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diff --git a/22408.txt b/22408.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..0dd63ad --- /dev/null +++ b/22408.txt @@ -0,0 +1,2750 @@ +Project Gutenberg's Chatterbox Stories of Natural History, by Anonymous + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Chatterbox Stories of Natural History + +Author: Anonymous + +Release Date: August 26, 2007 [EBook #22408] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK CHATTERBOX STORIES *** + + + + +Produced by Marilynda Fraser-Cunliffe, Janet Blenkinship +and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at +http://www.pgdp.net (This file was made using scans of +public domain works in the International Children's Digital +Library.) + + + + + + + + + + [Illustration] + + CHATTERBOX + + STORIES OF + + NATURAL HISTORY + + NEW YORK R. WORTHINGTON 770 BROADWAY. + + COPYRIGHT, + + 1880, + + By R. WORTHINGTON. + + New York: J. J. Little & Co., Printers, 10 to 20 Astor Place. + + + * * * * * + + +------------------------------------------------------------------------+ + |Transcriber's note: There was no Table of Contents in the original book,| + |and one has been provided for this version. | + +------------------------------------------------------------------------+ + + THE KING OF THE CASTLE. + ZEBRA AND YOUNG. + MRS. BRUIN AND FAMILY. + LITTLE OWLS. + AUROCHS. + THE KANGAROO. + THE PEACOCK. + SWANS. + THE SEA LION. + A--THE ASS. + BADGERS. + THE BIRD'S NEST. + THE CHAMOIS. + JACKO WITH PUSSY'S BONE. + MEMBERS OF THE POACHING FRATERNITY. + A COW WORKING A PUMP. + CARRIER PIGEONS. + THE SIASIN, OR ANTELOPE OF INDIA. + THE COMMON SNIPE. + D--THE DOE. + MRS. BUNNY AND FAMILY. + THE LYNX. + THE SWAN AND THE DRAKE. + THE BEAVER. + LIONESS AND CUBS. + A PET JACK. + THE SWALLOW'S NEST. + THE BRAVE DOG OF ST. BERNARD. + G--THE GIRAFFE. + MOTHER-DEER AND BABY. + WHOOPING CRANE. + THE ELK. + TOYS FOR ANIMALS. + THE SUCKING-PIG. + BELL-RINGERS. + THE GUINEA-PIG. + J--THE JAY. + WAITING. + THE ARGUS. + THE YOUNG MONKEY. + THE CLEVER FOX. + TESTING HIS STRENGTH. + A WISE DOG. + M--THE MANDRILL. + SPRING. + SUMMER. + TIMOTHY. + THE BRAVE COCKATOO. + HARE TAKING THE WATER. + AUTUMN. + WINTER. + OUR WILD BIRDS. + P--THE PELICAN. + BLACKBIRDS AND YOUNG. + A USEFUL PILOT. + JACK. + S--THE SWALLOW. + A SINGULAR HABIT OF THE WOODCOCK. + THE SKY-LARK + THE STORY OF A SEAL. + THE KING OF THE MOUNTAINS. + THE BEE. + V--THE VULTURE. + MOTHER AND PUPS. + THE FRIENDLY TERNS. + Y--THE YAK. + SHEEP AND LAMBS. + THE CAPTIVE SQUIRREL. + A STROLL IN THE COUNTRY. + THE OTTER. + THE MASTIFF. + THE CUNNING WOOD-PIGEONS. + SEA REPTILES. + SWISS MOUNTAIN SCENERY. + PARTRIDGE AND YOUNG. + THE KINGFISHERS' HOME. + RATS CARRYING EGGS UP STAIRS. + A HERON ATTACKED BY A HAWK. + A HORSE GUARDIAN. + BATTLE BETWEEN A FOX AND A SWAN. + TOUSY. + + + * * * * * + + +[Illustration: CARLO.] + + + + +THE KING OF THE CASTLE. + + +As the lion is called the king of beasts, so the eagle is called the +king of birds; but except that it is bigger, stronger, and swifter than +other birds, there does not seem much reason for the name. It is a +mistake to attribute noble or mean qualities to animals or birds, or to +think they can do good or bad actions, when they can only do what God +has created them to do, and as their instinct teaches. + +The most powerful of the eagles is the Golden Eagle, so called because +of the rich yellowish-brown bordering to its feathers. It makes its nest +in the clefts of the rocky sides of the mountains, and seldom on a tree, +unless where one has sprung up in between the clefts, and the tangled +roots make a sort of platform. This the eagles cover with sticks, and +here they make their house, living in it always, and not only when they +lay eggs or have young ones. + +If there are eaglets in the nest, the food is at once carried home to +them, and the skinning and eating done at home. Eagles are very +attentive to their young, and feed them with great care until they are +able to take care of themselves. + +[Illustration] + + + + +ZEBRA AND YOUNG. + + +Mrs. Zebra, standing with her baby by her side, asks proudly of the +lookers-on, "Did you ever see such a likeness?" and certainly mother and +child are very much alike, striped all over their bodies, from head to +foot, and from nose to tail, with the same regular marks of black. +Strong and wild by nature, the zebra family are left very much to +themselves, which is a source of great happiness to the mother and child +in the picture before us. "No! no! my baby is not going to become as +tame as the donkey, or to draw carts and carriages like the horse; it is +to have its freedom, and go just where it likes all over these large +plains;"--so says Mrs. Zebra, and she means it too, for if anybody took +the trouble to go all the way to the hot country of Africa, where Mrs. +Zebra is at home, and tried to carry off her baby, they would find their +journey a vain one, and that she would kick severely, and perhaps break +the legs of the person bold enough to take away her darling. + +[Illustration] + + + + +MRS. BRUIN AND FAMILY. + + +This is the American black bear, who is looking so lively and seemingly +inviting the young folks to have a romp, which they will be only too +willing to join in. The black bear is of a timid disposition, and seldom +attacks man except in self-defense. The female bear is a most +affectionate mother, and many stories are related showing her care and +love for her young, and her sorrow and mournful cries when any evil +befalls them. On one occasion a black bear with her two cubs was pursued +across the ice by some armed sailors. At first she urged her cubs to +increased speed, but finding her pursuers gaining upon them, she +carried, pushed, and pitched them, alternately, forward, until she +effected their escape from her pursuers. + +[Illustration] + + + + +LITTLE OWLS. + + +Who has not at one time or other of his life read fairy tales and +sympathized with stories of enchanted princes and princesses? I once +thought of this when a country boy offered me a nest with four of the +young of the Little Owl. I put them into a large cage, where they could +stare at each other and at my pigeons to their hearts' content. + +Let me say that this little owl is a very useful bird, for it keeps +mice, bats, beetles, and other creatures in check, which might otherwise +multiply too fast. On a spring or summer evening you may hear its +plaintive hoot among the apple-blossoms of an orchard, or the sheaves of +a cornfield. Curiously enough, this simple sound earned the little bird +the name of being the harbinger of death, and peasants believed that +whenever its cry was heard where sickness was in the family, the patient +was sure to die. + +[Illustration] + + + + +AUROCHS. + + +An Aurochs in blind rage, charging through thick and thin, has had a +fascination for me as long as I can remember. The true aurochs and this, +the European Bison, ceased to exist in the British Isles, except in the +Zoological Gardens; but the latter is still found wild in Lithuania, and +is also carefully preserved in other parts of Russia, of which the +Emperor has a herd. There is much talk about their being untamable--that +they will not mix with tame cattle--that tame cows shrink from the +aurochs' calves; but does not any cow shrink from any calf not her own? +The American Bison, with which you are all pretty familiar, is very +similar to the one just mentioned. There have been several attempts made +to domesticate the American bison, and have been so far successful. The +size and strength of the animal make it probable that if domesticated, +it would be of great use. + +[Illustration] + + + + +THE KANGAROO. + + +"Well," said little Herbert Joyce, as he looked over the books of +drawings which his cousin had just brought home from Australia, "I never +saw anything so extraordinary before in all my life; why here is an +animal with three heads, and two of them are very low down, and much +smaller than the others." "What do you mean, Herbert?" asked his cousin, +who just then came into the room. "There are no three-headed +animals--let me see the picture. Oh! no wonder you were puzzled; it does +look like a queer creature. That is a kangaroo, and the small heads +belong to her children, whom she carries about in a bag formed by a hole +in her skin, until they are old enough to walk; and the little things +seem very happy there; and sometimes, as their mother moves along over +the grass, you may see them nibbling it." + +[Illustration] + + + + +THE PEACOCK. + + +Proud bird! I watched thee stalking by, + With stately step and slow, +As though thou fain would'st charm each eye + With glittering pomp and show: + +And truly thou art brave to see, + In heaven's hues arrayed, +And plainer birds at sight of thee + Might shrink and be dismayed: + +Yet, pampered bird! there still are those + I value higher far, +Albeit their garb nor glints nor glows + With many a jeweled star. + +I love them for their gentle ways, + Their voices soft and sweet +In summer chorus, that repays + Right well their winter's meat. + +For what is outward form at best + But accident of birth? +That form in splendid raiment drest + Is still but common earth. + +And yet 'tis he whose painted plumes + Shine fairest in the sun, +Who haughtiest look of pride assumes, + As though by him 'twere done. + +We smile to see yon bird strut by, + Thus proud of his array; +But human friends we may espy + As foolish every day. + +Not beauty's form nor grand attire + Upon the wise will tell, +But _acts_ of those who e'er aspire + To do their DUTY well. + +[Illustration] + +[Illustration: FEEDING THE PET.] + + + + +SWANS. + + +This beautiful and majestic bird was considered the bird-royal in +England, owing to a law of England that when found in a partially wild +state on the sea and navigable rivers it belonged to the crown; but of +course it is to be found on the ponds and lakes of many a gentleman's +estate, and is always prized as a great ornament to the lake. The swan +is also very valuable in clearing the ponds of weeds, and makes a most +effective clearance, as they eat them before they rise to the surface. +The swan affords a pleasing illustration of the love of the mother-bird +for its young, and has been known to vanquish a fox who made an attack +on its nest--showing that the instinct of motherhood kindles boldness +and bravery in the breast of the most timid animals. The nest is +generally made on an islet, and composed of reeds and rushes, and when +the five or seven large eggs are hatched, the mother may be seen +swimming about with the young ones on her back. + +[Illustration] + + + + +THE SEA LION. + + +Although such large and powerful creatures, these sea lions are innocent +and playful. See, one of them has reared himself up on his hind legs, if +legs they may be called, and is sitting on a chair with his flappers +over the back of the chair. It inhabits the eastern shores of +Kamtchatka, and is in some places extremely abundant, and measuring +about fifteen feet in length. It is much addicted to roaring, which, as +much as the mane of the old males, has obtained for it the name of the +Sea Lion. The old males have a fierce appearance, yet they fly in great +haste on the approach of man, but if driven to extremities they will +fight desperately; but in captivity they are capable of being tamed, and +become very familiar with man. The scientific name of the sea lion is +Otary. + +[Illustration] + +[Illustration: THE LION.] + + + + +A--THE ASS. + + +_A Forbear to vex the patient Ass, +Its heaving sides to goad, +And far and safe its useful back +Will carry many a load._ + + +B--THE BITTERN. + + +_In reedy swamp and lonely marsh, +Where all is shade and gloom, +The Bittern stalks, and you may hear +His voice in sullen boom._ + + +C--THE CAMEL. + + +_The Camel is a useful beast, +Patient, and slow, and mild; +To man a blessing and a boon +In Afric's sandy wild._ + + + + +BADGERS. + + +One day at the Zoological Gardens, I saw the group of Badgers as they +are here given. Little do visitors to the gardens take into account how +much a wild animal goes through till it has got used to a state of +things so opposite to its natural habits. Their wants are attended to as +much as possible, but cannot be always met; and so we have here a +devoted mother, worn out by the demands of her cubs, and vainly anxious +to hide herself from daylight and man's gaze. She has long given up +trying to dig or scratch her way out. All she can do is to lean against +the wall, ready for a last defence, should anybody come within her +prison. She dares not curl up into a ball, like the one cub, and go to +sleep; while this little careless imp on her back, happy and trustful, +adds to her tiredness by his weight. + +[Illustration] + + + + +THE BIRD'S NEST. + + +"Her little nest, so soft and warm, + God teaches her to make it; +I would not dare to do her harm, + I would not dare to take it." + +How curious is the structure of the nest of the Bullfinch or Chaffinch! +The inside of it is lined with cotton and fine silken threads; and the +outside cannot be sufficiently admired, though it is composed only of +various kinds of fine moss. The color of these mosses, resembling that +of the bark of the tree in which the nest is built, proves that the bird +intended it should not be easily discovered. In some nests, hair, wool, +and rushes are cleverly interwoven. In others, the parts are firmly +fastened by a thread, which the bird makes of hemp, wool, hair, or, more +commonly, of spiders' webs. Other birds--as, for instance, the blackbird +and the lapwing--after they have constructed their nests, plaster the +inside with mortar; they then stick upon it, while quite wet, some wool +or moss to give warmth; but all alike construct their nests so as to add +to their security. + +[Illustration] + + + + +THE CHAMOIS. + + +The chamois are indeed high-born, for among the high mountain-peaks, +where the eternal snow rests and the Alpine roses bloom, there they make +their home! There they spring up over the snowy slopes to those heights +to which man cannot climb. They rest upon the glittering ice, the snow +does not blind them, neither does it cool their hot blood. Carelessly +they stride across the snowed-over crevices, and when the terrible +storms, at which men are so alarmed, hurl down rocks and avalanches from +the summits, the Chamois do not fear them. They find their way safely +through the thickest mist and darkest clouds. Agile and light-footed, +gentle and peaceable, proud and courageous, they lead a happy life among +the mountains, as long as man does not molest them. + +[Illustration] + + + + +JACKO WITH PUSSY'S BONE. + + +Jacko is a bird called a Macaw, and has fine feathers--scarlet and +yellow and blue. Jacko can talk a little. He says, "Come along, Jacko, +come along;" and when you come, as soon as he thinks you near enough, he +pecks at you with his great beak. When he is in a good temper he will +say, "Poor, poor!" He will sit upon the ivy all the morning and talk to +himself, and he will call the gardener, and he will cough and sneeze, +and crow and cackle, in a very funny manner. If Jacko sees sparrows +picking up a few crumbs, he will rush up, sweeping his great wings along +the ground, and take their meal for himself. If he sees poor Pussy +picking a bone, he takes great delight in creeping down from his ivy, +helping himself down with beak and claws, and at a sight of Jacko's +approach Pussy darts away, leaving the bone in Jacko's possession. +Pussy, of course, does not like this, but stands at a respectable +distance, and with curved back and flashing eyes shows her indignation +at Jacko. Presently Jacko retires to the ivy and Pussy resumes her +feast. + +[Illustration] + + + + +MEMBERS OF THE POACHING FRATERNITY. + + +Among the various wild animals which inhabit the earth, it is difficult +to decide which are really friendly and which are really hostile to +man's interests. The actual fact appears to be that there is neither +hostility nor friendship. If farmers and gardeners kill off too many +birds, nature revenges herself by sending a plague of insects which the +small birds, if alive, would have eaten. Gamekeepers ruthlessly shoot +hawks and kites, or snare stoats and polecats, with the result that +their game grows up too thick for its feeding ground, sickly specimens +are allowed to linger on, and a destructive murrain follows. The rook, +no doubt, is fond of eggs; but nevertheless he does the farmer good +service when he devours the grubs which are turned up by the plow; and +as the salmon disease, which of late has proved so destructive, is +attributed by the best authorities to overcrowding, that glossy-coated +fisherman, the otter, is really a benefactor to the followers of Izaak +Walton's gentle craft. + +[Illustration] + +[Illustration: NEDDY'S BREAKFAST.] + + + + +A COW WORKING A PUMP. + + +My informant writes me as follows: "We have a wonderful cow here--about +ten years old, and very clever at opening gates and breaking fences. +There is an Abyssinnian pump about three feet high in the center of the +field, near my house, over a trough, which is, or ought to be, filled +daily. It was on a hot day, when my man had omitted to pump the trough +full, that the cow was first observed to help herself: the way in which +she managed to pump was by pushing the handle up with her head and then +forcing it down with her horns. Very little elevation of the handle is +required to get water, and she would work it for five minutes together, +and sometimes drank from the spout, and sometimes from the trough." + +[Illustration] + + + + +CARRIER PIGEONS. + + +The carrier pigeon is remarkable for the degree in which it possesses +the instinct and power of returning from a distance to its accustomed +home. In Eastern countries it is the practice to bathe the pigeon's feet +in vinegar to keep them cool, and to prevent it from alighting in quest +of water, by which the letter might sustain injury. Pigeons intended for +this use must be brought from the place to which they are to return, +within a short period, and must be kept in the dark and without food for +at least eight hours before being let loose. The carrier pigeon was of +great service during the siege of Paris in 1871, and conveyed many +important messages. It goes through the air at the rate of thirty miles +an hour, but has been known to fly even faster. + +[Illustration] + +[Illustration: THE GOLDEN EAGLE. + +THE STORK. + +THE VIRGINIAN HORNED OWL. + +THE