Villanova Digital Library - Happy days : a paper for young and old, v. XI, no. 278, February 10, 1900.

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Full Title	Happy days : a paper for young and old, v. XI, no. 278, February 10, 1900.
Contributor	Tousey, Frank. Bradley, J. G.
Date Added	9 January 2014
Format	Newspaper
Language	English
Publish Date	1900-02-10
Publisher	New York : Frank Tousey
Source	Dime Novel and Popular Literature
Alternate Title	Ned, Bess and Myself; or, The Search for the King's Lost Gold Mines / by J. G. Bradley. Search for the King's Lost Gold Mines.
Topic	Popular literature > Specimens. Story papers > Specimens.
About	More Details Permanent Link
Disclaimers	Disclaimer of Liability Disclaimer of Endorsement

OCR 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-