It was formerly believed, on the authority of Buffon, that the animals of America were inferior in size to those of the eastern continent. The researches of modern naturalists have not only refuted this error, but have established the fact, that where any difference of size exists in animals of the same class, the superiority in most cases is on the American side. The animal kingdom of North America embraces a considerable variety of species, some of which are not found in other parts of the world.

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Of the Bear species those peculiar to North America are the Grizzly, Barren Ground, and Black Bears. The great Polar, or White Bear, is found also in the Arctic regions of Europe and Asia. In North America it inhabits the continent as far south as Labrador and Hudson's Bay, its principal residence is on fields of ice, with which it frequently floats a great distance from land. These huge crea tures feed mostly on animal substances, and as they swim and dive well, they hunt seals and other marine animals with great success. The White Bear possesses prodigious strength, and often attacks sailors who visit the Arctic seas. is also remarkable for its attachment to its young, and is of a dirty or yellowish white colour. The Grizzly Bear, the most powerful and dangerous animal of North America, inhabiting both sides of the Rocky Mountains, is, when full grown, reported to exceed 800 pounds in weight, and its strength so great that it has been known to drag to a considerable distance a buffalo weighing 1000 pounds; the cubs of this species can climb trees, but the adult animal cannot: the hunter may thus escape, but the infuriated beast will sometimes keep watch below, and thus confine his enemy for many hours. This is a carnivorous species, but will occasionally eat vegetables. The Barren Ground Bear receives its name from the circumstance of its inhabiting only that section of the continent called the Barren Lands, or grounds situated north of 60°; this is a formidable animal, and is much dreaded by the Indians, who are very careful to avoid burning bones in their encampments, or any thing that might attract its notice. It frequents the sea coast in autumn in considerable numbers, for the purpose of feeding on fish. In size it is between the Grizzly and the Black Bear. The Black Bear of North America is different from the European animal of the same name. It has a milder disposition, and lives more on vegetables: its favourite food is the different kinds of berries, and it will not, except from necessity, subsist on animal substances. The Cinnamon Bear of the traders, and found in the vicinity of Hudson's Bay, is considered only an accidental variety of the Black Bear.

Of the Deer kind there are several species not found in the old continent. The Moose Deer resembles the Eik of Europe, but is of a different species; it is the largest of the Deer kind found in America, and perhaps in the world, being in height to the shoulder full six feet, and weighs when full grown from 1000 to 1200 pounds; it is a solitary animal, and the most shy and wary of all the Deer species: it was formerly found as far south as the Ohio River, but now occurs most frequently in the countries north of the great lakes and in the unsettled parts of Canada, and also occasionally in the northern sections of New Hampshire, Maine, &c. The Wapiti or American Elk is second in size only to the Moose, and formerly ranged over all the middle parts of the continent: it is now found only in the remote western districts of the United States and Canada, and also west of the Rocky Mountains. The size and appearance of the Elk are imposing; his air denotes confidence of great strength, while his towering horns exhibit weapons capable of doing much injury when offensively employed. The Elk is shy and retiring, and has very acute senses; the flesh is highly prized as food, and the horns when in a soft state are considered a delicacy. The Indians make bows of the perfect horn, which are highly serviceable from their elasticity; and from their skins they prepare various articles of dress, and apply them also to other purposes. The Caribou, or American Reindeer, is a different species from the Reindeer of the old continent; it is found in all the high northern latitudes of North America, and has never been domesticated or used as a beast of draught by the natives, being considered only as game; there are two species, the Woodland and the Barren Ground Caribou. The Virginia Deer is one of the most ele

gant of the American animals of its class; it lives in large herds, and is found over a considerable portion of North America; it is said to display great enmity to the Rattlesnake, which it contrives to crush by leaping with its fore-feet conjoined and dropping perpendicularly on the serpent, bounding away with great lightness, and repeating this attack until his enemy is destroyed.

One species of Antelope, the prong-horned, is peculiar to America; it is a graceful and fleet animal, so swift that it seems rather to fly than leap from rock to rock in the rugged regions which it inhabits; they live in small families, and are found in the vast plain of the Missouri and Saskatchawan, in the vicinity of the Rocky Mountains.

