Chatterbox Stories of Natural History | Page 9

He
snatched the prize with eager haste, And bit it, but its bitter taste Soon
made him throw the fruit away. "I've heard," he cried, "my mother say
(But she was wrong), the fruit was good; Preserve me from such bitter
food!" A monkey by experience taught, The falling prize with pleasure
caught; Took off the husk and broke the shell, 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.
[Illustration]

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 pass 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.
[Illustration]

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.
[Illustration]

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?
[Illustration]
[Illustration: SUMMER.]

[Illustration]
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.
[Illustration]
N--THE NYLGHAU.
In Hindustan's dense forest-depths, Among the tangled groves, With
slender limbs but powerful frame The shapely Nylghau roves.
[Illustration]
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.

[Illustration]
SPRING.
When Spring's soft breath sets free the rills, And melts the Winter's
hoards 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