Genre:

Essay, Drollery

Subjects:

Natural History

People mentioned:

Georges L Leclerc, comte de Buffon , Pliny

    Laments the fact that 'certain unfortunate animals have had their characters grossly misrepresented; and divers eccentric creatures have assumed a place among the recognised mammalia'. Examples of these 'unfortunate animals' include the elk, which was 'transformed into the unicorn', and William Pitt, who was 'transformed into the "Heaven-born minister"'. This is a prelude to a discussion of the identity of the mysterious individual, 'Miles' Boy', who is subsequently identified as the statesman Henry P Brougham (1st Baron Brougham and Vaux).