The American Bison, or Buffalo, once common in the United States, has gradually disappeared before the white population; it now only exists to the west of the Mississippi, and roams over the vast grassy plains in the vicinity of the Rocky Mountains; here it is found in immense herds, amounting, it is said, oftentimes to from 5000 to 10,000 head; the flesh is tender and juicy, and the tongue and hump, or wig, are in particular esteemed great delicacies. The Musk Ox derives its name from its flesh, when in a lean state, smelling strongly of that substance. It is truly an Arctic animal, being found only in the barren lands beyond the Great Slave Lake, and as far north as Melville Island in 75°. In size the Musk Ox scarcely equals that of the small Highland cattle, the carcase when cleaned not weighing more than 3 cwt.; it assembles in herds and flees at the sight of man; it is much hunted both by the Indians and Esquimaux.

Herds of wild Horses roam over the great plains on both sides of the Rocky Mountains, and like those existing under similar circumstances in the southern continent, are the offspring of the European animal, imported soon after the first settlement of the country. They are found from Texas to the plains of the Saskatchawan, and are of great importance to the Nomadic Tribes, who train them not only for transporting their tents and families from place to place, but also for the purposes of war, the chase, and of food; the flesh of the horse being thus mostly used by the Spokains and several other tribes, and likewise at times by the residents of the Hudson's Bay Company s posts on the Columbia River and its branches. A few individuals of the Wild Horse purchased by citizens of the United States from the Indians, have been found remarkable for their speed and bottom.

Of the Cat kind this continent contains several species, all equally remarkable, like their congeners of the old world, for the beauty and diversity of their colour, and the treachery of their disposition. The cougar, or puma, called also the panther, is the largest and most formidable of its class found in North America; it is about one-third less in size than the lion, and of sufficient strength to carry a man up a tree; though now rare in the more settled parts of the continent, it is occasionally met with in the remote districts of the United States. It preys upon calves, sheep, &c., but has also been known to attack man. The jaguar, an animal of the cat kind, resembling the panther, is found, though rarely, in Mexico; also the ocelet and tiger-cat.

The Rocky Mountain sheep and goat inhabit the same range of mountains from which they derive their name; the latter is about the size of the domestic sheep, its fleece hanging down on both sides like that of the merino breed, the hair is long and straight, coarser than that of the sheep, but finer than that of the domestic goat; the Rocky Mountain sheep is larger than any domestic sheep; the horns of the ram are immense, in some of the old ones so much so as to prevent the animal's feeding on level ground. The hair is like that of the reindeer, at first short, fine and flexible, but as the winter advances it becomes coarse, dry and brittle, though it feels soft; it is then so close as to become erect; they collect in flocks from three to thirty, the young rams and females herding together, while the old rams form separate flocks.

The principal fur-bearing animals of North America are the beaver, musquash, or muskrat, pine-marten, pekan, or fisher, the Canada lynx, raccoon, and stoat, or ermine. These animals are all diligently hunted, both by Indians and the inhabitants of those settled parts of the continent in which any of them are yet found:

their skins make an important item of export to Europe, particularly from Canada; some of these animals are evidently decreasing with great rapidity. The well known beaver is now almost exclusively confined to Canada and the north-west districts of America; even here, however, their numbers are daily diminishing. In the year 1743 the imports of beaver skins into the ports of London and Rochelle exceeded 150,000; in 1827 the import, though from four times the extent of fur country known in 1743, was less than 50,000; of the musquash, between 400,000 and 500,000 skins are annually exported from Canada, and of the pinemarten 100,000 skins; the latter are used for trimmings, and will dye so well as to imitate sables and other expensive furs, hence they have always been an important article of commerce. The sea-otter also furnishes a large amount of valuable furs, principally to the Russians on the north-west coast.

The dog kind exhibits several varieties not found in other parts of the world; of these the Newfoundland dog is remarkable for its sagacity, great bulk and strength. The Esquimaux dog, also a large variety, is very useful to the Esquimaux and the traders in drawing their furs and baggage. The North American dog is used in the Hudson's Bay countries both as a beast of draught and in the chase, and also for food, its flesh being esteemed by the Canadian voyagers, or canoe-men, superior to all other.

Foxes and wolves abound in most parts of the central and northern regions of the continent; of the former there are the arctic, sooty, cross, black, gray, and red fox, and of the latter, the Mexican, the gray, red, black, dusky, and barking, or prairie-wolf. Of the opossum, found from Pennsylvania to Brazil, there are several species, of which the Virginia, or common opossum, is well known in the United States; also, the skunk, marmots of different species, squirrels, hares, and a great variety of other smaller animals.

