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ing brought it into use over the whole civilized world. By no means. This experiment at Barcelona, owing to the absence of journals and newspapers, those modern vehicles and wings of intelligence, was unknown to the world generally, at the time of making it, as it ever was to Fulton. And, besides, wno can tell but that in like manner many inventions, which constitute at once the pride and profit of the present age, may have existed centuries ago, in countries of forgotten civilisation.-A Year in Spain by a young American.

ON THE VARIATIONS IN THE WEATHER. There is scarcely any one subject upon which mankind display more shortsighedness and inconsistency than they do upon the weather. When

exceedingly fine and pleasant weather cheers us, and makes all things around us seem doubly beautiful, we are almost sure to exclaim that we wish such weather could last forever!

In exclaiming thus we consult only our feelings; and leave our interests wholly out of consideration. It would undoubtedly be very delightful to bask in eternal sunshine, and be fanned by perpetual zephyrs. But though this uniform pleasantness of season would be very agreeable to our feelings, would it be equally serviceable in maturing those various productions of nature from which we derive nourishment while we are in health, and mitigation and cure when we are diseased? Many of the most valuable of our articles of food, and of our medicinal roots and shrubs, owe their perfection to weather which is as little soothing as possible to our taste and feelings. The comparatively valueless beauties of the hot-house would grow wild and untended in all parts of the world were the weather always alike and every where mild. But we should pay dearly for those beautiful plants and flowers did we sacrifice for them the less comely but more serviceable alimentary and medicinal productions of the field and garden. If an equal temperature were perpetually kept up in all places, and during all times, two-thirds, at least, of our natural productions would disappear from the world. Instead of each nation and each country possessing something peculiar to itself and valuable to all, all nations would both possess and be destitute of precisely the same number and kind of articles. To say nothing of the deplorable state to which mankind would be reduced were they deprived of the largest portion of the valuable things which they now enjoy, this condition of things would put an instant and inevitable end to commercial intercourse between distant people. We, as well as the natives of Hindostan, should have spices, but we should be destitute of those articles which we now have in such abundance, that over and above supplying our own wants, we are enabled also to supply those of the dusky denizens of the East.

Moreover, the most terrible consequences would result from an equalisation of the earth's temperature. Those wild and rustling winds which we so much complain of, and which mainly arise from the different temperature of different portions of our globe, would cease, indeed, to annoy us with their howling rudeness. But what would be the effect of the consequent stagnation of the air? Why, instead of being the most refreshing and the most healthful ministers to our health and comfort, it would become putrefied. We could not avoid innaling it, yet to inhale it would be instant disease

and speedy death. No art, no precaution, no exertion, could avert a terrible and universal pestilence, in which, men and animals alike would perish without hope of escape, and without alleviation of their terrible and fatal agonies.

How very little reflection suffices to show us how thoughtless and short-sighted we mortals are; and how wise and benevolent is that Omnipotent Being, who knows what we need better than we ourselves do, and who makes all things work together for our good! We cannot turn our attention to a single subject without rejoicing that we have God to watch over us, and to protect us against the silliness of our own wishes, and the selfishness, the unwise selfishness, of our own hearts.

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THE SPOTTED KANGUROO.

There exist several species of the Kanguroo, all of which are natives of New Holland. The habits of this animal have been well described by Mr. Cunningham, in his "Two Years' Residence in New South Wales." We make the following extracts from his account:

The Kanguroos make no use of their short fore legs except in grazing, when they rise upon them and their tail, bring their hind legs forward, and go nibbling upon all fours, pulling up occasionally some favorite plant with their fore paw, and sitting up bold and erect upon their hind legs and tail, while they slowly bite and nibble it, shifting it from paw to paw, like a boy protracting his repast on a juicy apple. When chased, they hop upon their hind legs, bounding onwards at a most amazing rate, the tail wagging as they leap, and serving them for a balance. They will bound over gullies, and down declivities, the distance of thirty yards, and fly right over the tops of low brushwood; so that, in such places, dogs stand very little chance with them; but in a clear open country soon tire them out. The dogs seize them generally by the hip, and throw them over; then fasten upon their throats and finish them. But few dogs will attack a large Kanguroo singly, some of the two hundred weight size often hopping off with three or four assailants hanging about them; and I was informed of one that actually carried a man to some distance. When a dog gets up close to a large Kanguroo, it will often sit upon its tail and haunches, and fight the dog, turning adroitly round and round, so as always to face him, and pushing him off with the fore paws; or it will seize and hug him like a bear, ripping him up with the long sharp claw on its powerful hind leg. They are constantly indeed cutting, and often killing, dogs with this terrible weapon, which will tear out the bowels at a single kick: and a large Kanguroo is, on this account, very dangerous even for a man to approach, when set at bay.

