The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1858-07-11
TWO CENTS.

the pair set off with all speed foanother burrow, where
the same scene was repeated did not that they
met with any but suppose they must occa-
sonally have done and ON the whole II has always
struck curious instance in its way. II illustrates
this wonderful fact that animals interchange ideas
without language and Is the more remarkabls that
they were forced into this association wild dogs
are by any necessity for providing by united efforts for
their subsistence for the attack upon some
prey, against which the strength OF one would not
avail. tI.s.4 al ~. u ,slt+as -ss-
Among the creatures which, in wild state, in
teresting may be mentioned the wild pig There Is
something in the grsy majesty and fierce selfrelance Of
the full grown boar which impresses itself on all minds
Nothing can be savage and formidable than the
countenance Of this animal and his strength and speed
when not checked in his range OF ground arc wonderful
Yet he is very easily domcsticated friend of mine
supplied himself with pork and bacon for many years
from breed of pure German Wild boars and excellent
they were. He had, when first them, magnih-
cent pararchal old fellow Of tremendous appearance
but gentle tame pig could be. This boar, as he
had plenty of successors growing up, about him, my
friend bestowed upon certain geological garden, where
he became first-rate attraction Whatever else
elected, to crowd around tho strong
palng by which this fierce and dangerous Wild bost Was
confned Did you see the wild boar y " Oh, ,swhat
hideous monster y was in every mouth ! remember
day creating quite sensation of horror by going up
the palng calling my old acquaintance by name, and
when he up runtins and barking to where stood,
scratching his jaws and poll to his infinite satisfaction.
This reminds of wild boar anecdoe had from the
late Sir w Maxwell 1t would that friend of his
In Scotland had received from Germany splendid boar,
which after consrved to make his escape by leapng
wall such as, it presumed, no pig could possibly
get over He made his way into park where number
of young cattle were grazing and they being excited by
s strange appearance chase at once and ended by
fairly bringing him to bay have always heard on the
continent, that boar will overthrow horse and man,
they abide his onset and fully believe it but deter
mined the onslaught of these s upon the present
one that forming circle around him, they contrived
to trample him to death, and almost to atoms
have had occasion to remark before, that some of
the very widest birds and animals capable of being
tanned with facility If taken young while Others are
Just the reverse.
The stag and deer tribe generally, instances of the
former popularity indeed the boldness of tame stays
renders them dangerous take it for granted that
they could scarcely be tolerated domestic animals
from their bold and fierce temper and their tendency to
use their horns when provoked have often seen it
tried but always with the result that the bucks
found quite intolerable, and duly ~ Killed off, An
ception may be claimed for very fine stag once knew
forming part of the staff OF marching regiment He
went with his corps everywhere was much admired at
reviews, and other such gatherings. knew another
case of tame buck, which, in country town. would
stroll in from his masters house In the suburbs and
constantly seen scampering back with loaf of bread
dried fish, cut of bacon in his mouth for nothing
came aniss to his appetite He the plague of the
hucksters' shops in the vicinity, and cost doubt,
good sum for damages II vlt-s, a rggitls}& tH
The same tendency i'll temper aud ferocity runs
through the antelope tribe and the bex and chanlois
are examples of it, knew case some years ago of
very fine chamois, in the collection of the Duke of
Gotha which became dangerous that it had to be de-
stroyed. BY the way, could not help feeling, when
these animals what pity it is that little pains
taken to afford such are kept in captivity
opportunity of showing their native qualities. These
chamois wcrc confined in small court, with miniature
attempt at rocky pinnacle In the centre. Now, it
would have cost but trihe to enclose with wooden
poles from the adjoining forest space considerably
larger and within this to have erected something which
might have given these interesting creatures oppor
tunity of displaying their wondrous agility. Perhaps
this additional space and climbing ground might have
saved the life of the beautiful buck by giving him
vent for his pentnp energies was told that nothing
could be formidable than the way in which he had
recently attacked calf belonging to the keeper which
unluckily in his way He charged the poor beast
with great violence, inserting the points of his little
crooked horns with great dexerity in its side and rip
ping it open in such way as to cause almost instant
death.
Il seems singular that hear nothing of attempts to
introduce the chamois and ibex into Scotland Ought
not tho wild solitude of Highland ranges to afford
them dwelling suitable to their nature and habits 1t
may indeed be doubtful whether any mountains below
thclevel of perpetual would be cool enough for
the bex in but the experiment would bo well
worth trial.
What a noble animal is the now nearly extinct bex!
1t is great mistake to suppose that the chamois dis
putes with him the honor of the highest mountain
throne On the contrary of all fourooted creatures he
alone breathes the keen air of the Alpine SUBMITS and
although descending at night to feed in the lower
ranges yet his home is the bosom Of the eternal glacier
stretched at length upon which he passes the
day, and strives to cool by its contact his heated
blood
What would one not give to see herd of these won
dcrul creatures with their huge horns rccurved almost
to the tail, yet skipping lightly from cag to orag and
finding safe footing amongst the most appalling prec
pces IL is not surprising that the chase of the bex has
for the hunter of the Alps all the fascination of gam
bling No laws, however strict can restrain him and
although at least in Savoy, it is penal to destroy the
ibex, the work ofslaughter goes unchecked.
The race Is thinning out year by year but it has
vved the period assigned by De Sassure for Its exerm
nation When taken, 1t is q valuable prize The skin
is of some Importance In the flesh is excel
lent and the horns, if good will fetch from f3 to Ca
Good horns known by their size and the number
of knobs along their edge Each year of the animals
life knob is added and they exceed thirty that
being understood the extreme age of the ibex.
fortunate enough to procure years since, fine
growth but such instances now very rare, and win
soon be unknown altogether. , ~ fs@ go
All the horns brought to market are not necessarily
the result Of poachng Some generally found, when
tho mclts in spring lying at the foot Of pecpces
over which the poor beasts have been carried by the
falling avalanches Such must have been the fate of
the bearer of the horns alluded to- and awful the crash
with which the patriarch to his end, for the
strong bones OF the skull split in two although ap
parenty almost hard iron and portion went with
each horn.
believe am scarcely In order in speaking of the
ibex among the antelopcs he is after all only supe
rior sort of goat The chamos is allowed to hold an in
termediate place, and act connecting link between
the goat and the true antelopes.
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