CRANE.] + +[Illustration: THE WHALE. + +THE ELEPHANT. + +THE WHITE RHINOCEROS. + +THE HIPPOPOTAMUS, OR BEHEMOTH.] + + + + +THE SIASIN, OR ANTELOPE OF INDIA. + + +The Siasin, or Antelope of India, roams over the open and rocky plains +of that immense country. It is distinguished from the rest of its family +by the beauty and singular shape of its horns, which are annulated or +ringed, and spirally convoluted or curved together, making two or more +turns, according to the age of the animal. The fakirs and dervishes of +India, who are enjoined by their religion from carrying swords, +frequently wear at their girdles the polished horns of the siasin +instead of the usual military arm. This antelope is one of the +fleetest-footed of its family, and its leap is something wonderful. It +is not uncommon for it to vault to the height of twelve or thirteen +feet, passing over ten or twelve yards at a single bound. In color it is +almost black on the upper part of the body, and light-colored beneath. +When full grown, it is about the size of our common deer. + +[Illustration] + + + + +THE COMMON SNIPE. + + +These birds frequent swampy woods, marshes, morasses, and the borders of +rivers. Their usual time for seeking their food is early in the morning +and during the twilight of the evening. They subsist principally upon +insects and worms; for these they search among the decayed leaves, and +probe the mud and ooze with their lengthened bills. When alarmed, they +generally lie close to the ground, or among the grass, or, suddenly +starting on the wing, escape by flight, which is short but elevated, +rapid, and irregular. The eggs, which are four in number, are deposited +on the ground. In the snipe, and all its immediate allies, the bill is +thickened, soft, and very tender at its extremity; so that this part, +which is richly supplied with nerves, serves as a delicate organ of +touch, and is used for searching in the soft ground for the insects and +worms that constitute the food of these birds. + +[Illustration] + +[Illustration: A VISIT TO THE MONKEYS.] + + + + +D--THE DOE. + + +Graceful and gentle is the Doe; + Its tawny coat how sleek! +How bright yet tender are its eyes! + Its glance how softly meek! + + +E--THE EAGLE. + + +Upon the lonely mountain peak + The eagle builds her nest, +And there, when weary of the chase, + In silence takes her rest. + + +F--THE FOX. + + +The Fox will skulk in ferny brake, + Yet loves the haunts of men; +And prowls around the farm, to pounce + On capon, goose, or hen. + + + + +MRS. BUNNY AND FAMILY. + + +This wild Rabbit has been startled by some noise, and the next moment +she may be scampering away to her burrow, with the little bunnies, at +the top of their speed, and crouch there until all is quiet again. +Rabbits usually select, if possible, a sandy soil overgrown with furze, +in which to make their burrows, as such a soil is easily removed, and +the dense prickly furze hides their retreat, whilst it affords them a +wholesome and never-failing food. These furze bushes are constantly +eaten down, as far as the rabbits can reach standing on their hind legs, +and consequently present the appearance of a solid mass with the surface +even and rounded. These animals retire into their burrows by day to +rest, and come out only in the twilight to obtain food. + +[Illustration] + + + + +THE LYNX. + + +The body of the lynx, beautifully spotted with black and brown rings, is +more solid and hardy than that of the wild cat. His ears are longer, his +tail is shorter, his great eyes light up like bright flames; and since +he prowls about chiefly at night, he is thought to have very keen sight. +For this reason, when we wish to say that a person can see very clearly +or can look beyond the outward appearance of things, we call him +_lynx-eyed_. Like all cats, the lynx possesses in his mustache a very +correct power of feeling. This, with the sense of hearing and sight, +guides him in all his expeditions. + +The lynx in the picture is in the act of springing upon a timid hare. +Although he can measure twenty paces in a jump, I think for once he has +made a misstep, and the dear little creature with one more bound will be +safe. One very remarkable fact about these animals is this: if there are +several together, and one starts over the snow in pursuit of booty, all +the others will follow in exactly the same tracks, so that it will look +as if but one lynx had passed over the snow-covered earth. + +[Illustration] + +[Illustration: GOOD MORNING, BIRDIE!] + + + + +THE SWAN AND THE DRAKE. + + +Slowly, in majestic silence, + Sailed a Swan upon a lake; +Round about him, never quiet, + Swam a noisy quacking Drake. + +"Swan," exclaimed the latter, halting, + "I can scarcely comprehend +Why I never hear you talking: + Are you really dumb, my friend?" + +Said the Swan, by way of answer: + "I have wondered, when you make +Such a shocking, senseless clatter, + Whether you are deaf, Sir Drake!" + +Better, like the Swan, remain in + Silence grave and dignified, +Than keep, drake-like, ever prating, + While your listeners deride. + +W. R. E. + +[Illustration] + + + + +THE BEAVER. + + +This industrious animal is generally found in Canada and the northern +portions of the United States, where it makes its home on the banks of +the rivers and lakes. Here they assemble in hundreds to assist each +other in the construction of their dams, and in the building of their +houses, which are put together with a considerable amount of engineering +skill. The materials used in building the dams are wood, stones, and +mud, which they collect themselves for that purpose, and after finishing +the dam, or winter storehouse, they collect their stores for the +winter's use, and then make a connection with their houses in the banks. +Their skins are valuable in making fine hats, and their flesh is much +relished by the hunters. The beaver is an interesting animal in many +respects, and the expression "busy as a beaver" is borne out by its +habits. + +[Illustration] + +[Illustration: THE TURTLE-DOVE.] + +[Illustration: THE CUCKOO.] + +[Illustration: THE PEACOCK.] + +[Illustration: THE TAME, OR MUTE SWAN.] + +[Illustration: THE LIONESS AND CUBS.] + +[Illustration: THE LEOPARD.] + +[Illustration: THE SYRIAN BEAR.] + +[Illustration: THE JACKAL.] + + + + +LIONESS AND CUBS. + + +The lioness is much smaller than the lion, and her form is more slender +and graceful. She is devoid of the mane of her lord and master, and has +four or five cubs at a birth, which are all born blind. The young lions +are at first obscurely striped and spotted. They mew like cats, and are +as playful as kittens. As they get older, the uniform color is gradually +assumed. The mane appears in the males at the end of ten or twelve +months, and at the age of eighteen months it is very considerably +developed, and they begin to roar. Both in nature and in a state of +captivity the lioness is very savage as soon as she becomes a mother, +and the lion himself is then most to be dreaded, as he will then brave +almost any risk for the sake of his lioness and family. + +[Illustration] + + + + +A PET JACK. + + +The first fish I ever saw in an aquarium, twenty years ago, was a +"Jack," as he is called when young, or a "Pike," when he grows older; +and ever since then I have contrived to have a pet one, and this, drawn +from life by Mr. Harrison Weir, is an accurate portrait of the one I now +possess in the Crystal Palace Aquarium. There he is, just as he steals +round the corner of a bit of rock. He is glaring at a minnow, at which +he is taking most accurate aim; he hardly seems to move, but yet he does +by a very trifling motion of the edge of his back fin--sometimes resting +a little on the tips of his two foremost fins, as they touch the ground, +carefully calculating his distance; and then, at the very moment when +the minnow has got into a position which leaves a space of clear water +in front, so that Mr. Jack shall not hurt his nose against any hard +substance when he gets carried on by the violence of his rush, he darts +at the minnow with the speed of Shakspeare's Puck:-- + +"I go, I go! look, how I go! +Swifter than arrow from the Tartar's bow." +[Illustration] + + + + +THE SWALLOW'S NEST. + + +Often in former years the twitter of the birds glittering in the morning +sun was the first sound that met my ear during the wakeful hours which +frequently accompany illness after the worst crisis has passed, and you +are recovering by degrees. The gutters ran beneath my bedroom windows, +and I could see the steel-blue backs of the swallows as they sat on the +rims of the gutter, twisting their little heads, opening their +yellow-lined beaks, singing to their hearts' content. Whole families +would perch there together, or the young would rest in rows of four or +five, according to the nest-broods of each. How delightful to see them +fed by their agile parents! how tantalizing to have them almost within +reach of my hands, yet not to be able to catch them or give them a kiss, +as they would cower in my hollow hands if I only could have got them in +there! + +[Illustration] + + + + +THE BRAVE DOG OF ST. BERNARD. + + +Where the St. Bernard Pass climbs up + Amid the Alpine snows, +The far-famed Hospice crowns the heights + With shelter and repose. + +Its