Set of 19 Zoo Animals Series 203

Front:
امین S 改 20 31 14 34 केली

Back:
For Correspondence only OSTRICH, A NATIVE OF AFRICA. The Ostrich is the largest of all birds now existing, being from six to eight feet in height. An adult male weighs from 200 to 300 pounds. The general plumage is glossy black in the adult male, dark gray in the female. The long plumes of the wings and tail are white, occa- sionally marked black, and highly valued for ornamental purposes from early times, and continue to be a considerable article of com- merce. The ostrich feeds on grass and other vegetables, but swallows big stones and pieces of iron. It is capable of subsisting a long time without water. It can run about 60 miles an hour, and can deal mortal blows with its hoof- like feet. Their nest is a mere hole in the sand. The eggs are placed on the end and leit to the sun to breed, but at night are protected against the cold by sitting on them either by the male or female ostrich. 203.25 For Address only For Correspondence only THE ELEPHANT. Only two existing species are certainly known. The Indian and African. The first is distinguished by a comparatively high and ob- long head, with a concave forehead, while the latter has a round head and convex forehead. The ears of the latter are considerably larger than those of the first; the skin of both is of brownish color and about two inches thick. They weigh from four to five tons and con- sume daily about 200 pounds of food. Their tusks sometimes weigh 150 to 200 pounds, are of ivory, and an expensive market product. They live in herds, not numerous, every herd having a leader, generally the largest and most powerful, who exercises control over the rest. He gives the alarm of danger and decides for the entire herd in all actions. 203.17 For Address only For Correspondence only THE AFRICAN LIONESS. Measuring five to six feet from nose to tail; is somewhat smaller and of lighter color than the lion, and has no mane. She seeks secluded retreats as breeding place, and gives birth to from two to four cubs. Always defends her brood with great courage and uncommon ma- ternal love. The country chiefly inhabited by the lions are the wilderness of Africa, Arabia and India. They differ in size and color ac- cording to countries they live in. 203.16 For Address only For Correspondence only JAGUAR. Is a great American spotted cat, once numer- ous as far north and east as Arkansas, but since the early part of the Nineteenth Century rare even in Mexico. It resembles the Leop- ard, but is more robust, has a rounder head, shorter legs, and a shorter, thicker tail. The tawny yellow hide is spotted with black. The spots are larger than those of the leopard and inclined to form broken rings with a spot in the centre. They are numerous in tropical for- ests, especially along the great rivers, where they find most drink. Their favorite method of obtaining their food is to lie along a tree limb and leap down upon the victim. 203.15 For Address only For Correspondence only HIPPOPOTAMUS. A native of Africa. Is next to the elephant the biggest animal, although its legs are so short that its body almost touches the ground, and its height is not much above five feet. It mostly lives in lakes and rivers and never proceeds to any considerable distance from the shore. Its skin is very thick and dark brown, destitute of hair, and discharges in great abundance from its numerous pores a thickish oily fluid_by which it is kept constantly lubricated. The head is very large with small ears, and small eyes placed high, and has great lips concealing the large front teeth. The respiration is slow and enables it to dive and stay under water a considerable time. It lives chiefly on grass and plants. Its flesh is highly esteemed, also the fat of which there is a thick layer right under the skin. The teeth are particularly valuable as ivory and are a considerable article of Af- rican commerce. 203.14 For Address only For Correspondence only ZEBRA. A native of Africa; belongs to the same general type as the ass; distinguished from the horse by smaller size, and by having the body banded black upon yellowish. The forelegs only possess the warts seen in both fore and hind limbs in the horse, and the tail is tufted. The body is of cream color and the stripes are drawn at right angies to the axis of the body. The mane is very short. Experiments made since 1872 have shown that with proper treat- ment it can be made to work well in harness. 