"One

The Kang iroo may be domesticated. of the largest. tame Kanguroos I have seen in this country (says Mr. Cunningham) is domesticated, and a mischievous wag he is, creeping and snuffing cautiously towards a stranger, with such an innocently expressive countenance, that roguery could never be surmised to exist under it; when, having obtained as he thinks, a sufficient introduction, he claps his fore paws on your shoulders, as if to caress you, and raising himself suddenly upon his tail, administers such a well put push with his hind legs, that it is two to one but he drives you heels over head! this is all done in what he considers facetious play, with a view of giving you a hint to examine your pockets, and see what bon bons you have got for him, as he munches cakes and comfits with epicurean goût; and if the door is ajar, he will gravely take his station behind your chair at meal time, like a lackey, giving you an admonitory kick every now and then, if you fail to help him as well as yourself."

THE ANT-EATER.

There are several animals distinguished by the common name of Ant-eaters, which differ much in form. They are, however, all distinguished by one characteristic; which is, that as they feed wholly on insects, they have no teeth. The tongue is the only instrument with which they seize their food, and it is long, wormlike, and covered with a glutinous moisture. From the tip of the snout to the end of the tail, the great Ant-eater is sometimes eight or nine feet in length. It is covered with very coarse and shaggy hair. Its motions are slow, but it swims well.

This creature is a native of Brazil and Guiana, and it lives wholly on ants, woodlice, and wild bees. These it collects by thrusting its tongue into their holes, and having penetrated every part of the nest, withdraws it into its mouth loaded with prey.-Its legs are so strong, that few animals can extricate themselves from its gripe. It is said to be formidable even to the panthers of America; and sometimes fixes itself upon them in such a manner, that both of them fall and perish together; for its obstinacy is so great, that it will not relinquish its hold of an adversary even after it is dead.-It may, however, be tamed. The flesh has a strong disagreeable taste, but is eaten by the Indians.

A recent number of the Salem Register says, that M. Buffett, a distinguished French Naturalist, has arrived at that port, with a rare and valuable collection of birds and quadrupeds. He has spent several years in travelling through the states of South America, particularly Brazil, and in his researches has discovered much to add to the cabinet of tho Naturalist Among the quadru

peds on board the Clio is a female Ant-Bear or Ant-Euter. This animal is seldom if ever seen in this country, and we believe this is the second one that has lived to reach here. It is about seven feet in length and two high, and is perfectly harmless, although it has strength sufficient to master a tiger. When she lies down to repose, her tail serves as a shield from the weather, it being large enough to cover the whole body-when viewed in this situation she resembles a straw mat spread upon the ground. Its food consists entirely of eggs. M. Buffett has the carcass of the young, which died on the passage, preserved in spirits, which is a great curiosity.

Curious Typographical Anecdote.-It is well known to literary people, that, in preparing works for the press, it is usual for the printer, after the proof sheets have been seen by the author, to go over them again, and clear them of what are called typographical errors, such as wrong spellings, inaccu racies of punctuation, and similar imperfections. In perform ing this office for a celebrated northern critic and editor, a printer, now dead, was in the habit of introducing a much greater number of commas than it appeared to the author the sense required. The case was provoking, but did not produce a formal remonstrance, until Mr. W-n himself accidentally afforded the learned editor an opportunity of signifying his dissatisfaction with the plethora of punctuation under which his compositions were made to labor. The worthy printer, coming to a passage one day which he did not understand, very naturally took it into his head that it was unintelligible, and transmitted it to his employer, with a remark on the margin, that "there appeared some obscurity in it." The sheet was immediately returned, with this reply, which we give cerbatim. "Mr. J. sees no obscurity here, except such as arises from the quantity of commas, which Mr. W-n seems to keep in a pepper-box beside him, for the purpose of dusting all his proofs with."