inmates, with their faithful dogs, + Are truly friends in need +When snowdrifts block the traveler's way, + And blinding storms mislead. + +Brave "Barry," once, far down the track + That crossed a glacier steep, +Found buried deep beneath the snow + A poor boy, fast asleep. + +He licked the cold, numb hands and face + To warmth and life once more, +And bore him safely on his back + Up to the Hospice door. + +[Illustration] + +[Illustration: COME TO ME!] + + + + +G--THE GIRAFFE. + + +_Full seventeen feet the Giraffe tall +Measures "from top to toe," +And with his neck outstretched can reach +The branch that bendeth low._ + + +[Illustration] + + +H--THE HYENA. + + +_In Asia and in Africa +The fierce Hyenas prowl, +And oft at night the traveler starts +To hear their savage howl._ + + +[Illustration] + + +I--THE ICHNEUMON. + + +_A foe to birds and rats and mice, +See the Ichneumon glide! +Oft, too, on reptiles or their eggs +Its hungry teeth are tried._ + + + + +MOTHER-DEER AND BABY. + + +Something has startled them, as they fed securely enough, one would +think, on the grass at the foot of the rocks; and if we could only get a +little nearer, this is what we should hear the mother-deer saying to her +baby: "My child, I am sure there is danger about; look out and tell me +if you see the slightest movement on the hill yonder, or if I see it +first, I will give you the signal, and you must follow me, and run for +your very life." And the baby, with cocked ears and glistening eyes, +promises to do as it is told. But after all it will probably prove a +false alarm, for this is not the time of year for deerstalking; and I +dare say the noise they heard was made by a party of people coming up +the valley below to see the waterfall, which is famous in the +neighborhood. + +[Illustration] + + + + +WHOOPING CRANE. + + +The Whooping Crane is much larger than the common crane, which it +otherwise much resembles except in color; its plumage, in its adult +state, is pure white, the tips of the wings black. He spends the winter +in the southern parts of North America, and in summer migrates far +northwards. The crane feeds on roots, seeds, etc., as well as on +reptiles, worms, insects, and on some of the smaller quadrupeds. They +journey in flocks from fifty to a hundred, and rise to an immense height +in the air, uttering their loud harsh cries, and occasionally alighting +to seek food in fields or marshes; and when they descend on a field they +do sad havoc to the crops, several doing sentinel duty while the +majority are feeding. In general it is a very peaceful bird, both in its +own society and those of the forest. + +[Illustration] + +[Illustration: THE RAVEN. + +THE RING-DOVE. + +THE HOOPOE. + +THE COCK.] + +[Illustration: THE IBEX, OR ROCK GOAT. + +DEER. + +THE SYRIAN GOAT. + +THE ROE.] + + + + +THE ELK. + + +This is the largest existing species of the deer family, and is a native +of the northern parts of Europe, Asia, and Africa. It grows to be six +feet high and twelve hundred pounds in weight. They are very rare in +Europe and this country, but at one time they extended as far south as +the Ohio River. They love the woods and marshy places, and live off of +the branches of trees, being unable to eat grass unless they get upon +their knees. They are very timid, and not easily approached by the +hunter, but should a dog come in the way, one stroke from an elk's foot +will kill it. Many of the parents of our little friends in Maine and +Canada are, no doubt, familiar with the elk and its habits. + +[Illustration] + + + + +TOYS FOR ANIMALS. + + +The "Daily News" says: "Our readers have often doubtless observed +appeals in the papers for toys for sick children. We hear that a +naturalist who feels much for animals is struck with the cruelty of +leaving the creatures at the 'Zoo' without anything to play with. This +gentleman had in his possession a young otter, for whom he made a wooden +ball, to the extreme delight of his pet, who used to divert his simple +instinct with it for whole hours at a stretch. Following up the idea, +the same gentleman presented the elephants and rhinoceroses in the +Zoological Gardens with globes for diversion suited to their sizes, but +it seems the elephants took to playing ball so furiously, that 'there +was danger of their houses being swept down altogether; so they were +forbidden to use them indoors.' The polar bear was given a toy which, we +are told, 'amuses him immensely.'" + +[Illustration] + + + + +THE SUCKING-PIG. + + +The other day our children came home delighted at having seen a little +pig drinking out of a bottle, just like a baby. I went to see it, and I +was introduced to its owner, who lived in a cottage, the principal room +of which was painted light blue. A good-natured old woman was there with +her two orphan grand-children. The red tiles of the cottage floor were +enlivened by a gray-and-white cat, and a shiny-skinned little pig, of +about a month old, which was fed out of a feeding-bottle. This was the +hero of the place. + +The little pig is grateful for good treatment, and as capable of +attachment as a horse or a dog. The pig is intelligent, and it can be +taught tricks. Performing pigs are often the attractions of country +fairs. I have seen pigs in the poor neighborhoods of London follow their +masters through noisy streets, and into busy public-houses, where they +laid down at their masters' feet like a dog. + +[Illustration] + + + + +BELL-RINGERS. + + +When a child, my father took me to see some feats performed by some +traveling cats. They were called "the bell-ringers," and were +respectively named Jet, Blanche, Tom, Mop, and Tib. + +Five bells were hung at regular intervals on a round hoop erected on a +sort of stage. A rope was attached to each bell after the manner of +church bells. At a given signal from their master, they all sprang to +their feet, and at a second signal, each advanced to the ropes, and +standing on their hind feet, stuck their front claws firmly into the +ropes, which were in that part covered with worsted, or something of the +kind, so as to give the claws a firmer hold. There was a moment's +pause--then No. 1 pulled his or her rope, and so sounded the largest +bell; No. 2 followed, then No. 3, and so on, till a regular peal was +rung with almost as much precision and spirit as though it were human +hands instead of cats' claws that effected it. + +[Illustration] + + + + +THE GUINEA-PIG. + + +The Guinea-pig is a native of South America, and is remarkable for the +beauty and variety of its colors, and the neatness of its appearance. +These little pets are very careful in keeping themselves and their +offspring neat and tidy, and may be frequently seen smoothing and +dressing their fur, somewhat in the manner of a cat. After having +smoothed and dressed each other's fur, both turn their attention to +their young, from whose coats they remove the smallest speck of dirt, at +the same time trying to keep their hair smooth and unruffled. The +Guinea-pig feeds on bread, grain, fruit, vegetables, tea leaves, and +especially garden parsley, to which it is very partial. It generally +gives birth to seven and eight young at a time, and they very soon are +able to take care of themselves. + +[Illustration] + +[Illustration: FAITHFUL FRIENDS.] + + + +[Illustration] + + +J--THE JAY. + + +_Methinks the Jay's a noisy bird, + Yet now with crimson breast, +Silent and fond, she watches o'er + The treasures of her nest._ + + +[Illustration] + + +K--THE KANGAROO. + + +_The timid Kangaroo frequents + The wild Australian brakes; +With long hind-legs and fore-legs short + Tremendous leaps he takes._ + + +[Illustration] + + +L--THE LION. + + +_With tawny hide and flowing mane, + And loud-resounding roar, +Of animals the Lion's king, + And all bow down before._ + + + + +WAITING. + + +Waiting for master to come down the stair, +Are "Noble" and "Floss," and his favorite mare-- +"Brenda" the gentle, with skin soft and gray, +Waiting the signal, "Now off and away." + +Noble stands holding the whip and the rein, +His gaze fixed on Brenda, who tosses her mane; +While dear little Floss sits quietly by, +Winking and blinking her liquid brown eye. + +Master's so kind to them--nothing to fear +Have horse or dogs when his footsteps they hear; +Look how they're waiting with eagerness there, +Ready to go with him everywhere. + +And what a pleasure it is when these three +There on the staircase their kind master see; +Now he is mounted, the waiting is o'er-- +Floss, Brenda, and Noble race off from the door. + +[Illustration] + +[Illustration: THE BABOON. + +THE ORANG-OUTAN. + +THE BARBARY APE. + +THE MARIMONDA.] + +[Illustration: THE FOUR-HORNED RAM. + +THE CHAMOIS. + +THE ETHIOPIAN HOG. + +THE OTTER.] + + + + +THE ARGUS. + + +The Argus is a bird with magnificent plumage; it inhabits the forests of +Java and Sumatra, and takes its place beside the pheasant, from which it +only differs in being unprovided with spurs, and by the extraordinary +development of the secondary feathers of the wings in the male. The tail +is large and round, and the two middle feathers are extremely long and +quite straight. When paraded, as it struts round the female, spreading +its wings and tail, this bird presents to the dazzled eye of the +spectator two splendid bronze-colored