Nature, wild above all rule or art,

'Wantons as in her prime, and plays at will
'Her virgin fancies.'

ANIMALS have much more sense than we give them credit for. In travelling, I have found that though my horse refused to finish his corn while he had no expectation of being taken out of the stable, yet as soon as the groom has began to put on his harness, he has resumed his meal with considerable satisfaction, evidently shewing he was aware that if he did not eat his corn then, he could not have it at all.

A shooting pony, the property of a gentleman in Kent, shewed very great sagacity under the following circumstances. Several bullocks having been put up for fattening, a boy was employed to carry oil-cakes to the place where they were confined. In doing this he had to cross a field where the pony was at grass, and one day, by accident dropped a cake. On his way back he intended to pick it up but it was not to be found. The next day, as he was passing through the field, he was alarmed by the pony galloping furiously up to him, making at the same time some unusual neighings. The boy ran away and

got over a hedge when the pony shewed evident symptoms of anger, though he had been up to that time uncommonly gentle. Some days afterwards the pony got the boy into a corner of the field, darting his head at him and kicking out, but not doing him any harm. The lad was, however, so frightened, that he dropped the oil-cakes, one of which was picked up by the pony, who galloped off with it. He afterwards made so many attempts of the same kind, in order to indulge his fondness for the oil cakes, that they were obliged to be conveyed in another direction.

The effects which the parent's habits have on their unborn offspring is very extraordinary. In breaking in a mare, which was afterwards found to be in foal, it was necessary to lunge her frequently in a circle. When the foal was born and was strong enough to do so, it began to move round and round incessantly, and continued the practice for a considerable length of time.

A lady, with child, was thrown out of an open carriage and much hurt. The child, when quite an infant, and for many years afterwards, shewed great terror whenever it was put into a carriage. That the habits and minds of beings should be thus early operated upon, is not a little to be wondered at.

The following curious fact in Natural History

was lately communicated to me. A nobleman in Scotland had a foal from a thorough-bred mare, the sire of which was a Zebra or Quagga; this foal was as regularly striped as the father. The mare was afterwards given to Sir Gore Ouseley and sent into Essex, where she produced three foals by a thorough-bred horse, all of which had evident stripes upon them like the father of her first offspring. I am also assured that a similar circumstance has been known to take place amongst dogs.

While upon this subject I may mention the following fact. It is well known that all sheepdogs have their tails cut quite short, and a shepherd assured me that his bitch had seldom a litter of puppies, without one of them being born with what he called a "bob" tail. He also informed me that these whelps are generally more sagacious than the others. It seems probable, although no reason can perhaps be assigned for it, that the constant practice of cutting the tails of a peculiar breed of dogs quite short for a great length of time, has produced the effect upon some of the offspring which has just been mentioned. This is, I think, a subject worth the attention of Naturalists, as is also that of the variation in the colour of birds.

Within a very short period of time, three perfectly white sparrows have either been killed or

taken in the neighbourhood of Hampton Court, and another has been seen near Ham Common. Two pied linnets have also been shot near the former place, and a hen blackbird lately in Bushy Park which was pied black and white like a magpie. There is a stuffed cock bird at the headkeeper's Lodge in Richmond Park exactly similar to it. I have sometimes speculated on the possibility that the colour of birds may be altered in consequence of some of the pores of the shell having been stopped during the period of incuba

tion.

'Hail old patrician trees! so great and good!
'Hail ye plebeian underwood,

'Where the poetic birds rejoice

'And for their quiet nests and plenteous food
Pay with their grateful voice."

COWLEY.

WHEN I see a beautiful and magnificent tree flourishing in a verdant meadow and partaking of the moisture from some neighbouring stream-with cattle enjoying the protection of its shade, and birds sporting amongst its branches, I have in an instant a delightful picture presented to my mind's eye. It puts me in mind of the emblem of a good man.—' He shall be like a tree planted by the 'rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his

season; his leaf shall not wither.' He will indeed hereafter flourish in immortal youth, and 'bloom for ever in unfading beauty.'

It is from reflections of this sort that I am the more able to appreciate the charms of a country life, and enjoy the various little scenes and objects which are constantly presenting themselves to my view. From some one or other of them the highest feelings of devotion towards God, and consequently of kindness towards our fellowcreatures, may be awakened; some lesson may be