THE humming-bird is the smallest, and the ostrich the largest of birds. There are humming-birds. no larger than bees, while the ostrich is often found ten feet in height, measuring from the crown of the head to the ground.

The home of the ostrich is in the sandy deserts

of Africa and Arabia. Among the Arabs it is called the camel bird, from the general appearance of its neck and body. Like the camel it lives in the desert, and can exist a long time without water.

Though the ostrich has wings, they are too small for it to fly with; but in running, it uses them like paddles. Spreading them out and flapping them in the air, it can run along at great speed. The swiftest horse cannot keep up with it! As described in the Bible," She lifteth up herself on high, she scorneth the horse and his rider.”

The ostrich is often hunted on horseback, but so rapid is its flight that the hunters would seldom succeed in catching it, did they not know that it never runs in an even course, but zig-zag. So they let it go winding and doubling about, while they themselves push straight forward, thus saving time and keeping up with it. The pursuit sometimes lasts two or three days, till the poor bird is tired out; for though swift, it is not so strong as a horse. When taken, it will turn round upon its pursuers and attack them furiously, till it is overpowered.

Mr. Moffat, in his book called "Missionary Labours in South Africa," describes the method of the wild Bushmen in hunting the ostrich :-A native is dressed with the skin and feathers of one of these birds, and thus disguised he approaches a flock of ostriches. He mimics the real bird, by pecking on the ground and shaking his feathers.

He trots and walks along until he gets within bow shot, when he discharges a poisoned arrow at one of the flock, and generally succeeds in taking his prey.

A traveller relates that at a French factory on the river Niger he once saw a young ostrich so tame that it allowed a little black boy to mount on its back. No sooner did it feel the weight of the boy than it set off. At first it moved at a sharp trot, and then it stretched out its wings and ran with the fleetness of a race-horse round the village.

The ostrich is chiefly valued for the beautiful white feathers of its wings and tail. The young reader may not know that the crest of the Prince of Wales is formed of three ostrich feathers, with the motto Ich dien, meaning, "I serve." The origin of this is said to have been as follows: The King of Bohemia, who was slain at the battle of Cressy in the year 1346, wore this crest and motto. These were assumed by his conqueror, Edward, Prince of Wales, and have been worn ever since by the heir to the British crown.

IN a little dark crack, half a yard from the ground, An honest old spider resided:

So pleasant, and snug, and convenient 'twas found; That his friends came to see it from many miles round ;

It seemed for his pleasure provided.

Of the cares, and fatigues, and distresses of life, This spider was thoroughly tired;

So, leaving those scenes of contention and strife,
His children all settled, he came with his wife
To live in this cranny retired.

He thought that the little his wife would consume
'Twould be easy for him to provide her,
Forgetting he lived in a gentleman's room
Where came every morning a maid and a broom,
Those pitiless foes to a spider.

For when (as sometimes it would chance to befall)
Just when his neat web was completed,

Brush came the great broom down the side of the

And perhaps carried with it web, spider, and all, He thought himself cruelly treated.

One day, when their cupboard was empty and dry,
His wife (Mrs. Hairy-leg-Spinner)

Said to him, "Dear, go to the cobweb and try
If you can't find the leg or the wing of a fly,
As a bit of a relish for dinner."

Directly he went, his long search to resume,
For nothing he ever denied her,

Alas! little guessing his terrible doom ;-
Just then came the gentleman into his room,
And saw the unfortunate spider.

So, while the poor fellow, in search of his pelf,
In the cobweb continued to linger,

The gentleman reached a long cane from the shelf,
For certain good reasons best known to himself
Preferring his stick to his finger.

Then presently poking him down to the floor,
Not stopping at all to consider,

With one horrid crush the whole business was o'er;
The poor little spider was heard of no more,

To the lasting distress of his widow.

JANE TAYLOR.