column appeared unbroken. In vain were brooms applied, though myriads were swept away; in vain were sugar and flour strewed in their path to allure them; in vain was kettle after kettle of scalding water thrown over them. The instant the rank was broken, the advancing column dispersed themselves in all directions, and repaired the breach. What was to be

done?

At length a neighbour appeared, who told the Englishman that this visitation is what the Portuguese call a "blessing," and that when a house is not kept clean, vermin of all kinds accumulate, the eggs of which are the favourite food of these ants. After the ants had well feasted, they again left the house, leaving no trace of their visit except the hard shells of beetles and cockroaches, and indigestable things of that sort, not having touched anything else.

How wonderful the instinct with which these little creatures are endowed. Though so small, and so low in the scale of creation, they are thus capable of performing an important use. Many a little boy or girl might advantageously copy the ant, and, by performing their duties industriously and methodically, be, as they ought to be, of much more use in the world than these little insects.

"All animals, including beasts, birds, fishes, reptiles, and insects, correspond to either good affections and true thoughts, or to evil affections and false thoughts, and represent something in the spiritual world, and in the mind of each individual."

THE SEAL.

HE species of the seal as yet discovered to frequent, or occasionally visit the British shores, are, the Common Seal, the Harp Seal, the Great Seal, the Grey Seal, and the Walrus.

The Common Seal abounds on the shores of Newfoundland, the Orkney and Zetland Islands, and on the northern shores of Scotland. It not unfrequently occurs on the north coast of Ireland; but appears to be driven from the south by the more powerful species called the Grey Seal. The Common Seal is from three to five feet in

length; but other species are much larger, some being nine feet long. The general colour is yellowish grey, with brown and black spots above, and the belly is whitish; but they vary considerably in their colours.

The seal, though not equal in instinct to some terrestrial animals, is greatly superior to the mute tenants of the element in which it chiefly dwells; and on the shores of the icy seas, which are less inhabited than ours, and where fish resort in greater abundance, they are to be seen by thousands, like flocks of sheep, basking on the rocks, suckling their young; but are soon in the water if disturbed. In fine weather they are engaged in fishing, and generally come on shore in storms and tempests, in which they seem to take delight. When every other creature seeks refuge from the fury of the elements, they are to be seen, in prodigious numbers, sporting along the shore.

These curious animals, which it has been thought by some to be the mermaids of our superstitious forefathers, have the head generally bearing some resemblance to that of a dog, whose intelligence and soft expressive look they also possess. Their jaws are furnished with strong teeth, consisting of incisors, canines, and molars, all well adapted for seizing, holding, and crunching the scaly and slippery fish, upon which they are required to operate; the tongue is smooth, and slightly notched at the end.

The feet are formed for swimming; and have five toes each, the anterior ones regularly decreasing in length from the thumb to the little toe; while in the hinder feet the thumb and the last toe are the longest. where it joins the neck. to the tail, which is animal is out of the water, is generally concealed by the hind legs pressing close to it. When they dive the nostrils are closed by a kind of valve.

The body is thickest It then tapers down short, and when the

Seals are gregarious, and animals of passage. They disappear from the northern coasts of Greenland in July, and return in September; having, as is supposed, been abroad in quest of food. They make a second departure in March, to produce their young, returning in the begin ning of June, observing a certain time and track, like birds of passage. When they leave the coasts on this expedition, they are generally in good condition, but they return much reduced.

In our climate the young are produced in winter, and are reared on some rock or desolate place, at a distance from the mainland, where the female suckles them for about twelve or fifteen days, and then she brings them down to the water to provide for themselves. Each litter consists of three or four, which are very docile, and understand the voice of their dam amidst the bleatings of the rest.

Early accus

tomed to subjection, they continue to live, hunt, and herd together, and have a variety of tones, either to encourage each other in the pursuit of prey, or to warn of impending danger.

Their chief food is fish, which they are remarkably expert in pursuing and catching. They destroy herrings by thousands where found in shoals; but are, at times, obliged to hunt after stronger fish, more capable of evading pursuit. However, they are very swift in the water, dive with great rapidity, and emerge at very considerable distances. A seal has been seen to pursue a mullet, which is a swift swimmer, and to turn it to and fro in deep water, as a dog would a hare. The mullet tried every evasion, and at length swam into shallow water, but the seal followed; till the little thing finding no other chance of escape, threw itself on its side; it thus got into shallower water than it could have done in its proper position, and so got free.

Seals are thus tyrants in their own element, and on desert coasts where they are seldom interrupted by man, they seem to be very bold and courageous. If attacked with stones they will bite and shake them like dogs; and in more close encounters, will make a desperate resistance so long as they have any strength, It is while they sleep, which they do very soundly where not frequently disturbed, that the hunters surprise them. Europeans engaged