tend to do, when we can spare time for a considerable holiday, Edwin, I will show them to you."

"There was a very large turkey in a pen just under the humming-birds. They formed a prodigious contrast. I could not help thinking, how differently a feather from the wing of the humming-bird, and one from the wing of the turkey, laid by the side of each other, would look."

"They were, indeed, as you say, Edwin, a prodigious contrast. But I never hear this bird named, without thinking of what I should call some cruel experiments made by an Italian. In order to try the strength of the digestive powers of the turkey, Spallanzani, for that was his name, forced tin tubes, filled with grain, into the stomach of one. After twenty hours, the turkey was killed, and the tubes were found broken, compressed, and distorted. He then fixed twelve needles firmly in a ball of lead, cased them with paper, and forced them down the throat of another. It did not show any sign of uneasiness. At the close of a day and a half, all were found broken off at the surface of the ball. After this, he fixed twelve small lancets in a piece of lead; and, at the expiration of eight hours, nothing appeared except the naked ball. The

twelve lances were broken in pieces, yet the stomach was sound and entire *."

"Don't you think, papa, that the turkey must have suffered much?"

"I think so, Edwin. The experiment was cruel, but the result was wonderful."

"The owner of the caravan showed us a nest of a sparrow, brought from the East Indies, in the shape of a bottle, made of strong grass. He told us, that they hang usually downwards from the extremity of a twig, to secure them from the monkeys, squirrels, and birds of prey."

"There is a nest which a swallow builds in Java, and other islands of the East, which the people eat. Indeed, large quantities are annually sent to the Chinese market."

They must be very different, papa, from any birds' nests we have ever seen.

No one could eat any of the nests which are built by the birds in England."

"Assuredly not. They are formed, I believe, of some glutinous substance, which dissolves, and furnishes an agreeable article for food. At least, it is regarded as a luxury by the Chinese."

* Bingley's Animal Biography, vol. ii. p. 168.

"I think, papa, I should not be readily brought to like them."

Perhaps not; though we cannot tell, unless we could taste them. Have you got nearly to the end of your journal?"

"Oh no, papa. I have told you nothing about Matlock, or Buxton, or the Peak, or Mr. Wallace's museum of natural curiosities."

"These we must reserve for another conversation. It is a great mercy you have gone out and returned home in safety. I hope you feel thankful to God for his abounding goodness."

CHAP. VIII.

"THAT is a very beautiful group of flowers," said Mr. Howard, "which you brought from Mr. Wallace's."

"I thought you would like it, papa, as you are so fond of flowers. They were drawn and coloured by Emma Wallace."

66

Yes, I knew they were hers."

"And could not you make some verses on

them, papa? Emma hoped you would do so; and if you did, she made me promise that I would send her a copy of them. We all knew you were fond of writing on flowers."

"The subject is, indeed, very pleasing to me. And as I saw them this morning on my study table, a thought struck me, which I have put into verse. Here it is: you may send Emma a copy if you please.

THE ARTIFICIAL NOSEGAY.

TO EMMA WALLACE.

"Through tedious months, by various art,
With their unnumber'd dyes,

To please the eye, and charm the heart,
The florist's beauties rise.

"But you, dear Emma, at your ease,
Can give the rose its bloom;
Your magic touches, when you please,
With flow'rs adorn the room.

"The treasures of the florist too,

Flourish, then fade and die;

Whilst we admire each transient hue,
We heave the gentle sigh.

"But yours, dear Emma, live and smile
Through many a stormy day;

And when chill winter blasts our isle,

Are beautifully gay.

"So, Emma, may you live and shine,
When all around decays;

A flow'r, produced by skill divine,

To bloom through endless days."

"Oh, papa, how pretty it is! Emma will be so pleased, and Charles, and James, and Mr. and Mrs. Wallace. Oh! I am sure they will

thank you, as I do, papa. I do think that this is the prettiest little piece which you have ever written."

"Come, then, repay me for it, by giving me some further account of your excursions."

"That I will, for I am always a gainer by telling you any thing. I told you, papa, that we went to Matlock. We staid several days there, and went all around it. I was particularly pleased with the entrance into the dale: it is through an immense rock, which Mr. Wallace told me had been blown up, to make a convenient passage. Oh, papa, from that spot there is such a prospect! You cannot think how fine it is."

"Oh, I well recollect it. It is no common specimen of the sublime and the beautiful."

"On one side there are large rocks, rugged and bare; and on the other side of the dale there are rocks rising perpendicularly, about three hundred feet from the dale. Some of