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FURTHER ACCOUNT OF THE ANIMAL FLOWER. 207

very deep, when the sun shines on it. On the sides of the rock-basins, the Animal Flowers may be found, blooming through the colourless fluid in which they live. Those which I have seen have been about the size, and much of the appearance, of the ranunculus, or the double marigold; only the petals are not quite so numerous. These petals are generally motionless, except the water be agitated, when they wave with its undulations; or when touched by any thing, when they immediately close. The colours I have observed, have been in some, a bright yellow; in some, a rose colour; but commonly, a reddish orange. I never succeeded in detaching one from the rock; when left by the tide they still adhere closely, but then to the eye and touch seem like a piece of dead and corrupting flesh, about the size of the upper part of the thumb. They soon expand when the water flows on them again, or when they have contracted in consequence of being touched. The petals are a kind of claws which serve to take their prey, and convey it to the mouth in the centre of the flower. They are said to be very voracious; some of the large foreign species have becur known to take in two muscles with their shells at once, and even a small crab-fish, and afterwards throw out the shells, completely cleared of the meat.

On the coast of Galloway, also, in the west of Scot land, Animal Flowers are found. In SIR JOHN SINCLAIR's Statistical Account of Scotland, several writers: mention them. "About five years ago," says one, "I discovered in the parish of Colvend, the Animal Flower, in as great perfection and variety, as it is in Jamaica. The lively colours, and the various and elegant forms of the polypus, on this coast, are truly equal to any thing related by natural historians, respecting the sea-flowers of any other country. To see a flower of purple, of green, blue, yellow, &c., striving to catch a worm, is really amusing." Another writer observes, "Till of late, perhaps, it has not been much adverted to, that the Animal Flower, or Water Polypus, is even common along the shores of Buittle, Colvend, and very likely around the whole

coast of the stewartry of Galloway. The form of these polypuses is elegant, and pleasantly diversified. Some are found resembling the sun-flower, some the hundred-leaved rose, but the greater number bear the likeness of the poppy. The colours differ as much as the form. Sometimes the Animal Flower is of a deep purple, frequently of a rose colour, but mostly of a light red or fleshy hue. The most beautiful of them that could be picked up, have often been carried from the shore of Colvend, twelve or fifteen miles up the country, where they have lived, fed on worms, for several weeks; and might have existed much longer, if they could have been supplied with sea water. In a word, it seems probable, that an industrious natu ralist might discover, on this coast, some of these sin gular animals, not much inferior to those produced in the Antilles, and other tropical countries."

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It is said that the Actinia Dianthus, or Sea-Car nation, adheres to the under part of the projecting rocks opposite to the town of Hastings, in Sussex. When the tide is out, it has the appearance of a long white fig in the water it spreads into five large petals, each edged with a number of smaller ones. On the beach near the cliffs at Harwich, in Essex, I have often seen, after a storm, small pieces of a flesh-like substance, which I then conceived to be parts of some marine animal, and which I now feel persuaded were Animal Flowers torn from the rocks by the violence of the waves. It is very likely that some might be found blooming in the shallow water at the foot of the cliffs.

When we look over the wide field of nature, we cannot but be astonished at the wondrous variety of objects with which it is crowded; objects so diver sified, and yet so closely connected in the great chain of being. The same marks of design are visible, the workmanship of the same hand appears, and the wisdom and benevolence of God run through the whole. The Actinia species form the connecting links betwixt the animal and vegetable kingdoms. We may follow up the chain to man; we see him

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partaking of a nature which is spiritual, and the tran sition is easy to angels; and perhaps when our faculties are enlarged in eternity, we shall be able to trace the chain through all the gradations of celestial spirits, till we find the first link suspended (but equally as dependant as the most remote) from the throne of the MOST HIGH. Here, we know but in part; but whatsoever is really necessary for our present hap-piness and eternal salvation, is so clearly revealed, that we need not err. Paisley, 1822.

MEMORIAL OF A PIOUS CHILD.

