Q. What two kinds of shell fish are there? A. Crustaceous and testaceous. Q. To which class does the lobster belong? A. To the crustaceous. Q. Is the lobster of an extraordinary form?

A. It is.

A. To take

Q. When first seen what mistake are we apt to make?
the head for the tail. Q. After some examination what do we dis-
cover? A. That the animal moves with its claws forward, and that
the jointed part is its tail. Q. What do the two great claws serve the
lobster as? A. As hands. Q. How many feet has it?

Q. Where is its head situated?
Q. Is it large? A. No, very small.

A.

A. Eight, Between the

Q. Is it fur..

horny specks A. He can

four at each side. two large claws. nished with eyes? A. Yes, they seem like two black at each side. Q. What can the lobster do with these? advance them in the sockets, and draw them back at pleasure. Q. Does the lobster always have the same shell? A. No, when it gets too small he puts it off, and a new one grows. Q. Is the lobster good to eat? A. Yes, when the fish is picked from the shell, and stewed with mustard, pepper, vinegar, and other things, it is very nice. Q. How are the lobsters caught? A. By a basket which contains the bait. Q. What is done with this? A. It is lowered into the sea by a rope. Q. Does the lobster creep into this? A. He does, and is then pulled up and taken.

THE FROG Kind.

After fishes, comes this class of animals, consisting of two kinds, the frog and toad. There are no toads in Ireland.

THE FROG.

The appearance of the frog is too well known to need much description. Its powers of taking leaps is remarkable, compared to the bulk of its body. It is the best swimmer of all four-footed animals. The common brown frog begins to deposit its spawn about the month of April, the eggs soon begin to enlarge and grow lighter, and then rise to the surface of the water. The twenty-first day the egg is seen to open a little at one side, and the beginning of a tail to peep out, which becomes more and more distinct every day. The thirty-ninth day the little animal begins to have motion; it moves at intervals its tail. In two days more some of them fall to the bottom, and others remain HH 2

The next day they require their appear, the tail drops off and they

swimming in the water about them. tadpole form, then the legs begin to become frogs. They then change their appetites, and begin to become carnivorous; they go on land, and catch worms and insects for their food.

Questions and Answers.

Q. Can the frog jump very far? A. Yes, it takes most extraordinary leaps in comparison with its size. Q. Is it a good swimmer? Q. Yes, the best amongst four-footed animals. Q. How are the young produced? A. From spawn or eggs. Q. What are they first like? A. They have a round body and a long tail. Q. What are they then called? A. A. Tadpoles. Q. What do frogs live upon? A. Insects Q. Is their flesh ever eaten? A. Yes, some people

A.

and worms. think it very good. Q. What sort of noise does the frog make? A croaking noise. Q. Do they croak when wet weather is coming? A. Yes, their loud noise is generally a sign of rain. Q. How does the frog catch insects? A. By surprising them, and taking them with its tongue. Q. Do the people of this country ever eat frogs? A. No, but the French people like them when dressed nicely, and served up with soups. Q. Is the toad like the frog? A. Yes, very like. Q. What country has no toads? A. Ireland.

THE LIZARD KIND,

Comprehending the lizard, chameleon, the crocodile, and alligator.

THE CROCODILE.

Its teeth

The crocodile is a very large animal, which inhabits the banks of the Nile, a great river in Egypt, and also many other African rivers; they are of the same species as the lizard, which is an inhabitant of this country. This animal is sometimes of a great length; some of them have been seen thirty feet long, but their usual length is eighteen. The strength of every part of the crocodile is very great. are sharp, numerous, and formidable; but its tail is its principal instrument of destruction, and with a single blow of it, has been known to overturn a canoe, and seize upon the unfortunate man who conducted it. It is not so powerful upon land, but yet very terrible; as it runs very fast, and those whom it pursues run from it in a zig zag direction, because, on account of the hard scales with which it is

covered, it cannot easily turn round.

says,

The great animal described in the Bible, and called the leviathan, is supposed to mean the crocodile; you will find the description of it in the book of Job, chap. xli., where it "His scales are his pride, shut up together as with a close seal, canst thou fill his skin with barbed irons, or his head with fish spears? Lay thy hands upon him; remember the battle, do no more, he maketh the deep to boil like a pot, he maketh the sea like a pot of ointment, he maketh a path to shine after him, one would think the deep to be hoary.”