203.20 For Address only For Correspondence only THE PORCUPINE. Derived from the French word "Porc," which means "hog" and "Epin'" (spine). Is found in the Southern part of Europe and some parts of Asia and Africa. Their general aspect is heavy and piglike and have a grunt- ing voice. The muzzle is broad and blunt; the ears are short. He is from three to four feet long with a six-inch tail. The back part of the head and neck is furnished with a crest of long black and white ringed bristles, capable of be- ing elevated or depressed at pleasure. Their ordinary position is flat with the points directed backwards, but when excited it rolls itself up like the hedgehog with spines pointing in every direction, in order to protect itself against the enemy. 203'21 15 For Correspondence only FLAMINGO A peculiar webfooted bird of the group Phoeni- captery which may be regarded as intermediate be- tween the storks and ducks. Our North American specie is light vermilion with brighter wing coverts The other species are rosy white scarlet on the wings, with black wing quills. All have small goose like bodies, but the long legs and neck give them a height of from four to five. Their bill is large, swollen, and bent upon itself, so that the upper part is turned downward when the bird feeds. The Flamingo lives and immigrates in large flocks warn- ing each other of danger by a loud trumpeting note, and when flying form a triangle. They breed in companies in mudflats or marches. not fly until fully developed, though they are swift runners. and good swimmers right after leaving the shell. The young can- 203.24 For Address only For Correspondence only THE PELICAN. Is white, slightly Is as large as a swan. tinged with flesh color, and in old birds the breast is golden yellow. It is a native of the eastern parts of Europe, and of many parts of Asia and Africa, and frequents both the sea coast and also rivers and lakes. It makes a nest of grass on the ground in some retired spot near the water and lays two or three white eggs. The parents are said to carry water to their young. The nail or hook which terminates the bill is red. It chiefly feeds on fish and takes its prey by hovering over the water. They store up their prey in their pouch from which they bring it out at leisure, either for their own eating or to feed their young. 203.23 For Address only For Correspondence only FALCON. The true falcons are characterized by a bill curved from the base; the upper mendible hooked at the point, and the cutting edge of the upper mendible furnished with a strong projecting notch, or tooth. The claws are also sharp, curved and strong. The whole frame is robust and muscular. The legs are short and have great power in stocking or seizing prey. The keel of the breastbone is very large and adapted to kill the prey when shooting on it from the air. The wings are long and pointed and have very great power of flight. The falcon is known to have traversed a distance of 1350 miles in 24 hours. The speed attained by a Falcon in pursuit of its prey has been calculated to be at the rate of 150 miles an hour. The species of Falcons are pretty numerous; some of them are of very wide geographic distribution, whilst others are peculiar to certain countries or climates. 203.22 For Address only For Correspondence only THE LLAMA. It was in general used as a great Beast of Burden on the Peruvian Andes, and was the only Beast of Burden used by the natives of America before the introduction of the horse. The peculiar conformation of its feet enables it to walk securely on slopes too rough and steep for any other animal. They are still used in the silver mines in the Andes and carry up to 125 pounds. When too heavily loaded it lies down and refuses to move. It is patient and docile, its pace of traveling being about 12 to 15 miles a day. It is about 3 feet in height at the shoulder. The color is generally brown with shades of yellow and black. The flesh is spongy and of a disagreeable flavor. The wool inferior to that of the Alpaca, but is used for the same purpose. 203.18 For Address only For Correspondence only HIPPOPOTAMUS. A native of Africa. Is next to the elephant the biggest animal, although its legs are so short that its body almost touches the ground, and its height is not much above five feet. It mostly lives in lakes and rivers and never proceeds to any considerable distance from the shore. Its skin is very thick and dark brown, destitute of hair, and discharges in great abundance from its numerous pores a thickish oily fluid by which it is kept constantly lubricated. The head is very large with small ears, and small eyes placed high, and has great lips concealing the large front teeth. The respiration is slow and enables it to dive and stay under water a considerable time. It lives chiefly on grass and plants. Its flesh is highly esteemed, also the fat of which there is a thick layer right under the skin. The teeth are particularly valuable as ivory and are a considerable article of Af- rican commerce. 