but it is special. Like the Hebrew HighPriest, He presents the Israel of God, those who are specially trusting in His sacrifice, before the throne; and the abiding efficacy of His sacrifice, on which, by faith, you lay hold, sustains the prevalence of His intercession.

"Jesus, Thou canst not pray in vain."

He lives to bless. Benediction was the last act of Christ, when upon earth, towards His disciples. "He lifted up His hands, and blessed them." Effectual as was His blessing even then, His ability to bless since His ascension has been far more abundantly manifested. Gifts He has more abundantly distributed, replenishing His church with heavenly communications, enlightening, renewing, and sanctifying the souls of men. "Full of grace," in the boundless energy of His might, He supplies the "need of His people amidst all circumstances of life. He saves them "to the uttermost......that come unto God by Him, seeing He ever liveth to make intercession for them." Southwark.

AFFLICTION.

J. W.

We are assured in Scripture, and experience confirms the assurance, that afflictions come not forth from the dust, but are designed in tenderest mercy by an all-wise Providence for our benefit. Almighty God wills not the death of a sinner, and He graciously proves this by the various means He uses, in order to lead him from his evil ways into the paths of peace. Affliction is one of those means. Often has the prayer of our Divine Intercessor been heard in heaven, “Spare it this year also, till I shall dig about it," -or, in other words, "use afflictions: perchance they may have the desired effect of producing repentance unto life." And many a happy Christian, many a saint in glory, can say from experience, with the inspired Psalmist, "Before I was afflicted I went astray." They can tell how they were plunging headlong down to ruin, until by His chastening rod the Almighty checked them in their course, and led them back for help and comfort to the meek and lowly Jesus. Now they can joyfully exclaim, "Blessed be His holy name, it was good for me to be afflicted."

47

God also uses affliction with His own children, that they may become partakers of His holiness: they are represented as branches engrafted into the true vine; and God, as a wise husbandman, "purges" those branches,-or, in other words, removes such things as would hinder or retard the Christian graces from growing, flourishing, and ripening into perfection. Yes, God oftentimes causes His children to pass through the fires of affliction, that they may come forth pure as gold that is refined seven times; but all those light afflictions, which are but for a moment, shall work for them a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.

Let all, therefore, that are afflicted, acknowledge the hand of God, and His design for their profit; but, above all, let them see that that design be answered. The truly reverend Fletcher used to say that it was a great loss to lose an affliction. Sinner, beware that you lose not yours. Remember that if it fail to profit you, you will be but the more hardened: another warning will have been despised; many a solemn vow, which you have made whilst labouring under the affliction, will have been broken; the striving Spirit may be forced to leave you to yourself; and then will the awful sentence be heard, "Cut it down, why cumbereth it the ground?" That this may not be your dreadful doom, be much in prayer to God; delay not for a moment to dedicate to Him all you have and all

you are.

Christian, lose not your afflictions. Give not way to a spirit of repining. If thou faintest in the day of adversity, thy strength is but small; and in order that the design may be answered, you must be truly humbled under and resigned to them. Encourage yourself with the great and precious promises of God, and remember that prayer is your stronghold. "Is any afflicted among you? let him pray.' Thus you shall be supported under, or delivered from, your afflictions. If you thus act, you will find them to have been blessings in disguise, even while here below; but especially,

"When, robed in majesty and power,

Our Jesus shall from heaven descend,
His friends and confessors to own,
And seat us on His glorious throne."

JACOBUS.

A BEAUTIFUL DISCOVERY IN THE MANAGEMENT OF BEES.

IT has hitherto been regarded as a wellestablished fact, that bees require the light to be carefully excluded from their habitations. L. L. Langstroth, of Chestnut-street, a native of this city, and a gentleman of equal worth and accomplishment, who has been engaged for many years in the scientific investigation of their habits, has most conclusively proved that this is not the case. The various glass observing-hives, which have been used by ingenious naturalists, have always been furnished with shutters, to be opened only when the hives are inspected. Such a sudden admission of light exerts a disturbing influence upon the bees. Mr. Langstroth has hives of his own invention, in which the bees are exposed to the full light of day, so that all their beautiful works are as easily examined as the articles exhibited in a shopkeeper's window. They do not manifest the slightest dislike to such a perfect flood of light.

