THE ASS-THE HIPPOPOTAMUS.

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cow. In the countries where the wild ass is in its perfect freedom, you would hardly know it as the same animal with its present degraded-looking descendant. There it is the fleetest of the fleet; and I think Xenophon remarks, in his account of Cyrus's expedition, that such was its swiftness and strength, that they could only catch it by having relays of horses. In those countries its flesh is esteemed as a rarity. Though accused of stupidity, observation leads to a very different conclusion, i. e., that it ponders much and acts wisely. Indeed, facts are abundant in proof of this. In Eastern countries, to ride on white asses was a mark of high distinction.

The Hippopotamus is a vast, unwieldy-looking animal, but of inoffensive habits. It resembles a rhinoceros somewhat,

but its skin is like an elephant's. Its enormous head and mouth give it a striking appearance. Its home is in the still waters of the sedgy Nile, and other rivers of Africa. Rice, corn, and such supplies, constitute its food, and during the night the fields near its haunts are exposed to its devastating depredations. By means of a beautiful contrivance, these

animals can remain for some little time below the water and feed on the subaqueous herbage. They are formidable animals when attacked, and often turn upon their pursuers and demolish the frail boats which contain them. Their teeth are valuable for the making of false teeth for those who have had the misfortune to lose their own.

The Hog.-Animals of this genus seem to unite in themselves some of the characteristics of several other quadrupeds: they resemble the horse, in the number of their teeth; the cow, in their cloven hoofs and the position of their intestines; and the claw-footed tribes, in their appetite for flesh, and their numerous young.

The Zebra.-This beautiful animal is rather smaller than the

horse, but, if possible, more beautiful, and is as swift as the stag. It inhabits the Cape of Good Hope, and most of the southern parts of Africa. The stripes of the zebra are exceedingly beautiful,-in the male, they are brown and white, and in the female, black and white. This animal is most difficult either to catch or retain; though it is said that four of them were once yoked to the King of Portugal's carriage. The Wild Boar.-This animal may be considered the parent stock of our domestic swine: he is, however, smaller, but very undaunted. He is found in most parts of the world; and because he is courageous, man likes to hunt him.

THE ZEBRA.

The Domestic Hog.-This animal is known in almost all parts of the world; and is among the most prolific of all the quadruped family. In Ireland, it is an invaluable boon to the peasantry; though they very rarely taste those they rear; having to sell them for their rent money. In our Western States incredible numbers are raised for home and foreign consumption. Pork-packing is in some places an immense business. One house in Cincinnati is said to slaughter and pack from

seven hundred to eight hundred daily, in its business season. Although this animal is universally regarded as being the personification of filthiness, it is found that when kept in a pen with several apartments, it will keep one of them scrupulously clean. In the South Sea Islands this animal abounds.

The Cassibara, or Water Hog.-This animal is found in South America.

It looks like a hog; but its snout is divided. It delights in the water, and has a kind of web foot, to enable it to swim. It feeds on fish, flesh, and vegetables indis

criminately: nothing comes

amiss to it. It is easily tamed, and then manifests attachment. The Peccary. This animal is also an inhabitant of South America. It is much like a pig, but of a lighter and more elegant form.

The Babyroussa, or Indian Hog.-Though this singular animal has been ranked with the hog genus, it has but few similarities with it. Its general figure more resembles the stag, and its hair is more like wool than bristles. It also has four enormous tusks growing out of the jaws -the two uppermost of which rise like horns,

and bending backwards, point to the animal's eyes; these tusks give it an imposing appearance, and are very valuable, being the best ivory.

The babyroussa is chiefly found in Borneo, and the neighbouring parts of Asia. It is a quiet animal, except when attacked.

The Seals and Walruses I mention here under a separate division, because of their strictly amphibious habits, and because there is some slight reason for supposing that they formed part of the fifth day's creation.

Seals are animals of exceedingly curious form and habits. They possess the four limbs of quadrupeds, but so arranged by the wisdom of God as to be hardly recognised. The fore-legs contain the same bones as our own hands, but are modified into swimming paws, and the hind-legs are stretched out close together, so as almost to look like a broad tail.

THE SEAL-THE WALRUS.

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Their habits confine them much to the sea, where they swim with admirable ease. Their fur is of the densest description, and they are provided with a thick layer of fat, both to render them buoyant, and to defend them from the cold of the northern seas they inhabit. Their food is fish.

To the Greenlander the seal is most valuable. used as clothing, its oil supplies light, its flesh food. many varieties.

Its skin is

There are

The Walrus is still more remarkable in appearance than the

this is perfectly what it should be; let me set myself to find out its adaptation 'to the wants of the animal.'"

The walrus has two remarkable tusks hanging down from the upper jaw, which are supposed to aid it in clinging to the icy rocks of its native shores. These tusks are admirable ivory. When in company the walrus will sometimes attack the men of a ship's boat, if wounded. The walrus feeds on marine plants, and its tusks are of great use in tearing up these; it also eats various other matters. Its length is from eight to ten feet.

We now descend lower in the scale of creation, and come to the creeping things that creep upon the earth; and after these, to the insects, some of which emphatically, as the Ephemera, are the creatures of a summer's night, having their birth, maturity, and death, between the setting and rising of the sun.