every species. I do not include the madripore, with which the bottom of the sea is paved between the tropics, and which presents so many different species, that I have seen in the Isle of France, two great halls filled with those which were produced in the immediate vicinity of that Isle, though there was but a single specimen of each sort.

I have made no mention of insects of many kinds, as the louse and the maggot, of which every animal species has its particular varieties proper to itself, and which triple, at least, the kingdom of creatures existing by respiration. Neither have I taken into the account, that infinite number of living things, visible and invisible, known and unknown, which have no fixed determination, and which nature has scattered about, through the air over the earth, and along the depths of the ocean.

What an undertaking then would it be, to describe each of these beings? The life of one man of genius would be scarcely sufficient to compose the history of a few insects. However curious may be the memoirs transmitted to us, after the most careful research, respecting the manners and the anatomy of the animals most familiarly known: in vain do we still flatter ourselves with having acquired a complete acquaintance with them. The principal requisite in my opinion is yet wanting, I mean the origin of their friendships and their feuds. A moral sentiment seems to have determined their physical organization, and I know not of any naturalist who has engaged in a research of this sort.

SAGACITY

SAGACITY of BRUTES.

The CAMEL.

(From Bingley's Animal Biography.)

CAMELS possess a very great share of intelligence; and the Arabs assert, that they are so extremely sensible of injustice and ill-treatment, that where this is carried too far, the inflictor will not find it easy to escape their vengeance; and that they will retain the remembrance of an injury, till an opportunity offers for gratifying their revenge. Eager, however, to express their resentment, they no longer retain any rancour, when once they are satisfied; and it is even sufficient for them to believe they have satisfied their vengeance. Accordingly, when an Arab has excited the rage of a Camel, he lays down his garments in some place near which the animal is to pass, and disposes them in such a manner, that they appear to cover a man sleeping under them; the animal recognizes the clothes, seizes them in his teeth, shakes them with violence, and tramples on them in a rage. When his anger is appeased he leaves them, and then the owner of the garments may make his appearance without any fear, loadand guide him as he pleases. I have sometimes weary of the imshort, turn round

seen them,' says Mr. Sonnini, patience of their riders, stop their long neck to bite them, and utter cries of rage. In these circumstances the man must be careful not to alight, as he would infallibly be torn to pieces; he must also refrain from striking his beast, as that would but increase his fury. Nothing can be done but to have patience, and

appease the animal, by patting him with the hand (which frequently requires some time), when he will resume his way and his pace of himself.'

On NIGHT.

THE glorious sun is set in the west, the nightdews fall; and the air, which was sultry and oppressive, becomes cool. The flowers of the garden, closing the coloured leaves, fold themselves up, and hang their heads on the slender stalk, watching the return of day.

The birds of the grove have ceased their warblings, they sleep on the boughs of trees, each one with his head behind his wing. The chickens of the farm-yard are gathered under the wing of the hen, and are at rest; the hen, the parent, is at rest also. There is no murmur of bees round the hive, or amongst the honeyed woodbines, they have finished their work, and now lie close in their waxen cells.

The sheep rest in the fields upon their soft fleeces, and their loud bleating no longer resounds from the hills. There is no sound of the voices of the busy multitude, or of children at play, or the trampling of feet, and crowds running to and fro. The smith's hammer is not heard upon the anvil, nor the harsh saw of the carpenter. All men are stretched upon their quiet beds, and the infant reposes in peace and security on the bosom of its mother. Darkness is spread over the skies, and darkness is still upon the ground: every eye is shut, and every hand is still.

Who takes care of all people when they are

sunk

sunk in sleep; when they cannot defend themselves, nor see if danger approaches? There is an eye that never sleeps-there is an eye that sees in the darkness of night, as well as in the brightest sunshine. When there is no light of the sun nor of the moon; when there is no lamp in the house, nor any star twinkling through the black clouds, that eye sees every where, in all places, and watches continually over all the families of the earth.

The eye that sleeps not is God's-his hand is always stretched out over us: he made sleep, to refresh us when we are weary: he made night, that we might sleep in quiet, as the affectionate mother stills every little noise that her infant be not disturbed; as she draws the curtains around. its bed, and shuts out the light from its tender eyes, so God draws the curtains of darkness around us; so he makes all things to be hushed and still, that his large family may sleep in peace.

When the darkness has passed away, and the beams of the morning sun strike through your eyelids, begin the day with praising God, who has taken care of you through the night. Flowers, when you open again, spread your leaves and smell sweet to his praise. Birds, when you awake, warble your thanks among the green boughs.-Let his praise be in our hearts when we lie down let his praise be on our lips when we awake. ORIGEN.

The AFFECTION of OwLs for their YOUNG. (From Bingley's Animal Biography.)

M. CRONSTEDT has recorded a very singular instance of the attachment of these birds to

their

young.

This gentleman resided several years on a farm in Sudermania, near a steep mountain on the summit of which two eagle owls had their nest. One day, in the month of July, one of the young, having quitted the nest, was seized by some of his servants. This bird, after it was caught, was shut up in a large hen-coop, and the next morning M. Cronstedt found a young partridge lying dead before the door of the coop. He immediately concluded that this provision had been brought thither by the old owls, which he supposed had been making search in the night-time for their lost young one, and had been led to the place of its confinement by its cry. This proved to have been exactly the case, by the same mark of attention being repeated every night for fourteen days.

M. Cronstedt and his servant tried to watch several nights, in order that they might observe, through a window, when this supply was deposited but their plan did not succeed; and it would appear that these owls, which are very sharp-sighted, had discovered the moment when the window was not watched, as food was found to have been deposited for the young before the coop that very night.

In the month of August this care ceased: but that period is exactly the time when all birds of prey abandon their young to their own exertions.

On JUVENILE SOCIETIES.

(Concluded from page 241.)

I shall now point out some relative advantages which are connected with juvenile societies. I. The force of example. The influence of ex

ample