a membrane, or thin skin. 5. HAR POON' ING, striking with a harpoon, or spear. 6. AN' NU AL, yearly. 7. MI GRAT. ON, change of place; removal. 8. EX ACT NESS, accuracy; regularity. 9. GRA NIV' O ROUS, feeding on grain. 10. CARNIV' O ROUS, feeding on flesh. 11. MI' GRATE, to remove

from one place to another.

THE DIFFERENT KINDS OF BIRDS AND THEIR HABITS.

1. THERE is no class of animals, a knowledge of whose habits and manners, is so much calculated to make us admire the wisdom, the goodness, and the design of the Creator, as that of the birds.

2. The form of their bodies, of their bones, quills, and feathers, is so well adapted to their manner of life, and so completely answers the purpose for which they were made, that when we examine them, our thoughts are at once led to Him who is the Creator of them all.

3. The bodies of birds are clothed with feathers, one of the lightest of all substances, and these are made to lie over each other, like the shingles of a house, so that they entirely keep off both the rain and the cold. Their bodies are so formed as to be very light, and their shape is such, that they may fly easily through the air.

4. Their bones and quills are round and hollow; their lungs are large, and, in some kinds, the air passes from them into the bones of the legs, and wings; thus making every part of the animal as light as possible, and yet so as to be sufficiently strong.

5. There are many classes or families of

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birds, and the shape of each is such as is fitted for the kind of life, which they lead. There are land birds, and water birds. Land birds are divided into two classes, granivorous and carnivorous birds.

6. The granivorous birds are such as live on grain, seeds, and insects. They include the domestic or common fowls, the partridge, the canary bird, and many others. They have short bills which are a little hooked toward the end.

7. They have small nails on their toes, which are divided to their roots, and are either fitted for scratching in the dirt, or grasping the limbs of trees, or for both. These birds are mild and gentle in their dispositions and habits.

8. The carnivorous birds are such as feed on flesh, and are often called birds of prey. 'They are not formed to live on corn and seeds. They have strong claws for seizing and holding their prey, and sharp hooked bills for tearing it in pieces. These birds live by war and plunder, and prey upon all such animals, as they can master. Among them are the eagle, the vulture, the hawk, and many others.

9. Most of the birds that live about the water, have either long legs for wading, or webbed feet for swimming. They are mostly provided with long, straight, pointed bills for harpooning fish, on which they principally

subsist.

10. The skill and care, with which the birds

build their nests, those of the same kind making their nests exactly alike, are very wonderful. The annual migration, or passage of birds from one country to another, is also very remarkable. It is well known that during the winter, in this country, few birds are seen. They leave us on the approach of cold weather, and return to a warmer climate.

11. Each kind of bird has a particular time of the year when they begin their flight, and it is astonishing with what exactness they observe this period. In the spring, the time of their returning is nearly the same; and hence they must leave the country, where they have spent the winter, at nearly the same period, every year.

12. Most of the birds, before they leave us, are scen meeting together in flocks, and seem to consult together on the subject of their long journey. The swallows, blackbirds, storks, wild geese, and many other birds, perform their journeys in large flocks.

13. Some birds migrate only from one part of the same country to another, while others take very long journeys, and fly from one continent, or quarter of the globe, to another. How they should know which way to fly, or when to begin their journey, or how to keep on their right course, is very wonderful to us. We can not tell. This is known only to Him who has taught them to do so.

QUESTIONS.-1. What is a knowledge of the birds calculated to make us admire? 2. What is it that makes us admire His wisdom when we examine them? 3. How do their feathers keep out the rain and cold? 4. How can some birds make themselves lighter? 5. Into how many classes are land birds divided ? 6. Describe the granivorous birds. 7. Describe the carnivorous birds. 8. De

scribe the water birds. of birds? 10. Why do birds migrate from one country to another? 11. Do they generally go in company? 12. How do they agree on the time of commencing their journey ? 13. What is there wonderful about the migration of birds?

9. What is said of the migration

LESSON XLV.

Spell and Define-1. AP PA RA' TUS, furniture; tools. 2. NAV I GA' TION, the art of sailing. 3. DEX' TROUS, skillful. 4. MEM' BRANE, a thin, flexible skin. 5. IN CLI NA'TION, desire. 6. Voy' age, a passing by water. 7. DISGORGE', to eject from the stomach. 8. GRAV' I TY, weight. 9. IN TU' I TIVE, immediately perceived without instruction. 10. E VINCE', to prove; to show. 11. Pr' LOT, one who steers a vessel.

THE SAGACITY OF THE NAUTILUS.

1. THIS little animal is furnished with an apparatus for diving or swimming. But of what use would have been either his sails or his oars, without the intuitive knowledge how to make use of them? But these are not given him in vain; for he evinces a knowledge of navigation, which is supposed to have been copied by some of the early navigators, and the example which he affords, has been held out by the poet as still deserving of imitation; "Learn of the little Nautilus to sail ;

Spread the thin oar, and catch the driving gale." 2. This dextrous little sailor, whose shell

forms a natural boat, unfurls a membrane to the wind, which serves him instead of a sail. He extends a couple of arms, with which, as with two slender oars, he rows himself along.

3. When he is disposed to dive, he strikes sail, and, without the least fear of being drowned, sinks to the bottom. When the weather is calm, and he has an inclination to see the world, to take his pleasure, he mounts to the surface, and, self-taught in the art of navigation, performs his voyage without either chart or compass;—is himself the vessel, the rigging, and the pilot.

4. When the sea is calm, numbers of these little animals may be seen sailing on its surface, but at the approach of a storm, they fold in their legs, and, swallowing as much water as will enable them to sink, they dive to the bottom, where they remain in a place of safety during the raging of the tempest; and when they wish to rise, they disgorge this water, by which process they decrease their specific gravity, and quickly ascend to the top, where, by means of their tails, answering the purpose of helms, they can safely guide themselves in any direction.

QUESTIONS.-1. What is the Nautilus furnished with? 2. Would they be of use to him, if he did not know how to use them? 3. What benefit is it supposed that early mariners derived from this little animal? 4. Describe the manner, in which this little sailor rows himself along. 5. What do they do when a storm approaches? 6. Are they shipwrecked when they sink to the bottom? 7. How