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the body of instantly finding the centre of gravity, and peculiarity of all the goat tribe, to which the chamois is nearly allied. The ability of the eye to measure distances, with such undeviating exactness, is associated with this power of finding the centre of gravity. Lib. Ent. Knowl.

THE OX.

Why is the hump of the zebra or Indian or highly prized?

Because it is chiefly composed of fat, and is reckoned the most delicate part. The whole of the breeds are treated with great veneration by the Hindoos, who hold it sinful to kill them.

Why are certain cows called Alderney?

Because the breed originally came from Alderney, a single British island, containing only one village. It is high, rugged, and encompassed by dangerous reefs, and the islanders have very little intercourse with the rest of the world.

Why is the lower smaller than the upper jaw of a

cow ?

Because the cow and all other ruminating animals have their grinding teeth intersected by indented transverse furrows, and the crowns are not placed horizontally, but incline obliquely, so that in the upper jaw the outer side is highest, and in the lower, that next the tongue.

THE GIRAFFE.

Why is the giraffe also called a camelopard?

Because the Romans, who so named it, fancied it a combination of the characters of the camel and leopard its ancient denomination was Zurapha, whence the name giraffe.

Why were the descriptions of the camelopard formerly received as fabulous?

Because of the absence of the animal from Europe, for three centuries and a half; whence, its extraordi

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nary height and apparent disproportions caused it to be classed with the unicorns, sphinxes, &c, of ancient poets and naturalists.

Why were the legs of the giraffe once said to be longer before than behind?

Because of the height of the withers, which according to the animal's age, may exceed the height of the rump by sixteen or twenty inches, and which disproportion, when seen at a distance, must have led to the above erroneous inference. Le Vaillant.

Why does the tongue of the giraffe differ from that of other animals?

Because it not only is the organ of taste, but has besides nearly all the powers of the proboscis of the elephant, although not possessed of the same strength. They differ, indeed, in one being an elongation of the organ of smell the other of the or

gan of taste. Sir E. Home.

Why does the giraffe move awkwardly?

Because of the disproportion of the hinder parts of its body, and the immense length of the neck, which, instead of being arched, forms an angle with the shoulders. In walking it moves the fore and hind foot of the same side together, like an ambling horse, from which circumstance it has a very remarkable motion, whence the move of the knight at chess is derived. - Blumenbach.

DEER.

Why is the fur of the rein-deer used by all the tribes of the arctic circle, for winter clothing?

Because the hairs composing the coat of the deer are so thick, that it is hardly possible to discern the least portion of the naked hide; and 'a suit of clothing made of this skin is so impervious to the cold, that, with the addition of a blanket of the same material, any one so clothed may bivouack on the snow with safety, in the most intense cold of an arctic winter's night.'- Dr Richardson.

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THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY

ASTOR, LENOX AND TILDEN FOUNDATIONS.

Why is the rein-deer a serviceable beast of burden? Because of the great strength of its shoulders and fore-quarters, and the muscularity of its loins.

Why do the Laplanders migrate with their herds of rein-deer from the interior to the coast of Lapland?

Because the interior, particularly its boundless forests, is so infested by stinging insects, that no animal can escape their incessant persecutions, but by fleeing to the coast; the cool sea breezes being unfavourable to the insects. - De Broke's Travels. Why does the rein-deer produce a crackling noise while running?

Because of the contraction of its hoofs, when the foot is raised from the ground.

Why are the hoofs of the rein-deer broad and spreading?

Because the foot may present a large surface when the rein-deer crosses the yielding snows; and, like the snow-shoe of the Norwegians and Canadian Indians, assist to prevent the animal sinking so deeply as it would if the hoof were small and compact, like that of the fallow-deer, which finds its food upon unyielding surfaces.

FALLOW-DEER.

Why does the fallow-deer, while drinking, plunge and keep its nose under water for a considerable time?

Because it has two spiracula or breathing-places besides the nostrils; one at the inner corner of each eye,having a communication with the nose.-G. White. Why was stag-hunting in England formerly very perilous?

Because when the stag turned to bay, the ancient hunter went in upon, and killed or disabled, the desperate animal. At certain times of the year this was held particularly dangerous,a wound received from a stag's horn being then deemed poisonous, and more

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