this as in other instances, is the organ of tactivity. The eyes of the animal were small, on a line with the cranial projection, and, as it appeared to us, very inefficient by day-light. The iris, as we

saw it, seemed very narrow, and of a dark hazelbrown, and the pupil minute; but, when the shadows of evening descend over the wooded swamps of Brazil or Guiana, may not that pupil expand into a dark orb, bounded only by the little eyelids? Looking at the eyes with consideration, we registered them in our mind as organs formed for twilight or nocturnal vision. Little use, indeed, did the animal make of them when perambulating its apartments, as we shall soon demonstrate.

that the recognition chiefly depended upon the sense of smell. The animal allowed him to pat it, and seemed pleased with his notice; but it uttered no noise or cry so long as we stayed to observe it. This, however, proves nothing: it is said to utter, when pleased, a peculiar whine, and we have the highest authority for this fact.

From the sense of smell to that of taste the transition is direct. Let it here be premised that the ant-eater has no teeth; it is therefore strictly edentate, as naturalists term it. The jaw-bones are long, slender, and feeble. The mouth is a little aperture at the end of the snout, and merely fitted for the protrusion of a long, rapier-like, glutinous tongue from its sheath; as the natural food of this animal consists principally of termite ants and their pupa-the latter more especiallythis long viscous tongue is a most efficient instrument for such a purpose. For the crushing of such food teeth are not needed, as it is swallowed without mastication, and doubtless with a copious flow of saliva. But we have yet to describe the animal's tongue as it presented itself to our personal observation. We were contemplating the anteater while it sat up on its haunches, like a great dog, with its long snout elevated; suddenly from its mouth a thin, dark, purplish glossy stream, like that of treacle, seemed to flow, certainly to the extent

THE WHITE FEMALE ANT.

Now for the organs of hearing. We have described their external figure and position, close above the little eyes; but what shall we say of of more than two feet. In this stream a slight the animal's hearing power? If sensibility to inVocations loudly uttered could have awakened the sleeper through this medium, he must have responded to the call. "Seven sleepers" are recorded in the works of the olden time; surely this somnolent Brazilian, taking its siesta, might be put down for the eighth: it slept as an athlete. When aroused, however, it seemed even then almost dead to sounds and exclamations; at least it noticed them not, and they passed by it as the dle wind.

If sight was defective and hearing obtuse, the contrary appeared to be the case with the sense of smell-a fact which indeed might be inferred even from a consideration of the extension of the olfactory organs, carried along the upper portion of the tubular head from the space between the ears to the two little narrow terminal slits which represent the nostrils. Ever and anon the animal elevated its snout and sniffed the air, and when its keeper, a most careful and obliging man, brought in a pan of milk, it followed him about with a stumping, bear-like gait, evidently directed rather by the sense of smell than of vision to the vessel which he carried in his hand. Moreover, it evidently knew its attendant, and indicated, by projecting its snout to him when he at first entered the apartment without anything in his hands,

Tactivity means feeling, in contradistinction to simple sensitiveness. For example, our hands are endowed with tactivity; our whole cutaneous surface with sensitiveness.

vibration was perceptible, and then, as if its current suddenly retrograded, it glided upwards and rolled back through the mouth into its hidden fount. This stream was the tongue. Many times, both while the animal rested and while it traversed its apartment, was this exhibition repeated, and always with sufficient deliberation for the eye to follow out the whole movement. We are assured,

however, that when employed in active service, a breach in the wall of an ants' mound having been effected, the movements of this organ are incalenlably rapid, which we can readily believe.

As we have said, our Brazilian stranger followed the keeper, bearing in his hand a vessel of milk.*

In noticing the diet of the animal in question, we may observe that in its native wilds it is a destroyer of termites; but our captive cannot here be entertained with such fare. As a substitute, it is furnished with a supply of raw eggs, the shells of which are of course removed. Of these it consumes

In a short time, having at our especial desire tested the olfactory sense of the animal, he indulged it with a good draught of the coveted beverage. We expected to see it lap the fluid up by some action of the tongue; perchance, doglike; perchance like that displayed when the organ is inserted into the sinuosities of the termites' mounds, and is drawn back laden with the luscious food. Not so, however: it simply applied its tiny mouth to the milk, and sucked it up gradually and quietly, with the least possible perceptible sound. Not more delicately does the horse sip its water from the trough, than did the ant-eater its milk from the pan. A thought crossed our mind at the time: how would the ant-eater manage with boiled marrow-bones of beef? would not the remarkable tongue be then displayed in full action? For once, at least, the experiment might be worth a trial, if only for the sake of witnessing the action of this organ.

