ABSTRACT
The succinct account of the natural history of China given by Sir John Davis in 1836 contained nearly all the popular notices of much value then known, while summarizing the items derived from other and later sources. Limestone is abundant at Canton, both common clouded marble and blue limestone; the last is extensively used in the artificial rockwork of gardens. In other provinces stone-lime is burned, by the aid of coal, in small kilns. The Chinese hollow-backed pig is known for its short legs, round body, crooked back, and abundance of fat; the flesh is the common meat of the people south of the Yangtsz' River. The hog in the Northern provinces is a gaunt animal, uniformly black. The Chinese description presents many resemblances to the popular notices of the unicorn, arid the independent origin of their account adds something to the probability that a single-horned equine or cervine animal has once existed.
