with them. Sparrows, also, although they will occasionally feed on the ripe corn in the autumn, are, during the rest of the year, most useful in destroying immense quantities of caterpillars and other insects, of which there would be too great a redundancy except for these and other birds, as green-linnets, chaffinches, titmice, &c. The Starling and Jackdaw may also be classed amongst the benefactors of the farmer. Owls, also, should be encouraged about farm buildings, as well as Weazles: they are more efficacious than cats, in preventing too great an increase of rats and mice. Even the loathsome Toad, as it is too generally considered, has its use. A friend of mine took seventeen earwigs from the maw of one of these reptiles; and there can be no doubt but that they destroy a great number of injurious insects.

Many people are apt, on perceiving some slight present injury, to wage a sort of war against various birds and quadrupeds; forgetful and unmindful of the many advantages which it was intended they should derive from them. We may read in the book of Ecclesiasticus

"Oh, how desirable are all His works. All these things live and remain for ever for all uses."

But we may pursue this subject a little further. In rivers where there has been so great a destruction of fish that few are left, insects which are bred in the water abound so much on its surface at

particular periods as almost to cover it. When pike have been allowed to increase to a great extent, the smaller fish are not only exterminated, but also the young of water-fowl, and indeed many of the old birds.

In South America, where Ants are known to exist in immense quantities, provision has been made to keep them within due bounds, and yet to make them subservient to the uses for which they were created. In order to effect this, three species of ant-Bears are found, which feed on these insects, and which are admirably furnished with the necessary means of doing so. The claws are long, strong, and curved, to enable them to scratch up the ant-hills; the tongue is long, and at the root of it, according to Mr. Waterton, there are two very large glands, from which is emitted a glutinous liquid. This liquid lubricates the tongue when it is put into the ant's nest, and they and their eggs stick to it. The ant-bear is provided with such a skin, that neither ants, however large, or even dogs, are able to make any impression on it; and its fore-feet are remarkably strong and muscular. Should a great destruction of these useful and harmless animals take place, the ants probably would become an intolerable nuisance. These animals range the forests fearlessly, as their great strength, and the peculiar toughness of their skin, with its covering, preserve

them from the attacks of tigers or the huge snakes of the country.

I have noticed this animal, as it affords so strong a proof of a wise arrangement of Providence in the economy of nature. It is much to be regretted that the cultivators of the soil do not devote some time to the study of natural history. I am not speaking now of the pleasure it might afford them, but of the real utility to be derived from it. They would learn to distinguish and protect those animals which were evidently created for beneficial purposes to the agriculturist. They would become acquainted with the many species of the vegetable kingdom; and acquire knowledge of the qualities of objects connected with their farming occupation. The study must always produce good impressions, and tend to raise the mind from nature to the wise and benevolent Creator of all things.

Indeed, my friend, I do aver
That it is not the letter R,*

But B, that is canine;

With Cowper, BEAU liv'd day and night,
And little BOUNCE was Pope's delight,

And pretty BLANCHE is mine.

J. MITFORD.

FEW facts and circumstances in natural history are more pleasing, than those which illustrate the attachment that animals shew to each other, or to those of the human race who are kind to them.

Every sportsman knows that the common Woodpigeon (the Ring Dove) is one of the shyest birds we have and so wild, that it is very difficult indeed to get within shot of one.

This wild bird,

however, has been known to lay aside its usual habits. In the spring of 1839, some village boys brought two young wood-pigeons taken from the nest to the parsonage-house of a clergyman in Gloucestershire, from whom I received the following anecdote. "They were bought from the boys merely to save their lives, and sent to an old woman near the parsonage to be bred up. She took

*Romeo. Ay, nurse; what of that? both with an R.

Nurse. Ah, mocker! that's the dog's name. R is for the dog.

great care of them, feeding them with peas, of which they are very fond. One of them died, but the other grew up, and was a fine bird. Its wings had not been cut; and as soon as it could fly, it was set at liberty. Such, however, was the effect of the kindness it had received, that it would never quite leave the place. It would fly to great distances, and even associate with others of its own kind; but it never failed to come to the house twice a day to be fed. The peas were placed for it in the kitchen window. If the window was shut, it would tap with its beak till it was opened, then come in, eat its meal, and then fly off again. If by any accident it could not then gain admittance, it would wait somewhere near, till the cook came out, when it would pitch on her shoulder, and go with her into the kitchen. What made this more extraordinary was, that the cook had not bred the bird up, and the old woman's cottage was at a little distance; but as she had no peas left, it came to the parsonage to be fed.

"This went on for some time, but the poor bird having lost its fear of man, was therefore exposed to constant danger from those who did not know it. It experienced the fate of most pets. A stranger saw it quietly sitting on a tree, and shot it, to the great regret of all its former friends."

One cold frosty spring morning, a lamb, apparently dead, was brought into the kitchen of a