THE Roebuck, which is the smallest of the Deer kind, was formerly an inhabitant of Wales, and of the northern parts of England; but it is now very rare in these places, and is chiefly found in Scotland. It is fond of mountainous districts, while the Fallow-Deer delights in wooded plains, and the Stag in extensive forests. It differs also from them in its domestic habits, being kind and constant to its mate, as its chosen companion for life: "so that," as Professor Bell observes, "the Turtle-Dove has no longer the exclusive claim to be considered as the honoured emblem of the virtue of conjugal constancy."

These animals are not often met with in large numbers, but are seen two or three together; they are extremely cautious, and make use of their fine sense of smelling, as well as hearing, to warn them of an enemy. They are very quick at discovering the approach of man; and one way by which their pursuer deceives them, is to hold some lighted peat in the hand, as the animals are accustomed to the smell, and are less upon their guard in proceeding towards the spot to which it leads them.

Their cry has a sound between that of the bleating of a sheep and a bark; at night this cry may be heard at a great distance. They are very active, and bound without much seeming effort across a space of nearly twenty feet. When closely hunted, or suddenly startled, their speed is wonderfully great, and the action of their body and limbs beautiful. They feed on the buds and small shoots of forest trees, and thus commit no small injury in the woods.

The usual method of killing them is to send hounds into the woods, and men to beat the covers, the tracks or passes being guarded by the shooters. Another mode sometimes adopted is to walk quietly through their haunts in the early dawn, and, if possible, to get within shot of them, which, however, is no easy matter.

There is a fine specimen of a Persian Roebuck in the gardens of the Zoological Society. This animal was presented to the institution by Sir T. D. Acland, Bart.

THIS is a graceful, mild, and gentle creature. The Romans gave it the name of Camelopardalis, from its similarity to the Camel in form, and to the Panther in spots. Pliny, and other ancient writers, briefly noticed it; but Heliodorus* thus described it in his Ethiopica :-"The ambassador of the people of

* A native of Emessa in Phoenicia, and bishop of Tricca in Thessaly, who lived near the end of the fourth century. In his youth he wrote a romance in Greek, called "The Ethiopics," in Ten Books.

Abyssinia brought presents to Hydaspes. Among other things was an animal of a strange and wonderful kind, about the size of a camel, marked with florid spots the hinder parts were low, like those of a lion; the shoulders, front feet, and breast, disproportionably elevated; the neck was small, and lengthened out from the body, like a swan; the head in form resembled a camel's, but was twice as large as a Lybian ostrich's ; and it rolled its eyes, which had a film over them, in a strange manner."

When standing with its head and neck erect, the Giraffe measures sixteen or eighteen feet in height; and this is its usual position, except when grazing. It feeds delicately, and chiefly on the leaves of trees, which it can easily reach; but in browsing from the ground, it is obliged to stretch apart its front legs. In preparing to lie down, it kneels like a camel. pursued, it trots so fast that even a good horse is scarcely able to overtake it; and it has an advantage in being able to keep on its course for a long time without taking rest.

When

It is found on the plains of Africa, and is sometimes attacked by lions and other beasts of prey; and, though it might at first sight appear defenceless, we are told that "by its kicks it frequently wearies, discourages, and distances even the lion." The use of the little tufted horns with which its head is adorned is not known. The flesh of the young Giraffe is said to be good food. The Hottentots hunt the Giraffe, and are fond of its marrow.

Some interesting specimens of this rare and beautiful animal are preserved in the gardens of the Zoological Society. The original couple were procured with great difficulty in Arabia, in 1836, by M. Thibaut, who says, "In its disposition the Giraffe is very gentle. It is extremely fond of society. I have seen some of them shed tears when it no longer saw its companion, or the persons who were in the habit of attending it."

THE Llama is generally about four feet and a half high, and nearly six feet in length. Its usual weight is about 300 pounds. It is a native of the Cordilleras of the Andes, and is still more frequently found in Peru and Chili.

Llamas live together in herds of one hundred or two hundred each, and feed on a peculiar kind of grass or reed that covers the mountains on the sides of which they dwell. While they can procure green herbage, they are never known to drink. They appear to possess a capability similar to that of the Camel, of resisting thirst, and of providing against its effects.

Mr. Bennett, in his description of a specimen which was recently kept in the Zoological Society's Gardens,