It may seem at first surprising that an animal so bulky and massive as the ant-eater, can not only subsist, but keep up its muscular strength and condition, on such diet as that afforded by white ants or termites. The same observation applies with even more force to the Greenland whale; but, in each instance, we draw our deduction from erroneous premises: we do not take into account the extremely nutritious quality of the food, and the fact of its making up weight by the aggregation of a multitude of minute units, so as to counterbalance that of mass in solidity. Myriads upon myriads of tiny beings are daily devoured both by the whale and the ant-eater. Termite mounds characterize the haunts of the ant-eater, and we have described its structural fitness for demolishing these insect fastnesses. It makes short work in opening a breach, and then its tongue is brought into full play. Soon, however, the startled termites, in order to escape the fate of the myriads which first fell a sacrifice, take refuge in the deeper and smaller galleries of the ruined edifice. But vain are their efforts; their enemy tears off huge fragments of the galleried walls with his strenuous claws, holds them firm with his left paws, and leisurely breaks them up with the right, the tongue in the mean time performing its office with celerity. When satiated, the ant-eater ceases the work of destruction. It would appear that a considerable quantity of the earthy materials of the ants' dome is swallowed along with the insects themselves, and Dr. Schomburgk supposes, perhaps correctly, that this material aids digestion.

Furnished with its tail, which can be used as

about twenty-four daily; in addition to a pint of new milk, it also drinks a little water. While we were listening to this statement our eyes rested upon a dead rabbit, cut open and somewhat erushed, which lay on the floor of the apartment. We asked whether it was not killed and placed there by way of experiment. We found that it was so; the ant-cater had more than once in our presence applied its tongue to this newly-killed animal, as if to taste the blood; but beyond this, during the previous night, it had taken in-we can hardly say devoured the greatest portion of the softer viscera. It refused any preparation of grain. Nevertheless, we learn from Dr. Schomburgk, that a farinaceous preparation, namely, of cassada, was much relished by individuals in confinement, in their native regions. Minced fresh beef and even fish were also acceptable, provided these viands were chopped up so finely as to be under the prehensile command of the little moveable upper lip. That our captive should be enabled to

draw in and swallow the tender viscera of a young rabbit need not therefore surprise us.

a penthouse, the ant-eater makes no nest or burrow but curls itself up, and is thus sufficiently protected against the inclemency of the weather.

Though generally deliberate in its movements, the ant-eater can push its pace into a peculiar trot, or long gallop, and is then not easily overtaken; indeed, it will keep a horse on the canter for upwards of half an hour, and by no means tires readily itself.

The female possesses two pectoral teats, and produces only one young at a time, which soon clings firmly to her back, and, thus attached, is carried about with her during her rambles. It remains under her care for the space of a year, and then shifts for itself. When pursued with her young one on her back, the mother seeks safety in flight, and holds on her course till fairly overtaken; she has indeed been known to keep a horse on the full canter for half an hour. When hard pressed, she assumes a posture of defence, raises herself upon her haunches, and, resting on one fore paw, strikes with the claws of the other at her enemy, changing from the right to the left limb, and vice versâ, as the latter alters his position of attack. The force of these blows is tremendous. Should the danger increase, she throws herself upon her back, and strikes with both claws at her enemy. To the last moment the young one clings to the mother. It is in this manner that she receives her fierce opponent, the jaguar. Those who had witnessed the fight, described it to Dr. Schomburgk as being very characteristic. There is no yielding on the part of the ant-eater, and it frequently happens that both combatants remain dead upon the spot, or that one does not survive the other many hours. "The force," says Dr. Schomburgk, "of the ant-eater is astonishing, and I have no doubt that it is well able to rip up the belly of its assailant." He adds: "If the anteater should succeed in throwing its arms round its enemy, and fixing its claws in the flesh, nothing can disengage it from its embrace; the muscles grow stiff, and, as I have been told, without being able to vouch for its veracity, in this situation both animals die."

When young individuals are captured, they at first try to hide themselves, but, if approached, put themselves into a resolute posture of defence, growling at the same time like an irritated puppy. That the ant-eater is capable of climbing has been abundantly proved by Dr. Schomburgk, who wit nessed this operation most adroitly performed both by young ones and adults, the fore limbs being used alternately, and one secured by means of the claws before the other is advanced. From witnessing the agility thus displayed, Dr. Schomburgk expresses his conviction that, should circumstances require it, these animals would climb trees with the greatest readiness. Of the docility both of adults and young, in a short time after their capture, the following extracts from Dr. Schomburgk's paper, in the Proceedings of the Zoological Society," relative to another specimen of the ant-eater which came under his notice, may not be uninteresting. It appeared to be of a very cold nature; not only the extremities but the whole body felt cold to the touch, although we kept it wrapped up in a blanket. It preferred, however, to be nestled and to be taken up, and on putting it down it emitted

