A History of the Earth and Animated Nature, Volume 1, Parts 1-2Claxton, Remsen & Haffelfinger, 1875 |
Other editions - View all
A History of the Earth, and Animated Nature, Vol. 2 of 5 (Classic Reprint) Oliver Goldsmith No preview available - 2017 |
A History of the Earth, and Animated Nature, Vol. 2 of 5 (Classic Reprint) Oliver Goldsmith No preview available - 2017 |
Common terms and phrases
agouti animal appear appetites beautiful begins belly bezoar birds birds of prey body breast breed Buffon called carnivorous cassowary CHAP chiefly civet climate colour considered continue covered creature earth eggs elephant enemy extremely eyes feathers feed feet female fish flesh forest former furnished gazelle give hair head heron History of Greenland horned owl horns horse hyæna inches inhabitants insects kind known Lapland legs less lion live male mankind manner motion mountains native nature neck nest never ostrich pangolin peccary peculiar perceived plumage prey produced proportion pursue quadrupeds quantity rabbit reason resembles rest retreat rhinoceros rivers round scarce seems seen seldom Senegal short side skin sometimes species stag substance supposed surface swiftness tail teeth thick tion trees tribe usually variety vegetables water-fowl whole wild wings winter young
Popular passages
Page 81 - All the rivers run into the sea; yet the sea is not full; unto the place from whence the rivers come, thither they return again.
Page 170 - But of all those sounds, there is none so dismally hollow as the booming of the bittern. It is impossible- for words to give those who have not heard this evening call an adequate idea of its solemnity. It is like the interrupted bellowing of a bull, but hollower and louder, and is heard at a mile's distance, as if issuing from some formidable being that resided at the bottom of the waters.
Page 124 - In going through the towns of France, some time since, I could not help observing how much plainer their parrots spoke than ours, and how very distinctly I understood their parrots speak French, when I could not understand our own, though they spoke my native language. I at first ascribed it to the different qualities of the two languages, and was for entering into an elaborate discussion on the vowels and consonants ; but a friend that was with me solved the difficulty at once, by assuring me that...
Page 33 - Element that appeared to her so dangerous and destructive. As the different Principle which acted in these different Animals cannot be termed Reason, so when we call it Instinct, we mean something we have no Knowledge of. To me, as...
Page 35 - It seemed to import that one Antipater, in the time of Alexander, had come hither; but whether he penetrated into the depths of the cavern, he does not think fit to inform us.
Page 44 - ... feet higher than my head as I stood upon the brink: but, there being little or no wind, they fell back perpendicularly into the crater, increasing the conical hill. The other mouth to the right was lower in the side of the same new-formed hill.
Page 208 - I have known myself, when very little able to relieve them ; and I have been told by a very active and worthy magistrate that the number of such as die in London for want is much greater than one would imagine — I think he talked of two thousand in a year.
Page 33 - When she leaves them, to provide for her necessary sustenance, how punctually does she return before they have time to cool and become...
Page 124 - ... qualities of the two languages, and was for entering into an elaborate discussion on the vowels and consonants ; but a friend that was with me solved the difficulty at once, by assuring me that the French women scarce did any thing else the whole day than sit and instruct their feathered pupils ; and that the birds were thus distinct in their lessons in consequence of continual schooling.
Page 125 - This sagacity, which parrots show in a domestic state, seems also natural to them in their native residence among the woods. They live together in flocks, and mutually assist each other against other animals, either by their courage or their notes of warning. They generally breed in hollow trees, where they make a round hole, and do not line their nests within.