dam perceived, she immediately stationed herself at the door, and stoutly defended the premises from its rightful owner, a large pointer dog, with whom she long had lived on no very friendly terms. On the operation being ended, and four small kittens produced, the old cat immediately took up one of them in her mouth, and, followed by the newly-become mother with another in her mouth, led her from out of the yard wherein the kennel stood, into the adjoining mansion; and after passing through two or three rooms to the staircase, made the best of her way up with one kitten, followed by her descendant with the other, whom she conducted to a loft, which she had long selected as a suitable asylum for herself on similar occasions; and having placed the young ones in this place of safety, they both came down, and carried up, as heretofore described, the two remaining kittens.

Now in this transaction we perceive evinced by the animal, whose conduct we have just been relating, not only strong natural affection for her own particular offspring, though arrived at maturity, but also for her species-an affection so powerful, as to induce the facing of the extremest danger from the fury of the pointer, and from which poor puss could never have escaped, had not the dog been restrained from worrying her by the superior power of man. We also perceive demonstrated much forethought and reflection, as well as the power of instructing her species in what manner to act; and which we conceive, she must have possessed the power of doing by

means additional to that of the example set by carrying up one of the kittens; as that alone could not have taught the inexperienced dam the expedient step to take. The more probable result would have been a furious attack from the young cat on the old one, on being thus deprived of her young one, for the purpose of endeavouring to regain herself the safe possession of it; and that a combat would have ensued.

An attentive observer of the animal creation will clearly perceive their evincing in some degree the power of communicating their wants and wishes to their own particular species; and the recital of Josephus contains some slight intimation of their having been originally endued with the power of holding communion with man; for he, after first recording the sentences God passed upon Adam and on Eve, adds, "that He took also from the serpent his speech, and was displeased with him."

That the great serpent, the great evil spirit was allowed to become incarnate in a carnal serpent, for the purpose of trying the faith and obedience of Adam and of Eve, and that during the time that he was thus incarnate, the terrestrial serpent was endued with speech, cannot admit of doubt; and on one occasion, we read in holy writ that it pleased the Lord to open the mouth of an ass, that proverbially dull and stupid creature, and, that the dumb ass spake with man's voice. But whether the expression stated, namely, that the Lord opened the mouth of the ass, might be considered as containing any thing like an intimation

that God re-opened the mouth of the ass, we pretend not to determine; all we know is, that the use which that commonly esteemed dull and stupid creature made of the transient privilege which God bestowed on him, was to rebuke the madness and brutality of man. Balaam, as the apostle St. Peter observes, was rebuked for his iniquity-the dumb ass speaking with man's voice, forbad the madness of the prophet.

To add many further instances of the shrewdness and sagacity demonstrated by animals, and in particular by the canine species, would far exceed the limits prescribed to these pages. We shall therefore only subjoin one relation extracted from the work of Martin, Esq. on the animal creation, and of which the following is a selected copy:

"The elephant, which is the largest of all land quadrupeds, is no less remarkable for its docility and understanding than for its size. All historians are agreed, that next to man the elephant is the most sagacious of all creatures. Though the elephant is the strongest as well as the largest of all quadrupeds in a state of nature, it is neither fierce nor formidable; pacific, mild, and brave, it never abuses its strength, but exerts it either in its own protection, or that of the community. In its native deserts it is seldom perceived alone, but appears to be a sociable and friendly creature, dreadful only when incensed, never offering any personal injury when suffered to feed unmolested. It is even said, that they retain a sense of injuries received, and accord

ingly, when once provoked by man, they seek every future occasion of revenge, smelling him with their long trunks at a distance, following him with all their speed on the scent, and though slow to appearance, soon overtaking and destroying him. These creatures subsist chiefly on vegetables, and seem to entertain a perfect abhorrence to animal food.

"We have very briefly stated the habits of the elephant, as considered in a social light; but if we regard it as an individual, we shall find its powers still more extraordinary; for notwithstanding its very awkward and unpromising appearance, it possesses all its senses in very great perfection, and is capable of applying them to more useful purposes than any other quadruped.

"This animal, as already observed, has very small eyes when compared to the enormous bulk of the body; but though their minuteness may at first sight carry an appearance of deformity, when we examine them more closely they exhibit a variety of expressions, and discover the various sensations with which the creature is actuated. It turns them with a pleasing attention to its master, seemingly as if to reflect and deliberate ; and as its passions follow each other in slow succession, their various workings are distinctly observed. Nor is the elephant less remarkable for its quickness of hearing: its ears, which are extremely large, even more bulky in proportion than those of the ass, are usually dependant, but capable of being elevated and moved at pleasure; and with them the animal wipes its eyes, in order

to repel the dust and flies, which would otherwise greatly incommode them.

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They appear to be exceedingly delighted with music; and very readily learn to beat time, to move in measure, and even with its voice to accompany the drum and trumpet. This animal's sense of smelling, is not only very exquisite, but is in a great measure adapted to the same odours which are grateful to mankind; for the creature gathers flowers with apparent pleasure and attention, picking them up one by one, and afterwards unites them in a nosegay, seemingly charmed with the perfume. The orange flower in particular appears to be peculiarly agreeable both to its taste and smell; for it strips the tree of all its verdure, and eats every part of it even to the very branches. It also searches out the most odoriferous plants which grow in the meadow; and with respect to the woods, it shows a predilection for the cocoa, the banana, the palm, and the sago trees, the shoots of which being tender, are filled with pith. It not only devours the leaves and fruit, but also the trunk and the entire plant to its very root. As to the sense of feeling, the elephant exceeds the whole brute creation, and perhaps even man himself. The organ of this sense lies solely in the trunk, an instrument peculiar to this animal, and which answers all the purposes of a hand. By the help of this, the elephant is enabled to pick up even a pin from the ground, to untie the knots of a rope, unlock a door, and write with a pen.

"I have seen, (says Ablion,) an elephant