14

THE TIGER.

BUFFON, the great French naturalist, gives the Tiger a very bad character. The Lion, he says, is a noble animal. To pride,

courage, and strength, he joins greatness, clemency, and generosity; but the Tiger is fierce without provocation, and cruel without necessity. Both the Lion and Tiger are of the cat species. It is their nature to live by the destruction of animals; and they are equally avoided by the traveller. The Tiger is, perhaps, more to be dreaded from his activity and ferocity. The Lion assists the female in rearing their young, but the Tiger deserts his mate, and has been known to eat her cubs. And yet the love of the Tigress for her young has often been remarked. The Tiger, though so fierce in his nature, is easily frightened. A party of pleasure in India met a large Tiger in the woods, and as it was about to spring upon them, a lady suddenly opened her umbrella. The animal, alarmed at the unusual sight, shrank back in haste, and, turning tail, ran off into the forest, leaving the affrighted company safe.

A young Tiger, while being brought to this country, some years ago, became so tame, that it used to run loose about the ship, and allow the sailors to sleep with their heads resting upon its back, like a pillow. He would run up the mast, and spring from one rope to another very cleverly. When he was brought to England, he was consigned to the menagerie in the Tower. He was so tame, that he allowed a young dog to live with him in his den, showing the greatest liking for his company. Thus you see, that kindness subdues even the fiercest of animals.

THE ELEPHANT.

THIS animal is known as the largest of living quadrupeds, though the bones of much larger animals have been found in America and other parts of the world.

The Elephant, when full grown, is about

fourteen feet in height, and fifteen feet from trunk to tail. His eyes are small and lively; his ears long and hanging loosely; his legs thick and long, his feet divided into five rounded toes; and his colour of a dark brown or ash colour. Some, however, are of a pure white. He is provided with two large tusks, and a large hollow trunk or proboscis, formed of a variety of bony rings, at the extremity of his nose. He uses his trunk for taking up his food, and in cases of necessity for attack or defence. His native country is India, but he is also to be found in many parts of Africa. His temper is mild and inoffensive; brave, peaceable, and friendly-seldom attacking any other animal, or using his immense strength except in his own defence. His food is generally roots and herbs, with the bark and leaves of young trees; but in captivity he will eat any kind of vegetables, and has a partiality for ale, wine, and spirituous liquors. The elephant is thirty years old before he attains his full size. The young animal sucks with its trunk; and when the dam has occasion to cross a stream she takes it up with her trunk and carries it over. With a clumsy and graceless form the elephant possesses in his trunk a most wonderful instrument, which perform for him

all the offices of a hand; his sense of touch being so acute that with it he can grasp the largest body, or pick up the minutest substance. The Elephant when once tamed becomes the most docile and obedient of animals. It soon distinguishes the voice of its keeper, and sometimes conceives a remarkable attachment for him; caresses, obeys, and seems almost to anticipate his wishes. It easily finds out who are its friends, and appears to discover by the tones of the voice in which way it should behave. The Elephant has a remarkably good memory. An officer in India found it necessary to put a larger load upon an Elephant than it had been used to carry, when the animal threw off the weight from its back, plainly showing that he knew what load he could conveniently bear. The

officer in a rage threw an iron tent-pin at his head. Some days after, the Elephant was going with others to water, when happening to pass the officer, he took him up with his trunk and lifted him into a large Tamarind tree, leaving him to cling to the boughs and get down as he could. There is also a story told of a soldier who used to share his grog with an old elephant; and one day being tipsy he was pursued by the guard, who wished to take him into custody. The soldier fled, and took refuge under the body of his favourite. The animal seeing this, prevented the soldiers from touching their comrade, who soon fell asleep. When he awoke he was alarmed at finding himself in so dangerous a position, but the elephant moved quietly away, thus tacitly saying to the soldier, "Depart in peace. Many other instances of sagacity might be given; but I should advise my young readers to ask their parents to allow them to see a living Elephant, when they will better understand all I have written about it.

ALLANSON

AN ANCIENT KNIGHT.

FORMERLY, when men were more fond of war than they are now, they used to dress themselves in suits of steel, called armour-and, girt with sword and lance, go out to battle. out to battle. This is a representation of an ancient knight, armed at all points. The occupation of a soldier used to be considered the most honourable, and youths were brought up to the trade of war as we teach them any business now-a-days; and, if he had behaved well as a page, the youth was knighted on reaching his twenty-first year. The candidate, being dressed in the habit and arinour of a knight, but without either sword or spurs, advanced towards the king, attended by a company of knights and nobles: after kneeling and taking

the oaths of chivalry, a rich mantle was thrown over him; and the king striking the young man three times on the back with a naked sword, pronounced his titles, and bidding him rise "in the name of God and St. George, bold, loyal, and true," he was thenceforth a knight. Then the maidens present buckled on his sword and spurs, amidst the loud acclamations of the spectators and the din of martial music. When you are a little older, and come to read Sir Walter Scott's novels, you will learn all about knights and men-at-arms, and the gay doings of the days when war and minstrelsy were considered of more importance than learning and commerce.

THE COURSE OF THE SUN.

When we see the bright sun disappear in the west,
Does it find in the clouds a soft pillow of rest?
Oh no! while it leaves us in shadowy night,
It is rising again with the fresh morning light;
On the shores of Japan 'tis beginning to peep
While you British lasses are nodding with sleep!
At midnight while we in forgetfulness lie,

And the pole twinkling stars are bespangling the sky,
In China the clocks are already at seven,

In frigid Kamschatka 'tis almost eleven;
'Tis noon in New Zealand,-the savage reclining
Beneath the thick shade on his fern root is dining;
The sun's evening rays are on Mexico cast;
From the shores of Brazil all the daylight has past.
And thus, while we slumber unconscious away,
Other countries in turn feel the warmth of the day;
Where'er the sun rises birds warble their lays,
And the dew-sprinkled flowers expand to his rays.