varieties were there disporting themselves； their colored markings
shone in the sun like the glass in cathedral windows。 Every kind of
duck in the world was represented； quacking； dabbling； and moving
abouta kind of parliament of ducks assembled against its will； but
luckily without either charter or political principles； living in
complete immunity from sportsmen； under the eyes of any naturalist
that chanced to see them。
〃That is M。 Lavrille；〃 said one of the keepers to Raphael； who had
asked for that high priest of zoology。
The Marquis saw a short man buried in profound reflections； caused by
the appearance of a pair of ducks。 The man of science was middle…aged；
he had a pleasant face； made pleasanter still by a kindly expression；
but an absorption in scientific ideas engrossed his whole person。 His
peruke was strangely turned up； by being constantly raised to scratch
his head； so that a line of white hair was left plainly visible； a
witness to an enthusiasm for investigation； which； like every other
strong passion； so withdraws us from mundane considerations； that we
lose all consciousness of the 〃I〃 within us。 Raphael； the student and
man of science； looked respectfully at the naturalist； who devoted his
nights to enlarging the limits of human knowledge； and whose very
errors reflected glory upon France； but a she…coxcomb would have
laughed； no doubt； at the break of continuity between the breeches and
striped waistcoat worn by the man of learning； the interval； moreover；
was modestly filled by a shirt which had been considerably creased；
for he stooped and raised himself by turns； as his zoological
observations required。
After the first interchange of civilities； Raphael thought it
necessary to pay M。 Lavrille a banal compliment upon his ducks。
〃Oh； we are well off for ducks；〃 the naturalist replied。 〃The genus；
moreover； as you doubtless know； is the most prolific in the order of
palmipeds。 It begins with the swan and ends with the zin…zin duck；
comprising in all one hundred and thirty…seven very distinct
varieties； each having its own name； habits； country； and character；
and every one no more like another than a white man is like a negro。
Really； sir； when we dine off a duck； we have no notion for the most
part of the vast extent〃
He interrupted himself as he saw a small pretty duck come up to the
surface of the pond。
〃There you see the cravatted swan； a poor native of Canada； he has
come a very long way to show us his brown and gray plumage and his
little black cravat！ Look； he is preening himself。 That one is the
famous eider duck that provides the down； the eider…down under which
our fine ladies sleep； isn't it pretty？ Who would not admire the
little pinkish white breast and the green beak？ I have just been a
witness； sir；〃 he went on； 〃to a marriage that I had long despaired of
bringing about； they have paired rather auspiciously； and I shall
await the results very eagerly。 This will be a hundred and thirty…
eighth species； I flatter myself； to which； perhaps； my name will be
given。 That is the newly matched pair；〃 he said； pointing out two of
the ducks； 〃one of them is a laughing goose （anas albifrons）； and the
other the great whistling duck； Buffon's anas ruffina。 I have
hesitated a long while between the whistling duck； the duck with white
eyebrows； and the shoveler duck （anas clypeata）。 Stay； that is the
shovelerthat fat； brownish black rascal； with the greenish neck and
that coquettish iridescence on it。 But the whistling duck was a
crested one； sir； and you will understand that I deliberated no
longer。 We only lack the variegated black…capped duck now。 These
gentlemen here； unanimously claim that that variety of duck is only a
repetition of the curve…beaked teal； but for my own part；〃and the
gesture he made was worth seeing。 It expressed at once the modesty and
pride of a man of science； the pride full of obstinacy； and the
modesty well tempered with assurance。
〃I don't think it is；〃 he added。 〃You see； my dear sir； that we are
not amusing ourselves here。 I am engaged at this moment upon a
monograph on the genus duck。 But I am at your disposal。〃
While they went towards a rather pleasant house in the Rue du Buffon；
Raphael submitted the skin to M。 Lavrille's inspection。
〃I know the product；〃 said the man of science； when he had turned his
magnifying glass upon the talisman。 〃It used to be used for covering
boxes。 The shagreen is very old。 They prefer to use skate's skin
nowadays for making sheaths。 This； as you are doubtless aware； is the
hide of the raja sephen； a Red Sea fish。〃
