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nothing except hard chopped eggs, dry bread, cake without salt, and once in two or three days, a few poppy-seeds.

About the 15th of April, they ought to be furnished with flax, soft hay, wool, hair, moss, and other dry materials, for building the nest, which usually occupies thee days; but when the hen has set eight or nine days, it is necessary to examine the eggs, holding them carefully by the ends, against the sun or a lighted candle, and to throw away the clear ones. When the young are to be reared by the stick, they must be taken from the mother on the eighth day, taking nest and all. Prior to this, the food should consist of a paste composed of boiled rape-seed, the yolk of an egg, and crumbs of cake unsalted, mixed with a little water: this must be given every two hours. This paste ought not to be too wet, and must be renewed daily, until the nestlings can feed themselves.

GIZZARDS OF BIRDS.

THERE is a compensation in the structure of granivorous and herbivorous birds, such as turkeys, geese, pigeons, &c., for the want of teeth. All these birds are furnished with a peculiar and most powerful muscle, called the gizzard; the inner coat of which is fitted up with rough plaits, which, by a strong friction against one another, break and grind the hard aliment as effectually, and by the same mechanical action as a coffee-mill would do. It has been proved by the most correct experiments, that the gastric juice of these birds will not operate upon entire grain, not even when softened by water, or macerated in the crop. Therefore, without a grinding machine within its body, without the trituration of the gizzard, a chicken would have starved upon a heap of corn. A

resemblance has been remarked between the stomachs of gallinaceous fowls and the structure of corn-mills. Whilst the two sides of the gizzard perform the office of the mill-stones, the craw or crop supplies the place of the hopper. When our fowls are abundantly supplied with meat, they soon fill their craw; but the meat does not immediately pass hence into the gizzard; it always enters in very small quantities, in proportion to the progress of trituration; in the same manner as, in a mill, a receiver is fixed above the two large stones, which serve for grinding the corn; which receiver, although the corn be put into it by bushels, allows the grain to dribble only in small quantities, into the central hole in the upper mill-stone.— Cressingham Rectory.

THE STORK.

THIS well-known bird is, perhaps, of all the families which frequent the sides of rivers and the sea-beach, the most celebrated. There are two species, the white and the black, but they are of the same shape and size. The stork inhabits various parts of the temperate regions of the Continent, but is very rarely seen in England, though in many parts of France and Holland, it breeds on the house-tops; the inhabitants providing boxes, that the young birds may receive no injury. The stork walks fearlessly along the streets of those parts, and is greatly valued, as it clears the country of frogs, snakes, and other reptiles. Its disposition is very mild and placid, and it is frequently tamed, and placed in gardens, which it clears of insects.

Storks are birds of passage, and observe great exactness in the time of their autumnal departure from Europe; they pass their second summer in Egypt and the marshes

of Barbary. Before their migration, they congregate in great num bers, and appear to hold consultations among themselves.

After making several short excursions, as if to try their wings, they suddenly take flight, with great silence, and with such speed, as to be out of sight in a moment. During these migrations, they are seen in vast flocks. Dr Shaw saw three flights of them leaving Egypt, and passing over Mount Carmel, each half a mile in breadth; they occupied three hours in passing over.

however, it is seldom more than three or four feet, the rest of its height being made up by its extremely long neck. The head is small, and, as well as the greater part of the neck, is covered only with a few scattered hairs. The feathers of the body are black and loose; those of the wings and tail are of a snowy white, waved and long, having here and there a tip of black. The wings are furnished with spurs: the thighs are naked; and the feet strong, and of a graybrown colour.

The sandy and burning deserts of Africa and Asia are the only native residences of the Black Ostriches. Here they are seen in flocks so large as sometimes to have been mistaken for distant cavalry.

Its

The stork bestows much time on the education of her young, and does not leave them till they can defend and support themselves. It is also said to be affectionately attentive to the aged and infirm of its species, and that the young and vigorous frequently carry food to those which, either from accidental injuries or age, are weak and exhausted. It walks with slow and measured steps, and the only noise it ever makes is a peculiar rattling with the bill, not unlike the sound of the castanets. When irritated, and in a state of agitation, the head is thrown back, so that the lower jaw appears uppermost; the bill lies flat on the back, and the two jaws striking violently together, produce the clattering noise described. This wise occurs frequently during the consultations they hold, previous to their migrations. The Mohammedans hold the stork in great esteem and veneration. Among the Egyptians, it is also held sacred, and they would look on a person as profane, who should kill or hurting in flocks into their fields, and

one.

THE BLACK OR GREAT OS

TRÍCH.