fans, upon which is sprinkled a +profusion of bright marks much resembling eyes. It owes its name of +Argus to these spots. + +[Illustration] + + + + +THE YOUNG MONKEY. + + +A little Monkey chanced to find +A walnut in its outward rind; +He snatched the prize with eager haste, +And bit it, but its bitter taste +Soon made him throw the fruit away. +"I've heard," he cried, "my mother say +(But she was wrong), the fruit was good; +Preserve me from such bitter food!" +A monkey by experience taught, +The falling prize with pleasure caught; +Took off the husk and broke the shell, +The kernel peeled, and liked it well. +"Walnuts," said he, "are good and sweet, +But must be opened ere you eat." +And thus in life you'll always find +Labor comes first--reward behind. + +[Illustration] + + + + +THE CLEVER FOX. + + +One summer's day on the banks of the river Tweed, in Scotland, a fox sat +watching a brood of wild ducks feeding in the river. Presently a branch +of a fir tree floated in their midst, which caused them to rise in the +air, and after circling round for some time, they again settled down on +their feeding ground. At short intervals this was repeated, the branch +floating from the same direction, until the ducks took no further notice +of it than allowing it to pass by. Mr. Reynard noticed this; so he got a +larger branch than the others, and crouching down among the leaves, got +afloat, and coming to the ducks, who took no notice of the branch, he +seized two of the ducks, and then allowed himself to be floated to the +other side, where, we suppose, he had a repast. + +[Illustration] + + + + +TESTING HIS STRENGTH. + + +See this monster of the forest uprooting trees, as a test of its +strength before entering on a fight with one of its companions, which is +often a bitter struggle for supremacy. There are two species of +Elephants, the Indian and African; the ears of the latter are much +larger than the Indian, covering the whole shoulder, and descending on +the legs. Elephants live in herds, and each herd has a leader--generally +the largest and most powerful animal--who exercises much control over +the herd, directing its movements, and giving the signal in the case of +danger. The trunk of the Elephant is of great service to it, and is a +wonderful combination of muscle; Curier, the famous Naturalist, stating +that there is not far short of 40,000 muscles, having distinct action, +and so giving it an acute sense of touch and smell--so much so, that it +can pick up a pin, or pluck the smallest leaf. The Elephant is generally +about ten feet high, and sometimes reaches to twelve feet, and lives to +the age of seventy or eighty years. + +[Illustration] + + + + +A WISE DOG. + + +There is a curly retriever at Arundel bearing the name of "Shock," which +sets an example of good manners and intelligence to the animals which +are not dumb. He carries the cat of the stables tenderly in his mouth, +and would carry the kitten, but at present the kitten prefers its own +means of locomotion. When Sanger's elephant got into trouble in the +river Arun, this wise Shock was sent to turn him out, and his +perseverance succeeded. He often will insist on carrying a bundle of +umbrellas to the station, and safely he delivers them to their owners, +and then, with many wags of his brown tail, he demands a halfpenny for +his trouble. This halfpenny he carries to the nearest shop, lays it on +the counter, and receives his biscuit in return. Need we say this dog +has a kind, sensible master? + +[Illustration] + +[Illustration: SUMMER.] + + + + +[Illustration] + + +M--THE MANDRILL. + + +_In Africa the Mandrill lives, + Full five feet tall he stands; +With furrowed cheek-bones, tufted hair, + And hairy arms and hands._ + + +[Illustration] + + +N--THE NYLGHAU. + +_In Hindustan's dense forest-depths, + Among the tangled groves, +With slender limbs but powerful frame + The shapely Nylghau roves._ + + +[Illustration] + + +O--THE OSTRICH. + + +_O'er desert sands the Ostrich skims, + Beneath a burning sky; +Swift as the swiftest horse he runs, + But has no wings to fly._ + + + + + +[Illustration] + + +SPRING. + + +When Spring's soft breath sets free the rills, + And melts the Winter's hoards of snow, +How fast they leap adown the hills, + How wildly t'wards old ocean flow! + +Jack Frost! we gladly part with thee, + For long indeed thy iron hand +Hath crushed the flowers relentlessly + That longed to brighten all the land. + +And now the busy plow can trace + Its furrows through the fallow ground, +While countless lovely blossoms grace + The blooming fruit trees all around. + +Yet though the snow amidst the brook + Is gliding fast--it fain would stay, +And as it takes a lingering look, + Says:--"Listen ere I flow away! + +"Soon as Spring spoke its royal word, + I humbly doffed my wintry cap-- +But when the north wind's voice was heard, + I covered up the earth's green lap. + +"And gently swathed each baby flower, + As snug as in a feather bed-- +Until in field, and wood, and bower, + Their fragrance might be safely shed. + +"And now my snowdrops gaily ring + A merry peal to herald May-- +And all rejoice at coming Spring, + While I must hasten far away!" + +[Illustration] + + + + +SUMMER. + + +Now the corn has grown ripe in the Summer's hot days, + And the reaping began with the sun's early rays, + Mike and Jack since the morn, + Have been cutting the corn, + Which is bound up by Peggy and Sue; +And gay, flaunting poppies and flow'rets of blue +Wag their heads o'er the sheaves and seem nodding at you. + +But when noon's sultry hour proves oppressively hot, +The reapers look out for a cool, shady spot, + And a respite they snatch, + Their short meal to dispatch, + And well earned indeed is their rest! +While the children give chase to the hare that's hard prest, +Or the bird by the harvest disturbed from her nest. + +For what care the children for heat or for work, +At that age when all labor so gaily we shirk? + Play, then, little ones, play, + And enjoy while ye may, + But to all of God's creatures be kind-- +Then when months have rolled by and left Summer behind, +Its joys unalloyed shall still dwell in your mind. + + + + +TIMOTHY. + + +Timothy was our pet hedgehog. I bought him in Leadenhall Market, brought +him home, and put him into the back-garden, which is walled in. There, +to that extent, he had his liberty, and many, and many a time did I +watch him from my study window walking about in the twilight among the +grass, searching for worms and other insects. And very useful was he to +the plants by so doing. When the dry weather came food got more scarce; +then Timothy was fed with bread and milk from the back-kitchen window, +which is on a level with the stone. Soon he came to know that when he +was hungry there was the supply; and often he would come and scratch at +the glass or at the back-door for his supper, and after getting it, walk +off to the garden beds to make himself useful. Few people know of the +great use of a hedgehog in a garden, or they would be more generally +kept. Our Timothy, poor fellow, however, in spite of all his good +qualities, came to a bad end. A strange dog coming one day, saw him +walking about in search of his accustomed food, and pounced on him and +bit him; still I had hopes of his recovery, but in a few days he died, +and all of us were sorry. + +[Illustration] + +[Illustration: GOLD ORE. + +SILVER ORE. + +TIN ORE. + +IRON ORE.] + +[Illustration: NORTH AMERICAN INDIAN. + +MONGOLIAN. + +CAUCASIAN. HEAD OF BELVEDERE APOLLO. + +CAUCASIAN.--MODERN TURK.] + + + + +THE BRAVE COCKATOO. + + +One Charles Durand, of whose travels and adventures a book has been +written, owned a cockatoo, which he carried about with him on his +journeys; the bird's name was Billy, and he seems to have been as wise +as he was loving. Charles was asleep in his tent, when he was roused by +a sharp, shrill cry of the bird, of "Time to rise! time to rise!" +accompanied by a violent flapping of the wings. So awakened, Charles +looked around, wondering what had disturbed his feathered friend. The +cause was soon plain--a deadly snake lay coiled up close to his bed, +prepared to spring on the defenseless man. Just when he thought that all +hope was at an end, the brave cockatoo sprang from his perch, seized the +reptile by the neck, and held him tight till his master could summon +help. + +[Illustration] + + + + +HARE TAKING THE WATER. + + +I was pike-fishing one season on the Dorset Stour below Canford Major, +when on passing from one field to another, I disturbed a hare. The +animal at once entered an open, dry drain, and I lost sight of her. +Presently, as I silently made my way plying my rod by the bank, I saw +her, this time without any appearance of alarm, take to the water, and +making her way through the sedges. She put her head to the stream so +that the force of the current, with but slight exertion by swimming on +her part, carried her nearly in a straight line to the opposite bank. +Here I watched her to see whether she would trundle herself like a dog, +but she merely rested a bit, letting the water run from her, and then +set off at a rattling pace across the mead, which doubtless soon +thoroughly dried her. + +[Illustration] + +[Illustration] + + + + +AUTUMN. + + +The breeze is somewhat cooler growing, + The flowers less scent unfold-- +But see!