do frequently, in bodies of two or three hundred, it would be impossible for natives to go out of their villages, except in parties, and armed; and, instead of little boys, regiments of armed men would be required to guard the corn-fields.

I have frequently seen baboons, says a traveller, turn on dogs, and have heard of their attacking women, whom they may have accidentally met

alone in the roads or woods. On one occasion I was told of a woman who was so grievously maltreated by them, that, although she was succoured by the opportune help of some passers-by, she died a few days after, from the fright and ill-treatment she had endured.

A baboon was described by Buffon as not altogether hideous, and yet as exciting horror. It appeared to be continually in a state of savage ferocity, grinding its teeth, perpetually restless, and agitated by unprovoked

fury. It was obliged to be shut up in an iron cage, the bars of which it struck frequently with its hand, and thus excited the apprehensions of the spectators.

The Lion Monkey or Marikina.

Our illustration represents this pretty little reddish monkey, which is found in the forests of tropical Brazil, between the twenty-second and twenty-third degree of southern latitude. It lives on high trees, and feeds on fruits and small insects. With its cousins, this pretty little animal shares the propensities and bad habits. It is timid, distrustful, easily excited and passionate, and never shows much affection for its master, like other higher developed monkeys.

They live in pairs, and seem to get along with each other very well. In captivity they are fed with boiled rice, fruit and wheat bread, but now and then they must be given some meat or insects, because animal food is essential to their well-being.

The monkey called the entellus is held sacred in some parts of India, particularly in Lower Bengal. The origin of the extreme veneration. which multitudes cherish for this animal is involved in the obscurity of their early history, and may be traced back to the most remote periods. The superstitions and traditions of the Brahmins, in reference to monkeys, hold a prominent place in the "Ramayan," which has been styled a "great epic poem." It describes a struggle between the Hindoo gods, on the one hand, under Rana, and a nation of demons on the other, who are called Rackschasas, and who under their King Ravana, are supposed to reside in the Island of Ceylon. The former, assisted by an invulnerable tribe of monkeys, under their chief, Hoonuman, at length triumphed over the latter.

Some years ago, a rajah spent 100,000 rupees in marrying two monkeys, with all the parade of a Hindoo wedding. The festivities on such an occasion always take place at night. As the bride-groom goes forth to the house of the bride, or as he returns to his own habitation, or to that of his father, he is accompanied by numerous friends and dependents, bearing lamps and torches. When he approaches either house the inmates rush out to meet him, and greet him with their congratulations and best wishes. The path is covered with garments, and lamps, like fire-flies, sparkle in great numbers, all around.

On the so-called marriage of the monkeys, there were seen in the procession, elephants, camels, horses richly comparisoned, palanquins, flambeaux, and lamps. The male monkey was fastened in a gaily-decked palanquin, having a crown on his head, with men standing by his side to

fan him, as they would a human being. Then followed singing and dancing girls in carriages, and for twelve days the festivities were carried on at the monkey's palace.

A very different feeling to that manifested at the monkey wedding is sometimes displayed. Mr. Ward, the missionary, states that he heard of a quarrel between two Brahmins, one of whom was paid by a rich Hindoo to repeat daily the ceremonies of the worship of Hoonuman in his house; the other said, "Thou refuse of Brahmins; thou gainest a subsistence by worshipping a monkey!" Such cases, however, are only exceptional. In Ahmenadab, hospitals were built for the benefit of monkeys, where thousands were kept in fancied ease and indulgence. Gorgeous temples were erected,

With pious care a monkey to enshrine !

Mofleus, in his "History of India," describes a temple of great magnificence; it was supported by no fewer than seven hundred columns, and in front of it was a splendid portico for the reception of the victims intended for the sacrifices. Linschotten relates, that when the Portuguese plundered a palace, in the island of Ceylon, they found in a little gold casket the tooth of a monkey-a relic held by the natives in such veneration, that they offered seven hundred thousand ducats to redeem it; but it was burnt by the Viceroy to stop the progress of such idolatry.

Among the superstitious tales told by the Hindoos in reference to the monkey, there are some of a ludicrous character. Thus, the monkey is said to have carried off the mango from the garden of a celebrated giant whom he had overcome; but as this act of theft was committed after the surrender of the giant, it drew down upon the monkey the vengeance of the gods. To evince their displeasure, therefore, they blackened the face and hands of himself and his race!

In the war already described, Hoonuman, it is said resolved to set fire to the Island of Ceylon, and to destroy his enemies at once, by means of a tar-barrel tied to his tail. No sooner was the plan devised than it was executed; but in the act of burning out his foes, a mischance on which he had not calculated occurred-his own tail caught fire. Stung by the pain, and fearful of losing so ornamental and valuable an appendage, he was about to extinguish the flame by plunging into the sea, but the tribes of the ocean vehemently remonstrated against such a course, which threatened them with being broiled, and compelled him to desist.