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American Vines.-There is perhaps no vegetable in America that strikes the mind with greater surprise than the wild vine. I have seen one with a stem nine inches in diameter, and heard of others measuring eleven inches. Some detached trees have their tops closely wreathed with the vines in a manner that forms an elegant and umbrageous canopy, into which the eye cannot penetrate. In the woods they overtop the tallest trees, and from thence hang the pendulous twigs almost to the ground, or pass their ramifications from the branches of one tree to others, overshadowing a considerable space. In many instances their roots are at the distance of several feet from any tree, and their tops attached to branches at the height of sixty or eighty feet, without coming in contact with the trunks of trees, or any intermediate support To make the case plain, I have only to say, that the positions of some of those vines have a near resemblance to the stays, and. some other ropes of a ship. The question, how they have erected themselves in this manner, is frequently put. Boats that descend the Ohio are often moored without any other cable than a small vine. If a notch is cut in the stem of the vine in the spring season, clear and tasteless water runs out, not in drops, but in a continued stream. I have several times quenched my thirst from sources of this kind.-Flint's America.

A True Joe Miller.-In the time of Joe Miller, there was an old deaf player of the name of Cross, who, being very vain, took every pains to conceal his infirmity. Joe, walking along Fleet Street with a friend, saw Cross on the opposite side, and told his acquaintance he should see some fine sport. So, beckoning Cross with his finger, he opened his mouth wide, and began to assume the attitude and gestures of one who bawls very loud to a distant object. Cross, thinking that Miller had hallooed to him, and taking that as too broad a signification of his infirmity, came puffing across the street as hard as he could, and "What the devil," cried he to Joe, "do you make such a noise for? do you think one cannot hear?"

Razors.-The term razor as applied to the instrument which we shave with, is supposed to be derived from the word raze, to cut or pull down, to leave nothing standing. Razors are mentioned by Homer. Before English manufactures excelled in cutlery, razors were imported from Palermo in Italy, or rather Sicily.

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CATCHING TURTLES ON THE COAST OF CUBA.

It is not improbable that some of our readers, who reside near a great commercial port, may have seen the landing of a cargo of strange looking animals, which, turned upon their backs, appear the most helpless of creatures, and in this condition may have naturally led the spectator to imagine that they are incapable of removing from place to place, and have therefore little enjoyment of existence. These creatures, to use the language of the epicure, are fine "lively turtles" the term "lively" being understood to mean that they have suffered little from a long voyage-that they are in good health-and that the "green fat," the glory of aldermen, is in the most perfect state of excellence. Without asking our readers to feel any very strong interest in the prospects of high living which the arrival of a cargo of turtles offers to many individuals who are somewhat too much inclined to set a high value upon the gratifications of the palate, we may be able to satisfy a rational curiosity as to the habits of these singular animals, which offer some higher benefits to mankind than that of furnishing the most costly luxury of a city feast.

The turtle and the tortoise belong to the same group of reptiles-in fact the turtle is a tortoise which principally inhabits the water, and is only found occasionally on the land. The two varieties represented in the above plate are the Green Tortoise (a), and the Loggerhead Tortoise (b). The former is the species chiefly used for food. It is fund, in great numbers, on the coasts of all the islands and continents of the torrid zone. The shoals which surround these coasts are covered with marine plants; and in these water pastures, which are near enough to the surface to be readily seen by the naked eye in calm weather, a prodigious abundance of animals, mostly amphibious,

feed, and amongst them multitudes of tortoises. Dampier, the old voyager, describing the Gallapagos Islands, says, "There are good wide channels between these islands fit for ships to pass; and in some places shoal water, where there grows plenty of turtle grass; therefore these islands are plentifully stored with sea turtle." The tortoise, whether of the land or water species, is, as most of our readers know, protected, both on the back and belly, by a hollow shield, which is open at each end, for the issuing of the head and fore-feet at one time, and the tail and hind-feet at another.