--the luscious grape is growing + With purple or with gold. + Now drain we up + The social cup, + When music blithe invites us-- +Though Winter threatens from afar +Our present mirth he shall not mar, + While Autumn still delights us. + +Yes! Autumn brings the best of pleasures, + With grape and garnered corn-- +And lays in stores of future treasures + To glad the year unborn. + What need we dread, + When wine and bread + God's bounteous hand hath given? +Oh! rather let our voices raise, +In fervent hope and humble praise, + A grateful hymn to Heaven! + +[Illustration] + + + + +WINTER. + + +Stern Winter--most unwelcome guest!-- +The earth in whitest robes has drest; +And hast'ning through the crunching snow, +With tinkling bells, the sledges go. + +The leafless wood looks drear and sad, +No birds sing now with voices glad;-- +But boys are romping far and wide, +And o'er the ice delight to slide. + +When on the panes with frost encased, +The mimic fir-trees may be traced, +In spite of biting cold and snow, +Poor housewives to the forest go. + +And there they gather moss to form +Their children's bed all soft and warm, +And dried up twigs to make a blaze +That cheers the hearth with kindling rays. + +Their treasures next the ashes yield, +And hot potatoes lie revealed, +Which little hungry mouths invite, +With dainty smell and welcome sight. + +Lord! all Thy ways are great and good! +Thou giv'st e'en orphaned birds their food-- +Thy blessing and Thy fostering care +Alike the hut and palace share! + + + + +OUR WILD BIRDS. + + +I dare say you notice that all the birds in this picture have long +beaks. We may be sure from this that they live in places and seek for +their food in ways in which long beaks are just what they want. The fact +is they are all marsh birds, and the soil of marshes being wet and soft, +and full of worms, these long beaks enable them to probe it, and so get +at the worms. I think the beaks of birds afford a striking example of +how good God is in adapting creatures to the mode of life He has +appointed for them. The eagles and hawks, you know, are provided with +strong, short bills to enable them to seize and tear flesh. Those of +canaries and all the finches are just the very instruments to crack +seeds with. Parrots, with their tremendous weapons, can crush the +hardest nuts of the tropic forest. The crossbill is fitted with a +wonderful tool for tearing fir-cones to pieces. Robins and the other +warblers have soft bills, which are all they want for eating insects and +grubs. + +[Illustration] + + + + +[Illustration] + +I would rather be my lady's hawk, + And perch upon her hand, +Than I would be the deerhound grim, + To range this forest-land. + + + + +[Illustration] + + +P--THE PELICAN. + + +_On river banks, on shores of lakes, + Or marge of sounding sea, +The Pelican, in quest of fish, + Roams uncontrolled and free._ + + +[Illustration] + + +Q--THE QUAIL. + + +_When come the leaves and buds of spring + Then comes the swift-winged quail: +But ever quits our western lands + Before the winter pale._ + + +[Illustration] + + +R--THE RHINOCEROS. + + +_Down to the waterside to drink, + Within the jungle's shade, +Has come the huge Rhinoceros, + In knotty hide arrayed._ + + + + +BLACKBIRDS AND YOUNG. + + +A country lad having taken the nest of some blackbirds containing young +ones, made off with it, but was closely pursued by the parents, who +tried to peck his face so as to make him give them up. Mr. Jesse relates +a similar instance, where a pair of old birds followed a boy into a +house, pecking at his head while he was carrying off one of their young +ones. People little think of the misery they cause when they rob the +birds of their nestlings. + +The bird's nest is thus described: + +Now put together odds and ends, +Picked up from enemies and friends: +See bits of thread and bits of rag, +Just like a little rubbish bag. + +[Illustration] + + + + +A USEFUL PILOT. + + +There is a trained sheep kept on board a steamer plying in California. +It goes out on the gang-plank, when a flock is to be loaded, to show +that the approach is safe, and to act as pilot to the flock, which +readily follows it on to the boat. The sheep, when in a flock, are all +alike timid, and it is difficult to find a leader among them, each being +afraid to go first; but when one goes, they all follow after, so that +this clever sheep is very valuable. The only other way to get a flock on +board a ship is to catch one and drag it on board; but this is not such +a good way as having the clever "Pilot." + +[Illustration] + + + + +JACK. + + +The name of the bear is "Jack." I fetched him from the West India Import +Dock on the 5th of November, 1870. He was running about with another +bear on board ship, but the job was to catch him. After many attempts we +at last put a strong collar round his neck, to which was attached a long +chain, and then we got him into a large barrel, and fastened the head on +with hoop-iron, lowered him over the side of the vessel into a boat, and +then pulled to the quay, and hauled him up into a cart. For a time the +little fellow was quiet enough, but he got very inquisitive when being +driven toward the city, and wanted to have a look round. I managed to +quiet him by giving him pieces of lump sugar. He arrived safely at the +Crystal Palace, and has lived in an aviary till the beginning of last +month, when he was put into his new bear-pit. The little fellow has +grown twice the size he was when he first came. He is very playful, but +sometimes shows his teeth when he is teased. + +[Illustration] + +[Illustration: JUST ARRIVED!] + + + + +[Illustration] + + +S--THE SWALLOW. + + +_Now hovering on rapid wing, + Now down to earth, now high, +And, circling round in airy ring + To chase the painted fly._ + + +[Illustration] + + +T--THE TIGER. + + +_Fiercest of all the beasts of prey, + With eyes that glow like fire, +And glossy hide, who does not dread + The Tiger, yet admire?_ + + +[Illustration] + + +U--THE URSINE OPOSSUM. + + +_In hollow trees the Opossum lives, + And slumbers through the day, +But when the shades of night descend, + Goes forth in search of prey._ + + + + +A SINGULAR HABIT OF THE WOODCOCK. + + +Among several curious habits of the woodcock, described by the editor of +the _Zoologist_, its practice of carrying its young is perhaps the most +interesting. The testimony of many competent witnesses is cited to +corroborate the statement. The late L. Lloyd, in his "Scandinavian +Adventures," wrote, "If, in shooting, you meet with a brood of +woodcocks, and the young ones cannot fly, the old bird takes them +separately between her feet, and flies from the dogs with a moaning +cry." + +The same author makes a similar statement in another work, this habit of +the woodcock having been observed by a friend. + +One of the brothers Stuart gives, in "Lays of the Deer Forest," a +graphic account of the performance. He says, "As the nests are laid on +dry ground, and often at a distance from moisture, in the latter case, +as soon as the young are hatched, the old bird will sometimes carry them +in her claws to the nearest spring or green strip. In the same manner, +when in danger, she will rescue those which she can lift; of this we +have frequent opportunities for observation in Tarnaway. Various times +when the hounds, in beating the ground, have come upon a brood, we have +seen the old bird rise with the young one in her claws and carry it +fifty or a hundred yards away." + + + + +THE SKY-LARK + + +Has any one ever told you that they were "happy as a lark," and have you +stopped to think how happy a lark is?--its joyous flight up into the +sky, as high or higher than the sight of man can reach, singing louder +and louder, and more and more gayly the higher it ascends? When the +sweet hay-time comes on, and mowers are busy in the fields with their +great scythes, it is sometimes a dangerous season for larks, who make +their nests on the ground. Often the poor little nests must suffer; but +only think how ingenious their owners are if they do. A mower once cut +off the upper part of a lark's nest. The lark sitting in it was +uninjured. The man was very sorry for what he had done; but there was no +help for it--at least so he thought. The lark knew better, and soon +afterward a beautiful dome was found made of grass over the nest by the +patient, brave bird. + +[Illustration] + +[Illustration: THE SILKWORM. + +THE BAT. + +CARRION BEETLES. + +THE SPIDER.] + +[Illustration: THE SYRIAN OX. + +THE HORSE. + +THE MULE. + +THE ARABIAN HORSE.] + + + + +THE STORY OF A SEAL. + + +Some years ago a German Artist was travelling in Norway, on foot, with +his knapsack on his back and his stick in his hand. He lodged most of +time in the cottages that he fell in with on his road. In one of them +there was a seal, which the fisherman had found on the sand, after +harpooning the mother of the poor animal. No sooner was it admitted into +the cottage than the seal became the friend of the family and the +playmate of the children. It played from morning till night with them, +would lick their hands, and call them with a gentle little cry, which is +not unlike the human voice, and it would look at them tenderly with its +large blue eyes, shaded by long