It is obvious that this unexpected discovery must greatly facilitate a thorough knowledge of the habits of this wonderful insect; as the Queen is almost constantly in sight, and all the mysteries of the hive are unfolded in the most ample manner to the lover of nature. We know that Mr. Langstroth has been repeatedly consulted respecting the best means of ventilating public rooms; and we strongly suspect him of having stolen some of his ideas from the admirable principles on which bees ventilate their hives. We wish he could persuade the community that their public and private buildings ought to be at least as well ventilated as the humble dwelling of the bee, and thus aid in effecting a revolution, the importance of which to the public health cannot be over-estimated.-North American and U. S. Gazette.

THE GOLDEN EAGLE.

IN the two excellent works, "Gardens and Menageries of the Zoological Society," and "Illustrations of British Ornithology," the golden eagle is characterized as indocile. In the latter work Mr. Selby speaks, from his own experience, of two individuals which were kept by him for some years. But my friend, Richard Langtry, Esq., of FortWilliam, near Belfast, had, in 1838, a bird of this species, which was extremely docile and tractable. It was taken, in the summer of that year, from a nest in Inverness-shire, and came into his possession about the end of September. This bird became at once attached to its owner; and, after being

33

about a month in his possession, was given full liberty,-a high privilege to a golden eagle having the use of its wings,- but which was not abused, as it came to the lure whenever called. It evidently derived much pleasure from the application of the hand to its legs and plumage, and permitted itself to be handled in any way. As one of the first steps towards training this eagle for the chase, it was hooded, after the manner of a hunting-hawk; but the practice was soon abandoned as unnecessary, in consequence of its remaining quiet and contented when carried on the arm of its master. It was unwilling, indeed, to leave him, even to take a flight, unless some special " quarry was in view. When at liberty for the day, and my friend appeared in sight, at any distance, his arm was no sooner held out towards the affectionate bird, than it came hurriedly flying to perch upon it. I have, when in his company, -for it was quite indifferent to the presence of strangers,- -seen it fly to him, without any food being offered, not less than a dozen times within half an hour. When on the ground, and the lure was thrown comparatively near, this bird preferred running, which it could do very fast, to using its wings. This golden eagle was more partial to alighting on trees than the seaeagles were. Flying from one group of them to another, it in this manner followed its master about the demesne, indolently remaining as long as possible where it perched, consistently with always keeping him in sight. My friend discontinued any further training of this eagle, on account of its boldness, as it flew not only at wellgrown cygnets of the tame swan, but at the old birds themselves, which were obliged to take to the water for safety. It also flew at dogs; so that its liberty had to be lessened. This bird has now been for some years in the menagerie of the Royal Zoological Society, Phoenix Park, Dublin.-Thompson's Natural History of Ireland.

THE AMERICAN BISON.

THIS bos Americanus exceeds in size any of our oxen. Its form and clothing are set forth in our woodcut; but it deserves note that a large part of the animal is covered with short, curling hair, which becomes somewhat woolly in the depth of winter, and falls off almost entirely in the summer. "The head is so extremely large and heavy as to require a high degree of muscular force for its support; and for this purpose the great development of the spinous processes of the dorsal vertebræ, and of the

powerful muscles attached to them, appears to be admirably calculated." The female is considerably smaller than the male.

In the common ox the number of ribs on either side is thirteen; in the Polish aurochs, it is fourteen; in the bison, fifteen. The races are accordingly regarded by M. Cuvier, and other authorities, as originally, and therefore specifically, distinct."

"These animals are met with throughout nearly the whole of the uninhabited parts of North America, from Hudson's Bay to Louisiana, and the frontiers of Mexico. They are smaller in the north, and do not appear to congregate together in the immense herds which are spoken of as covering miles in extent of the vast open savannas of the more southern districts. Modern American travellers bear frequent testimony to the almost incredible numbers in which they assemble on the banks of the Missouri. 'Such was the multitude of these animals,' say Captains Lewis and Clarke, that although the river, including an island over which they passed, was a mile in length, the herd stretched, as thick as they could swim, completely from one side to the other.' And again, If it be not impossible to calculate the moving multitude which darkened the whole plains, we are convinced that twenty thousand would be no exaggerated number.' Dr. James tells us that in the middle of the day countless thousands of them were seen coming in from every quarter to the stagnant pools;' their paths, as he informs us elsewhere, being as frequent and almost as conspicuous as the roads in the most populous parts of the United States.'"t

• Zoological Gardens. + Ibid. VOL. VII.