THIS species of Ostrich stands so very high as to measure from seven to nine feet from the top of the head to the ground: from the back,

There are many circumstances in the form and habits of this animal which show it to be peculiarly dif ferent from the rest of the feathered race. It seems to form one of the links of union in the great chain of nature, connecting the winged with the four-footed tribes. strong joined legs, and (if I may venture so to call them) cloven hoofs, are well adapted both for speed and defence. The wings and all its feathers are insufficient to raise it from the ground. Its camelshaped neck is covered with hair; its voice is a kind of hollow, mournful lowing, and it grazes on the plain with the gua-cha and the ze

bra.

The ostriches frequently do great damage to the farmers in the interior of Southern Africa, by com

destroying the ears of wheat so completely, that in a large tract of but the bare straw is left behind. land it often happens that nothing The body of the bird is not higher than the corn; and when it devours the ears, it bends down its long neck, so that at a little distance it cannot be seen; but on the least

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noise it rears its head, and generally contrives to escape before the farmer gets within gunshot of it.

When the ostrich runs, it has a proud and haughty look; and even when in extreme distress, never appears in great haste, especially if the wind is with it. Its wings are frequently of material use in aiding its escape, for when the wind blows in the direction that it is pursuing, it always flaps them: in this case the swiftest horse cannot overtake it; but if the weather is hot, and there is no wind, or if it has by any accident lost a wing, the difficulty of out-running it is not so great.

The ostrich itself is chiefly valuable for its plumage, and the Arabians have reduced the chase of it to a kind of science. They hunt it, we are told, on horseback, and begin their pursuit by a gentle gallop; for, should they, at the outset, use the least rashness, the matchless speed of the game would immediately carry it out of their sight, and in a very short time beyond their reach; but when they proceed gradually, it makes no particular effort to escape. It does not go in a direct line, but runs first to one side, then to the other: this its pursuers take advantage of, and, by rushing directly onward, save much ground. In a few days, at most, the strength of the animal is much exhausted, and it then either turns on the hunters, and fights with the fury of despair, or hides its head and tamely receives its fate.

Frequently the natives conceal themselves in the skin of one of these birds, and by that means are able to approach near enough to surprise them.

Some persons breed up ostriches in flocks, for they are tamed with very little trouble, and in their domestic state few animals may be rendered more useful. Besides the valuable feathers they cast, the

eggs which they lay, their skins, which are used by the Arabians as a substitute for leather, and their flesh, which many esteem as excellent food, they are sometimes made to serve the purposes of horses.

In a tame state it is very pleasant to observe with what dexterity they play and frisk about. In the heat of the day, particularly, they will strut along the sunny side of a house with great majesty, perpetually fanning themselves with their expanded wings, and seeming at every turn to admire and be enamoured of their own shadows. During most parts of the day, in hot climates, their wings are in a kind of vibrating or quivering motion, as if designed principally to assuage the heat.

They will swallow with the uttermost eagerness, rags, leather, wood, or stone, indiscriminately. “Í saw one at Oran," says Dr Shaw, "that swallowed, without any seeming uneasiness or inconvenience, several leaden bullets, as they were thrown upon the floor scorching hot from the mould!"

During Mr Adamson's residence at Podor, a French factory on the southern bank of the river Niger, he says that two ostriches, which had been about two years in the factory, afforded him a sight of a very extraordinary nature. These gigantic birds, though young, were of nearly the full size. "They were," (he continues) "so tame, that two little blacks mounted both together on the back of the largest. No sooner did he feel their weight than he began to run as fast as possible, and carried them several times round the village, as it was impossible to stop him otherwise than by obstructing the passage. This sight pleased me so much that I wished it to be repeated; and, to try their strength, directed a fullgrown negro to mount the smallest, and two others the largest.

BIRDS.

This burden did not seem at all disproportioned to their strength. At first they went at a tolerable sharp trot; but when they became heated a little, they expanded their wings, as though to catch the wind, and moved with such fleetness, that they scarcely seemed to touch the ground. Most people have, at one time or other, seen a partridge run, and consequently must know that there is no man whatever able to keep up with it; and it is easy to imagine, that if this bird had a longer step, its speed would be considerably increased. The ostrich moves like the partridge, with this advantage: and I am satisfied that those I am speaking of would have distanced the fleetest race-horses that were ever bred in England. It is true they would not hold out so long as a horse, but they would undoubtedly be able to go over the space in less time. I have frequently beheld this sight, which is capable of giving one an idea of the prodigious strength of an ostrich, and of showing what use it might be of, had we but the method of breaking and managing it as we do a horse.

He who is catching opportunities because they seldom occur, would suffer those to pass by unregarded which he expect hourly to return. -JOHNSON.