a whining but not unpleasant sound; when it did Being in the neighbourhood of this remarkable not succeed in attracting attention, and was not building not a very long time ago, I set out to taken up again, the whining sound was raised to a walk towards it with my light partridge cane in harsh and grating noise. In following a person, my hand, leaving one Thomas Christmas, a very it directed its course more by the smell than by eivil man and careful driver, to overtake me with sight, and carried its snout close to the ground. the fly containing a gentleman and lady of about If it found itself at fault, it wheeled round at right my own years, and a young friend of cheerful and angles upon the hind legs, and snuffed the air in agreeable disposition. I found quite enough in all directions until it found the right scent again. the walk agreeably to occupy my attention. Now Of the dimness of its sight we had various proofs; I was gazing up at the flights of starlings in the it hurt itself frequently against objects that stood air; now watching the blue or rather violet butterin its way, not observing them till it came in con- fly on the grassy ground; now inspecting the odd tact with them. Its power of smelling was ex-forms eaten by insects on the gates and stiles; and quisite, and it could discover its nurse, or any person to whom it had taken a liking, at a considerable distance. Upon these occasions it would commence the whining sound so peculiar to this animal. It was an expert climber. It happened that I was one of its favourites, and whilst writing on my table it used to come softly behind me, and as soon as it was sure it had found me out, it climbed up my legs with great dexterity. Out of amusement we frequently held up its blanket, and it climbed up its whole length.

now regarding the deaf stone-breaker in the road, and the harvest-people in the fields. Presently I came in sight of Belvoir Castle, the most conspieuous object in the distant prospect.

Few scenes are more pleasantly impressive than this majestic castellated pile, standing on its commanding eminence, embosomed in a forest of foliage, stretching out far and wide, diversified with spacious walks and opening glades. The building is quadrangular, and the larger towers are surmounted by smaller ones rising above them. The numerous windows of the edifice of necessity impart to it a modern appearance, for the narrow slits of old fortresses were ill adapted for light and cheerfulness.

"When the Indian woman was not present, or otherwise occupied, and did not pet the young anteater, she used to throw some of the clothes she had worn or her own blanket before it, in which it wrapped itself and was pacified. This effect could not be produced by any other person's clothes. It showed its attachment by licking, and was very gentle and even sportive: we all prized it highly. It slept a great deal. We had it for nearly two months, and as it began to feed itself, we had great hopes of rearing it; unfortunately we were unable to procure milk, and whether in consequence of the change of food, or some other cause, it gradually declined. I found it sometimes as cold as ice, and stiff; and, though I recovered it repeat-dure, and many a warlike sally was made from its edly, it died one day during my absence.”

Having so far detailed the results of our personal observations relative to this extraordinary specimen, (introduced into the Gardens of the Zoological Society at the cost of 2007., through the exertions of the indefatigable secretary of the Institution,) it is our duty to express our thanks to the chief superintendent of the vivarium, for his kindness in affording the writer every facility for a leisurely survey of this singular creature, and for his compliance with our wishes in more than one instance.

OLD HUMPHREY'S VISIT TO BELVOIR

CASTLE.

The history of this castle may be given in a few words. The posterity of its founder held it to the reign of Henry III, when by marriage it came into the keeping of Robert de Roos, and afterwards into that of sir Robert Manners, of Etall, in the county of Northumberland; since which time it has not passed from the latter family, its present owner being John Henry Manners, duke of Rutland, K. G. During the cruel wars of York and Lancaster, many a rude attack did the castle en

massy walls; but, at last, it was ravaged and laid
partly in ruins. In the reign of Henry VIII,
Thomas Manners, lord Roos, the first earl of
Rutland, restored it, and the second earl also
greatly extended it; but, during the unhappy war
between king Charles and the Parliament, it again
became a seat of strife and contention.
party when successful garrisoned it, and in these
rude changes it suffered much. The rough usages
of iron-handed war left traces behind it-traces of
desolation.

owner.

Each

The castle was again repaired after the Restoration in 1668, but it did not attain its present magnificence till it came into possession of its present The outwork, called Staunton Tower, the chief stronghold of the castle, is exceedingly imCASTLE-VISITING and castle-building are very posing. The command of it is held by the family agreeable recreations: the one is performed on the of Staunton, which, by tenure of castle-guard, earth, the other in the air. Windsor, Warwick, were anciently required to appear with soldiers for Kenilworth, Edinburgh, Stirling, and Dumbarton the defence of this strong post in case of danger. are but a few of the frowning old fortresses which It has been the custom when any of the royal have contributed to my gratification. I now, family have honoured Belvoir Castle with their however, have to speak of Belvoir Castle, in Lei-presence, for the chief of the Staunton family percestershire. "Dash into your subject at once," says an author, "without wasting your time in a wordy preamble, if your object be to interest your reader, and not to show off your own cleverness." Thus seasonably admonished, I will at once dash into my subject. Having no royal pageant to parade, a flourish of trumpets will not be necessary.

sonally to appear, and present the key of the stronghold to such distinguished personage.

In the year 1816, Oct. 26th, a fearful fire gained the ascendancy over this princely dwelling and nearly destroyed it. The grand staircase, picturegallery, and part of the pictures were burnt. "The massy golden salver, composed of tributary tokens