Their support is derived, in the main, from the long rank herbage of the open plains. When attacked, they seek the shelter of the forest. They are fleet, and their acute smell warns them of an enemy at a great distance. To wolves and bears they often fall a prey; still oftener to wild Indians, who find their beef excellent.

THE BEETLE.

THE beetle belongs to the same class of insects as the bee, the wasp, the ant, and the glowworm. They are all produced from eggs; they are then changed into maggots or grubs; then into aurelias, with their wings and legs appearing in what we may call a rudimentary form; lastly, we see them fully formed in every part, with their wings quite ready for use. Notwithstanding, however, that they resemble each other in all these particulars, there are many important differences between them. For instance, some, like the bee, have four transparent wings; others, like the gnat, have but two wings, and no case; while others, again, like the beetle, are furnished with two membraneous cases, or sheaths, for theirs.

All insects of the beetle family (our readers are, of course, aware that there are many different families in every class) have their hardest substance outside, while their muscles are situated within, like those of all descriptions of shell-fish. These muscles are, for their comparative size, much stronger than those of quadrupeds,- a fact which is of much importance to them in the construction of their subterranean abodes, where they are generally hatched, and to which they constantly return, even after

50

they arrive at maturity. From the nature of their abode also, the use of the cases for their wings is apparent, as, without such protection, they would be constantly liable to be rubbed or crushed against the sides of their habitation, which they form in holes under the surface of the ground.

Beetles are distinguished from each other by their size, which varies from that of the head of a large pin to that of a man's hand: they are also distinguished by their shape and colour, but principally by the time they live. Some, in the short space of three or four months, pass through every stage of their existence: while others take no less than four years to arrive at perfection, and then live as winged insects for an entire year longer.

The description of beetle which we shall select as an example of the family, is the May-bug, or dorr-beetle, as it is sometimes called, from the buzzing noise which it makes in the evening. The eggs of the May-bug are of an oval form, of a bright yellow colour, and are perfectly distinct one from the other. They are deposited in a hole, which is excavated fully a foot deep in the ground. Here they remain for about three months; after which time they break forth from their confinement, as grubs or maggots, feeding voraciously on the roots of such trees or vegetables as happen to come in their way. In this state they remain for three years, continually wandering about underground in quest of a fresh supply of food. They gradually increase to the size of a walnut, and are most disgusting-looking objects. When turned up with newly-dug earth, they form a very favourite repast to the feathered tribes. The grub is now of a yellowish-white colour, with twelve joints in its body, on each side of which are three little red feet, and nine breathing-holes. The head is of a reddish colour, and large in proportion to the size of the body; and its mouth is of a semicircular form. As it always lives underground, it has no need of eyes, and is not, therefore, provided with any; but their place is supplied by two feelers, by which it is enabled to guide itself about from place to place; and it changes its skin every year.

After living in this manner for three years, it begins to think, and no wonder, that a life passed above-ground would be far preferable accordingly, without loss of time, it prepares for the change, which, however, it takes some time to accomplish. Its first effort is to bury itself deeper and deeper beneath the surface of the earth, which it sometimes excavates to the astonishing depth of six feet. It then prepares for itself a spacious apartment, the walls of which are smoothly and carefully lined. It then uses every exertion to burst its skin, preparatory to passing into the chrysalis state; and, like all other insects, it appears to suffer much during this operation.

Beneath the shroud by which it is enveloped, when in the chrysalis state, may be discovered the fore-part of the future insect, while the remainder looks just as if it were wrapt up in swaddling-clothes. In this torpid condition it remains for three months; and then, in the beginning of January, waxing weary of restraint, it casts off all encumbrances, and appears as a perfect insect. Unlike other insects, however, the May-bug does not at once arrive at its ultimate degrce of health and strength. On the contrary, it continues in what we may call its infancy for nearly five months. At this period, its colour is far brighter than in the subsequent part of its career. It is quite soft, and for a time loses its appetite, and does not care for food. Many entomologists, seeing it in this condition, have imagined that it was an old insect, who, at the approach of winter, had taken shelter in the earth, but was now coming forth to enjoy a greater degree of liberty. This is not, however, as we have just seen, a correct supposition; as the May-bug, in common with most other winged insects, dies in winter, not being able to endure severe cold. The first warm evening in "the merry month of May," after its four years' residence underground, the May-bug ventures up to enjoy the balmy summer breeze, and to regale its appetite on the choicest vegetables.