The upper shield is termed the back-plate, or buckler; the lower, shield the breast-plate. The middle of the buckler, in most of the species, is covered by numerous pieces or plates resembling horn in texture and composition; and the beautiful substance known by the name of tortoise-shell is obtained principally from a small species called the Hawksbill. The feet of the marine tortoises are much longer than those of the land, and their toes are united by a membrane, so that they swim with great facility. The head, feet, and tail are covered with small scales. The jaws of the wide mouth are not provided with teeth, but the jaw-bones are very hard and strong, and being at the same time very rough, the animal is enabled to consume its vegetable food with ease, and at the same time to crush the shell-fish on which the marine species also feed. The green tortoise attains an enormous size and weight; some individuals measuring six or seven feet in length from the tip of the nose to the extremity of the tail, by three or four feet broad, and weighing as much as eight hundred pounds. Dampier says, "I heard of a monstrous green turtle once taken at Port Royal, in the bay of Campeachy, that was four feet deep from the back to the belly,

and the belly six feet broad. Captain Rocky's son, of about nine or ten years of age, went in it (meaning in the shell) as in a boat, on board his father's ship about a quarter of a inile from the shore." The green tortoise commonly weighs from two to three hundred pounds.

The female turtle deposits her eggs on the loose sand, and leaves them to be hatched by the influence of the sun's rays. These eggs are round, and two or three inches in diameter; they are covered with a membrane something like wet parchment. They are hatched in less than a month after they are laid; and in about eight or ten days the young reptiles creep to the water.

The wood-cut at the head of this article represents the manner in which the marine tortoises are caught on the coast of Cuba, and on parts of the South American continent. The Count de Lacepede, in his History of Oviporous Quadrupeds, has described the various modes in which the business of tortoise-catching is carried on; and we shall conclude this notice with an abstract of his account. It must be remarked that the turtle is a most important addition to the ordinary mode of victualling a ship; and that, therefore, the war in which the human race engages against them is rendered absolutely necessary by the wants of navigators.

"In spite of the darkness which is chosen by the female tortoises for concealment when employed in laying their eggs, they cannot effectually escape from the pursuit of their enemies: the fishers wait for them on the shore, at the beginning of the night, especially when it is moonlight, and, either as they come from the sea, or as they return after laying their eggs, they either despatch them with blows of a club, or turn them quickly over on their backs, not giving them time either to defend themselves, or to blind their assailants, by throwing up the sand with their fins. When very large, it requires the efforts of several men to turn them over, and they must often employ the assistance of handspikes or levers for that purpose. The buckler of this species is so flat as to render it impossible for the animal to recover the recumbent posture, when it is once turned on its back.

"A small number of fishers may turn over forty or fifty tortoises, full of eggs, in less than three hours. During the day, they are employed in securing those which they had caught in the preceding night. They cut them up, and salt the flesh and the eggs. Sometimes they may extract above thirty pints of a yellow or greenish oil from one large individual; this is employed for burning, or, when fresh, is used with different kinds of food. Sometimes they drag the tortoises they have caught, on their backs, to enclosures, in which they are reserved for occasional use.

"The tortoise fishers, from the West Indies and the Bahamas, who catch these animals on the coasts of Cuba and its adjoining islands, particularly the Caymanas, usually complete their cargoes in six weeks or two months; they afterwards return to their own islands, with the salted turtle, which is used for food both by the whites and the negroes. This salt turtle is in as great request in the American colonies, as the salted cod of Newfoundland is in many parts of Europe; and the fishing is followed by all these colonists, particularly by the British, in small vessels, on various parts of the coast of Spanish America, and the neighboring desert islands.

"The green tortoise is likewise often caught at

sea in calm weather, and in moon-light nights For this purpose two men go together in a small boat, which is rowed by one of them, while the other is provided with a harpoon, similar to that used for killing whales. Whenever they discover a large tortoise, by the froth which it occasions on the water in rising to the surface, they hasten to the spot as quickly as possible, to prevent it from escaping. The harpooner immediately throws his harpoon with sufficient force to penetrate through the buckler to the flesh; the tortoise instantly dives, and the fisher gives out a line, which is fixed to the harpoon, and, when the tortoise is spent with loss of blood, it is hauled into the boat or on shore "

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Popular Poison.-When pure ardent spirits are taken into the stomach, they cause irritation, which is evinced by warmth and pain experienced in that organ; and next, inflammation of the delicate coats of this part, and sometimes gangrenes. They act in the same manner as poisons. Be sides the local injury they produce, they act on the nerves of the stomach which run to the brain, and, if taken in large quantities, cause insensibility, stupor, irregular convulsive action, difficulty of breathing, profound sleep, and often sudden death.-The habitual use of ardent spirits causes a slow inflammation of the stomach and liver, which proceeds steadily, but is often undiscovered, till too late for relief.-London Medical Surgical Journal

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CAPTURE OF ELEPHANTS.

