ty; and fhould the beaft rejoin the herd, this dog would fix unerringly on the fame. Tais fpecies is now loft, or at least unknown to us. It must be obferved that the Agafeus of Dr. Caius, is a very different fpecies from the Agaffeus of Oppian, for which it might be mistaken from the fimilitude of names; this he defcribes as a fmall kind of dog, peculiar to Great-Britain; and then goes on with these words; Γυρὸν, ἀσαρκότατον, λασιότριχον, ἔμμασι κωθές. Curvum, macilentum, hifpidum, oculis pigrum. what he adds afterwards. ftill marks the difference more strongly; Ρίνεσι δ' αὖτε μάλιςα πανέξεκος είν ἀγασσες. Naribus autem longè præftantiffimus eft agaffeus. From Oppian's whole defcription, it is plain he meant our Beagle. The next kind is the Leporarius, or Grey-hound. Dr. Caius informs us, that it takes its name quod precipui gradus fit inter canes, the firft in rank among dogs: that it was formerly esteemed fo, appears f om the foreft laws of king Canute; who enacted, that no one under the degree of a gentleman should prefume to keep a gre-hound; and fill more strongly from an old Welsh faying; Wrth ei Walch, ei Farch, a'i Filgi, yr adwaenir Bonheddig: which fignifies, that you may know a gentleman by his hawk, his horfe, and his gre hound. Froiffart relates a fact not much to the credit of the fidelity of this fpecies; when that unhappy prince, Richard the Second, was taken in Flint caftle, his favourite gre-hound immediately deferted him, and fawned on his rival Bolingbroke; as if he understood and forefaw the misfortunes of the former, The variety called the Highland grehound, and now become very fcarce, is of a very great fize, ftrong, deep-chefted, and covered with long and rough hair. This kind was much esteemed in former days, and used in great numbers by the powerful chieftains in their magnificent hunting matches. It had as fagacious noftrils as the Blood-hound, and was as fierce. This feems to be the kind Boethius ftyles genus venaticum cum celerrimum tum audaciffimum: nec modo in feras, fed in hoftes etiam latronefque: præfertim fi dominum ductoremve injuriam affici cernat aut in eos concitetur. The third fpecies is the Levinarius or Lorarius; the Leviner or Lyemmer: the first name is derived from the lightness of the kind, the other from the old word Lyenme, a thong; this fpecies being used to be led in a thong, and flipped at the game. Our author fays, that this dog was a kind that hunted both by fcent and light; and in the form of its body obferved a medium between the hound and the gre hound. This probably is the kind now known to us by the name of the Irish gre-hound, a dog now extremely fcarce. in that kingdom, the late king of Poland having procured from them as many as pollible. I have feen two or three in the whole island: they were of the kind called by M. de Buffon Le grand Danois, and probably imported there by the Danes, who long poffeffed that kingdom. Their ufe feems originally to have been for the chafe of wolves, with which Ireland fwarmed till the latter end of the last century. As foon as those animals were extirpated, the numbers of the dogs decreased; for from that period they were kept only for state. The Vertigus, or Tumbler, is a smooth fpecies; which took its prey by mere fubtilty, depending neither on the fagacity of its nofe, nor its fwiftnefs: if it came into a warren, it neither barked, nor ran on the rabbets; but by a feeming neglect of them, or attention to fomething elfe, deceived the object till it got within reach, fo as to take it by a fudden fpring. This dog was lefs than the hound; more fcraggy, and had prickt-up ears; and by Dr. Caius's defcription feems to answer to the modern lurcher. The third divifion of the more generous dogs, comprehends thofe which were used in fowling; firft the Hifpaniolus, or spaniel: from the name it may be fuppofed that we were indebted to Spain for this breed: there were two varieties of this kind, the first used in hawking, to fpring the game, which are the fame with our starters. The other variety was used only for the net, and was called Index, or the fetter; a kind well known at prefent. This kingdom has long been remarkable for producing dogs of this fort, particular care having been taken to preferve the breed in the utmost purity. They are still distinguished by the name of English fpaniels; fo that notwithstanding the derivation of the name, it is probable they are natives of GreatBritain. We may ftrengthen our fufpicion by faying, that the first who broke a dog to to the net was an English nobleman of a velty. The fecond grand divifion of dogs comprehends the Ruftici; or thofe that were ufed in the country. The first