THE HONEY-GUIDE.

In the travels of Sparrman in the Hottentot country, the following interesting description is given of a bird, which is called the honeyguide. It is rather larger than a sparrow, is very fond of honey, and points out in the most sagacious manner the nests of the bees to the bears. When these brutes destroy a nest of bees, this bird feeds voraciously upon the honey which is spilt. As soon as it has discovered

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a nest of bees, it looks out for some
It entices
companion to attack it.
a bear by its piercing cries, and
conducts it to the vicinity of the
nest. The bird flies before it, and
rests at intervals, awaiting its com-
panion in the chase, and exciting
it, by fresh cries, to follow it. But,
in proportion as it approaches the
nest, it shortens the space of its
stations, and its cry becomes less
frequent. If, sometimes impatient
of arrival at the nest, it has left its
companion far behind it, it returns
to him, and appears, by its re-
doubled cries, to reproach him for
his slowness. Having arrived at
the nest of the bees, it alights, and
rests quietly on a neighbouring tree
or bush, awaiting the end of the
expedition, and that part of the
booty which belongs to it. The
Hottentots never fail to leave it that
portion of the comb which contains
the eggs and young, of which this
bird is more voracious than of honey
itself. M. Sparrman having offered
to the Hottentots who accompanied
him an ample recompense of to-
bacco and glass beads, if they would
assist him in catching a honey-guide;
they rejected his proposal, saying
that this bird was their friend, and
they would not betray it.

THE TRUMPETER BIRD. THIS bird is a native of South America. Its length is about twenty-two inches, and its legs are five inches high, and completely covered with small scales, which reach two inches above the knee. Its general plumage is black, and the feathers of the head and neck are very short and downy; those of the fore part of the neck, and upper part of the breast, of a very glossy guilded green, with a reflection of blue in some lights. The feathers between the shoulders are rust-coloured, changing into a pale ash colour as they pass downwards. They are

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loose and silky. Those of the shoulders are long, and hang over the tail, which is very short, and consists of twelve blackish feathers. The legs are greenish, and the bill is yellowish green, having the nostrils open.

The most characteristic and remarkable property of these birds consists in the wonderful noise which they often make, either of their own accord, or when urged by their keepers. To induce them to this, it is sometimes necessary to entice the bird with a bit of bread to come near, and then making the same kind of sound, which the keepers can well imitate, the bird will frequently be disposed to repeat it. This strange noise, which somewhat resembles the moan of pigeons, is at times preceded by a savage cry, interrupted by a sound approaching that of sherch, sherch. In this way the bird utters five, six, or seven times, very quickly, a hollow noise from within its body, nearly as if one pronounced tou, tou, tou, tou, tou, tou, with the mouth shut, resting upon the last tou a very long time, and terminating by sinking gradually with the

same note.

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When tamed, the Trumpeter distinguishes its master and benefactor with marks of affection. Having," (says Vosmaër) "reared one myself, I had an opportunity of experiencing this. When I opened its cage in the morning, the kind animal hopped round me, expanding its wings, and trumpeting, as if to wish me good morning. He showed equal attention when I went out and returned. No sooner did he perceive me at a distance, than he ran to meet me; and even when I happened to be in a boat, and set my foot on shore, he welcomed me with the same compliments, which he reserved for me alone, and never bestowed non others."

The Trumpeter is easily tamed, and always becomes attached to its benefactor.

THE study of Nature is ever attended with pleasing reflections, and the study of botany, in particular, independent of its immediate use, is as healthful as it is innocent. It beguiles the tediousness of the road, it furnishes amusement at every footstep of the solitary walk; and, above all, it leads to pleasing reflections on the bounty, the wisdom, and the power of the great CREATOR.

THE EVENING PROCEEDINGS

OF ROOKS, &c.

THE evening proceedings and manœuvres of the rooks are curious and amusing in the autumn. Just before dusk they return in long strings from the foraging of the day, and rendezvous by thousands over Selborne-down, where they wheel round in the air, and sport and dive in a playful manner, all the while exerting their voices and making a loud cawing, which, being blended and softened by the distance that we at the village are below them, makes a confused noise or chiding, or rather a pleasing murmur, very engaging to the imagination, and not unlike the cry of a pack of hounds in hollow echoing woods, or the rushing of wind in tall trees, or the trembling of the tide on a pebbly shore. When this ceremony is over, with the last gleam of day they retire for the night to the deep beechen woods of Tisted and Ropley. We remember a little girl, who, as she was going to bed, used to remark on such an occurrence, in the true spirit of physico-theology, that the rooks were saying their prayers; and yet this child was much too young to be aware that the Scriptures have said of the Deity, that "he feedeth

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