It is remarkable, that in every mode of capturing the wild elephant, man avails himself of the docility of individuals of the same species, which he has already subdued. Birds may be taught to assist in ensnaring other birds; but this is simply an effect of habit. The elephant, on the contrary, has an evident desire to join its master in subduing its own race; and in this treachery to its kind, exercises so much ingenuity, courage, and perseverance, that we cannot find a parallel instance of complete subjection to the will of him to whom it was given to "have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth."

Sir

From some peculiar circumstances which have not been accurately explained, large male elephants are sometimes found apart from the herd. Stamford Raffles says, speaking of the elephants that he met with in his journey through the southern Presidencies to Passumah, "The natives fancy that there are two kinds of elephants,-the gaja berkampong, those which always go in herds, and which are seldom mischievous, and the gaja salunggal, or single elephants, which are much larger and ferocious, going about either singly or only two or three in company. It is probable the latter kind are only the full-grown males." They probably, in many cases, separate themselves from their companions in search of fresh pastures. But as they are sometimes found in a state of considerable irritation, doing much mischief wherever they pass, it has been thought that these have been driven away by the stronger males, and that they are suffering all the agonies of unavailing jealousy. Being the finest elephants, and therefore the best adapted for sale, the hunters soon mark them for their own. They follow them cautiously by day and by night, with two, and sometimes four trained females, called Koomkies. If it be dark they can hear the animal striking his food, to clean it, against his fore-legs, and they then approach tolerably close; if light, they advance more cautiously. The females gradually move towards him, apparently unconscious of his presence, grazing with great complacency, as if they were, like him, inhabitants of the wild forest. It is soon perceived by them whether he is likely to be entrapped by their arts. The drivers remain concealed at a little distance, while the 'oomkies press round the unhappy goon

dah, or saun, (for so this sort of elephant is called). If he abandon himself to the caresses of his new companions, his capture is almost certain. The hunters cautiously creep under him, and during the intoxication of his pleasure, fasten his fore-legs with a strong rope. It is said that the wily females will not only divert his attention from their mahouts, but absolutely assist them in fastening the cords. Mr. Howitt made a spirited drawing of this eurious scene, from the descriptions of Captain Williamson..

The hind legs of the captive being secured in a similar manner, the hunters leave him to himself, and retire to a short distance. In some cases he is fastened at once to a large tree, if the situation in which he is first entrapped allows this. But under other circumstances, in the first instance his legs are only tied together. When the females quit him he discovers his ignominious condition, and attempts to retreat to the covert of the forest. But he moves with difficulty, in consequence of the ropes which have been lashed round his limbs. There are long cables trailing behind him; and the mahouts, watching an opportunity, secure these to a tree of sufficient strength. He now becomes furious, throwing himself down, and thrusting his tusks into the earth. If he break the cables, and escape into the forest, the hunters dare not pursue him; but if he is adequately bound, he soon becomes exhausted with his own rage. He is then left to the further operation of hunger, till he is sufficiently subdued to be conducted, under the escort of his treacherous friends, to an appointed station, to which, after a few months' disipline, he becomes reconciled.

IMITATION FROM THE PERSIAN.

BY DR. SOUTHEY.

Lord! who art merciful as well as just,
Incline thine ear to me, a child of dust!
Not what I would, O Lord, I offer thee,
Alas, but what I can!

Father Almighty, who hast made me man,
And bade me look to Heaven, for thou art there,
Accept my sacrifice, and humble prayer.
Four things which are not in thy treasury
I lay before thee, Lord, with this petition...
My nothingness, my wants,

My sins, and my contrition'

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