and this prevents its struggling and hurting the dam. When the foal is born, the separation of the legs takes place, but the horny substance remains on the legs. In a wild state, when the mares probably gallop much about to escape from danger, this junction of the hind legs of the foal may become still more necessary.

Those birds whose food consists of honey extracted from flowers, have the tongue pencilled at the tip with hairs, to which the honey adheres, and which would not be the case if it was smooth. Mr. Backhouse, in his interesting account of Australia, mentions that the eye of the Great Night Jar (Caprimulgus gracilis) is wonderfully adapted for enabling the bird to see those insects in the dark on which it feeds. The eye is large and stretched by a bony ring of one piece, and when recently removed, it forms a fine camera-obscura, transmitting the images of objects facing it through the integuments at the back of the retina.

The heart is hard in nature

that is not pleas'd

With sight of animals enjoying life,

Nor feels their happiness augment his own.

WOMEN are supposed to be more loquacious than men, but in the case of the animal creation this is not so, and we shall find that the distinction has been made by a benevolent Creator for a good and wise purpose. The female of almost all birds is invariably silent or at least monotonous. If she was tempted to sing during the progress of incubation, or while rearing her young, her retreat might be more readily discovered.* The cockbird on the contrary warbles sweetly from some distant spot, cheering his partner by his wellknown notes, and teaching his young to learn his delightful music. It is always pleasing to reflect on the variety of ways Nature takes to preserve the lives of her creatures, or to keep up a due proportion of each. This is done in some cases by a profusion of animal life, and in others by an instillation of peculiar art, cunning, and circum

* Even if disturbed she steals off her nest in the most silent way possible, and without uttering a single note either of alarm or surprize.

spection. Sometimes the male warns the female by a particular cry of approaching danger, or defends her with the greatest courage. Those creatures which multiply in abundance have a proportionate number of enemies, whilst the lion and the eagle have little to fear except from man. These are able to defend themselves, but timid animals make use of evasion, and a variety of means to ward off impending danger. Fear is therefore implanted in them, and is a great preservative. The lofty forest tree, the unsightly heap of nettles, or the common bramble, are places to which a feeble bird may retreat, when apprehensive of an attack being made upon it.

Some animals under unusual or peculiar circumstances, seem to lose the power of self-preservation. Numerous instances have occurred of hares being overtaken, or met on a railroad by engines, and becoming so completely paralyzed with fear as to make no attempt whatever to avoid the coming danger. This they might easily have done by running to the right or left. Instead of which they have waited till the noisy and rapid machine was close upon them, when they have given one convulsive spring, and have thus been caught in the scoop under the engine. The same thing has happened with respect to partridges, and in one instance as many as five of these birds were knocked down at the same time by an engine,

and afterwards picked up by a person sent for that purpose from one of the adjoining Stations. When trains have been passing along the fine viaduct over the Thames at Maidenhead, rooks have flown against them as if the power of self-preservation had abandoned these otherwise crafty birds, or rather as if they had lost the faculty which would have enabled them so easily to have avoided the danger. The same thing has happened with pheasants, and one is now alive at Steventon, which flew into one of the windows of a first class carriage, and was taken.

The following extraordinary circumstance lately occurred on a railway, and it proves not only that pigs are sensible animals, but that they are pos sessed with a certain degree of reflection, presence of mind, and nerve. One morning fifteen young pigs broke out of a field, and got upon the railway, and were between two of the rails, when a train approached with all its appalling accompaniments of noise, fire and smoke. The pigs were seen, but too late to stop the engine, and their owner, who happened to be on his farm, expected to have seen them all killed. They remained however in line, and stood perfectly still till the train had passed over them, and not one was hurt. They appeared to be sensible of the escape they had had, by running back to the field squeaking and capering with satisfaction.

When the cries of animals in distress are heard, it seems to excite the sympathy of others of their own species. Birds have been known to feed the young of those whose parents have been destroyed, and swallows, sparrows, rooks and other gregarious birds will join together in defending their young from predatory birds and animals. I lately, however, was informed of an anecdote, which places the kindly disposition of a dog in an interesting light.

A servant had thrown a litter of new-born kittens into a tub of soapy water, which stood in the yard of his master's house in order to drown them. A fine Newfoundland bitch happened to witness it, and, watching her opportunity, took each of the kittens out of the water, and conveyed them to her kennel, where she was seen endeavouring to foster and reanimate them. She had no milk to give them. If she had, the act would not, perhaps, have been so extraordinary. It must, therefore, have arisen, from an innate benevolence of disposition, thus exemplifying the beautiful precept of shewing kindness to each other. Indeed, during our passage through this life, we can seldom be better employed than in endeavouring to alleviate misery, and in fostering those feelings of love and good-will which we are all enjoined to shew to those around us. Much may be done towards softening the sufferings of