The whale species are numerous on the northern coasts; the most useful and remarkable are the common and spermaceti whale, and the narwhale, or seaunicorn. The common seal frequents the sea coasts perhaps throughout the world, but is in North America most numerous in high northern latitudes, and is of the greatest use to the Esquimaux and other inhabitants of those frozen regions, furnishing them with all the necessaries of life; they are of various kinds, as the hooded, harp, fetid, ursine, and great seal.

Most of the Birds of North America, and especially those of the United States, are now rendered as familiar to the European naturalist as those of his own country; for they have been more ably and more fully illustrated than those of any part of the world. Rapacious birds are here as numerous as in other parts of the earth, and of a great many different species, including eagles, vultures, hawks, falcons, owls, &c. The white-headed or bald-headed eagle is well known as being the chosen emblem of our own republic. It is common to both continents; but, while it seems almost entirely confined to the arctic regions of the old world, it abounds in the milder regions of the United States, in the new. It is notorious for its lawless habits; robbing the fish-hawk of his hard-won victim, and even compelling the vulture to disgorge its filthy prey. The vultures are the great Californian vulture, black vulture, and turkey buzzard. The first seems to be confined to California and the adjoining regions west of the Rocky Mountains: they build their nests in the most secret parts of the pine forests: they measure from four to four and a half feet in length. Their food is carrion or dead fish, and they will in no instance attack any living animal, unless it be wounded and unable to walk. In searching for their prey, they soar to a great height; and, on discovering a wounded deer or other animal, they follow its track until it sinks disabled to the ground. Although only one bird may be first in possession, it is soon surrounded by great numbers, who all fall upon the carcase, and devour it to a skeleton within an hour, even though it be a horse or a stag. The black vulture and turkey buzzard are both well known and numerous in the southern States of our Union, where, notwithstanding their filthy habits, they are protected by law and common usage, being of great utility in devouring putrid animal matter which would otherwise be highly offensive and injurious.

The wild turkey is peculiar to America: it is a fine large bird, of brilliant

blackish plumage. It breeds with the domestic one; and when the latter is reared near the range of the former, it is sure to be enticed into the woods by it. Of this bird, Dr. Franklin observed, it would have been a much fitter emblem of our country than the white-headed eagle, a lazy, cowardly, tyrannical bird, living on the labours of others, and more suited to represent an imperial despotic government than the republic of America.

Of the duck kind, of which there are many species, the best-known is the canvas-back. It is peculiar to America, and is more celebrated than any other for the excellent flavour of its flesh: they are found mostly in Chesapeake Bay and the neighbouring rivers. In winter, they are occasionally so numerous as to cover the water to the extent of several acres: this bird is an expert diver, and lives on the bulbous root of a water-grass resembling garden celery in taste, to which is attributed its peculiar flavour: they dive in from 6 to 8 feet of water, and are frequently attended by the widgeon, or bald-pate duck, who never dives himself, but watches the rising of the canvas-back, and, before he has his eyes well opened, snatches the delicious morsel from his mouth and makes off: on this account, the two species live in continual contention.

Perhaps the most characteristic of American birds is the humming-bird, remarkable alike for its diminutive size and the brilliant metallic lustre of its plumage: they are most numerous in South America, but are found in the northern continent as far north as 45°.

Vast flights of pigeons migrate periodically to different parts of the continent, frequently extending for many miles on each side, darkening the entire atmosphere, and often requiring four or five days to pass over a particular place.

Of the birds of game, the principal are the grouse, pheasant, partridge, &c. The species of grouse are more numerous, and entirely distinct from those of Europe. The largest and most valuable is the Cock of the Plains. Some other of the peculiar American birds are the mocking-bird, blue jay, and whip-poor-will. Parrots and parroquets abound in Mexico; and in the United States there is one species of parrot.

The seas, lakes, and rivers of North America swarm with a great variety of delicious fish. The cod, so well known in commerce, is found only in the northern seas. Their great rendezvous is on the Bank of Newfoundland and other sand-banks that lie off the coasts of the northern parts of the United States: these situations they prefer on account of the number of worms produced in those sandy bottoms, which tempt them to resort there for food. Some conception may be formed of their amazing fecundity, from the fact that nearly ten millions of eggs have been counted in one fish of a moderate size. The mackerel and alewife fisheries, along the coasts of the United States, also give employment and food to great numbers of persons. The shad is taken in large quantities in all the rivers of the Atlantic States, and in the proper season is highly esteemed. The salmon is also found in the northern rivers of the United States and Canada, on both sides of the continent, and is especially plentiful in Columbia River. The white-fish, or titameg of the traders, is caught in all the great lakes from Canada to the Arctic Ocean. It is a delicious article of food, and as many as 900 barrels have been taken at a single fishery on Lake Superior.