In a favourable season, the May-bugs are often scen bursting forth in great numbers from the hard earth, and hitting against everything that happens to obstruct their progress. They do not often make their appearance in the daytime, not liking the heat of the noon-day sun, but lie concealed beneath the branches of some shady tree, the willow being their chief favourite; and, when many of them happen to cluster together, they have been known to devour the entire foliage before taking leave of it. Shortly after this period of their lives, they lay their eggs, depositing them in the ground, about sixty together. They generally die soon after this.

Although very injurious to man while in the worm state, they are great favourites with birds, especially with rooks. Some years ago, in the county of Norfolk, the rooks became so troublesome, that the inhabitants entered into a conspiracy to destroy them. They effected their purpose; but they soon repented of it, for the Maybugs increased with such astonishing rapidity, and did so much mischief, that they were only too glad to get their old enemies, the rooks, to take up their abode amongst them again.

The largest description of beetle that has ever been found is that called the elephantbeetle, which is found only in South America. Its length, from the hinder part of the body to the eyes, is four inches; and from the eyes to the end of the trunk, or proboscis, is

nearly five inches. It is of a glistening black colour, and the outer skin, or shell, is as strong and hard as that of a small crab. The proboscis is more than an inch long, and terminates in two horns, and its eight feelers are all forked at the end. The habits of this beetle are very similar to those of the May-bug, before described.

The most curious kind of beetle is that called the burying-beetle, which provides, in a most strange and surprising manner, for the preservation of its eggs and the support of its family. In a place where this description of beetle was very common, a gentleman observed that dead moles and insects, when laid on the ground, disappeared in a day or two, without any one knowing anything about it. With a view to find out the cause of this mysterious disappearance, a mole was put down in the garden, and the exact place carefully marked. In three days, it could not be seen; but, upon gently raising the earth in the place where it had been left, it was discovered buried three inches deep, and under it were four beetles, apparently enjoying themselves after their exertions. To make it quite certain, however, that the mole had been buried by these beetles without any assistance, they were taken from their habitation, and placed in a glass vessel half filled with earth, and arranged in such a manner that they could not possibly run away. dead frogs were also placed with them. In less than twelve hours, two of the persevering insects had succeeded in burying one of the frogs: the remaining two ran about all the day, apparently trying to measure the size of the other, which, after some time, they also buried. A linnet was then put

Two

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in, and the poor beetles had hard work to accomplish their purpose. Their first effort was to push away the earth from underneath it, and then, when the hole was made, after many efforts, to drag it by its feathers into its grave. One of them drove the others away, and worked alone for five hours. At length, quite exhausted, it lay down by the bird for a full hour. The next morning, the linnet was an inch and a half underground. In the evening, it had sunk an inch lower, and, the following morning, had entirely disappeared. It is under bodies thus buried, that this kind of beetle lays its eggs, thus insuring their safety from all enemies, as well as a good supply of food for the grubs the moment they are excluded.

The most useful insects of the beetle family are the well-known cantharides, which are natives of Spain, Italy, and Portugal, and which are occasionally found in Paris. They vary in size from half an inch to an inch. They are all brilliant and beautifully coloured; some being of a bright gold colour, and others of gold and jazure mingled. They generally live on the leaves of the poplar and ash tree, and are also very fond of rose-trees, honeysuckles, and lilac; and they sometimes appear in such numbers as to be almost like a swarm of bees. country people, whose employment it is to catch them, are attracted by their very disagreeable smell, and capture them without difficulty. They then tie them up in old linen bags, and kill them with the fumes of hot vinegar, after which they allow them to dry gradually in the sun. They then shut them up in boxes; and after this, they are quite ready for use.-Hogg's Instructor.

The

plan,

And gives the key to yon infirm old

man,

Who, once ensconced in apostolic chair,
Is deified, and sits omniscient there;
The lie that knows no kindred, owns no
friend,

But him that makes its progress his chief

end;

That having spilt much blood makes that a boast,

And canonises him that sheds the most.
Away with charity that soothes a lie,
And thrusts the truth with scorn and
anger by!

Shame on the candour and the gracious smile

Bestow'd on them that light the martyr's pile,

While insolent disdain, in frowns express'd, Attends the tenets that endured the test!