Anecdotes of the Habits and Instinct of AnimalsLee, R., Mrs.
General
Anecdotes of the Habits and Instinct of Animals
Lee, R., Mrs.
Animal behavior -- Juvenile literature
The Guanacos, when they have plenty of the rushy grass, on which they
love to feed, never require any drink, but they have no cells in their
stomach for the secretion of water: they are particularly active in
throwing out their saliva at the least offence. They give very severe
blows with their fore feet: and I have often, with the above gentleman,
watched them fight with a fury which was at first laughable, tearing
large mouthfuls of hair from each other, and at last obliged to be
separated, from the injuries they were likely to give and receive.
The great enemy of these animals is the Puma, and they fly from him; but
Mr. Darwin says he has often known them not only neigh and squeak when
men approach, but dance and leap about in the most absurd manner. They
are easily caught, for they get quite bewildered, when pursued; but they
are much bolder when in captivity. They appear to have favourite spots
to which they go to die, and which are perfectly white with their
bones; this has been observed close to the river Gallego, and elsewhere.
Manufactures from their hair more resemble silk than woolen stuffs, and
some of those made of the Alpaca fleece, are quite black, without having
been dyed. It has been a matter of surprise to many, that they are not
naturalized in this country, as the climate would not be an obstacle to
success. The demand, however, for their produce so much, increases, that
it is very probable they may at some future time become denizens of our
mountainous districts.
DEER.
The elegant animals included under the name of Deer, afford the highest
sport to the hunter, the most precious skins, and delicious food.
Considering their size, they are matchless in speed and vigour, and are
as beautiful as they are swift. They are spread all over the globe,
except Australia, and Central and Southern Africa; their place in the
latter continent being supplied by giraffes and antelopes. They leave
the higher mountains to goats, live on moderate elevations, but delight
most in wide, open countries. The fissures, or what are called
lachrymals, exist in most of them; they are clefts below the eyes, which
bear the name of tear-ducts, but their use is not yet understood. They
would not be so much developed as they are in many, unless they bore
strongly upon the animal's economy; but they do not communicate with the
nose, nor are they, in any way, connected with respiration. They are
certainly in relation with glands, because they secrete a greasy fluid,
more abundant at some times than at others, when the edges are much
swollen; and the animals often touch objects with them, stretching them
wide open, doing so, when they are under excitement of any kind.
The muzzles of some deer are nearly flat, and destitute of hair; in
others, they are covered with hair, and the upper lip is prehensile.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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