"The insect that with puny wing

Just flits along one summer's ray,
The floweret that the breath of spring
Wakes into life for half a day,
The smallest mote, the slenderest hair,
All feel our common Father's care.

"E'en from the glories of his throne

He bends to view our wandering ball;
Sees all, as if that all were one,

Loves one, as if that one were all,
Rolls the swift planets in their spheres,
And counts the sinner's lonely tears."

The raven is a bird of much sagacity, though sometimes chargeable with no little mischief. Some years ago there was one at an inn on the road between Brixton and Ashbourn which had been taught to call the poultry when they were fed, and that with much success. It would not be easy to imagine how far the ability thus attained was, on one occasion, carried. At this place the passengers by one of the coaches used to stop for dinner, and at the time referred to, the usual preparation was made, the cloth being laid, and the knives and forks, spoons, mats, and bread, all being placed in due order. But when the coach was about arriving, and dinner was being carried on, what was the surprise of the attendants on discovering that all of them were gone! Not one was left. The mystery was, however, soon unravelled. The room-door of the dining-room

had been shut, but the window was left open; and through it roused, shall it be said, by strong ambition for a similar display? the raven had entered; and

now the result appeared, for on a heap of rubbish in the yard, the spoons, knives, forks, and mats were carefully set out, and the raven was doing the honours of the table, and regaling a numerous company of poultry with a dinner of bread.

Another fact may be mentioned of a different kind. A gentleman was entering the yard of the Red Lion inn, at Hungerford, when his chaise ran over and bruised the leg of his Newfoundland dog. While he and others were examining the injury, a raven, called Rafe, which had lived there some time, was evidently a concerned spectator of what was transpiring. No sooner was the dog tied up under the manger with the horse, than Rafe brought him bones, and attended on him with particular and repeated marks of kindness. When this was mentioned to the ostler, he said that the bird had been brought up with a dog; that a mutual affection was manifested by them, and that their reciprocal acts of kindness had been witnessed by the whole neighbourhood. Rafe's poor friend after a time broke his leg, and all the while he was confined the bird waited on him, carried him his provision, and scarcely ever left

him alone. One night the stable-door was shut by accident, and Rafe was thus deprived of his friend's company; but in the morning the ostler found the door so pecked away, that had it not been opened, the raven would have made an entrance for himself in another hour. Other acts of kindness shown by this bird to dogs in general were mentioned; but it was stated that he was particularly attentive to maimed or wounded ones.

THE COOT.

THE coot is, in this country, a very common bird. It breeds in many of our lakes, rivers, and large ponds, forming a nest of flags among the reeds and other aquatic plants, close to the surface of the water.

Many of these birds continue in their breeding-places, even in small pieces of water, and though frequently roused, cannot be made to fly farther than from one side to the other. In the isle of Sheppey they are said to breed in great abundance; and the inhabitants will not suffer the eggs to be taken, as the birds are a chief article of food. They place their nests among the flags on the surface of the water; and by heaping a quantity of materials together, raise the fabric above it so as to keep the eggs dry. A sudden gale of wind has been known to move them from their slender moorings, when in this buoyant state; and it is said, that the nests have been seen floating on the water, with the birds upon them.

THE ROBIN.

It is only to mention this bird to call up at once its well-known figure. Its most striking characteristic does not, however, at first appear; the nestling feathers of young birds are spotted, and the red hue does not adorn the breast for two or three months after they leave their early home.

No one of the feathered tribe is more generally a favourite than the robin. How truly is it said :

"The herdsman on the upland hill,

The ploughman in the hamlet near,

Are prone thy little paunch to fill,
And pleased thy little psalm to hear.

"The woodman seated on a log,

His meal divides atween the three;
And now himself, and now his dog,
And now he casts a crumb to thee.

"For thee a feast the schoolboy strews
At noontide, when the form 's forsook;

A worm to thee the delver throws,

And angler when he baits the hook

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