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CHAPTER XIII.

PECULIAR SPECIES OF BIRDS.

The World's Favorites-Fairies of the Air-Orchestras on the Wing-Creatures whose Clothing Grows on Them-Specimens of Cockatoos-Noisy FlightsEasily Tamed and Affectionate-The Night Swallow-A Fine Streamer-Beauty of Color-Graceful Movements-Esculent Swallow-The Strangest Food in the World-Remarkable Nests-Sappho Humming Bird-Rainbow Colors Darting Through the Air-Sword Bill-Long Beak-Peregrine Falcon-Ancient “Hawking”—A Bird Trained For the Chase—Combat in the Air-Secretary Bird-A Warrior with Wings-Death to Snakes-Power of Leg and Foot-Courage that Never Fails-Remarkable Birds' Nests-Titmouse--Closing the Door of the Nest-A Watchful Sentinel-Sociable Grossbeaks-Wonderful Nest--A Bird that Sews with Thread and Needle-Tailor Bird's Nest-Three-Toed Woodpecker-A Creature that Leaves its Mark-Penguins-Wings and Fins Combined—“Sitting up Like a Major"—Description by Darwin-Training up Young Penguins-The World-Renowned Pelican-Marvelous Sight---Great Assembly of Birds---Montgomery's Poetical Tribute to the Pelican.

B

IRDS, says Figuier, are the spoilt children of nature-the favorites of creation. Their plumage often assumes the most resplendent colors. They have the happy privilege of moving in space-now fluttering through the air, hunting the insect which flits from flower to flower; or soaring high aloft, to swoop upon the victim marked for their prey; again cleaving the atmosphere, and performing journeys of vast extent with great rapidity. Mankind cannot fail to admire these winged beings, which charm at once by the elegance of their form, the melody of their song, and the graceful impetuosity of their

movements.

Of all the animals by which we are surrounded in the ample field of nature, there are none more remarkable in their appearance and habits than the feathered inhabitants of the air. They play around us like fairy spirits, elude approach in an element which defies pursuit, soar out of sight in the yielding sky, journey over our heads in marshaled ranks, dart like meteors in the sunshine of summer, or, seeking the solitary recesses of the forest or the waters, they glide before us like beings of fancy. They diversify the still landscape with the most lovely motion and beautiful association; they come and go with the change of the seasons, and as their actions are directed by an uncontrollable instinct of provident nature,

they may be considered as concomitant with the beauty of the surrounding scene.

With what grateful sensations do we hail these faithful messengers of spring and summer after the lapse of the dreary winter, which compelled them to forsake us for more favored climes! Their songs, now heard from the leafy groves and shadowy forests, inspire delight or recollections of the pleasing past in every breast. How volitate, how playfully capricious, how musical and happy, are these roving sylphs of nature, to whom the earth, the air, and the waters, are almost alike habitable. Their lives are spent in boundless action, and nature, with an omniscient benevolence, has assisted and formed them for this wonderful display of perpetual life and vigor in an element almost their own.

Remarkable Clothing of Birds.

The clothing of the skin of birds consists of feathers, which in their nature and development resemble hair, but are of a far more complicated structure. A perfect feather consists of the shaft or central stem, which is tubular at the base, where it is inserted into the skin, and the barbs or fibres, which form the webs on each side of the shaft. The two principal modifications of feathers are quills and plumes, the former confined to the wings and tail, the latter constituting the general clothing of the body. Besides the common feathers, the skin of many birds, and especially of the aquatic species, is covered with a thick coating of down, which consists of a multitude of small feathers of peculiar construction; each of these down feathers is composed of a very small, soft tube imbedded in the skin, from the interior of which there rises a small tuft of soft filaments, without any central shaft.

This downy coat fulfils the same office as the soft, woolly fur of many quadrupeds, the ordinary feathers being analogous to the long, smooth hair by which the fur of those animals is concealed. The skin also bears a good many hair-like appendages, which are usually scattered sparingly over its surface; they rise from a bulb which is imbedded in the skin, and usually indicate their relation to the ordinary feathers by the presence of a few minute barbs toward the apex.

Once or twice in the course of the year the whole plumage of the bird is renewed, the casting of the old feathers being called moulting. In many cases the new clothing is very different from that which it replaces, and in birds inhabiting temperate and cold climates we can frequently distinguish a summer and winter dress. This circumstance has given rise to the formation of a considerable number of false species, as the appearance of the birds in these different states is often very dissimilar, and it is only by an