203:9 For Address only For Correspondence only HYENA. The common or striped Hyena is a native of Northern Africa and some parts of Asia. It is about the size of a large dog, brownish gray, marked with transverse bands of dark brown. Their hair upon the line is thicker and stronger than on any other part, forming a sort of mane extending from the nape of the neck to the origin of the tail. They have large, short heads, powerful forequarters and short tails. The eyes are large and the ears long, erect and directed forward. The teeth are nu- merous and massive and well adapted to aid the muscular jaws to crunch the strongest bone. Hyenas usually spend the day in solitude in caves, which they quit at night to seek their prey in bands. They often dig up dead bodies and devour them, and also prey on living animals. 203.5 For Address only For Correspondence only YAK. Is the native name for the wild ox of the mountainous regions of Tibet. It is about the size of the common ox, to which he has a general resemblance, but is covered with a thick coat of long, silky hair hanging down like the fleece of a sheep. The long hair forms a sort of mat, which defends the body from the effects of the cold, when the animal is reposing in the snow. The domesticated race is of great importance to the natives of Tibet. The Yak is employed as a Beast of Burden, but never for tillage or drought. The milk is very rich and yields ex- cellent butter. The flesh is of fine quality, and the hair of the hamp is spun and woven into fine and strong cloth. The tail is often died red and made into the chawries or fly-flap used in India. 203.8 For Address only For Correspondence only THE RED DEER OR STAG. A native of Europe and Asia; of reddish brown color during Summer, paler in Winter. Measures four to five feet in height at the shoulders; has round antlers with a snag at its base. The young male acquires knoles in place of horns during the first year. In the second they are larger and pointed. The branches of horns increase gradually until six years old. After that time age is indicated by the deep- ness of the furrows and the thickness of horns. He fights with horns and forefeet. 203.7 For Address only For Correspondence only BABOON. Distinguished from all the rest of the. monkey family by the very elongated muzzle, which terminates abruptly, and is pierced with nostrils at the end, like that of a dog. The physiognomy of all baboons is repulsive and indicates the fierceness which strongly charac- terizes them. They are dreaded by the inhab- itants of the countries in which they are found. Their legs are so proportioned that they walk easily and run swiftly, climb rocks and trees with great agility. They are very cunning, mischievous and revengeful. 203.3 For Address only For Correspondence only AMERICAN BISON. Similar to the European; is smaller in size and weighs about two thousand pounds. The horns are short and blunt, and their forepart looks shaggy. The only American animal that is capable singly to overcome the Bison is the grizzly bear. Bison flesh is very good and differs from that of the ox in having a sort of venison flavor. The hump in particular is es- teemed a delicacy. The tallow forms an im- portant article of trade, one bull sometimes yielding 150 pounds. The skins are used by Indians as blankets and when tanned for cov- ering their lodges and beds. 203.2 For Address only For Correspondence only DROMEDARY. Derived from the Greek word Dremo, is the Arabian one-humped camel, distinguished from the camels by the slenderness of the limbs and symmetry of form and extraordinary swift- ness. Their trot can be maintained without intermission for 24 hours, often at a rate of 9. miles an hour. A journey of 600 miles was made in 5 days by getting one meal a day. The hump of the Dromedary is a store of fat, from which it draws, as the want of its sys- tem requires. The eyes are furnished with long lashes to protect them from the glare and drifting sand, whilst the exclusion of sand from the nostrils is also provided for by a power of closing their openings at will. The second stomach is used as store for water in which it is long retained. They are provided with cushions on their soles in order to protect them from the heat of the desert sand. 203.I For Address only For Correspondence only FALLOW DEER. Well known in Britain, commonly kept in parks. In size the fallow deer is smaller than the stag or Red Deer from which it also differs in its broad polmated antlers; its longer tail and its smoother and finer hair. In color, it is generally yellowish brown in Summer and darker or even blackish brown in Winter; more or less spotted with pale spots particularly in Summer and when young. The female has no horns. The male is called Buck, the female Doe, the young, Fawn. When the Fallow Deer and Red Deer are kept in the same park, the birds seldom mingle, nor do hybirds occur. The flesh of the Fallow Deer is one of the most esteemed kinds of vension. 203.19 For Address only