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principal ones,
Probably there exist still other | of dexterity which renders them almost
12
Curious Facts about Cu-
rious Animals,
By FRANCIS W. DOUGHTY,
Few people ever stop to think of the vast-
ness of the animal creation, and the
differences between its individuals.
There are greater” differences between
mal the appearance of being encased in
armor. Now this skin is entirely impene-
trable to ordinary weapons, and will turn
a rifle ball as effectually as would a steel
plate. Between the folds, however, there
is practically no skin—merely flesh.
Hunters of the rhinoceros have to make
a study of this, otherwise they might blaze
wide | away at the big beast to eternity and never
produce any effec
The eyes of the * hinoceros are very small
Fig. 1.—RHLNocEnRos.
animals than between birds, fishes, etc.
So, also, with their habi
Let us look into this a little and con-
sider a few curious facts about a few-curl-
ous animals. We will begin with the rhi-
noc eros: You may see his picture in Fig-
"tne rhinoceros inhabits the warmer parts | tance; or to
of India, Africa, Siam and Southern China.
and resemble those of the hog, and are said
to be placed nearer the nose than the eyes
of any other quadruped .
The mouth of the Thinoceros is a study
in itself.
“Instead of being infront near the lips,
eeth are at back at an unusual dis-
ut it differently, the lips of
the beast are. unusually Jong. They are
Fig. 2.—Cueetan, on Huntixe LEOPARD:
There are several varieties of the rhinoc-
eros.
exceedingly flexible also, and the upper
lip can be extended six or seven inches be-
The one and two-horned species are the yond the end of the
Some are white, others
black.
shades of difference, which will be deter-
mined when the habits of the beasts
more closely observe
he rhinoceros uses ‘nis lips with a degree
equal to hands, and in them js believed to
are | be nearly all the sense. of feeling which the
beast possesses.
Fig. 3.—Tue CHLamMyrHorvs.
The most peculiar thing about the rhi-
noceros is his skin.
Literaliy he. is clothed in- leather, and
very tough leather at that.
There is no hair pon this strange beast,
but instead the skin is covered with irreg-
ular incrustations which ve been
properly termed scales. bout the neck
this skin is gathered into thick folds, other
folds extend between shoulders and
forelegs, and another from the hind part
of the back to the thighs, giving the ani-
The rhinoceros lives in shady forests ad-
joining rivers, or in swampy jungles. It
is fond of wallowing in the mud like a
hog.
Its nature is exceedingly fierce, and its
disposition: sulky ;and treacherous. Its
strength is so great-that it is more than a
match for the tiger or even the elephant.
In captivity it will remain quiet and do-
eile for a long time and then suddenly
break out into fits of ungovernable rage,
which nothing can check, its great strength
fhe
““Y
HAPPY DAYS
and formidable horn rendering it exceed-
ingly dangerous to anything which comes
in its w:
It is not generally known that in India
they tame a species of leopard and employ
the beast in
is the shee, or bunting leopard,
which we illustrate in
The cheetah is a native. of “ata and also
of Africa. It is as large as the ordinary
leopard, but ‘stands higher, owing to the
length of its limbs, which are slender and
The cheetah then makes a few surpris
ing springs and seizes him by the neck. If
many deer are near each other they often
escape by flight, for the leopard can charm
but one at atime. Should the cheetah miss
his aim, he never pursues the animal, but
slinks back to his master, apparently much ,
chagrined, who replaces the beast and waits
for another chance.
I the contrary, the cheetah is suc-
cessful, the ferocity of his nature at once
displays itself, so that to recover the prey
Fis. 4.—Tue KANGARoo.
tapering. Its body is rather slender and
reminds one of the greyhound. Its fur is
yellowish, beautifully variegated with black
Ss.
Trained cheetahs in India are led out in
chains with blinders over their eyes, or
sometimes carried to the hunting ground
in carts.
the keeper has to be extremely cautious,
enticing him with meat carried for the pur-
pose,
The cheetahs are not common, and are
so highly prized by their owners that they
are seldom seen in menageries.
In Figure 3 we illustrate an animal never
seen on exhibition—a genuine zoological
Fig. 5.—Esquimavu Doas.
Upon reaching the reauired spot, all re-
main quiet until the is sighted.
Should a herd of antelopes ¢ appear, for in-
stance, and any of them become separated
from the rest, the cheetah’s head is brought
curiosity, found only in Chili. Our en
graving furnishes an accurate illustration
of three of these strange creatures, which
are generally considered a species of mole.
The chlamyphorus burrows in the ground
Fig. 6.—Tne lcuNEUMON,
to face it, tne blinds removed and the
chains taken
Immediately “the animal crouches and
creeps along with his breast almost touch-
ing the ground until he gets within a short
distance of the deer, who, although seeing
him approach, appears to be so fascinated
that he seldom attempts to run away.
and spends most of its time under the
earth, feeding on insects and Seldom com-
ing to the surface, except at nig!
This animal is admirably adapted for the
life it leads. ~The top of the head ard
the whole upper surface of
covered with a thin shell of a consistence
tween horn and leather, divided by in-
