Page:An Account of Corsica (1769).djvu/82

72 lives on the highest mountains, where it can hardly be approached, it is so nimble. It will jump from rock to rock, at the distance of many feet, and if hard chaced to the extremity of a cliff, from whence it can reach no other, it will throw itself over, and with surprising agility pitch upon its horns, without receiving any hurt. Yet when these creatures are taken young, they are very easily tamed. M. de Marboeuf, the French commander at the time I was in Corsica, had then one of them; and there are now two of them at Shugborough in Staffordshire, the feat of Mr. Anson, who has a rich assemblage of what is curious in nature, as well as of what is elegant in art.

The Corsican animals in general, appeared wild to strangers, Polybius gives us a reason for it: Δοκεῖ γε μὴν πάντ’ εἶναι τὰ ζῶα κατὰ τῆν νῆσον ἄγρια διὰ τοιαύτην αἰτίαν. Οὐ δυνάνται κατὰ τὰς νομὰς συνακολουθεῖν οἱ ποιμένες τοῖς θρέμμασι, διὰ τὸ σύνδενδρον ϗ̀ κρημνώδη ϗ̀ τραχεῖαν εἶναι τῆν νῆσον. 'All the animals in the island appear to be wild, on this account, that it is so rude and steep, and so thick set with trees, that the shepherds are not able to follow their flocks.' The wild boar is found here in great plenty.