fpecies is the Paftoralis, or fhepherd's dog; which is the fame that is ufed at prefent, either in guarding our flocks, or in driving herds of cattle. This kind is fo well trained for thofe purposes, as to attend to every part of the herd be it ever fo large; confine them to the road, and force in every straggler without doing it the least injury. Gratius fpeaks in high terms of the ex- Strabo tells us, that the maftiffs of Britain were trained for war, and were used by the Gauls in their battles: and it is certain a well trained maftiff might be of confiderable ufe in diftreffing fuch halfarmed and irregular combatants as the adverfaries of the Gauls feem generally to have been before the Romans conquered them. The laft divifion is that of the Degeneres, or Curs. The firft of these was the Wappe, a name derived from its note: its only ufe was to alarm the family by barking, if any perion approached the house, Of this clafs was the Verfator, or turnipit; and laftly the Saltator, or dancing dog, or fuch as was taught variety of tricks, and carried about by idle people as a fhew. Thofe Degeneres were of no certain shape, being mongrels or mixtures of all kinds of dogs. We fhould now, according to our plan, after enumerating the feveral varieties of British dogs, give its general natural hiftory; but fince Linnæus has already performed it to our hand, we shall adopt his fenfe, tranflating his very words (wherever we may) with literal exactnefs. The next is the Villaticus, or Catenaris; the maltiff or band dog; a fpecies of great fize and ftrength, and a very loud barker. Manhood fays, it derives its name from mafe thefefe, being fuppofed to frighten away robbers by its tremendous voice. Caius tells us that three of thefe were reckoned a match for a bear; and four for a lion but from an experiment made in the tower by James the First, that noble quadruped was found an unequal match to only three. Two of the dogs were difabled in the combat, but the third forced the lion to feek for fafety by flight. The English bull-dog feems to belong to this fpecies and probably is the dog our author mentions under the title of Laniarius. Great Britain was fo noted for its maftiffs, that the Roman emperors appointed an officer in this island with the title of Procurator Cynegii, whofe fole bufinefs was to breed, and tranfinit from hence to the am-" phitheatre, fuch as would prove equal to the combats of that place. Magnaque taurorum fracturi colla Britanni. "The dog eats flesh, and farinaceous "vegetables, but not greens: its ftomach "digefts bones: it ules the tops of grafs a vomit. It voids its excrements on a ftone: the album græcum is one of the "greatest encouragers of putrefa&ion. It laps up its drink with its tongue: it as voids its urine fideways, by lifting up "one of its hind legs; and is moft diuretic in the company of a strange dog. Odo"rat anum alterius: its fcent is most exquifite, when its nofe is moist: it treads "lightly on its toes; fcarce ever fweats; but when hot lolls out its tongue. It generally walks frequently round the * place " "place it intends to lie down on : its fenfe "of hearing is very quick when afleep: "it dreams. Procis rixant bus crudelis: "catulit cum variis: mordet illa illos: cohæret copala junctus: it goes with young fixty"three days; and commonly brings from "four to eight at a time: the male puppies refemble the dog, the female the "bitch. It is the most faithful of all ani"mals; is very docible: hates ftrange dogs will fnap at a ftone thrown at it: "will howl at certain mufical notes: all (except the South American kind) will "bark at ftrangers: dogs are rejected by "the Mahometans." § 5. The WILD CAT. This animal does not differ fpecifically from the tame cat; the latter being originally of the fame kind, but altered in colour, and in fome other trifling accidents, as are common to animals reclaimed from the woods and domefticated. The cat in its favage ftate is three or four times as large as the houfe-cat; the head larger, and the face flatter. The teeth and claws tremendous: its mufcles very strong, as being formed for rapine: the tail is of a moderate length, but very thick, marked with alternate bars of black and white, the end always black: the hips and hind part of the lower joints of the leg, are always black, the fur is very foft and fine. The general colour of thefe animals is of a yellowish white, mixed with a deep grey these colours, though they appear at first fight confufedly blended together, yet on clofe inspection will be found to be difpofed like the treaks on the fkin of the tiger, pointing from the back downwards, rifing from a black hit that runs from the head