ANN PRICE, of Whitchurch, Salop, was born Jan. 30, 1813; and, almost from her infancy, had a measure of the fear of Gon before her eyes. She was very remarkable for obedience to her parents, and for being tender-hearted and kind to those around her; so that she was beloved by all. She was sent to the Sunday-School, before she was four years of age; and was very fond of her books. As she now learned more clearly the heinous nature of sin, she appeared' to abhor it the more; so that, if she heard scolding" or swearing, as she passed through the streets, she would run home much distressed, and clasping her little hands together, would complain to her mother, that the people had been saying bad words. She also felt very greatly for the poor, and for beggars; and when she had a halfpenny, would give it cheerfully, or, if she had nothing to give, would entreat her pareats to give them something, promising to pay it back as soon as she could; which promises she punc tually performed.

Her mind was particularly impressed with a sense of her own state as a sinner before GOD, and the necessity of being made fit for heaven, while her teacher was reading, one Sabbath, an extract from "The Sunday-School Teacher's Guide." When she went home, she expressed her thankfulness that she had been sent to the School to hear such good things;

nor was she ever known, after this, to retire to rest, or rise in the morning, without spending some time in private prayer. And if she awoke in the night, she would often ask her father, how she might be prepared for heaven; to which inquiries such answers were given as were suited to her tender age.

In 1819, she began to be afflicted; and gradually became more and more anxious to obtain favour and acceptance with GoD: nor could she rest without that blessing. One Sabbath evening, in October, 1820, while the family where engaged in prayer, her distress, on this account, became very great, and she wept much. She was exhorted to look to GoD, through JESUS CHRIST, for pardon; and while her father was earnestly praying for her, she too, in simple, but deeply sincere and affecting language, joined her prayer to his. The LORD was intreated for her, and young as she was, there is ground to believe, that she received at that time those gracious visitations of the divine presence and goodness, which filled her with "the peace that passeth all understanding." "Now,” said she, "I am not afraid to die; because. JESUS CHRIST has taken away the sting of death." From that time she continued to testify her confidence in GOD, and to evince the genuineness of the experience she professed. To one of the Teachers she said, “I am happy; I would not take a thousand worlds for what I feel of the love of CHRIST." One day, a friend referring to the affliction she suffered, she replied, "What are my sufferings, if compared to those which JESUS CHRIST suffered for me? The more my suffer ings are here, the brighter will be my crown hereafter, if I bear them with patience; and I can bear them, through CHRIST strengthening me:

"O! what are all my sufferings here,

If, LORD, thou count me meet
With that enraptur'd host t'

And worship at thy feet.'"

appear,

At another time she said to several teachers who vi sited her, "JESUS is mine, and I am his." One said, “Do you never feel any murmuring?" She said,

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"No, I am willing to suffer more, if it be the LORD'S will. The greater the pain, the more happy I am in my soul." To another friend she said, "I have been praying that the LORD will continue his kindness to me; and he has said, 'I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee."" "I have been thinking," she said, on a different occasion, "how good the LORD was to afflict me, and to pardon my sins before I was grown up; for then I should have committed many more sins." A person sitting by her for some time, of whom she took no notice, said, "Do you know me?” She answered, "Yes: but I was so ill I could not speak: yet I feel that CHRIST is precious; and I have been saying 'Glory be to GOD! many times inwardly." About a fortnight before she died, she said to her sister," Do not cry; I am going to my good home above."

During the remainder of her life she generally suffered much pain; and her continual cry was that she might hold out in faith and patience to the end. And GOD granted her request, her last days being marked by abundant consolation and triumph in CHRIST. Her spirit quitted its mortal frame for a mansion in the heavenly paradise, on Nov. 26, 1821. I often visited this dear little child in her affliction, and always found her either rejoicing in the LORD, or bearing her affiction with singular patience. I can truly say, that it was both a pleasure and a pain to be with her. There was a pleasure in seeing her heavenly countenance, and hearing her pious conversation; but pain in beholding her great and almost terrific sufferings.. She is gone to the place where the inhabitants neversay, "I am sick.” JOHN TAYLOR

Whitchurch.

THE JUVENILE NATURALIST,

FOR JUNE, 1822.

(From "Time's Telescope for 1822.")

"THE flower-garden is usually in all its glory at the commencement of June, if the weather have been mild and favourable to vegetation. Flowers, with their odours and endless hues, are objects of admiration and delight to man alone, and constitute one of his most pleasing and innocent recreations.

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