shore for any other purpose. They deposit their eggs in holes, which they scoop in the sand with their hind limbs. Turtles often lay nearly two hundred eggs at one time. The eggs are hatched by the heat of the sand alone, and the young turtles receive no attention from their parents, making their way to the water immediately after being hatched. Some of the species feed entirely on seaweeds, which their powerful, hard, and sharp-edged jaws cut with great ease; others prey on crustaceans, molluscs, and fishes. The flesh of those which feed on vegetable substances is much esteemed. They are capable of subsisting long without food, and are imported alive from the West Indies into Britain, to supply the tables of the wealthy. 3 Turtles are easily taken when they come ashore for the purpose of laying their eggs; and one after another may be turned on its back-in which position it is helpless, and cannot make its escape-till a sufficient number are secured. They are also, however, taken in the sea, being cautiously approached by boats when resting at the surface, or by divers when descried at the bottom in their feeding grounds. 4 2 1 marine, belonging to the sea. crustaceans and molluscs; various kinds of shell-fish. 3 West Indies, a number of islands lying between North and South America. 'cautiously, with great care; in a cautious manner, that is, watchful in a high degree; wary. FOUR hundred years ago, in the gardens of the Medici Palace, might be seen a party of the young friends of Lorenzo de Medici, or, as he was often called, "Lorenzo the Magnificent." They had been dismissed from the learned talk of the 1 savants and artists, who surrounded Lorenzo's 2 hospitable table. There had been an unusual fall of snow for the warm climate of Italy, and it lay before them on the ground in that soft, tempting whiteness that school-boys like so well. It covered the statues and fountains, and made 3 grotesque figures of the shrubs, which were cut in curious forms. "Let us make statues, and decorate this gallery," proposed one, a youth of fourteen. "Of what?" said another. "Of the snow," replied the first speaker, named Michael Angelo; and with merry shouts they plunged into the snow, without a thought of their costumes of velvet and lace, carrying it and piling in masses at different places along the gallery, and shaping it into some rude resemblance of the human form, which did not much differ, I dare say, from the "old snow-man " of the boys of the nineteenth century. But Michael Angelo saw in the distance the statue of a faun, headless and much injured, which had been brought from some old ruin. "Ah, I will make a head to this faun,"-and he began shaping and moulding the damp snow. As he worked, his companions gathered round him and looked on, forgetting their own sport in watching him, as gradually the head began to appear, and grew under his touch into a real face with good features. Stepping back to get a good look at his work, he ran against some one, and, to his amazement, discovered it was the great noble himself, who, followed by all his guests, had entered the gallery the youthful artists were decorating for them, while they were so engaged as not to perceive them. They all stopped to comment on the statues, and, approaching the faun, Lorenzo said,— 5 "This is rather the work of one entering upon the career of a master, than the attempt of a novice. But, Michael, do you know that this is the statue of an old faun, and the old do not have all their teeth? You have given him more than we have. Is it not so, my friends?" "You are right, my lord ;" and, with one stroke, Michael knocked out a tooth and made the hollow in the gum which showed its loss. Every one was delighted with this intelligent and discriminating act, and applauded him with ' enthusiasm, showering praises and prophecies of future fame on the young sculptor. 3 8 'savant (pronounced sa'vong), a man of learning; one versed in literature and science. 2 hospitable, receiving and entertaining strangers without reward; entertaining friends in a bountiful or liberal manner. grotesque, odd-looking, ludicrous; whimsical; like figures found in grottoes. faun, a god of fields and shepherds, usually represented as half goat and half man. 5 novice, one who is new in any business, a beginner. discriminating, displaying good sense; showing discrimination or discernment, or the power of nicely distinguishing. enthusiasm, literally means having zeal as though inspired; here simply means expression of very great delight, sculptor, one who carves images or figures. 8 7 AMONG the noble guests were his father and his uncle, who had sternly discouraged all Michael's attempts at art, and deemed it an unworthy thing that an heir of the princely house of Canossa should handle the sculptor's chisel even in sport. But now, flattered by the praise of Lorenzo, they looked smilingly on; and Michael knew, as he rode home that night with his 'austere relations, that his longforbidden love of art could now be indulged; the glory of his boyhood's dreams was to become the glory of his life. Who can tell what forms of beauty and visions of fame flitted through his excited brain, wild with the delight of Lorenzo's notice? Could he foresee the wonderful creation which would make a world stand in silent admiration and awe? Could he know that under the dome of St. Peter's at Rome, the most magnificent Christian temple on earth, people of all nations would come to do him homage? Let us follow his career. At nineteen he made a beautiful group in marble of the dead Saviour in His mother's lap. He carved the colossal statue of the young David for the Ducal Palace of 3 Flor ence. He designed, and in part completed, the |