct and separate work, translated in all the living languages of Europe, is filled with principles, as just as they are admirable, upon the perpetuities of species, and on the accidental variations which may happen to certain among them: they will ever serve as a guide to those naturalists, who, not permitting themselves to be led astray by the imagination, will see in physical phænomena that only which observation can discover. "M. Cuvier had scarce written the last pages of that imperishable work, when the ardour of his genius led him to undertake a new work, still more considerable, The Natural History of Fishes. We again find the same character pervading the execution of the plan created by the genius of M. Cuvier. "He commences by studying one after the other all the species which he is able to collect, and the number then exceeded four thousand. This preliminary labour ended, M. Cuvier then writes these descriptions, remarkable for their exactness without dryness, and which naturalists, jealous of producing durable works, will without doubt seek to imitate. "M. Cuvier had the happiness to enjoy during his lifetime the duration and solidity of his Works. Having considered under every point of view the objects which he had studied, he established laws, conceived by his vast intelligence, which have remained immutable as the order of nature upon which they are based. "But I feel my voice too feeble for the eulogium of the great Master! A grateful pupil, I ought only to express myself in words of gratitude, and to remember his latest wishes. He has charged me to terminate the Work, in which he had willed me to be his associate. The numerous materials we 108 ACCOUNT OF THE REIN-DEER. had collected together are now at my disposal; I shall religiously execute the last commands of my illustrious friend; and, if I may hazard that expression, I shall have the glory of having completed his Works, as far at least as my powers will permit me." ACCOUNT OF THE REIN-DEER. [From the Journal kept by Mr. Cartwright in Labrador, 1779.] "I TOOK a walk round the island with the dogs, but saw nothing; I was also attended by my young deer, which is now perfectly tame, and I shall here make some remarks on those animals. Notwithstanding rein-deer are naturally very wild and timorous, yet no creature is so soon or so effectually tamed if taken young; but what they may be when caught afterwards, I cannot tell. They not only grow very bold, but also show great affection for such men and dogs as they take a liking to, and have a great spite against those who affront them. This deer of mine has had its full liberty ever since the fourth day after it was caught (except a few nights' confinement in the crib, lest the dogs should kill it when we were all asleep); but since then it has constantly lain out. It is not in the least alarmed at any noise, not even at the report of a gun fired close to it; but it is much terrified if any dogs run after, or even near it, and any running of the people instantly affrights it: but the moment all is quiet, it is so too. It will often go up to a dog, and smell to him; it is well acquainted with all mine, and will lie down by the fire amongst them. I believe they scarce ever sleep, for as much as I have watched this, I never could observe that it was ever asleep, or kept its eyes closed for more than two seconds at a time; and if I moved ever so little, it would start up. When I have lain down on the bed, at a time when it was lying on the floor, it would start up every five or six minutes, and come to see that I was not gone; and having licked my face, or sucked my neckhandkerchief a little, it would quietly lie down again. When at any time it lost me, it would run about, grunting somewhat like a hog, and never rest until it had found me, when it would run up to me at full speed. Sometimes I have diverted myself with stooping and running, both after and from it, which pleased it much; and it would do the same, and frisk about in the same manner as I have seen the wild calves one among another: I have likewise observed, that whenever it is frightened, it erects its single (tail), which at all other tinics hangs down. ACCOUNT OF THE REIN-DEER. 109 "It is a mistaken notion that they will not eat grass, or scarcely anything but white moss; for they will eat every kind of vegetable which this country naturally produces; alexander (a species of berry) and some few other things excepted: nor have I yet been able to discover that any beast in this country* would eat alexander, except black bears, which are very fond of it. Rein-deer do not seem to relish grass much, yet I have seen mine eat a little, and it generally preferred the coarsest kinds. I have often observed that, in the latter end of April, and in the month of May, the wild ones eat little else besides dry grass and wild rye, which then appear through the snow. They affect great variety in their food, while things are in a growing state; preferring the youngest and most juicy. This causes them to vary their food every month, and also several times in the same day, accordingly as it is moist or dry; rejecting now, what an hour ago they preferred to everything else. The leaves of the dogberry-bush when young, and a tender plant which grows by hill-sides on moist ground, resembling cross lettuce, as also a succulent aquatic plant which grows in ponds, all these they devour most greedily. There is a small pond near this house which is full of the latter, and this deer of mine has eaten it close down to the water. I think I have seen the same kind of plant in the Highlands of Scotland, and is what they use there in their beer instead of hops. They also delight to eat the young leaves of most sorts of trees and shrubs which have not a resinous juice, particularly the willow: but I have known them eat the outer shoots of the black spruce in the winter time, though but sparingly. I most wonder that they are not fond of vetches, which grow in great abundance here. I have often tracked the wild ones through large beds of them, without observing that they cropped any; yet I have seen mine eat a few sometimes. This will eat a little of the crumb of soft bread, but will scarcely touch the crust or biscuit; but that may be owing to the tenderness of its teeth. Pudding and boiled potatoes it is very fond of, but will not eat the latter raw; it will also eat boiled salt meat. "They are very sure-footed, for they will run along shore, over sharp, rough rocks, or smooth, round, loose stones, without ever stumbling or slipping; but on smooth ice they can with difficulty stand. They are beautifully made, are as straight-limbed, and have nearly the same shape as the horse, only not so good a neck. They walk, trot, and gallop in the same manner, and no old hunter will take either a flying or standing leap with more grace or judgement than my young * Labrador. 110 OBSERVATIONS ON THE wild ass. deer will now. They have great strength and are remarkably active, which renders them very useful in a sledge. They go very wide behind, are fearless of their road, and will swim with most extraordinary swiftness, and to a prodigious distance: I am certain they will swim more than five miles in an hour, and I verily believe six. The stags have a deal more courage than the hinds, and those hinds which have calves have less than the dry ones. When they hear a noise, or if they see a man standing perfectly still, their curiosity will often tempt them to make out the object; a curiosity which I have known prove fatal to them; for they will frequently gallop or trot down within sixty or a hundred yards, and there stand and gaze for the space of a minute or two. When they are satisfied, they run off, and generally sink the wind to be informed of a pursuit. In the winter they most commonly go several miles before they rest. If pursued by a dog, they husband their speed and wind surprisingly; for they will suffer their pursuer to come by degrees within a few yards of them, but no nearer if they can prevent it; they will then continue to run at his rate until he is tired; and as soon as he stops, they will do so to, and turn about and look at him; after which they will go leisurely on, but often stop to look back. If they are upon ice where there is much snow, they will not quit it for the barren hills. When pursued in the summer time they always make for the nearest water, in which no land animal has the least chance with them. If their enemy comes up with them, they defend themselves with their horns and hind feet, and are so strong and active that a fair stroke with either generally proves fatal to wolf or dog, if the deer be an old one. I have often eaten of various kinds of venison, and in different countries, but I think none equal to that of the rein-deer when in proper season. From the observations which mine has given me opportunities to make, I am fully of opinion, that there are many parts of England where they would live and thrive well; but I do not think they would exist in such parks as produce nothing but fine grass."-Vol. ii. page 472. OBSERVATIONS ON THE WILD ASS. [From Sir Robert Ker Porter's Travels in Georgia, Persia, &c.] "THE sun was just rising over the summits of the eastern mountains, when my greyhound, Cooley, suddenly darted off in pursuit of an animal, which my Persians said, from the |