A general account of the Hunterian Museum, Glasgow: including historical and scientific notices of the various objects of art, literature, natural history, anatomical preparations, antiquities, &c., in that celebrated collection / by J. Laskey.

Date:: 1813

Credit: A general account of the Hunterian Museum, Glasgow: including historical and scientific notices of the various objects of art, literature, natural history, anatomical preparations, antiquities, &c., in that celebrated collection / by J. Laskey. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh. The original may be consulted at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh.

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$' ^' Lion, the Pant]ier, and other beasts of prey, that do not hunt by seem, tale j^^^ advantage of the general consternation, and follow in silence, till the Jackalis • have hunted down their prey, when tliey satisfy their own cravings, leaving the remainder for the Jackalis; hence this animal has been vulgarly called the l-ion's provider. No. 17. The Se.\l, (Phoca Fltulina, Linn.) is found, with some exception, 10 almost every quarter of the globe; in the Northern seas of Asia, liurope, and America, as well as in the less frequented regions, towards the South pole. Its usual length is front five to six feet; the body is closely covered with short hair of various colours, smooth and shining; its tongue is forked at the end; it has two canine teeth in each jaw, six cutting teeth in the upper, and four in the lower; it has five toes on each foot, furnished with strong sharp claws, which enable it to ciimb the rocks on which it frequently basks. It swims with great strength and swiftness, is very pUyful, and sports without fear about ships and boats. It feeds on various kinds of fish, and ii. frequently seen near the shore in pursuit of its prey. Seals are found in great abundance on the coasts of Great Britain; particu- larly in the deep recesses and caverns in the northern parts of the Island, where they resort in the breeding time, and continue till the young ones go to sea.. The growth of Seals is so amazingly rapid, that after nine tides from their birth they are as active as the old ones. The female brings forth her young on the land, sits on her hind legs while she suckles them, and as soon as they are able carries them to sea, learns them to swim, .and to search for food; when they become fatigued, she places them on her back. The young ones know the voice of their mother, and attend to her call. No. 18. The C.\pibara, {Sus Hydrocbierus, Linn.) is a native of South A- merica, and lives on the banks of great rivers, such as the Oronoque, Ama- zons, and Rio de la Plata; swims and dives remarkably well, and ii very dex- terous in catching fish, upon which it chiefly subsists; feeds mostly at night, and commits graat ravages in the gardens, as it also eats grain, fruits and siigar canes; they keep together in large herds, and make a noise not much unlike the braying of an ass. It is about the size of a small hog, and by some Natural- ists has been classed with that animal; its flesh is fat and tender, but like that of the otter, has an oily and fishy taste. This animal is of tlie greatest rarity, and we do not recollect to have seen but one other specin.en in this country; it was alive in the possession of Mr, Kendrick of Piccadilly, London, about five years since. STAIR LEADING TO THE GALLERY OF PAINTINGS. &c. On the walls of the stair-case are hung several valuable Prints, &c. as Le Champ de Drat d'Or. The interview of Henry VIII. King of Erglaiid and the French King Francis I., between Guincsfind Ardres in the month of June 1520. The original picture, twelve feet one inch in length; and six feet five inches in height, is preserved in the private apartments in Windsor Castle; drawn from the original by E. Edwards, engraved by Bafire. 2d. The embarkation of King Henry VIII. at Dover, May 31st, 1520; preparatory to his interview with the French King Fraucis I., size as the above. 3d. The encampment of the English forces near Portsmouth, together with the view of the English and French fleets at the commer.cenient of the action, 19th July, 1G55—Engraved from a coeval painting at Cowdry in Sussex, the seat of the Right Honourable Anthony Browne, Lord Viscount Montague.— Engraved by J, Basire. These three prints were engraved by order of the Antiquarian Society, Lon-$