Reprinted in Weird STories From 19th-Century Canadian Newspapers compiled by
John Robert Colombo. Colombo and Company ISBN 1-896308-89-9
A New animal to the Continent
Ottawa Times, 22 Nov. 1870
A gentleman who came down on the Farragut from Fort Burford, says the Sioux City _Daily Times_, gives us the following information regaurding a species of animal hitherto unknown on this continent:
"Sir John E. Packenham an officer in the English army, who has been spending the last year in her Majesty's northern provinces, arrived at Fort Buford with an animal of rare beauty, and never before caught on this continent, nor has it been known till late years that the species existed in this country. It is of the same family as the giraffe, or cameleopard, of Africa, and is known to naturalists as the tygomelia. They are known to inhibit the high table lands of Cashmere and Hindoo Kush, but are more frequently seen on the high peaks of the Himalaya Mountains. The animal was taken when quite young, and is thoroughly domestesticated, and follows its keeper like a dog. It is only four months old, and ordinarily stands about five feet high, butis capable of raising its head two feet, whichmakes the animalseven feet when standing erect. It is of a dark brown mouse color, large projecting eyes, with slight indications of horns growing out. The wonderful animal was caught north of Lake Athabasca, on the water of McKenzie's river. It has a craw similar to the pelican, by which means it can carry subsistence for several days. It was very fleet, being able to outfoot the fastest horse in the country. The black dapper spots on the rich brown color make it one of the most beautiful animals in the existence, more beautiful than the leopard of the Chinese jungle. Sir John did not consider it safe to transport thispet by water down the Mississippi river. Fear the uncertain navigation and the great change of climate from the Manitoba to the sunny south. He has, therefore wisely concluded to go by way of St. Paul, Minn. The commander of Fort Buford furnishes him with an escort for the trip. He will then proceed through Canada to Montreal, where he will ship his cargo to England.
PUNCHINELLO CORRESPONDENCE. ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. _Veritas._ A paragraph has been going the rounds of the papers, giving some description of an animal called the "Tygomelia"--a sort of camelopard--said to have lately been captured in the Hudson Bay Territory. Is any such animal known to naturalists? _Answer._ Not that we know of; but there's no telling what sort of animals the writer of the paragraph referred to might have running in his head.
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