. The naturalist's library; containing scientific and popular descriptions of man, quadrupeds, birds, fishes, reptiles and insects; . nued, he exerts his strength, and dashes off in his swiftestcareer. It is said by hunters to evince a strong degree of animosity towardsserpents, and especially to the rattlesnake, of which it has an instinctivehorror. In order to destroy one of these creatures, the deer makes a boundinto the air, and alights upon the snake with all four feet brought togetherin a square, and these violent blows are repeated till the hated reptile isdestroyed. The skins of this d
. The naturalist's library; containing scientific and popular descriptions of man, quadrupeds, birds, fishes, reptiles and insects; . nued, he exerts his strength, and dashes off in his swiftestcareer. It is said by hunters to evince a strong degree of animosity towardsserpents, and especially to the rattlesnake, of which it has an instinctivehorror. In order to destroy one of these creatures, the deer makes a boundinto the air, and alights upon the snake with all four feet brought togetherin a square, and these violent blows are repeated till the hated reptile isdestroyed. The skins of this deer continue to form a very valuable articleof commerce, and furnish a material better adapted for the manufactureof gloves and other articles, than the skin of any other animal with whichwe are acquainted. THE american elk, canada stag,or wapiti; This species is second in size to the moose alone. The size and appear-ance of the elk are imposing; his air denotes confidence of great strength,while his towering horns exhibit weapons capable of doing much injurywhen offensively employed. It is not uncommon to see them four or five. feet in height, and it is said they are sometimes still higher. The elk hasat one period ranged over the greater part, if not the whole, of this conti-nent. Hearne leaves no doubt of its existence as far north as fifty-three 44 1 Census major, Okd. 346 MAMMALIA—REINDEER. degrees. They are occasionally found in the remote and thinly settled partsof Pennsylvania, but the number is small. They are found in great num-bers in the western wilds, where the forests supply them with an abundanceof buds and tender twigs. The elk is shy and retiring, and has very acutesenses. The moment the air is tainted by the odor of his enemy, his headis erected with spirit, bis ears rapidly thrown in every direction to catchthe sounds, and his dark glistening eye expresses the most eager soon as he discovers the hunter, he bounds along for a few paces, stops,tu
Size: 1857px × 1345px
Photo credit: © Reading Room 2020 / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1850, bookidnaturalistsl, bookyear1851
