The fore-foot of a _Hare_ worn constantly in the pocket, is esteemed by certain worthy old dames as a sure preventive of rheumatic disorders. The _Lynx_ was believed by the ancients, from the acuteness of its sight, to have the power of seeing through stone walls; and amongst other absurdities then gravely maintained were these: that the _Elephant_ had no joints, and being unable to lie down, was obliged to sleep leaning against a tree; that _Deer_ lived several hundred years; that the _Badger_ had the legs of one side shorter than those of the other; that the _Chameleon_ lived entirely on air, and the _Salamander_ in fire; whilst the sphynx, satyr, unicorn, centaur, hypogriff, hydra, dragon, griffin, cockatrice, &c. &c. &c. were either the creations of fancy, or fabled accounts of creatures of whose real form, origin, nature, and qualities, but the most imperfect knowledge was afloat. The flesh of the _Rhinoceros_, and almost every part of its body, is reckoned by the ignorant natives of countries where it is found, an antidote against poison. That the _Jackal_ is the "Lion's Provider," entirely, is an erroneous idea; but it is true that the terrific cry of this animal when in chase, rouses the lion, whose ear is dull, and enables him to join in the pursuit of prey. Many stories are told respecting the generosity of the _Lion_, and it was once confidently believed that no stress of hunger would induce him to devour a virgin, though his imperial appetite might satiate itself on men and matrons. The title of King of the Beasts, given at a period when strength and ferocity were deemed the prime qualities of man--is now more justly considered to belong to the mild, majestic, and almost rational elephant. The _White Elephant_ is a sacred animal with the Siamese, and the cow with the Bramins and Hindoos. The _Bear_ was believed never to devour a man whom it found dead; and it was imagined to lick its cubs into proper shape: hence the expression "unlicked cub," applied to a raw, awkward, unpolished youth. The saliva of the _Lama_, which when angry it ejects, has been erroneously supposed to possess a corrosive quality. The hoof of the _Moose-deer_ was formerly in great repute for curing epilepsies, but has now justly fallen into neglect. The Laplander, commencing his journey, whispers into the ear of his _Rein-deer_, believing these animals understand and will obey his oral directions. The _Elk_ is accounted by the Indians an animal of good omen, and often to dream of him indicates a long life. They imagine also the existence of a gigantic elk, which walks without difficulty in eight feet of snow, has an arm growing from its shoulder which it uses as we do, is invulnerable to all weapons, is king of the elks and attended by a numerous herd of courtiers. The fur of the _Glutton_ is so valued by the Kamschatdales that they say celestial beings are clad in no other.