There are two animals peculiar to this country, which therefore deserve notice.  One is a species of wild ass, which resembles the common ass in nothing but the length of its ears.  It is as large as an ordinary horse, and is the most beautiful animal in the world.  His hair is very soft, and from the ridge of the back descends in coloured streaks to the belly, forming so many circles.  It is a brisk and lively creature, which runs more swiftly than any horse.  It is very difficult to take alive, and when taken cannot be tamed; yet sells at a prodigious price, and is thought a fit present for a sovereign prince, from its rarity and exquisite beauty[4].  The other creature, found in no other country, is called by the Dutch the Stinkbungsen, or Stinking-Badger.  This is of the size of an ordinary dog, but is shaped like a ferret.  When pursued by man or beast, it retreats but slowly, and when its enemy draws near, discharges backwards a so intolerably fetid wind, that dogs tear up the ground and hide their noses in it, to avoid the smell.  When killed, it stinks so abominably that there is no approaching the carcass, which is therefore left to consume where it falls.

[Footnote 4:  This is a very imperfect account of the Zebra, which exactly resembles the ass, except in colour, and is by no means larger.  One died lately in Edinburgh, after being exhibited as a show, which was as quiet and gentle as any lady’s donkey.—­E.]

It is impossible to describe all the creatures that are seen in the vast forests of Africa, as the inhabitants see new animals every year that are utterly unknown to them.  They allege that, in the middle of summer, when the wild animals are almost raging mad with thirst, they resort in vast multitudes to the rivers named Salt, Elephants, and St John’s rivers, where the males and females of different species intermixing, produce strange beasts that seem to be new species.  The Hottentots in the service of the Company frequently carry the skins of these monsters to the governor; and our author assures us that he saw one of the following description, that had been killed not long before.  It was about the size of a calf of six months old, and seemed to have had four eyes.  The head resembled that of a lion, but the hair was quite smooth, and of a dark grey colour.  It had tusks like a boar.  The fore-feet resembled those of that creature; but the hind-feet were like those of a tiger.

The birds of this country are in a manner infinite in numbers and sorts; and though they have not been observed often to intermingle species, yet hybrids are sometimes remarked among them.  The largest and strongest birds are to be found in Africa, among which is the ostrich, the largest of all, being commonly seven feet high.  The beak is short and pointed, but the neck is very long.  The feathers of the male are white and black only, while those of the female are mixed white, black, and grey.  Those of the