Chatterbox Stories of Natural History Part 6

A monkey by experience taught, The falling prize with pleasure caught; Took off the husk and broke the sh.e.l.l, The kernel peeled, and liked it well.

"Walnuts," said he, "are good and sweet, But must be opened ere you eat."

And thus in life you'll always find Labor comes first--reward behind.

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THE CLEVER FOX.

One summer's day on the banks of the river Tweed, in Scotland, a fox sat watching a brood of wild ducks feeding in the river. Presently a branch of a fir tree floated in their midst, which caused them to rise in the air, and after circling round for some time, they again settled down on their feeding ground. At short intervals this was repeated, the branch floating from the same direction, until the ducks took no further notice of it than allowing it to pa.s.s by. Mr. Reynard noticed this; so he got a larger branch than the others, and crouching down among the leaves, got afloat, and coming to the ducks, who took no notice of the branch, he seized two of the ducks, and then allowed himself to be floated to the other side, where, we suppose, he had a repast.

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TESTING HIS STRENGTH.

See this monster of the forest uprooting trees, as a test of its strength before entering on a fight with one of its companions, which is often a bitter struggle for supremacy. There are two species of Elephants, the Indian and African; the ears of the latter are much larger than the Indian, covering the whole shoulder, and descending on the legs. Elephants live in herds, and each herd has a leader--generally the largest and most powerful animal--who exercises much control over the herd, directing its movements, and giving the signal in the case of danger. The trunk of the Elephant is of great service to it, and is a wonderful combination of muscle; Curier, the famous Naturalist, stating that there is not far short of 40,000 muscles, having distinct action, and so giving it an acute sense of touch and smell--so much so, that it can pick up a pin, or pluck the smallest leaf. The Elephant is generally about ten feet high, and sometimes reaches to twelve feet, and lives to the age of seventy or eighty years.

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A WISE DOG.

There is a curly retriever at Arundel bearing the name of "Shock," which sets an example of good manners and intelligence to the animals which are not dumb. He carries the cat of the stables tenderly in his mouth, and would carry the kitten, but at present the kitten prefers its own means of locomotion. When Sanger's elephant got into trouble in the river Arun, this wise Shock was sent to turn him out, and his perseverance succeeded. He often will insist on carrying a bundle of umbrellas to the station, and safely he delivers them to their owners, and then, with many wags of his brown tail, he demands a halfpenny for his trouble. This halfpenny he carries to the nearest shop, lays it on the counter, and receives his biscuit in return. Need we say this dog has a kind, sensible master?

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M--THE MANDRILL.

_In Africa the Mandrill lives, Full five feet tall he stands; With furrowed cheek-bones, tufted hair, And hairy arms and hands._

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N--THE NYLGHAU.

_In Hindustan's dense forest-depths, Among the tangled groves, With slender limbs but powerful frame The shapely Nylghau roves._

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O--THE OSTRICH.

_O'er desert sands the Ostrich skims, Beneath a burning sky; Swift as the swiftest horse he runs, But has no wings to fly._

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SPRING.

When Spring's soft breath sets free the rills, And melts the Winter's h.o.a.rds of snow, How fast they leap adown the hills, How wildly t'wards old ocean flow!

Jack Frost! we gladly part with thee, For long indeed thy iron hand Hath crushed the flowers relentlessly That longed to brighten all the land.

And now the busy plow can trace Its furrows through the fallow ground, While countless lovely blossoms grace The blooming fruit trees all around.

Yet though the snow amidst the brook Is gliding fast--it fain would stay, And as it takes a lingering look, Says:--"Listen ere I flow away!

"Soon as Spring spoke its royal word, I humbly doffed my wintry cap-- But when the north wind's voice was heard, I covered up the earth's green lap.

"And gently swathed each baby flower, As snug as in a feather bed-- Until in field, and wood, and bower, Their fragrance might be safely shed.

"And now my snowdrops gaily ring A merry peal to herald May-- And all rejoice at coming Spring, While I must hasten far away!"

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SUMMER.

Now the corn has grown ripe in the Summer's hot days, And the reaping began with the sun's early rays, Mike and Jack since the morn, Have been cutting the corn, Which is bound up by Peggy and Sue; And gay, flaunting poppies and flow'rets of blue Wag their heads o'er the sheaves and seem nodding at you.