BEAVERS.

THE following account of the beaver is given by Mr. Ross Cox, in his account of a residence of six years in North America :

"Such is the sagacity of the beavers, that a tribe of American Indians consider them as a fallen race of human beings, who, in consequence of their wickedness, vexed the Good Spirit, and were condemned by him to their present shape; but that in due time they will be restored to their humanity. They allege that the beavers have the power of speech, and that they have heard them talk with each other, and seen them sitting in council on an offending member. The lovers of natural history are already well acquainted with the surprising sagacity of these wonder ful animals—with their dexterity in cutting down trees, their skill in constructing their houses, and their foresight in collecting and storing provisions sufficient to last them during the winter months; but few are aware, I should imagine, of a remarkable custom among them, which, more than any other, confirms the Indians in believing them a fallen race. Towards the latter end of autumn, a certain number, varying from twenty to thirty, assemble for the purpose of building their winter habitations. They immediately commence cutting down trees; and nothing can be more wonderful than the skill and patience which they manifest in this laborious undertaking. To see them anxiously looking up, watching the leaning of the tree when the trunk is nearly severed, and when its creaking announces its approaching fall, to observe them scampering off in all directions, to avoid being crushed. When the tree is prostrate, they quickly strip off its branches; after which, with their dental chisels, they divide the trunk into several pieces of equal lengths, which they roll to the rivulet across which they intend to erect their house. Two or three old ones generally superintend the others; and it is no unusual sight to see them beating those who exhibit any symptoms of laziness;should, however, any fellow be incorrigible, and persist in refusing to work, he is, driven unanimously by the whole tribe, to seek shelter and provisions elsewhere. These outlaws are, therefore, obliged to pass a miserable winter, half starved in a burrow on the banks of some stream, where they are easily trapped. The Indians call them 'lazy beaver,' and their fur is not half so valuable as that of the other animals, whose persevering industry and prévoyance secure them provisions and a comfortable shelter during the severity of the winter." W. G. C.

THE ADJUTANT.

THE Adjutant, (Ardea Gigantea,) or Gigantic Crane, is a native of the warmer parts of India, and one of the most voracious and

carnivorous birds known. Its extreme height is about five feet; from the tip of the bill to the extremity of the claws, it measures seven feet and a half, and the full extent of its wings is about fourteen or fifteen feet. Its upper parts and wing feathers are ashy grey; and the under parts have white, long, pendulous plumes; the head and neck have a red, callous skin, set with hairs, and a long, downy pouch hangs from the middle of the neck. The bill is wide at the base, long, and sharply pointed.

The structure of the digestive organs of the Adjutant corresponds with its voracious habits. Its gizzard is lined with a strong horny membrane, and this organ and the digastric muscle are nearly as strong as those of the crow. Thus qualified, the Adjutant swallows and digests every bone which it can get down its gullet; whence it is called the bone eater, or hone taker.

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The most amusing and, we believe, authentic account of the habits of the Adjutant, is that furnished by Mr. Smeathman to Dr. Latham, and printed in his History of Birds. Adjutants," says Dr. Latham," are met in companies; and when seen at a distance, near the mouths of rivers, coming towards an observer, which they often do with their wings extended, they may well be taken for canoes upon the surface of a smooth seawhen on the sandbanks, for men and women picking up shell-fish or other things on the beach. One of these, a young bird, about five feet high, was brought up tame, and presented to the chief of the Bananas, where Mr. Smeathman lived; and being accustomed to be fed in the great hall, soon became familiar, duly attending that place at dinnertime, placing itself behind its master's chair frequently before the guests entered. The servants were obliged to watch narrowly, and to defend the provisions with switches; but, notwithstanding, it would frequently seize something or other, and once purloined a whole boiled fowl, which it swallowed in an instant. Its courage is not equal to its voracity, for a child of eight or ten years old soon puts it to flight with a switch, though at first it seems to stand on its defence, by threatening with its enormous bill widely extended, and roaring with a loud voice, like a bear or tiger. It is an enemy to small quadrupeds, as well as birds and reptiles, and slyly destroys fowls or chickens, though it dares not attack a hen openly with her young. Everything is swallowed whole; and so accommodating is its throat, that not only an animal as big as a cat is gulped down, but a shin of beef broken asunder, serves it but for two morsels. It is known to swallow a leg of mutton of five or six pounds, a hare, a small fox, &c. After a time the bones are rejected from the stomach, which seems to be voluntary, for it has been known that an