black lashes. It almost always followed +its master to fish, swimming around the boat and taking a great many +fish, which it delivered to the fisherman without even giving them a +bite. A dog could not have been more devoted, faithful, teachable, or +even more intelligent. + +[Illustration] + + + + +THE KING OF THE MOUNTAINS. + + +"What is that, mother?" "The eagle, boy, +Proudly careering his course with joy, +Firm on his own mountain vigor relying, +Breasting the dark storm, the red bolt defying; +His wing on the wind, and his eye on the sun, +He swerves not a hair, but bears onward, right on. +Close to the sun in lonely lands, +Ringed with the azure world he stands; +The wrinkled sea beneath him crawls, +He watches from his mountain walls. +Boy, may the eagle's flight ever be thine, +Onward and upward, and true to the line." + +[Illustration] + + + + +THE BEE. + + +Oh! busy bee, +On wing so free, + Yet all in order true; +Each seems to know, +Both where to go, + And what it has to do. + +'Mid summer heat, +The honey sweet, + It gathers while it may; +In tiny drops, +And never stops + To waste its time in play. + +I hear it come, +I know its hum; + It flies from flower to flower; +And to its store, +A little more + It adds, each day and hour. + +[Illustration] + +[Illustration: THE LARK AND YOUNG.] + + + + +[Illustration] + +V--THE VULTURE. + + +_On rugged rods the Vulture waits + To scent its carrion prey, +When down, into the plains below + It takes its rapid way._ + + +[Illustration] + + +W--THE WOLF. + + +_Fierce is the wolf, and crafty too, + And swift of foot is he; +In forest depths and mountain glens + He loves to wander free._ + + +[Illustration] + + +X--THE XEMA. + + +_In far-off lands, 'neath northern skies, + And on the surfy shore, +Lives the lone Xema, and delights + In ocean's thunder roar._ + + + + +MOTHER AND PUPS. + + +The dog that you see here looking quite maternal with her family around +her, is the sheep dog, the shepherd's faithful and invaluable friend. It +is the most sagacious and intelligent of all dogs, and volumes of +anecdotes might be written of its intelligence and affection. + +Mr. St. John, in his "Highland Sports," tells the following: "A shepherd +once, to prove the quickness of his dog, who was lying before the fire +where we were talking, said to me in the middle of a sentence concerning +something else, 'I'm thinking, sir, the cow is in the potatoes;' when +the dog, who appeared to be asleep, immediately jumped up, and leaping +through the open window and on to the roof of the house, where he could +get a view of the potato field, and not seeing the cow there, he looked +into the farm-yard, where she was, and finding that all was right, +returned to his old position before the fire." + +[Illustration] + + + + +THE FRIENDLY TERNS. + + +One day Mr. Edward, the Scotch naturalist shot at a Tern, hoping to +secure the beautiful creature as a specimen. The ball broke the bird's +wing, and he fell screaming down to the water. His cries brought other +terns to the rescue, and with pitiful screams they flew to the spot +where the naturalist stood, while the tide drifted their wounded brother +toward the shore. But before Mr. Edward could secure his prize, he +observed, to his astonishment, that two of the terns had flown down to +the water, and were gently lifting up their suffering companion, one +taking hold of either wing. But their burden was rather heavy; so, after +carrying it seaward about six or seven yards, they let it down, and two +more came, picked it up, and carried it a little farther. By means of +thus relieving each other they managed to reach a rock where they +concluded they would be safe. + +[Illustration] + +[Illustration: AN EXCITING TAIL.] + + + + +[Illustration] + +Y--THE YAK. + + +_In Central Asia, far away, + 'Mid Thibet's pastures green, +With shaggy hide and bushy tail, + The valued Yak is seen._ + + +[Illustration] + + +Z--THE ZEBRA. + +_As strong and swift as any horse, + The Zebra skims the plain; +With glossy bands of deepest black, + Long ears, and upright mane._ + + + + +SHEEP AND LAMBS. + + +_The sheep were in the fold at night; + And now a new-born lamb +Totters and trembles in the light, + Or bleats beside its dam. + +How anxiously the mother tries, + With every tender care, +To screen it from inclement skies, + And the cold morning air! + +The hail-storm of the east is fled, + She seems with joy to swell; +While ever, as she bends her head, + I hear the tinkling bell. + +So while for me a mother's prayer + Ascends to Heaven above, +May I repay her tender care + With gratitude and love._ + +[Illustration] + +[Illustration: THE WATER-RAT. + +THE WILD CAT. + +THE WEASEL. + +THE SYRIAN DOG.] + +[Illustration: THE GLOW-WORM. + +THE LOCUST. + +THE HERCULES BEETLE. + +THE CHAMELEON.] + + + + +[Illustration] + +THE CAPTIVE SQUIRREL + + +"Squirrel--squirrel lithe and wee! +Thy fur's as soft as down can be, +Thy teeth as ivory are white, +Yet hard enough through nuts to bite. + +"Squirrel--squirrel lithe and wee! +How gladly would I purchase thee-- +But mother says: 'Twill never do, +Thou nibblest table, book and shoe.'" + +Squirrel--squirrel hung his head; +"Oh! speak not thus," he sadly said, +"Heav'n gave me once a woodland home +Where I the livelong day might roam, +And gaily leap from branch to twig +As blithe and merry as a grig; +Then came a wicked man who laid +The snare by which I'm captive made, +And now 'twill be my mournful doom + Instead of in the forest free, +To live pent in a narrow room + By way of bush or stately tree! +What wonder if, thus sad and lorn, +From all my dearest habits torn, +A-foraging I sometimes go +And get a snubbing or a blow? +Child, should you on some summer's day, +Within the greenwood chance to stray, +I pray you that from me you greet +The happy creatures that you meet, +The fawns, ants, sparrows and the hares +And tell them how with me it fares, +That while they leap, creep, sing and fly. +In chains and prison I must lie." + + + + +[Illustration] + +A STROLL IN THE COUNTRY + + +Put on your hat and let us take +A stroll amidst the rural scene-- + The boat is gliding o'er the lake, + +[Illustration] + + The cows are browsing pastures green, +The herdsman's horns the echoes wake, +And holiday like Nature's self we'll make! + +[Illustration] + +Into the garden next let's come +To pluck a pear or downy plum, + And hear the bird's sweet trilling-- + +[Illustration: ] + + While all around, on fragrant beds, +The flowerets lift their little heads, +The air with perfume filling. + +[Illustration: ] + +The merry kid is leaping gaily, +And soberer Nanny gives us daily + Sweet milk to make us cheese; + + While all our tastes to please, +His nets the busy fisher flings, +And eels and carp for dinner brings. + + + + +THE OTTER. + + +The Otter belongs to a class of animals which we may call the Weasel +tribe. Their bodies are long and lithe, and their legs short. This +family includes the weasel (its smallest member), the stoat, the ferret, +the pole-cat, the marten, and the otter (its largest member). You may +then think of the Otter as a water-ferret, or water-weasel. He can swim +most elegantly, and he is a beautiful diver. Let a fish glide underneath +him, and he is after it in a moment; and as the fish darts here and +there to escape, the Otter follows each rapid movement with unerring +precision. When the fish is caught, the Otter carries it to the bank and +makes a meal. But the Otter is like naughty Jack who leaves a saucy +plate--he spoils much more fish than he eats. The trout and other fish +are so much alarmed at the appearance of an Otter, that they will +sometimes fling themselves on the bank to get out of his way. + +[Illustration] + + + + +THE MASTIFF. + + +The mastiff is a large, grave, sullen-looking dog, with a wide chest, +noble head, long switch tail, bright eyes, and a loud, deep voice. Of +all dogs this is the most vigilant watcher over the property of his +master, and nothing can tempt him to betray the confidence reposed in +him. Notwithstanding his commanding appearance, and the strictness with +which he guards the property of his master, the mastiff is possessed of +great mildness of character, and is very grateful for any favors +bestowed upon him. I once went into the barn of a friend where there was +a mastiff chained; I went up to the dog and patted him on the head, when +out rushed the groom from the stable exclaiming, "Come away, sir! He's +dangerous with strangers." But I did not remove my hand nor show any +fear. The consequence was, that the dog and I were the best of friends; +but had I shown any fear, and hastily removed my hand, I might have +fared rather badly, for this dog always couples fear with guilt. + +[Illustration] + + + + +THE CUNNING WOOD-PIGEONS. + + +One who loves our feathered friends has described a curious instance of +their instinct. On the back lawn at a gentleman's house, they have a +feeding-box for the pheasants, which opens on their perching upon it, +but remains shut if any lesser bird than a hen pheasant perches there, +which saves the contents from the thefts of these, and of rats, mice, +and other vermin. But the gentleman discovered that the contents of the +box was being more rapidly emptied than the wants of the pheasants +warranted. So