are often seized
with an immovable fit without having any apparent reason for it. In
steep places they are invaluable, and their feet more sure than those of
men would be. I have seen them put both their fore feet out together,
and let them slip, then drag their hind feet up to them, and repeat this
process on descending the vitrified, and almost perpendicular roads of
Madeira, taking a zigzag direction across the road each time. Mules do
the same, and perhaps derive the faculty from their asinine blood.

There cannot be a better proof of the intellect of asses, than by
shewing them to be fond of the fine arts; therefore the account of one
at Chartres, must enter into this work. "He used to go to the Chateau
d'Ouarville, to hear the music that was often performed there. The
owner of the Chateau was a lady, who had an excellent voice; and
whenever she began to sing, he never failed to draw nearer the window,
and listen very attentively. Once, when a piece was performed, which no
doubt pleased him better than any he had heard before, he left his
ordinary post, walked without ceremony into the music-room; and in order
to add to the concert, what he thought perhaps might be an improvement,
he began to bray with all his might."

CAMELS.--DROMEDARIES.

A peculiarity in the digestive organs of some animals causes all those
who possess it to be thrown together into one large order, by
naturalists. They have no front teeth, except in the lower jaw, and in
place of them, the upper jaw is provided with a bony pad. A very few
have canine teeth, and their grinders are marked with double crescents.
They have two hoofs, but as the inside edge of these is flattened, they
look as if they had only one cleft down the middle, the foot underneath
is provided with elastic pads, connecting the toes together, and
extruding beyond them at the sides. These cushions at each step expand,
support the animal in yielding sand, and protect it on harder ground.

After they have taken their food, these Ruminantia, as they are called,
lie down, and remain in a state of complete repose, in order to chew it
a second time; and the process is thus accomplished: they have four
stomachs, the first is called the paunch, and is the largest of all;
into it descend the grass, herbs, and leaves, when first cropped and
imperfectly masticated. Thence the mass goes into the second stomach, or
honeycomb, so named, because its structure gives it the appearanc