In this room was a very curious phenomenon. The hat pins of cast-iron ranged on opposite walls, which were fastened in a frame of wood, were snapped off close by the wood, as by a mechanical power; few were left, and these generally alternate ones.

The second Cut is "the representation of a remarkable effect of lightning, produced on the wall of a house near Paris, on the 14th of February, 1809, by the fusion, and oxydation of iron bell-wire. The length consumed was about two feet, and the surface of the wall was covered with this curious impression of oxydation to an extent of about six feet in length, by four feet in breadth. A large print of the phenomenon was published in Paris, from which the appearance represented in the Cut was copied."

[The third chapter relates to conductors of lightning, and describes one erected under Mr. Murray's directions, at Huddersfield, and attached to St. Paul's New Church there. At page 45, in connexion with conductors for ships at sea; it is observed:]

The Quorra, iron built vessel, employed in Messrs. Landers' expedition into the interior of Africa, as appears by a recent communication, dated off that coast, completely resists the effects of lightning, which seems harmless when it falls on it, though productive of mischief in the others. This doubtless results from the extensive conducting surface exposed to the meteor, and its consequent attenuation from its distribution and diffusion. Thus iron bridges, metallic hothouses, iron forges, and stores, &c. escape, and perhaps steam vessels.

[But these observations are not borne out by the conclusion that the recent catastrophe at the Brighton Suspension Pier was caused by lightning.]

The Public Journals.

SEASONABLE DITTIES.

(By Thomas Haynes Bayly.)

THE LAST SUMMER BONNET.-A NOVEMBER PASTORAL. "TIs the last summer bonnet,

The worse for the wear;
The feathers upon it

Are dimm'd by sea air:
Gay places it went to,
But lingers at last,
A faded memento
Of sunny days past.

The prejudice still is

For poets to moan, When roses and lilies

Are going and gone: But Fashion her sonnet

Would rather compose On summer's last bonnet, Than summer's last rose !

Though dreary November

Has darken'd the sky,
You still must remember
That day in July,
When, after much roaming,
To Carson's we went
For something becoming
To take into Kent.

You, long undecided

What bonnet to choose,
At length chose, as I did,
The sweetest of blues:
Yours now serves to show, dear,
How fairest things fade;
And I long ago, dear,
Gave mine to my maid.
Oh, pause for a minute,
Ere yours is resign'd:
Philosophy in it

A moral may find:
To past scenes I'm hurried,-
That relic revives
The beaux that we worried
Half out of their lives.

'Twas worn at all places
Of public resort:
At Hogsnorton races,
So famous for sport;

That day, when the Captain
Would after us jog,
And thought us entrapt in
His basket of prog!

He gave me a sandwich,
And not being check'd,
He offered a hand-which
I chose to reject!

And then you were teased with
The gentleman's heart,
Because you seem'd pleased with
His gooseberry tart!
'Twas worn at the ladies'
Toxopholite fête,

(That sharp-shooting trade is
A thing that I hate;
Their market they mar, who
Attempt, for a prize,
To shoot with an arrow,
Instead of their eyes.)

And don't that excursion
By water forget;
Sure summer diversion
Was never so wet!
To sit there and shiver,
And hear the wind blow,
The rain, and the river,
Above, and below!

But hang the last bonnet-
What is it to us,

That we should muse on it,
And moralize thus?

A truce to reflecting;
To Carson's we'll go,
Intent on selecting
A winter chapeau.
Then let Betty take it,
For Betty likes blue;
And Betty can make it

Look better than new:
In taste Betty's fellow

Was never yet seen; She'll line it with yellow,

And trim it with green!

