ANECDOTES OF THE TIGER.

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Hamilton, "had a buffalo fallen into a quagmire; and while he went to call for assistance, an immense tiger came, and

immediately drew out the animal, which the peasant, with others to help at first, had failed to do. When the people returned, the first thing they beheld was the tiger dragging the buffalo away to his den. When he saw the men he let fall his prey, and fled to the woods; but he had previously killed the buffalo, and sucked its blood."

Among the escapes from this animal, none, perhaps, is more worthy of record than that which happened now more than a hundred years since in Bengal. A party had gone out, and seated themselves by a river under the shade of some trees. Imagine their terror and dismay on seeing, couching for his spring, a ferocious tiger. Instantly a lady of the party, with amazing presence of mind (which is doubtless a direct gift from God), unfurled a large umbrella. The animal, confounded by this strange appearance, shrunk away into the forest; and the party, by this gracious interposition of God, escaped.

The Leopard. The leopard in form is like the tiger, but

much smaller. The colour of its skin is also similar to that animal; only instead of having its back marked with transverse

lines of glossy black, it is dotted with annular, that is, round spots of that colour. It inhabits most parts of Africa; and generally watches by the river for its prey.

Like the tiger, the leopard is fierce and cruel. The eye is restless. They attack almost every thing they meet. Similar to most of this family, their memory is wonderful, recognising old friends after a long absence.

The Hunting Leopard. This is a native of India, and about the size of a greyhound. It derives its name from being employed by man to hunt the deer. It is trained like the falcon and pelican; and returns with its prey to its keeper.

The Wild Cat.-From this animal have sprung all our varieties of the domestic cat. It is still to be found in some parts of our mountainous districts; and, at times, even the domestic cat has escaped to the woods and become wild. In this

THE DOMESTIC CAT-THE DOG.

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state, it is a deadly enemy to all kinds of game and poultry, and even young kids.

The Domestic Cat, as a watch and guard against rats and mice, is invaluable. A curious part of Welsh history records the value of the cat, in that age. It occurs in the statutes of Howell Dda (that is, the Good), A. D. 948, in which statutes were made to preserve the lives of animals, among which the cat was specially included, on account of its scarcity and utility. The statute I allude to runs thus:

"If any should kill or steal the cat that guards the prince's granary, the offender is to forfeit a milch ewe, her fleece, and young; or sufficient grain to cover the cat suspended by the tail."

From these circumstances, it has been justly inferred that the cat is not a native of Great Britain. The current prices then were a kitten, 2 cts.; a young cat, 4 cts.; a full-grown one, 8 cts.; which in those days was a considerable sum.

The cat is very tender over its young; and in some instances, when her own kittens have been taken away, has nursed even young hares and squirrels with equal fondness.

The Dog.-This valuable animal stands at the head of a large genus of animals. None of this family can climb. To no animal are

we more variously indebted than to the dog. His faithfulness, diligence, and obedience, are unwearied. Both in the Old and New Worlds, if man were deprived of its services, his loss would

be very great. "Un

THE ESQUIMAUX DOG.

like most other animals," says Mr. Bingley, "he seems only to remember our caresses; and often in a few minutes licks the hands that smote him." The dog is found wild in Congo, Lower

Ethiopia, and several other parts of the world. Among those domesticated with us, we have about twenty or thirty

to indicate almost human intelligence. The instances related in different countries of the dog's sagacity, and love to his owner, would fill volumes: but the following, I think, is among the most interesting:

"In the year 1760, a singular incident occurred near Harrowsmith: A waterman of that place, named Richardson, was sleeping in his boat. By some means his boat slipped her moorings; and the tide carried her down the river across a barge. The boat began to fill with water; but the dog, instead of seeking his own escape, went to his master, pawed his face, and pulled him by the coat, until he awoke, to see his imminent danger: he had but a moment to escape."

The extract from Cowper, concerning his little water-spaniel, I must not forget: it is so touching and beautiful :

"It was the time when Ouse displayed

His lilies newly blown;

Their beauties I intent surveyed,

And one I wished my own.

"With cane extended far, I sought
To steer it close to land;

:

The Wolf.-One leaves the character of the dog to trace out that of the wolf with no small reluctance. The wolf is one of the most ferocious of the quadruped family, and insatiate in its appetite. But though destructive to man in one way, yet it is beneficial in another by carrying off all kinds of offal that may be left about. There are a number of varieties of this animal. In the older settlements they have disappeared, although still numerous in the forests and on the prairies of the western por