Chatterbox Stories of Natural History | Page 3

form nor grand attire Upon the wise will tell, But acts of
those who e'er aspire To do their DUTY well.
[Illustration]
[Illustration: FEEDING THE PET.]

SWANS.
This beautiful and majestic bird was considered the bird-royal in
England, owing to a law of England that when found in a partially wild
state on the sea and navigable rivers it belonged to the crown; but of
course it is to be found on the ponds and lakes of many a gentleman's
estate, and is always prized as a great ornament to the lake. The swan is
also very valuable in clearing the ponds of weeds, and makes a most
effective clearance, as they eat them before they rise to the surface. The
swan affords a pleasing illustration of the love of the mother-bird for its
young, and has been known to vanquish a fox who made an attack on
its nest--showing that the instinct of motherhood kindles boldness and
bravery in the breast of the most timid animals. The nest is generally
made on an islet, and composed of reeds and rushes, and when the five
or seven large eggs are hatched, the mother may be seen swimming

about with the young ones on her back.
[Illustration]

THE SEA LION.
Although such large and powerful creatures, these sea lions are
innocent and playful. See, one of them has reared himself up on his
hind legs, if legs they may be called, and is sitting on a chair with his
flappers over the back of the chair. It inhabits the eastern shores of
Kamtchatka, and is in some places extremely abundant, and measuring
about fifteen feet in length. It is much addicted to roaring, which, as
much as the mane of the old males, has obtained for it the name of the
Sea Lion. The old males have a fierce appearance, yet they fly in great
haste on the approach of man, but if driven to extremities they will
fight desperately; but in captivity they are capable of being tamed, and
become very familiar with man. The scientific name of the sea lion is
Otary.
[Illustration]
[Illustration: THE LION.]

A--THE ASS.
A Forbear to vex the patient Ass, Its heaving sides to goad, And far and
safe its useful back Will carry many a load.
B--THE BITTERN.
In reedy swamp and lonely marsh, Where all is shade and gloom, The
Bittern stalks, and you may hear His voice in sullen boom.
C--THE CAMEL.
The Camel is a useful beast, Patient, and slow, and mild; To man a

blessing and a boon In Afric's sandy wild.

BADGERS.
One day at the Zoological Gardens, I saw the group of Badgers as they
are here given. Little do visitors to the gardens take into account how
much a wild animal goes through till it has got used to a state of things
so opposite to its natural habits. Their wants are attended to as much as
possible, but cannot be always met; and so we have here a devoted
mother, worn out by the demands of her cubs, and vainly anxious to
hide herself from daylight and man's gaze. She has long given up trying
to dig or scratch her way out. All she can do is to lean against the wall,
ready for a last defence, should anybody come within her prison. She
dares not curl up into a ball, like the one cub, and go to sleep; while this
little careless imp on her back, happy and trustful, adds to her tiredness
by his weight.
[Illustration]

THE BIRD'S NEST.
"Her little nest, so soft and warm, God teaches her to make it; I would
not dare to do her harm, I would not dare to take it."
How curious is the structure of the nest of the Bullfinch or Chaffinch!
The inside of it is lined with cotton and fine silken threads; and the
outside cannot be sufficiently admired, though it is composed only of
various kinds of fine moss. The color of these mosses, resembling that
of the bark of the tree in which the nest is built, proves that the bird
intended it should not be easily discovered. In some nests, hair, wool,
and rushes are cleverly interwoven. In others, the parts are firmly
fastened by a thread, which the bird makes of hemp, wool, hair, or,
more commonly, of spiders' webs. Other birds--as, for instance, the
blackbird and the lapwing--after they have constructed their nests,
plaster the inside with mortar; they then stick upon it, while quite wet,

some wool or moss to give warmth; but all alike construct their nests so
as to add to their security.
[Illustration]

THE CHAMOIS.
The chamois are indeed high-born, for among the high mountain-peaks,
where the eternal snow rests and