〃But this； sir； since you are so exceedingly good〃
〃This；〃 the man of science interrupted； as he resumed； 〃this is quite
another thing； between these two shagreens； sir； there is a difference
just as wide as between sea and land； or fish and flesh。 The fish's
skin is harder； however； than the skin of the land animal。 This；〃 he
said； as he indicated the talisman； 〃is； as you doubtless know； one of
the most curious of zoological products。〃
〃But to proceed〃 said Raphael。
〃This；〃 replied the man of science； as he flung himself down into his
armchair； 〃is an ass' skin； sir。〃
〃Yes； I know；〃 said the young man。
〃A very rare variety of ass found in Persia；〃 the naturalist
continued； 〃the onager of the ancients； equus asinus； the koulan of
the Tartars； Pallas went out there to observe it； and has made it
known to science； for as a matter of fact the animal for a long time
was believed to be mythical。 It is mentioned； as you know； in Holy
Scripture； Moses forbade that it should be coupled with its own
species； and the onager is yet more famous for the prostitutions of
which it was the object； and which are often mentioned by the prophets
of the Bible。 Pallas； as you know doubtless； states in his Act。
Petrop。 tome II。； that these bizarre excesses are still devoutly
believed in among the Persians and the Nogais as a sovereign remedy
for lumbago and sciatic gout。 We poor Parisians scarcely believe that。
The Museum has no example of the onager。
〃What a magnificent animal！〃 he continued。 〃It is full of mystery； its
eyes are provided with a sort of burnished covering； to which the
Orientals attribute the powers of fascination； it has a glossier and
finer coat than our handsomest horses possess； striped with more or
less tawny bands； very much like the zebra's hide。 There is something
pliant and silky about its hair； which is sleek to the touch。 Its
powers of sight vie in precision and accuracy with those of man； it is
rather larger than our largest domestic donkeys； and is possessed of
extraordinary courage。 If it is surprised by any chance； it defends
itself against the most dangerous wild beasts with remarkable success；
the rapidity of its movements can only be compared with the flight of
birds； an onager； sir； would run the best Arab or Persian horses to
death。 According to the father of the conscientious Doctor Niebuhr；
whose recent loss we are deploring； as you doubtless know； the
ordinary average pace of one of these wonderful creatures would be
seven thousand geometric feet per hour。 Our own degenerate race of
donkeys can give no idea of the ass in his pride and independence。 He
is active and spirited in his demeanor； he is cunning and sagacious；
there is grace about the outlines of his head； every movement is full
of attractive charm。 In the East he is the king of beasts。 Turkish and
Persian superstition even credits him with a mysterious origin； and
when stories of the prowess attributed to him are told in Thibet or in
Tartary； the speakers mingle Solomon's name with that of this noble
animal。 A tame onager； in short； is worth an enormous amount； it is
well…nigh impossible to catch them among the mountains； where they
leap like roebucks； and seem as if they could fly like birds。 Our myth
of the winged horse； our Pegasus； had its origin doubtless in these
countries； where the shepherds could see the onager springing from one
rock to another。 In Persia they breed asses for the saddle； a cross
between a tamed onager and a she…ass； and they paint them red；
following immemorial tradition。 Perhaps it was this custom that gave
rise to our own proverb； 'Surely as a red donkey。' At some period when
natural history was much neglected in France； I think a traveler must
have brought over one of these strange beasts that endures servitude
with such impatience。 Hence the adage。 The skin that you have laid
before me is the skin of an onager。 Opinions differ as to the origin
of the name。 Some claim that Chagri is a Turkish word； others insist
that Chagri must be the name of the place where this animal product
underwent the chemical process of preparation so clearly described by
Pallas； to which the peculiar graining that we admire is due；
Martellens has written to me saying that Chaagri is a river〃
〃I thank you； sir； for the information that you have given me； it
would furnish an admirable footnote for some Dom Calmet or other； if
such erudite hermits yet exist； but I have had the honor of pointing
out to you that this scrap was in the first instance quite as large as
that map；〃 said Raphael； ind