day philosophy to
feel, that the same motives which had so powerfully urged himself to his present
undertaking, might produce a like result on the mind of some other student of
Nature. Here, then, was the prospect of an alarming rivalry, which bade fair to
strip him of, at least, a moiety of the just rewards of all his labors,
privations and dangers. Under these views of his character, therefore, it is not
at all surprising that the native meekness of the naturalist's disposition was a
little disturbed, and that he watch'd the proceedings of the other, with such a
degree of vigilance, as he believed best suited to detect his sinister designs.
    »This is, truly, a delicious repast,« observed the unconscious young
stranger; for both young and handsome, he was fairly entitled to be considered,
»either hunger has given a peculiar relish to the viand, or the bison may lay
claim to be the finest of the ox family!«
    »Naturalists, sir, are apt, when they speak familiarly, to give the cow the
credit of the genus,« said Doctor Battius, swelling with secret distrust, and
clearing his throat before speaking, much in the manner that a duellist examines
the point of the weapon he is about to put into the body of his foe. »The figure
is more perfect, as the bos, meaning the ox, is unable to perpetuate his kind;
and the bos, in its most extended meaning, or vacca, is altogether the nobler
animal of the two.«
    The Doctor uttered this opinion with a certain air, that he intended should
express his readiness to come, at once, to any of the numerous points of
difference, which he doubted not existed between them, and he now awaited the
blow of his antagonist, intending that his next thrust should be still more
vigorous. But the young stranger appeared much better disposed to partake of the
good cheer with which he had been so providently provided, than to take up the
cudgels of argument on this or on any other of the knotty points, which are so
apt to furnish the lovers of science, with the materials of a mental joust.
    »I dare say, you are very right, sir,« he replied, with a most provoking
indifference to the importance of the points he conceded. »I dare say, you are
quite right, and that vacca, would have been the better word.«
    »Pardon me, sir; you are giving a very wrong construction to my language, if
you suppose I include, without