along the middle of the back to the tail. This animal may be called the British tiger it is the fierceft, and moft deftructive beast we have; making dreadful havock among our poultry, lambs, and kids. It inhabits the most mountainous and woody parts of these islands, living moftly in trees, and feeding only by night. It multiplies as fast as our common cats; and often the females of the latter will quit their domeftic mates, and return home pregnant by the former. They are taken either in traps, or by fhooting in the latter cafe it is very dan gerous only to wound them, for they will attack the perfon who injured them, and have ftrength enough to be no defpicable 4 enemy. Wild cats were formerly reckon- Felemque minacem Nemefiani Cynegeticon, L. 55. 6. The DOMESTIC CAT. This animal is fo well known as to make a defcription of it unneceffary. It is an ufeful, but deceitful domeftic; active, neat, fedate, intent on its prey. When pleafed purrs and moves its tail: when angry fpits, hiffes, and ftrikes with its foot. When walking, it draws in its claws: it drinks little: is fond of fith: it washes its face with its fore-foot, (Linnæus fays at the approach of a storm :) the female is remarkably falacious; a piteous, fqualling, jarring lover. Its eyes fhine in the night: its hair when rubbed in the dark emits fire; it is even proverbially tenacious of life: always lights on its feet: is fond of perfumes, marum, cat-mint, valerian, &c. Our ancestors feem to have had a high fenfe of the utility of this animal. That excellent prince Heel dda, or Howel the Good, did not think it beneath him (among his laws relating to the prices, &c. of animals) to include that of the cat; and to defcribe the qualities it ought to have. The price of a kitling before it could fee, was to be a penny; till it caught a moufe two-pence; when it commenced moufer four-pence. It was required befides, that it fhould be perfect in its fenfes of hearing and feeing, be a good moufer. have the claws whole, and be a good nurfe : but if it failed in any of these qualities, the feller was to forfeit to the buyer the third part of its value. If any one ftole or killed the cat that guarded the prince's granary, he was to forfeit a milch ewe, its fleece and lamb; or as much wheat as when poured on the cat fufpended by its tail (the head touching the floor) would form a heap high enough to cover the tip of the former. This laft quotation is not only curious, as being an evidence of the fimplicity fimplicity of ancient manners, but it almoit proves to a demonftration that cats are not aborigines of these islands; or known to the earliest inhabitants. The large price fet on them, (if we confi Fig. der the high value of fpecie at that time) and the great care taken of the improvement and breed of an animal that multiplies fo faft, are almost certain proofs of their being little known at that period. § 7. EXPLANATION of fome TECHNICAL TERMS in ORNITHOLOGY. 1. Cere. Cera 2. Capistrum 3. Lorum 4. Orbits. Orbita 5. Emarginatum 6. Vibriffe 7. Baftard swing. Alula puria 8. Lefer coverts of the wings. Tectrices prima 9. Greater coverts. Teftrices fecundæ 10. Quill-feathers. Primores 11. Secondary feathers. Secondaria 12. Coverts of the tail. Uropygium 13. Vent-feathers 14. The tail. Rectrices 15. Scapular feathers 16. Nucha 17. Roftrum fubulatum 18. 19. Pes fcanforius 20. Finned foot. Pes 22. Pes tridactylus 24, Ungue poftico feffili The naked skin that covers the bafe of the bill in the Hawk kind. A word ufed by Linnæus to exprefs the short feathers on the forehead just above the bill. In Crows thefe fall forwards over the noftrils. The space between the bill and the eye, generally covered with feathers, but in fome birds naked, as in the black and white Grebe. The skin that surrounds the eye, which is generally bare, particularly in the Heron and Parrot. A bill is called roftrum emarginatum when there is a small notch near the end: this is confpicuous in that of Butcherbirds and Thrushes. Vibrilla pectinate, fliff hairs that grow on each fide the mouth, formed like a double comb, to be seen in the Goatfucker, Flycatcher, &c. A fmall joint rifing at the end of the middle part of the wing, or the cubitus; on which are three or five feathers. The fmall feathers that lie in feveral rows on the bones of the wings. The under coverts are those that line the infide of the wings. The feathers that lie immediately over the quill-feathers and fecondary feathers. The largest feathers of the wings, or those that rise from the first bone. Those that rife from the fecond. Those that cover the base of the tail. Thofe that lie from the vent to the tail. Criffum Linnæi. That