New Monthly Magazine.

JACOB FAITHFUL. ("COCK OF THE SCHOOL.") "JACOB FAITHFUL, why still porest thou over thy book?-didst thou not understand that the hours of recreation had arrived? Why rises thou not upon thy feet like the others ?" "'Cause I've got no shoes."

"And where are thy shoes, Jacob ?" "One's in your pocket," replied I, "and t'other's in his'n."

Each party placed their hands behind, and felt the truth of the assertion.

"Expound Jacob," said the domine, "who hath done this ?"

"The big boy with the red hair, and a face picked all over with holes, like the strainers in master's kitchen," replied I.

"Mr. Knapps," (the usher,) "it would be infra dig. on my part, and also on yours, to suffer this disrespect to pass unnoticed. Ring in the boys."

The boys were rung in, and I was desired to point out the offender, which I immediately did, and who as stoutly denied the offence; but he had abstracted my shoestrings, and put them into his own shoes. I recognised them, and it was sufficient.

"Barnaby Bracegirdle," said the domine,

"thou art convicted not only of disrespect towards me and Mr. Knapps, but further, of the grievous sin of lying. Simon Swapps, let him be hoisted."

He was hoisted; his nether garments descended, and then the birch descended, with all the vigour of the domine's muscular arm. Barnaby Bracegirdle showed every symptom of his disapproval of the measures taken; but Simon Swapps held fast, and the domine flogged fast. ́Âfter a minute's flagellation Barnaby was let down, his yellow tights pulled up, and the boys dismissed. Barnaby's face was red, but the antipodes were redder. The domine departed, leaving us together, he adjusting his inexpressibles, I putting in my shoe-strings. By the time Barnaby had buttoned up and wiped his eyes, I had succeeded in standing in my shoes. There we were téte-à-tête.

"Now, then," said Barnaby, holding one fist to my face, while, with the other open hand he rubbed behind, "come out in the play-ground, Mr. Cinderella, and see if I won't drub you within an inch of your life.”

"It's no use crying," said I, soothingly, for I had not wished him to be flogged. "What's done can't be helped. Did it hurt you much?" This intended consolation was taken for sarcasm. Barnaby stormed. "Take it coolly," observed I. Barnaby waxed even more wrath. "Better luck next time," continued I, trying to soothe him. Barnaby was outrageous-he shook his fist and ran into the play-ground, daring me to follow him. His threats had no weight with me; not wishing to remain in-doors, I followed him in a minute or two, when I found him surrounded by the other boys, to whom he was in loud and vehement harangue.

66

Cinderella, where's your glass slippers ?" cried the boys, as I made my appearance. "Come out, you water-rat," cried Barnaby, you son of a cinder."

"Come out and fight him, or else you're a coward," exclaimed the whole host, from No. 1 to No. 66, inclusive.

"He's had beating enough already, to my mind," replied I, "but he'd better not touch me-I can use my arms." A ring was formed, in the centre of which I found Barnaby and myself. He took off his clothes, and I did the same; he was much older and stronger than I, and knew something about fighting. One boy came forward as my second. Barnaby advanced, and held out his hand, which I shook heartily, thinking it was all over; but immediately received a right and left on the face, which sent me reeling backwards. This was a complete mystery, but it raised my bile, and I returned it with interest. I was very strong in my arms, as may be supposed, and I threw them about like the sails of a windmill, never hitting straight out, but with semi-circular

