whole of their inner surface, with which they fasten themselves to any object they come in contact with. These feelers appear to be also endued with some peculiar power, of a galvanic nature; since the pain which they inflict does not cease for a long time after the removal of the animal, leaving a kind of stinging sensation, like that produced by nettles, which remains for many hours, and is followed by a troublesome irritation and itching.

The size to which this creature grows has been variously stated; and, although evidently exaggerated by some authors, there can be no doubt that it attains to a very considerable magnitude. When attacked in its own element, it has been known capable of overcoming a powerful mastiff. Its jaws are, likewise, extremely strong, formed like the beak of a parrot, and very hard. In addition to these means of defence, it possesses within its body a bladder, containing an inky-colored fluid, which it has the power of throwing out at will, and by thus discoloring the water, escapes the pursuit of its enemies. This inky liquid, when dried, forms a very valuable color, used by artists, and called, after the animal, Sepia. The eggs of the female are of an oval form, and joined to each other in clusters. They are of the size of filberts, of a black color, and commonly known by the name of Sea Grapes; they are found attached to sea-weed, rocks, and

other marine substances.

The Cuttle Fish generally remains with its body in some hole in a rock, while its arms are extended in every direction, to seize the wanderer that may chance to pass its place of ambush. Its appetite is voracious, and it seizes as its prey every living thing that it has the power to conquer.

One species-The Sepia Officinalis-is very common on the English coasts, and the bone which is enclosed in its body is frequently found on the sands: it is a wellknown substance, and is much employed in the manufacture of tooth-powder. This bone, which, with the exception of the jaws, is the only solid part in the Sepia, differs in shape in the different species: but is always somewhat oval in its shape, though differing considerably in texture.

ON FISHES.

Their forms and colors, general character, &c.

The Fishes which are most abundant, and most frequent in our sight, have pleasing forms. Many are eminently beautiful in their colors, and in the general appearance of their neat and glossy skin and scales. Several have a golden hue or spots difficult to account for; and many a silvery gloss, as though the particles of these two metals were diffused among their skin. Others display a fine tinge of blue; some very pleasing tints of green. The effect of the whole is, that the general appearance of the fish creation in their forms, colors, brilliancy, gliding movement, rapid and changeful activity, and universal animation and vigor, excites sentiments of pleasure and admira

tion.

To us, with the exception of a few, they are wholly inoffensive. Not many, even in their own domain, would molest us; but all, even the most hostile, remain there, helpless and indefensible against our power, however great their magnitude may be.

The general character of fishes is not that of voracity and hostility. It is gentleness, harmlessness, sociality, and animation. They are peaceful animals; happy in themselves, and for the most part harmonizing together, without any general display of savage cruelty or malignant passions. Such as are appointed to be the food of others, die in that way, and are sought and taken for that purpose, when the appetite actuates, but no further. They cannot be justly stigmatized as voracious for this habit, more than ourselves for taking and eating them and cattle, sheep, fowls, game, and other living creatures.

The mild and harmless character of the fish class is impressively shown by most of its largest tribes. The great Greenland Whale pursues no other animal, leads an inoffensive life, and is harmless in proportion to its strength. The Sturgeon, with a form as terrible and a body as large as the shark, is yet harmless. The great Narwhal, one of the largest and strongest, is one of the most harmless

and peaceable inhabitants of the ocean. It is seen constantly sporting among the other great monsters of the deep, no way attempting to injure them.

The ocean, indeed, contains some of a different humor -as the woods and mountains have the wolf and the tiger-but their object seems chiefly food. Fish which devour others for their subsistence, act only as the other carnivorous animals of nature, but they are for the most part indifferent or inoffensive to each other, and many are highly social, flocking peaceably together in shoals.

They have no organ of voice, nor lungs-yet a few emit sounds. As the Tunnies sail in their vast shoals, they utter a very loud hissing noise. The Ground Ling makes a similar sound when he is handled. The Scieria Stridens gives a small shriek when first taken out of water. The great Morse roars like a bull when he is disturbed, and snores while asleep. The common Seal moans piteously when pursued on land, as it is hurrying to the sea. The Ursine kind low like an ox, and the Leonine one both grunts and snorts. The Ursine Seal is said to have been observed, when vexed, to shed tears.

Fish appear capable of pleasurable feelings. No bird or quadruped seems happier. They appear to be easily satisfied with food, not to suffer from inclemency of weather or variations of the seasons. They are always in one even temperature-they appear to enjoy a longer continuity of health and strength than most other animals. They possess a natural longevity, which in some of their classes surpasses that of man. Like the vegetable, and other animal tribes, they have been made useful to man, both in contributing to his sustenance, and in supplying him with many important conveniences (as for instance, the Whale supplies us with oil and whale-bone.) But independently of the human race, they have been created to be happy beings in themselves.

They display to us our Creator's power; enlarge our knowledge of his omnipotence, and give us ocular evidence of its multifarious application.Abridged from Turner's Sacred History of the World.

THE MYSTERIES OF CREATION.

The designs of supreme intelligence in the creation and prezervation of the insect world, and the regulations and appointments whereby their increase or decrease is maintained, and periodical appearance prescribed, are among the most perplexing considerations of natural history. That insects are kept in reserve for stated seasons of action, we know, being commonly made the agents of Providence in his visitations of mankind. The locust, the caterpillar, the palmer worm, the various family of blights, that poison in the spring all the promise of the year, are insects. Bildew, indeed, is a vegetable; but the wire worm destroys the root, and strips the germs of the wheat, and hunger and famine ensue. Many of the coleoptera remove nuisances, others again incumbrances, and worms manure the soil; but these are trite and isolated cases in the profusion of the animal world; and left alone as we are in the desert of mere reason and conjecture, there is no probability that much satisfactory elucidationwill be obtained. They are not perhaps important objects of inquiry; but when we see the extraordinary care and attention, that has been bestowed upon this part of creation, our astonishment is excited, and forces into action that inherent desire in our minds to seek into hidden things. In some calm summer's evening ramble, we see the air filled with sportive animated beings; the leaf, the branch, the bark of the tree, every mossy bank, the pool, the ditch, all teeming with animated life, with a profusion, an endless variety of existence; each creature pursuing its own separate purpose in a settled course of action, admitting of no deviation or substitution, to accomplish or promote some ordained object. Some appear occupied in seeking for the most appropriate stations for their own necessities, and exerting stratagems and wiles to secure the lives of themselves, or their offspring against natural or possible injuries with a forethought equivalent or superior to reason; others in some aim we can little perceive, or, should some flash of light spring up, and give us a momentary glimpse of nature's hidden ways, immediate darkness VOL. III 33