then feed on the turnips which had dropped out. When these were consumed, she would turn the handle again.

An old coach-dog, belonging to a lady of my acquaintance, was so perfectly aware of the pace he would have to go when she used her four horses, that when he got old, as he could not keep up with them, he never went out except when a pair only was used.

The following fact, the accuracy of which may readily be ascertained, shews not only reflection approaching to reason, but a kindness of disposition and a degree of humanity, which many persons will not give animals credit for. The Earl of Albemarle has a very fine breed of black and tan spaniels remarkable for their beauty and intelligence, one of these died in bringing forth a litter of puppies. The cries of these blind and helpless animals excited the sympathy of a young bitch of the same breed, who never had had any puppies herself. She fostered them as if she had been their mother, and, to the surprize of every one, she had a flow of milk after a short time, which enabled her to support and bring up her charge. This extraordinary fact, which I witnessed myself, cannot be said to have been occasioned by mere instinct. Here was an absence of that notus odor, which enables an animal to distinguish its own young from that of others. There

was an absence also of that nourishment, the pressure of which makes the suckling their young so delightful to animals, and which perhaps is the primary cause of the great affection they have for them. To what then shall we attribute the extraordinary care and affection shewn by one poor animal for the offspring of another. Surely the usually defined bounds of instinct were exceeded, and a reasoning faculty was evidently demonstrated.

When we examine the habits of

the pretty choristers of flight,

That chaunt their music notes on ev'ry bush,

we shall generally find, that instinct guides them to conceal their nests, or to cover them with substances closely assimilating to surrounding objects. When, however, we see these general habits departed from, when we see the external appearance of a nest completely altered after it has been discovered, or curious devices resorted to in order to conceal it, a certain degree of reason may be perceived to have guided the birds in these operations. Nor is the reasoning faculty of some insects less wonderful. I do not refer to those, extraordinary as is the fact, who thrust a caterpillar into a cell previously made, and then deposit an egg upon it, which serves from its moisture not only to bring the egg to maturity, but for the future wasp to feed upon; or to the curious eco

nomy of bees and ants, partaking as it does, of contrivances, plans, and internal arrangements which have both surprized and attracted the attention of persons in all ages. But when we find bees building regular fortifications before the entrance of their hives, or witness that power of communication, which ants possess by means of their antennæ, through which their wants and wishes are made known to each other, we must confess that there is something beyond mere instinct that influences their operations.

I might multiply examples to a great extent in order to prove the existence of a reasoning faculty in the animal creation. But enough has been said to illustrate my theory, and I will conclude with a remark of Mr. Smellie's.

"Brutes, like men, learn to see objects in their proper position, to judge of distances and heights, and of hurtful, pleasurable, or indifferent bodies. Without some portion of reason, therefore, they would never acquire the faculty of making a proper use of their senses. A dog, though pressed with hunger, will not seize a piece of meat in the presence of his master, unless it be given him; but with his eyes, his movements and his voice, he makes the most humble and expressive petition. If this balancing of motives be not reasoning, I know not by what other name it can be called."

A barren and detested vale, you see it is;

The trees, though summer, yet forlorn and lean,
O'ercome with moss, and baneful mistletoe.

SHAKSPEARE.

We might almost suppose that Shakspeare took the above description of trees "o'ercome" with mistletoe from those which may now be seen in the Home Park, Windsor. So completely has the mistletoe taken possession of them, that they have become ragged, "forlorn and lean." Our great bard must have been a close observer of nature, for it is in summer more particularly that the baneful effects of this parasite on trees is conspicuous. It is then that the dead and decaying branches, which the mistletoe has deprived of their usual nourishment, can be contrasted with those which shew more life and vigour. This is the case with the lime trees in " Datchet mead," a place so often mentioned in the Merry Wives of Windsor. It is always pleasing to trace Shakspeare's knowledge of particular localities, and even to fancy that he formed his ideas from facts connected with them.

I have never yet met with any trees so much infested with mistletoe, as those I have referred

to, and it is difficult to assign a reason why this should be the case. In winter the trees appear as if they were covered with rooks' nests, when seen from a short distance, and it is evident that they are rapidly decaying.

Persuaded, as I am, that every thing has been created for some good and benevolent purpose, I was not long in discovering what appeared to me to be the intended use of the mistletoe, and if my supposition is correct, it affords another proof of the care of Almighty God for his creatures. The seeds of this plant ripen very late, viz. between February and April, and are not willingly fed upon by birds as long as they can procure the berries of hawthorn, hollies, ivy and other winter food. No sooner however does a late frost set in, and the ground become covered with snow in the Spring, as is often the case, than birds flock to the mistletoe, and find a ready resource thus left them when all others have failed. If its berries ripened early, and were a favorite food of birds, the benevolent design of the Great Creator would not have been as effective as it is by the present beautiful organization of the plant. If we thus see the birds of the air provided for by the merciful and kind arrangements of our heavenly Father, we have every reason to place ourselves with confidence in His hands, and to trust to His care.

Having had my attention thus drawn to the mis