rise from the shoulders, and cover the fides of the back. The hind part of the head. A term Linnæus ufes for a trait and flender bill. Such as thofe of the Grebes, &c. Such as are indented. are called fcalloped; fuch are thofe of Coots and scallop-toed Sandpipers. Such as want the back toe. When the webs only reach half way of the toes. When the hind claw adheres to the leg without any toe, as in the Petrels. All the four toes connected by webs, as in the Corvarants. EXPLANATION Roftrum cultratum Unguiculatum Lingua ciliata Integra Lumbriciformis Pedes compedes Nares Lineares Marginate EXPLANATION of other LINNEAN TERMS. When the edges of the bill are very sharp, such as in that of the Crow. A bill with the nail at the end, as thofe of the Goofanders and Ducks. When the tongue is edged with fine briftles, as in Ducks. When the tongue is long, round, and slender, like a worm, as that of the Woodpecker. When the legs are placed fo far behind as to make the bird walk with difficulty, or as if in fetters; as is the cafe with the Acks, Grebes, and Divers. When the nostrils are very narrow, as in Sea Gulls. § 8. The PIGEON. The tame pigeon, and all its beautiful varieties, derive their origin from one fpecies, the Stock Dove: the English name implying its being the frack or fem from whence the other domeftic kinds fprung. Thefe birds, as Varro obferves, take their (Latin) name, Columba, from their voice or cooing; and had he known it, he might have added the British, &c. for K'lommen, Kylobman, Kulm, and Kolm, fignify the fame bird. They were and ftill are, in moft parts of our island, in a state of nature; but probably the Romans taught us the method of making them domeftic, and constructing pigeon-houfes. Its characters. in the ftate neareft that of its origin, is a deep bluith afh colour; the breaft dafhed with a fine changeable green and purple ; the fides of the neck with thining copper colour; its wings marked with two black bars, one on the coverts of the wings, the other on the quill-feathers. The back white, and the tail barred near the end with black. The weight fourteen ounces. In the wild ftate it breeds in holes of recks, and hollows of trees, for which reafon fome writers ftile it columba cavernalis, in oppofition to the Ring Dove, which makes its neft on the boughs of trees. Nature ever preferves fome agreement in the manners, characters, and colours of birds reclaimed from their wild state. This fpecies of pigeon foon takes to build in artificial cavities, and from the temptations of a ready provifion becomes eafily domefticated. The drakes of the tame duck, however they may vary in colour, ever retain the mark of their origin from our English mallard, by the curled feathers of the tail: and the tame goofe betrays its descent from the wild kind, by the invariable whiteness of its rump, which they always retain in both states. Multitudes of these birds are observed to migrate into the fouth of England; and while the beech woods were fuffered to cover large tracts of ground, they used to haunt them in myriads, reaching in strings of a mile in length, as they went out in the morning to feed. They vifit us the lateft of any bird of paffage, not appearing till November; and retire in the fpring. I imagine that the summer haunts of thefe are in Sweden, for Mr. Eckmark makes their retreat thence coincide with their arrival here. But many breed here, as I have obferved, on the cliffs of the coast of Wales, and of the Hebrides. The varieties produced from the domeftic pigeon are very numerous, and extremely elegant; thefe are diftinguished by names expreffive of their feveral properties, fuch as Tumblers, Carriers, Jacobines, Croppers, Powters, Runts, Turbits, Owls, Nuns, &c. The most celebrated of thefe is the Carrier, which, from the fuperior attachment that pigeon fhews to its native place, is employed in many countries as the most expeditious courier: the letters are tied under its wing, it is let loose, and in a very short space returns to the home it was brought from, with its advices. This practice was much in vogue in the Eaft: and at Scanderoon, till late years, ufed on the arrival of a fhip, to give the merchants at Aleppo a more expeditious notice than could be done by any other means. In our own country, thefe aërial meffengers have been employed for a very fingular purpose, being let loofe at Tyburn at the moment the fatal cart is drawn away, to notify to distant friends the departure of the unhappy criminal. In the Eaft, the use of these birds feems to have been improved greatly, by having, if we may use the expreffion, relays of them ready to spread intelligence to all parts of 3 Z the |