Taguan.

This is a rather large species of the flying squirrel, the total length being nearly three feet, the tail forming about one foot eight inches, to the extremity of the long hairs with which it is thickly clothed. The little pointed ears are covered with short, soft fur. In all these curious little animals the skin of the flank is furnished with a parachute-like expansion, so largely developed that while the creature is sitting at ease, its paws but just appear from under the soft folds of the delicate and fur-like membrane. This when stretched to its utmost capacity is scarcely thicker than writing paper, and is covered with hair on both surfaces. When the Taguan intends to take one of its marvelous leaps, it stretches all its four legs to their fullest extent, and is upborne through the air, sailing along as if it really had the gift of flying. A smaller species is quite common in the United States. They are all very playful and lively.

Alpine Hare.

The Alpine hare does not differ materially from the sagacious little animal that is found in most countries of the northern hemisphere, except that in winter it turns more or less white, all over. In countries where the snow lies deep the hare makes a little cave for itself, as the snow falls around it, by pressing backwards and forwards so as to leave a small place between its body and the snow. By degrees the feathery flakes are formed into a domed chamber which entirely encloses the inmate except a little round hole made by its warm breath, and which serves admirably for ventilating purposes. The hare has four upper front teeth, long mobile. ears, short cocked-up tail, lengthened hind legs, furry soles and cleft upper lip. It begins to breed when only a year old, and produces four or five at a litter, The young hares are called leverets; they are born with their eyes open, and covered with hair. For four or five weeks they are cared for by the mother, and then left to their own devices. Although the hare is reputed to be one of the most timid of living creatures, it has been known to stand and fight a man who had taken captive its young. It is also a pugnacious fighter of its own species. It is said to equal the fox in cunning. It never becomes fat, can always run a long distance, and will sometimes jump an eight-foot wall to escape pursuit.

Panda.

Few of the mamalia are decorated with such refulgently beautiful fur as that which decks the body of the wah or panda, a native of Nepal. It inhabits the Himalayan regions in northern India and Thibet, being found generally among trees that grow near rivers and mountain torrents. It is the size of a large cat, with long and bushy tail. Its head is short and it is thick muzzled. The soles of its feet are covered with wool. It feeds on birds, their eggs, and insects. Its name wah is given because of the peculiar sound it makes. It has large claws and is very bear-like, both in structure and in habits--sucks water like a bear, instead of lapping it like a cat of dog. When enraged it rushes towards its keeper on its hind legs with claws protruded. It vents its anger in a spitting noise, and at other times utters a squeaking call note. On level ground it runs like a weazel, in a jumping gallop, keeping its back arched. Cuvier pronounces it the most beautiful of quadrupeds, but it does not occur in sufficeint numbers to make its fur an object of much commercial value.

Jackal.

A kind of wild dog, somewhat resembling a fox, which inhabits Asia and Africa. It hunts in packs, rarely attacking the larger quadrupeds, lurking during the day, and coming out at night, with dismal cries. It feeds on the remnants of the lion's prey, dead carcasses, and the smaller animals and poultry. It interbreeds with the common dog, and may be domesticated. The wild jackal emits an offensive odor. From the popular but erroneous notion that the jackal hunts up the prey for the king of beasts, it has been called the lion's provider; hence anyone who does dirty work for, or meanly serves another, is called a jackal. In reality it is the lion and the tiger which furnish the jackal with food, the latter taking possession of the remnants of carcasses which the nobler beasts have killed and left. The jackal loses its unpleasant odor in captivity, but is always shy, treacherous and suspicious, and undoubtedly deserves the bad reputation which it sustains, both in rhetoric and the public mind.