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Perhaps some one of my readers may be able to inform me what has become of Lady Kneller's picture. The anecdote must add to its interest.

The sense of dogs is sometimes developed at an early age. A neighbour of mine had a spaniel puppy, about six months old, which two ladies of his acquaintance undertook the care of. The dog had his food given him in a cup, which was always kept in the corner of the room for that purpose, and was fed while the worthy ladies were having their breakfast and tea. One day they forgot the dog, being engaged in conversation, but to their surprise they saw him standing by the side of the table with the cup held in his mouth, evidently for the purpose of having something put into it. This he now continues to do regularly at every meal, and it is evident that there is a connection of ideas between his wants and the means of having them supplied. It is impossible, in this instance, not to give the little animal credit for reflection, if not for some approach to reason.

The following anecdote, which is perfectly well known in the town in which the circumstance occurred, places the intelligence, kind feeling, and noble disposition of a dog in a strong light, and quite equal to what has been recorded of the elephant under nearly similar circumstances. A grocer in Worcester had a powerful Newfoundland dog, which was reposing on the step of his

door, when a sort of brewer's sledge was going rapidly down the hill leading to the bridge. Just as the sledge was passing the house, a little boy in crossing the street, fell down in the way of the sledge, and would have been killed, had not the dog seen the danger, and rushing forward, seized the boy in his mouth just in time to save his life, and deposited him on the foot-way uninjured.

Nor are cats without strong feelings of affection. An old lady had a favourite cat which was much petted by her. One day a young friend was staying with her, and while sitting at the window of the drawing room, she began playfully to pat the old lady. The cat seeing what was going on, and probably supposing that her mistress was being ill-treated, crouched down with glaring eyes and swelling tail, and was evidently preparing to fly at the young lady, when fortunately her mistress saw the cat just in time to prevent the assault, and it was with some difficulty driven from the room.

Instances of the local memory and attachment of dogs to places, where they have lived, are not uncommon, but the cat is generally supposed to be an animal of an inferior developement of instinct and feelings; we, however, can mention a very singular example both of its fondness for the house where it was bred, and of means, apparently beyond its power, which it took when removed to

a distance, to regain it. A medical gentleman residing at Saxmundham in Suffolk, dined with a friend in the village of Grundisburgh, about twelve miles distant. Late in the evening he returned home; a young cat had been given to him by his host, which was placed in a basket, and deposited in the boot of the phaeton. This shy, timid, little animal, for such is the cat, and one quite unused to leave the precincts of its former habitation, three days subsequent to the journey, was found, wet, tired, and covered with dirt, at the door of its former master's house at Grundisburgh; having by some instinctive power, unaccountable to us, found its way from one place to another; assuredly not being guided by the sense of vision, or the recollection of places, for the former journey had been performed in confinement and utter darkness.

Thou hast sail'd far

Permit me of these unknown lands t' inquire
Lands never till'd, where thou hast wondering been,
And all the marvels thou hast heard and seen.

CRABBE.

It is pleasing to see the attention of our naval officers directed to subjects of Natural History, and to find that some of the observations they have made have been turned to useful purposes. Captain Fitzroy, in his very interesting narrative of his Surveying Voyage in the Beagle, a work which shews the zeal, good sense, and kind feeling of that indefatigable officer, tells us that he profited much by observing the flight of birds when out of sight of land. He thinks that land, especially small islands or reefs, may be discovered in consequence of watching the particular kinds of birds, and noticing the direction in which they fly in the evening, about sunset. Thus, after a severe gale of wind, he was in doubt whether those remote islands, called the Keelings, were to the east or west. He was inclined to steer eastward, when a number of Gannets flew past the ship towards the west. He immediately

steered after them, and early next morning saw

the Keelings right a head. He says, that generally speaking, if there is land within fifty miles of a vessel, its existence will be indicated, and the direction in which to look for it will be pointed out by birds. He observed some Tern, however, about 120 miles from any known land, and this fact may help to shew within what limits the appearance of those birds may be considered to indicate the vicinity of land.

The length and strength of the wings of those birds which take long and frequent flights over the vast ocean, their peculiar formation and adaptation to the climates and places they frequent, are subjects which must always interest not only a naturalist, but the Christian, who delights in beholding and enquiring into the ways of Providence, as evidenced in the works of creation. It is one of those subjects which the human mind is, I think, called upon to investigate. It affords us the clearest view of a protecting Power, and of a wonderful arrangement in the organization of every thing, sufficient to stifle the doubts of a sceptic, and to fill the mind of a sincere believer with wonder and admiration. If the inferior works of creation are so constantly under the care and guidance of a superintending Providence, how delightfully and confidently may the humble Christian, amidst the storms, and cares and anxieties of this life, look up to the same

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