THIS animal is remarkable for the slenderness and delicacy of its form. Its long and slim neck, small body, and almost pointed head, give the animal an air of feebleness, the impression of which is only to be counteracted by observing the animated eye, the playful movements and admirable celerity of its course when at full speed.

The Virginia deer is of great importance as an abundant source of food and raiment. Vast numbers are annually destroyed for the sake of their flesh, hide, and horns. The flesh is justly considered an excellent article of food, when killed in the proper season. The Indians and hunters feed upon it at all seasons. The stomach of the deer with its half-digested contents is a very favorite dish with almost

all the savages, especially toward the north, where deer feed in a great degree on mosses and buds.

This species of deer has very keen senses, especially of hearing and smelling, upon which its safety particularly depends. It is a very shy and timid animal, and the slightest noise excites his attention, and if the cause of alarm be continued, he exerts his strength, and dashes off in his swiftest career. It is said by hunters to evince a strong degree of animosity towards serpents, and especially to the rattlesnake, of which it has an instinctive horror. In order to destroy one of these creatures, the deer makes a bound into the air, and alights upon the snake with all four feet brought together in a square, and these violent blows are repeated till the hated reptile is destroyed.

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THE TRIUMPHS OF GREECE AND ROME COMPARED WITH THE TRIUMPH OF THE CROSS.

THE highest military honor which could be obtained in the Roman state, was a triumph, or solemn procession, in which a victorious general and his army advanced through the city, to the capitol. He set out from the Campus Martius, and proceeded along the Via Triumphalis, and from thence through the most public places of the city. The streets were strewed with flowers, and the altars smoked with incense. First went a numerous band of music, singing

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and playing triumphal songs; next were led the oxen to be sacrificed, having their horns gilt, and their heads adorned with fillets and garlands; then in carriages were brought the spoils taken from the enemy; also golden crowns sent by the allied and tributary states. The titles of the vanquished nations were inscribed on wooden frames; and images or representations of the conquered countries and cities were exhibited.

The captive leaders followed in chains, with their children and attendants; after the captives came the lictors, having their faces wreathed with laurel, followed by a great company of musicians and dancers, dressed like satyrs, and wearing crowns of gold: in the midst of whom was a pantomime, clothed in a female garb, whose business it was, with his looks and gestures, to insult the vanquished; a long train of persons followed, carrying perfumes; after them came the general dressed in purple, embroidered with gold, with a crown of laurel on his head, a branch of laurel in his right hand, and in his left an ivory sceptre, with an eagle on the top, his face painted with vermilion, and a golden ball hanging from his neck on his breast; he stood upright in a gilded chariot, adorned with ivory, and drawn by four white horses, attended by his relations, and a great crowd of citizens, all in white. His children rode in the chariot along with him, his lieutenants and military tribunes, commonly by his side.

After the general, followed the consuls and senators on foot; the whole procession was closed by the victorious

army drawn up in order, crowned with laurel, and decorated with the gifts which they had received for their valor, sing, ing their own and their general's praises. The triumphal procession was not confined to the Romans; the Greeks had a similar custom, for the conquerors used to make a procession through the middle of their city, crowned with garlands, repeating hymns and songs, and brandishing their spears; the captives followed in chains, and all their spoils were exposed to public view.

The great apostle of the Gentiles alludes to these splendid triumphal scenes, in his epistle to the Ephesians, where he mentions the glorious ascension of his Redeemer into heaven: 'When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.' These words are a quotation from the sixty-eighth Psalm, where David in spirit, describes the ascension of Messiah, in very glowing colors: The chariots of God are twenty thousand, even thousands of angels; the Lord is among them, as in Sinai, in the holy place. Thou hast ascended on high, thou hast led captivity captive,' or an immense number of captives; ' thou hast received gifts for men, yea for the rebellious also; that the Lord God might dwell among them. Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with his benefits, even the God of our salvation; Selah.'

Knowing the deep impression which such an allusion calculated to make on the mind of a people familiarly as quainted with triumphal scenes, the apostle returns to it i his epistle to the Colossians, which was written about the

and playing triumphal songs; next were led the oxen to be sacrificed, having their horns gilt, and their heads adorned with fillets and garlands; then in carriages were brought the spoils taken from the enemy; also golden crowns sent by the allied and tributary states. The titles of the vanquished nations were inscribed on wooden frames; and images or representations of the conquered countries and cities were exhibited.

The captive leaders followed in chains, with their children and attendants; after the captives came the lictors, having their faces wreathed with laurel, followed by a great company of musicians and dancers, dressed like satyrs, and wearing crowns of gold: in the midst of whom was a pantomime, clothed in a female garb, whose business it was, with his looks and gestures, to insult the vanquished; a long train of persons followed, carrying perfumes; after them came the general dressed in purple, embroidered with gold, with a crown of laurel on his head, a branch of laurel in his right hand, and in his left an ivory sceptre, with an eagle on the top, his face painted with vermilion, and a golden ball hanging from his neck on his breast; he stood upright in a gilded chariot, adorned with ivory, and drawn by four white horses, attended by his relations, and a great crowd of citizens, all in white. His children rode in the chariot along with him, his lieutenants and military tribunes, commonly by his side.

After the general, followed the consuls and senators on foot; the whole procession was closed by the victorious