Natural history; or, A short introduction to animated nature1854 |
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Africa animal appearance ash colour beautiful beginning belly bill birds bittern body bottom breed brown colour chiefly claws climate coasts common covered creature danger devour duck eggs elephant enemies Europe extremely eyes fallow deer feathers feed feet long FIELDFARE fins fish five flesh flies flocks fore formidable four frog furnished gannet greatest Greenland hair hatched head hippopotamus hole horns inches long inhabitants insects isinglass kind larger largest legs length live lobster male motion mouth native neck nest ostrich ourang-outang parrot pectoral fins pheasant pilchards plumage pounds prey quadrupeds resembles retreat rivers round sea fowl seems seen seldom serpents shell short side skin sometimes soon spawn species spoonbill spots swallow swiftness tail thick torpid trees tribe usually variety voracious water hen whale whole wild wings winter worms yellow young
Popular passages
Page 36 - Through this trunk the animal breathes, drinks, and smells, as through a tube ; and at the very point of it, just above the nostrils, there is an extension of the skin, about five inches long, in the form of a finger, and which, in fact, answers all the purposes of one ; for, with the rest of the extremity of the trunk, it is capable of assuming different forms at will, and consequently of being adapted to the minutest objects.
Page 114 - The feathers on its wings and tail are black; but those on its body, and under its wings, are of a greenish brown, with a fine red cast or gloss, which no silk or velyet can imitate.
Page 88 - ... astonished at no other finery. In fact nothing can satisfy the eye with a greater variety and richness of ornament than this beautiful creature. The iris of the eye is yellow; and the eyes themselves are surrounded with a scarlet colour, sprinkled with small specks of black.
Page 99 - ... may be too much exposed to the rockings of the wind. The male and female upon this occasion are, for some days, seen examining all the trees of the grove very attentively ; and when they have fixed upon a branch that seems fit for their purpose, they continue to sit upon and observe it very sedulously for two or three days longer. The place being...
Page 105 - This bird, in its natural state, is of a deep bluish ash colour ; the breast dashed with a fine changeable green and purple ; its wings marked with two black bars ; the back white, and the tail barred near the end with black.
Page 132 - ... with an astonishing velocity.* The result is not only in some cases the most rapid, but in all cases the most gentle, pliant, easy animal motion with which we are acquainted. However, when the tail is cut off, the fish loses all motion, and gives itself up to where the water impels it.
Page 97 - ... he can neither exhibit nor enjoy; but which, like a miser, he rests satisfied with having the satisfaction of sometimes visiting and contemplating in secret. A piece of money, a tea-spoon, or a ring, are always tempting baits to his avarice; these he will slily seize upon, and, if not watched, will carry to his favourite hole. In his wild state, the raven is an active and greedy plunderer.
Page 79 - THE Golden Eagle is the largest and the noblest, of all those birds that have received the name of Eagle. It weighs above twelve pounds. Its length is three feet; the extent of its wings, seven feet four inches; the bill is three inches long, and of a deep blue; and the eye of a hazel colour. In general, these birds are found in mountains and thinly inhabited countries; and breed among the loftiest cliffs. They choose...
Page 186 - ... attempting to escape. The very instant the wound is inflicted, though small in itself, it appears more painful than the sting of a bee. This pain, which is so suddenly felt, far from abating, grows every moment more excruciating and dangerous ; the limb swells, the venom reaches the head, which is soon of a monstrous size ; the eyes are red and fiery ; the heart beats quick, with frequent interruptions ; the pain becomes insupportable, and some expire under it in five or six hours ; but others,...
Page 68 - ... of its master, and often of its own accord. It was gentle and inoffensive : it even approached strangers with respect...