of that continent. The colour of the tiger is a bright tawny yellow, blended with sundry dark stripes, some of which are double, but the greater number are single. This colour might seem to make the animal very easily seen even among trees and bushes, but there is no creature that can hide itself more completely, or can walk through the underwood with less chance of being seen. This arises from the fact that the tiger's favourite residence is among the dry, dusky grass of the jungle, and the colour of this grass so nearly resembles the colour of its fur that it is impossible to tell the one from the other.

The strength of the tiger is very great. The elephant alone of all animals will venture to meet him in fight. Yet it is curious that, in hunting for his prey, the tiger does not trust to his strength. Like the cat, it always tries to come upon its victim by stealth. It will avail itself of every bush and cover, and will crawl noiselessly along until it comes near enough for a spring. Then with one tremendous bound it seizes whatever object it is in pursuit of, and carries it away to its den.

The tiger shows great cleverness in choosing spots whence it can watch the approach of its prey. It generally couches under the shade of some tree, or behind some rock. It is fond of lying in wait by the side of roads, which are not much frequented, particularly making choice of those places where the shade is deepest, and where

water may be found at hand to quench the thirst that it always feels when devouring its prey. From such a position, it leaps with unerring aim, and so quickly, that it is generally felt before it is seen or heard.

Should the tiger miss his leap, he seldom makes a second. He appears to feel ashamed of himself, and sneaks away in search of some other animal. He seldom attacks men openly, and then only when he is hard pressed by hunger. It has even been said that, if one has the coolness and courage to keep his eye firmly fixed on the tiger, he will not dare to spring, but will shrink away in a cowardly manner, backing gradually until he thinks he has reached a safe distance, when he turns and disappears in the jungle.

"The tiger," says a writer, "is easily startled by a sudden noise. An instance of this lately occurred to my brother. One evening on his return to his own house, he was met by his servants, who entreated him to make all haste home, for there was a tiger prowling round. My brother had been two or three years in India, and yet had never seen one of these animals; so he told his men they might return, but he should stay, for he much wished to see a tiger. They in vain tried to dissuade him; and, fancying the beast was close by, they all ran away and left him to his fate. He sat down quietly by the bank of his garden, and had not been there long when the

tiger actually appeared. He stopped, looked very grand, and seemed doubtful whether he would make an attack on the motionless person standing before him. He uttered a sort of growl, and crouched down, and my brother almost gave himself up for lost. He fancied that he had been hidden, and that the tiger could not perceive him as he passed; but he took off his grenadier cap, which was large, and covered with bear's skin, and putting it before his face roared in it as loud as he could; the noise and the action so surprised the tiger, that he turned round and leaped into the neighbouring thicket. My brother hastened away, and met his servants, who were coming to protect their master with drums and torches."

The tiger belongs to the same class, &c.-This class is the carnivorous, or flesh-eating class, which comprises a great many animals of various sizes.

Jungle. The name given in India to districts of country covered with forest trees, brush-wood, &c., or coarse reedy grass, but not wholly without inhabitants.

QUESTIONS ---1. To what class of animals do tigers belong? 2. Where are tigers found? 3. What is the colour of the tiger? 4. Does this colour make him easily seen? 5. Why not? 6. What is a jungle? 7. What animal is equal to the tiger in strength? 8. How does the tiger hunt his prey? 9. What kind of lurking place does he always select? 10. How does the tiger act if he misses his leap? 11. When and how does he attack human beings? 12. In what way has he been known to have been prevented from attacking man? 13. What two qualities are requisite in meeting a tiger in this way?

LESSON II.

The River.

bow'-ers, a place shaded by

trees.

mad'-cap, wild, noisy.
o'er-cur'-tain-ed, shaded over.

hoy'-den, full of fun and pen'-sive, thoughtful, sad.

frolic.

prank, merry trick.

OH! tell me, pretty river,
Whence do thy waters flow?
And whither art thou roaming,
So pensive and so slow?

'My birthplace was the mountain,
My nurse the April showers,
My cradle was a fountain,
O'er-curtained by wild flowers.

"One morn I ran away,

A mad-cap, hoyden rill,
And many a prank that day
I played adown the hill.

"And then, 'mid meadowy banks,
I flirted with the flowers,
That stooped, with glowing lips,
To woo me to their bowers.

“But these bright scenes are o'er,
And darkly flows my wave,

I hear the ocean's roar,

And there must be my grave!

GOODRICH.

QUESTIONS:-1. Why is the mountain called the birthplace of the river? 2. Why are the April showers called its nurse? 3. Why is a fountain called its cradle? 4. What were the curtains to this cradle? 5. What did the river do when it was a rill? 6. Why is it said to have run away when it became a rill? 7. Why is it called a madcap, hoyden rill? 8. What part of the river's course is described in the third stanza? 9. Mention any pranks which a river plays in its course down the hills. 10. What part of the course is described in the fourth stanza? 11. What word in this fourth stanza shows that the river was now flowing through level ground? 12. What were the banks covered with? 13. What part of the river's course is described in the last stanza? 14. What expression in this stanza shows that the river was near the end of its course? 15. Why is the ocean called the river's grave?

ALL along the lower course of the Nile very little rain ever falls. The country is watered by the river, which regularly overflows its banks once in the year.

A traveller thus describes the rising of the water—" The cool night arrived, and, at about halfpast eight, I was lying half asleep upon my bed by the margin of the river, when I fancied that I heard a rumbling like distant thunder. I had not heard such a sound for months, but a low uninterrupted roll appeared to increase in volume