The young crocodiles come from eggs, which the old ones lay in the sand. Many beasts eat those eggs, which prevents those animals from becoming too numerous.

Questions and Answers.

Q. What is the shape of the crocodile? A. Almost the shape of a lizard. Q. What do the people of England call lizards?

Q.

A. Noots. Q. What are they called in Ireland? A. Archlouchres Q. Where may those lizards be found? A. In ponds, and nooks of old buildings. Q. Is the body of the crocodile covered with hair? A. No; it is covered with hard scales. Q. Is the mouth of the animal small? A. No; it is very large, with rows of hard teeth with which it could bite off a man's leg. Q. What river do they chiefly inhabit? A. The river Nile. Q. Where does this river flow? A. Through Egypt. Q. Where are they found also? A. On the banks of other large rivers in Africa and South America. What other animal resembles the crocodile? A. The alligator. Q. Where are they found. A. In the East Indies, and other places. Q. Are there any crocodiles in this country? A. Yes, sometimes sailors bring young ones in the African ships, and they may be often seen alive in Liverpool. Q. Are there any wild ones in our rivers? A. No. Q. Can the crocodile run fast? A. Yes, very fast, if he runs straight. Q. How are the young ones produced? Q. Are those A. By the eggs which the old ones lay in the sand. eggs ever destroyed? A. Yes, various animals look for them and scratch them out of the sand to eat them. Q. What does this prevent? A. Those animals from becoming too numerous.

THE SERPENt Tribe,

Comprehending the viper, the boa, the rattle-snake, the asp, and many others.

THE RATTLE-SNAKE.

The rattle-snake is only found in America.

Some are as thick as a man's leg, and six feet in length; the most usual size is from four to five feet long. It has a large head and a small neck, being of a dusky colour, and furnished with fangs that inflict the most terrible wounds. They are of an orange, tawny, and blackish colour on the back, and of an ash colour on the belly; but what distinguishes them from all other animals is their rattle, an instrument lodged in their tail, by which they make such a loud rattling noise when they move, that their approach may be readily perceived, and the danger avoided. This rattle, when taken out of the body, somewhat resembles the curb-chain of a bridle: it is composed of several thin, hard, hollow bones, linked to each other, and rattling upon the slightest motion. The bite of this animal is followed by certain death, unless means are immediately used to stop the poison from reaching the vital parts ; but generally the person bitten dies in great agony.

Questions and Answers.

Q. Where is the rattle-snake only found in a wild state? A. In America. Q. What is its usual length ? A. From four to five feet. Q. Is its body thick? A. Yes, as thick as a man's leg. Q. Has it a small head? A. No, a large head, and small neck. Q. What colour is it of? A. Orange, tawny, and blackish on the back, and of an ash colour on the belly. Q. What is this animal distinguished by ? A. Its rattle. Q. Where is this instrument situated? A. In the tail. Q. What is its use? A. To warn man, and other animals, of the approach of this dreadful animal. Q. Is its bite fatal? A. It is. Q. Where is the poison contained ? A. In vessels under the tongue. Q. With what does it inflict the wound? A. With its fangs. Q. Should we not be very thankful A. We should,

that our country is free from such a dreadful animal? and for all the other great blessings which we enjoy.

Having thus gone through all the classes of the superior animals, and brought our pupils down to the history of insects, we may then proceed with that department. But as our limits will not allow us to follow out the subject further here, we can only recommend it as a fit and proper study for children; for although the history of the

superior animals may fill their minds with useful lessons, yet even from the most diminutive insect instruction and amusement may be derived. "After an attentive examination," says Swammerdam, "of the nature and anatomy of the smallest as well as the largest animals, I cannot help allowing the insect an equal, if not a superior, degree of dignity. Notwithstanding the smallness of ants, nothing hinders If we consider either our preferring them to the largest animals.

their unwearied diligence, their wonderful strength, or their inimitable propensity to labour. Their amazing love to their young is still more unparalleled among the larger classes; they not only daily carry them to such places as may afford them food, but if by accident they are killed or cut into pieces, they will, with the greatest tenderness, carry them away piecemeal in their arms. Who can find any instance amongst the superior animals that can equal this ?"

GEOMETRY.

On reading some of the best lesson books on this subject, I find I cannot improve upon them further than the mere elements; and as I have already done this for infants, and know that many boys might be given those lessons with advantage, I beg to mention that a series of geometrical plates and lessons published by me, may be had at my residence, or of my publisher, 112, Fleet Street, London.