he kept a watch on the box, and soon discovered a +wood-pigeon perch on the box, but his weight not being sufficient to +open the lid, he beckoned to another pigeon, and their combined weight +made the lid fly open, and after each had taken what they required, they +flew away, and the box closed with a "click." + +[Illustration] + + + + +SEA REPTILES. + + +There were in the sea in very ancient times--long before the flood--two +very large and wonderful reptiles. Of them we present striking +illustrations. One of them has been named the Ichthyosaurus, which means +Fish Reptile. Its head somewhat resembled that of the crocodile, except +that the orbit was much larger, and had the nostril placed close to it, +as in the whale, and not near the end of the snout. It had four paddles +and a powerful tail, and was very active in its movements and a rapid +swimmer. + +The other huge reptile was the Plesiosaurus, the meaning of which is +"Near to a Reptile." Its structure was very singular and its character +very strange. In the words of Buckland: "To the head of a lizard, it +united the teeth of the crocodile, a neck of enormous length, resembling +the body of a serpent, a trunk and a tail of the size of an ordinary +quadruped, the ribs of a chameleon, and the paddles of a whale." + +[Illustration] + + + + +SWISS MOUNTAIN SCENERY. + + +In Switzerland, one of the chief employments of the people is that of +herdsmen and shepherds, and nearly the half of the surface of the +country is occupied as mountain pastures and meadows. Here you see the +woman tending the sheep and goats, and spinning industriously, while her +husband is busy with some other part of the duties of tending the sheep. +It is often painful to see how much the poor sheep and oxen suffer while +being driven through the streets. It is pitiful to see them looking in +vain for some place of rest and shelter. Little boys in towns sometimes +like to HELP--as they call it--to drive cattle, but they generally +increase the terror and confusion of the poor beasts, and little think +of the pain they are causing. Sheep and goats are very useful to us; +besides serving us for food, they supply our cloth and flannel clothes, +blankets, and other warm coverings. + +[Illustration] + + + + +PARTRIDGE AND YOUNG. + + +One afternoon, while walking across a meadow, near a village, I saw a +dog of the terrier breed pursuing a partridge, which every now and then +turned and made at it with its wings down, then rolled over, then ran, +and again rushed at the dog. I drove the dog away, when I was surprised +to see a number of young partridges running from behind the old bird who +had been trying to protect them from the dog, and guarding their +retreat. So you see how brave the most timid creatures become when in +danger, and when their young are near. Instinct tells them that they +have to protect their little ones, and risk everything, even their own +lives, for their safety. We can get beautiful lessons every day from the +birds and poor dumb animals, if we only study them as we ought. + +[Illustration] + + + + +THE KINGFISHERS' HOME. + + +Very pretty birds were Mr. and Mrs. Kingfisher, with dark, glossy, green +wings, spotted with light blue. Their tails were also light blue, and +there was a patch of yellow near their heads. The little Kingfishers +were quite as pretty as their parents, and Mr. and Mrs. Kingfisher were +exceedingly proud of them. + +"Only they eat a great deal," said Mr. Kingfisher; "I am getting very +tired." + +For Mr. Kingfisher had been flying backward and forward all day, and it +was surprising to see the quantity of fish he caught for his family. + +When he built his nest he took care that it should be near a stream, and +he found one close by a high cliff that Mrs. Kingfisher said would be +just the place; so they scooped out a deep hole, and there the eggs were +laid, and in due time six little Kingfishers burst out of the shells. + +[Illustration] + + + + +RATS CARRYING EGGS UP STAIRS. + + +Rats are very ingenious little creatures; they have actually been known +to convey eggs up a staircase, from the pantry to their nest! Here is a +beautiful picture, by Mr. Harrison Weir, from the "Children's Friend," +showing how they did it. + +The rat bears little resemblance to the rats with which we are chiefly +acquainted, namely, the black rat, the albino or white rat, and the +brown rat. The other day, as I was walking by the river-side, I saw a +beautiful little creature sitting on a stone in the stream, with a piece +of succulent root between its forepaws, and nibbling its repast in +perfect peace with every living thing. It was timid and innocent in the +expression of its countenance. Its color was of a reddish brown. It was +about as large as the common rat of the sewers, but its tail was much +shorter, and covered with hair. + +[Illustration] + + + + +A HERON ATTACKED BY A HAWK. + + +The Heron when attacked by an eagle or falcon endeavors to escape by +rising in the air and getting above its foe. The wings of the heron +strike the air with an equal and regular motion which raises its body to +such an elevation that at a distance nothing is seen except the wings, +which are at last lost sight of in the region of the clouds. + +If its enemy gets above it, and upon or near its body, it defends itself +vigorously with its long and powerful beak, and often comes off +victorious. + +The heron frequents the neighborhood of rivers and lakes. Almost always +solitary, it remains for hours motionless on the same spot. When seeking +the fish or frogs on which it chiefly feeds, the heron wades into the +water, folds its long neck partially over its back and forward again, +and with watchful eye waits till a fish comes within reach of its beak, +when it darts its head into the water and secures its slimy, slippery +prey. + +[Illustration] + + + + +A HORSE GUARDIAN. + + +On one occasion a gentleman was returning home from a fatiguing journey, +and became very drowsy. He fell asleep, and, strange to say, he also +fell from his saddle, but in so easy a manner that the tumble did not +rouse him, and lay sleeping on where he alighted. His faithful steed, on +being eased of his burden, instead of scampering home as one might have +expected, stood by his prostrate master, and kept a strict watch over +him. Some laborers at sunrise found him very contentedly snoozing on a +heap of stones. They wished to approach the gentleman, that they might +awaken him, but every attempt on their part was resolutely opposed by +the grinning teeth and ready heels of his determined and faithful +guardian. They called out loudly, and the gentleman awoke and was very +much surprised at his position, while his faithful horse showed his +pleasure by neighing and scraping his feet on the ground. The gentleman +then mounted, and they galloped away at great speed, both glad to be +able to make up for lost time. + +[Illustration] + + + + +BATTLE BETWEEN A FOX AND A SWAN. + + +A fierce battle between a fox and a swan took place at Sherborne Park. +Master Reynard seems to have caught the old swan napping, and to have +seized him by the throat. The bird defended himself with his wings so +powerfully that its assailant was done to death in no time, and a +workman going past the lake above the bridge next morning found both fox +and swan lying dead together. The bird had received a fatal bite in the +throat; the fox had one leg broken and the side of its head completely +broken in. The swan was the oldest bird on the lake. + +[Illustration] + +[Illustration] + +[Illustration: THE SAND LIZARD. + +THE CROCODILE. + +THE VIPER. + +THE ASP.] + +[Illustration: THE WILD BOAR. + +THE BADGER. + +THE FERRET. + +THE LYNX.] + + + + +TOUSY. + + +We have a beautiful long-haired little dog called Tousy, which lately +had a pup. This queer little bantling was jumping and tumbling about the +green one day, when a lady entered followed by a dog. Tousy made a +ferocious assault on the four-footed stranger, by way of defending her +young, and our magnificent white cat, which was sitting on the doorstep, +seeing or supposing that his friend Tousy was in danger, made two +immense bounds, and alighted on the back of the intruder, whose eyes +would have been scratched out but for prompt rescue. The mutual +affection of these two animals is unbounded, and yet we hear human +disagreements compared to cat-and-dog life! These animals, and many +others, are capable of the most devoted affection to their young, and to +their mates, and frequently teach us lessons of kindness to one +another. + +[Illustration] + +[Illustration: THE NEST IN THE APPLE TREE.] + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's Chatterbox Stories of Natural History, by Anonymous + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK CHATTERBOX STORIES *** + +***** This file should be named 22408.txt or 22408.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/2/2/4/0/22408/ + +Produced by Marilynda Fraser-Cunliffe, Janet Blenkinship +and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at +http://www.pgdp.net (This file was made using scans of +public domain works in the International Children's Digital +Library.) + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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