Sketches in Natural History: History of the Mammalia ...C. Cox, 1849 - Mammals |
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Page 6
... their limbs are short , the joints well - knit , but supple , and every motion is easy , free , and graceful . They leap and bound with astonishing velocity . Their footfall is silent , the feet being 6 SKETCH OF THE HISTORY OF MAMMALIA .
... their limbs are short , the joints well - knit , but supple , and every motion is easy , free , and graceful . They leap and bound with astonishing velocity . Their footfall is silent , the feet being 6 SKETCH OF THE HISTORY OF MAMMALIA .
Page 7
... feet being provided with elastic pads , namely , a large basal ball or cushion , and one under each toe . ( Fig . 1. ) The claws are of Fig . 1 . enormous size , hooked , and sharp , and when not in use completely retracted within a ...
... feet being provided with elastic pads , namely , a large basal ball or cushion , and one under each toe . ( Fig . 1. ) The claws are of Fig . 1 . enormous size , hooked , and sharp , and when not in use completely retracted within a ...
Page 17
... , in conjunction with the soft springy pads of his feet , which render his steps noiseless , enable him to steal upon his unsuspecting victim , and make his fatal bound . THE LION . ( Felis Leo , Linn . ) FELIDE . 17.
... , in conjunction with the soft springy pads of his feet , which render his steps noiseless , enable him to steal upon his unsuspecting victim , and make his fatal bound . THE LION . ( Felis Leo , Linn . ) FELIDE . 17.
Page 23
... feet nine inches and a half ; his weight , exclusive of the internal viscera , was thirty - five stone ( fourteen pounds to the stone ) ; his height three feet six inches ; and the impression of his paw on the sand measured six and a ...
... feet nine inches and a half ; his weight , exclusive of the internal viscera , was thirty - five stone ( fourteen pounds to the stone ) ; his height three feet six inches ; and the impression of his paw on the sand measured six and a ...
Page 32
... feet high as readily as if they had been tufts of grass , and abandoning the jungle , retreated towards the mountains , “ After ascertaining the state of our rescued comrade , ( who fortunately had sustained no other injury than a ...
... feet high as readily as if they had been tufts of grass , and abandoning the jungle , retreated towards the mountains , “ After ascertaining the state of our rescued comrade , ( who fortunately had sustained no other injury than a ...
Common terms and phrases
Africa animal appears attack badger bandicoots bear birds bones brown burrows canines Canis Cape Carnivora claws climbing colour common Cuvier Cynictis Dental formula dentition devoured Ditto ears Echidna elongated extremely eyes false molars feeds feet Felis female five toes flesh foot fore genus gray ground habits hairs head and body hedgehog hind hyæna inches incisors Indian insects Kangaroo killed kinkajou larvæ length limbs lion Long-nosed Bandicoot lower jaw Lynx mandible Marsupials membrane molars mole mountains mouth Mustela muzzle naked native night nocturnal nose Nycteris observed opossum Ornithorhynchus otter paws Petaurus Phalangers plantigrade polecat prey racoon ratel resembles seen short Shrew side skin skull slender snout South Wales species specimen spots Squirrel surface tail teeth thick tiger trees true molars upper jaw ursine opossum Ursus Van Diemen's Land Virginian Opossum wolf wolves young Zoological Society
Popular passages
Page 9 - We rustled through the leaves like wind, Left shrubs, and trees, and wolves behind ; By night I heard them on the track, Their troop came hard upon our back, With their long gallop, which can tire The hound's deep hate, and hunter's fire...
Page 53 - I was in danger of breaking my quadrant or other furniture, and he seemed, by keeping the candles steadily in his mouth, to wish for no other prey at that time.
Page 40 - She was a native of the neighbouring wood, where they are generally, though not always, of a smaller size than those of Bengal and Chittagong. He sat in a low howdah, with two or three guns ranged beside him, ready for action. Mr. Boulderson had also a formidable apparatus of muskets and fowling-pieces, projecting over his mohout's head. We rode about two miles across a plain covered with long jungly grass, which very much put me in mind of the country near the Cuban. Quails and wild fowl rose in...
Page 30 - ... two or three parties, and rode round the jungle, firing into the spot where the dogs were barking round him, — but without effect. At length, after some hours spent in thus beating about the bush, the Scottish blood of some of my countrymen began to get impatient, and three of them announced their determination to march in and beard the lion in his den, provided three of the...
Page 190 - ... indeed, that the head of a pin could scarcely be received into the wound, which is consequently not painful; yet through this orifice he continues to suck the blood, until he is obliged to disgorge. He then begins again, and thus continues sucking and disgorging until he is scarcely able to fly ; and the sufferer has often been known to sleep from time into eternity.
Page 30 - The next object was to drive him out of this retreat, in order to attack him in a close phalanx, and with more safety and effect.
Page 192 - The Vampire bat is often the cause of much trouble, by biting the horses on their withers. The injury is generally not so much owing to the loss of blood, as to the inflammation which the pressure of the saddle afterwards produces. The whole circumstance has lately been doubted in England; I was therefore fortunate in being present when one (Desmodus d'orbignyi, Wat.) was actually caught on a horse's back.
Page 24 - The dogs seemed much to enjoy prowling about and examining every bushy place, and at last met with some object among the rushes which caused them to set up a most vehement and determined barking. We explored the spot with caution, as we suspected, from the peculiar tone of their bark, that it was what it proved to be, lions.
Page 30 - The approved mode in such cases is to torment him with dogs till he abandons his covert, and stands at bay in the open plain. The whole band of hunters then march forward together, and fire deliberately one by one. If he does not speedily fall, but grows angry and turns upon his enemies, they must then stand close in a circle, and turn their horses rear outward ; some holding them fast by the bridles, while the others kneel to take a steady aim at the Lion as he approaches, sometimes up to the very...
Page 69 - He was trying to shoot some wild ducks, and, in order to approach them unperceived, he put the corner of his poncho (which is a sort of long, narrow blanket) over his head, and crawling along the ground upon his hands and knees, the poncho not only covered his body, but trailed along the ground behind him. As he was thus creeping by a large bush of reeds, he heard...