blows, which descended on or about his ears; on the contrary, his blows were all received straight forward, and my nose and face were soon covered with blood. As I warmed with pain and rage, I flung about my arms at random, and Barnaby gave me a knockdown blow. I was picked up, and sat upon my second's knee, who whispered to me as I spit the blood out of my mouth-"Take it coolly, and make sure when you hit." My own-my father's maxim-coming from another it struck with double force, and I never forgot it during the remainder of the fight. Again we were standing up face to face; again I received it right and left, and returned it upon his right and left ear. Barnaby rushed in-I was down again. "Better luck next time," said I to my second, as cool as a cucumber. A third and a fourth round succeeded, all apparently in Barnaby's favour, but really in mine. My face was beat to a mummy; but he was what is termed groggy, from the constant return of blows on the side of the head. Again we stood up, panting and exhausted. Barnaby rushed at me, and I avoided him: before he could return to the attack, I had again planted two severe blows upon his ears, and he reeled. He shook his head, and, with his fists in the attitude of defence, asked me whether I had had enough. "He has," said my second; "stick to him now, Jacob, and you'll beat him." I did stick to him; three or four more blows applied to the same part finished him, and he fell senseless on the ground.

"You've settled him," cried my second. "What's done can't be helped,” replied I. "Is he dead ?"

"What's all this ?" cried Mr. Knapps, pressing his way through the crowd, followed by the matron.

"Barnaby and Cinderella having it out, sir," said one of the elder boys.

The matron, who had already a liking for me because I was good-looking, and because I had been recommended to her by Mrs. Drummond, ran to me.-"Well," says she, "if the domine don't punish that big brute for this, I'll see whether I'm any body or not;" and taking me by the hand, she led me away. In the mean time, Mr. Knapps surveyed Barnaby, who was still senseless, and desired the other boys to bring him in, and lay him on his bed. He breathed hard, but still remained senseless; and a surgeon was sent for, who found it necessary to bleed him copiously. He then, at the request of the matron, came to me: my features were undistinguishable, but elsewhere I was all right. As I stripped he examined my arms. "It seemed strange," observed he, "that the bigger boy should be so severely punished; "but this boy's arms are like little sledge hammers. I recommend you," said he to the other boys, "not to fight with him,

for some day or another he'll kill one of you."

This piece of advice was not forgotten by the other boys; and from that day I was the cock of the school. The name of Cinderella, given me by Barnaby, in ridicule of my mother's death, was immediately abandoned, and I suffered no more persecution. It was the custom of the domine, whenever two boys fought, to flog them both; but in this instance it was not followed up, because I was not the aggressor, and my adversary narrowly escaped with his life. I was under the matron's care for a week, and Barnaby under the surgeon's hands for about the same time.-Metropolitan.

Notes of a Reader.

EARLY ENGLISH NAVIGATORS TO THE NORTH

WEST REGIONS.

[Ar the present moment it may be interesting to look back through a vista of three centuries to the earliest attempts made in England to "set forth a discoverie even to the North Pole ;" and we are enabled to take this retrospective glance at the enterprise of our forefathers by reference to a recent work distinguished by the copiousness and entertaining character of its details.*]

The spirit of discovery seems also to have languished in England at the commencement of the sixteenth century; or, which is more probable, the feeble efforts of early voyagers were not crowned with the brilliant success necessary to attract the attention of the historians of that age. The first enterprise undertaken solely by Englishmen was suggested by Mr. Robert Thorne, a wealthy merchant of Bristol, who had long resided at Seville, and who had imbibed, perhaps, in Spain, the spirit of geographical discovery. He is said to have exhorted king Henry VIII. "with very weighty and substantial reasons to set forth a discoverie even to the north pole." ." And such a voyage seems actually to have taken place. For we are informed that king Henry VIII. sent two fair ships, well manned and victualled, having in them divers cunning men, to seek strange regions; and so they set forth out of the Thames the 20th day of May, in the nineteenth year of his reign, which was the yeare of our Lord 1527."+ All that we know of the result of this voyage is, that one of the ships was cast a way on the north of Newfoundland. Again, in 1536, a voyage of discovery to the north-west parts of America was projected by a person named Hore, of London; " a man of goodly stature and of great courage, and given to the studie of cosmographie." It is remarkable, that of six-score persons who accompanied him, vol. ii. (Cabinet Cyclopædia.) History of Maritime and Inland Discovery, + Hakluyt,