The Reptiles of America are numerous, and, like the generality of this class in other parts of the world, the majority are apparently useless, and some dangerous. In North America, the alligator does not occur north of the Carolinas and the Red River of Louisiana. In severe winters he buries himself in the mud, and lies in a torpid state. The rattlesnakes are peculiar to the New World, and are particularly formidable on account of the deadly venom of their bite. There are

four or five species of this reptile, all of which reach the length of five or six feet. The common species of the United States is extremely numerous about the sources of the Columbia River.

There are several kinds of land tortoises, but they are all of a moderate size. Some curious salamanders have been recently discovered, and the celebrated siren is an inhabitant of the muddy lakes of Georgia and South Carolina. This sin

gular reptile has long perplexed naturalists, some thinking it a tadpole or imperfect frog; it is now, however, fully ascertained to be an adult animal.

The aboriginal Americans all constitute, at the present day, by their physical characters not less than by their languages, a race different from those known before the discovery of America, and preserve throughout this vast extent of country and variety of climates, the same essential characteristics. They have a copper colour, resembling that of rusty iron or cinnamon, coarse, straight, black hair, high cheek-bones, and sunken eyes; it has been affirmed that they are without beards, but it is well ascertained that this is not the case naturally, but that most of them take great pains to pluck them out. Almost all the Indians near Mexico, and those on the north-west coast, wear mustachios. The American Indians are generally erect and of fine forms, with few instances of decrepitude or deformity; they have cleaner limbs, not so muscular, and with less tendency to corpulence, than the whites. As a race they have countenances that are generally unjoyous, stern and ruminating; it is with them either gloomy taciturnity or bacchanalian revel. Their impassible fortitude and endurance of suffering, their contempt of pain and death, invest their character with a kind of moral grandeur. It is to be doubted, however, whether some part of his vaunted stoicism be not the result of more than ordinary degree of physical insensibility. Like all ignorant people unable to trace the relation between results and causes, they are beyond all other superstitious. It may be laid down as an universal trait of Indian character. The warrior who braves death a thousand times, and in every form in the fury of battle, carries with him to the combat a little charmed bag of filthy and disgusting ingredients, in which he places no little reliance or security against the balls and arrows that are directed against him; all savages in this region are hospitable : even the enemy whom they would have sought and slain far from their cabins, who presents himself fearlessly there, claims and receives their hospitality. They accord to the cabin hearth the honours and the sanctity of an asylum.

Since the introduction of the horse by Europeans, many of the Indian tribes have acquired an astonishing degree of skill in the management of that noble animal; among these are the Pawnees, the Comanches, the Sioux, the Apaches, Shoshonees, Enneshoors, and other tribes: some of these have also borrowed the use of fire-arms from their European neighbours, but in general they have rejected the arts of peace and civilization.

Perhaps there is no tribe among the American Indians so degraded that it has not some notion of a higher power than man, and in general they seem to have entertained the idea of a Great Spirit as a master of life, in short, a Creator, and of an Evil Spirit, holding divided empire with him over nature; many of them have priests, prophets, and sorcerers, in whose supernatural powers they trust, and most, if not all, appear to believe in a future state; many attempts have been made by benevolent persons to convert the aboriginal tribes to the christian religion, to teach them the arts of peace and civilized life, and to train them to habits of industry; but so little has been the effect of those efforts, that many do not hesitate to pronounce it impossible to engraft the European civilization on the Indian character. Some doubtful exceptions to this general failure of the attempts to effect the civilization of the Indians occur in the United States, where some of the Cherokees and other tribes hold property, cultivate the ground, and practise the useful arts.

There are some circumstances which invest the present missionary efforts with stronger probabilities of success than any that have preceded them. The number of Indians that are half-breeds, or mixtures of the blood of the whites, is great, and continually increasing. These generally espouse, either from conviction or from party feeling, the cause of civilization and christianity. It is more universally believed than it once was, that christianity is the religion of social and civilized man. Instead of relying much on the hope of the conversion of adult hunting and warrior savages, the effort is chiefly directed towards the young. Schools, the loom, the anvil, and the plough, are sent to them; amidst the comfort. stability and plenty of cultivation, they are to be imbued with a taste for civilized