retreat, which is usually some crack of a ruined building, or within a hollow tree.

Thus, even in summer, it dozes away the greatest part of its time, never venturing abroad by day-light, nor in rainy weather; and, when the winter approaches, it composes itself in a torpid state, in which it lies during the cold season.

For this latter purpose the Bat seeks a subterraneous retreat, where it generally hooks itself by the claws to some substance, and hangs suspended, regardless of damps and every change of the atmosphere. Sometimes, however, when the Bat has not been careful to remove far enough from the influence of the external air, the casual gleams of the sun revive it prematurely, and then it is in danger of starving for want of food, or of becoming the prey of owls or rapacious animals.

This creature is about the size of a mouse; the members, commonly called wings, are merely the four interior toes of the fore-feet, extended to a great length, and connected by a fine membrane, which reaches also to the hind legs, and from thence to the tail.

The female brings forth from two to five young at a time, and suckles them like quadrupeds.

All the species of Bats found in Europe are harmless inoffensive creatures, but in tropical climates they are very large and formidable, particularly when united in flocks. In those regions a flight of Bats is sufficient to obscure the setting sun: and in the morning they are seen sticking and fluttering on the tops of trees, like swarms of bees.

A CERTAIN gentleman had two children, a son and a daughter. The boy was often admired for his beauty, but the girl not quite so much. They were both very young, and happened one day to be playing near their mother's dressing glass. The boy, pleased with his appearance, viewed himself for some time, and, in a wanton roguish manner, took notice to his Sister how handsome he was.

The poor little girl fell into a violent passion, and could not bear the jokes of her Brother, considering them as being intended to affront her. Away, therefore, she ran to her papa, to be revenged on him; and in the height of her resentment, said it was a shame that a boy should make so free with a piece of furniture which entirely belonged to the women.

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The good gentleman, clasping them both in his arms, and kissing them with all the tender fondness of a parent, said, My dear children, I wish that each of you would view yourselves in the glass every day of your lives; you, my son, that you may never disgrace your beauty by an unworthy action-and you, my daughter, that you may cover any defects of your person with the charms of virtues and manners."

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SOME years ago, there lived a Hen which could talk, and, what is very remarkable, all the Chickens which she hatched could talk likewise. It happened one time that her mistress, by mistake, set her upon ducks' and hens' eggs together; so when they were hatched, she had a mixed brood of little ducks and chickens, and, like every wise parent, she took equal care of them all. But she thought the Ducks not half so pretty as the little Chickens. However, she shewed not the least partiality to either, but with the same affection scratched with equal industry for their common food, and cherished them alike. The little Ducks and Chickens

ran about together, and loved one another as well as if they had been all Ducks or all Chickens.

It chanced one day that the Hen and her brood were shut out from the yard, where they lived, into a field, in which there was a large pond.

The Hen went scratching, and scratching, looking about for worms and food, giving first a mouthful to one, and then to another, till they came close to the side of the water; which the Ducks no sooner saw, than they all at once waddled to it, and in they plunged, swimming about most delightfully, frequently remarking to each other at the same time how pleasant it was, and that they had never enjoyed themselves so much from the first moment they were hatched. "If it is so pleasant," said the Chickens, "we will go in too, for indeed you appear to be very happy;" and away they were all running to jump in.

But the Hen instantly called them back telling them, at the same time, "that it would certainly kill them if they went in, as they did not know how to swim." Oh!" said they, "but little brother Ducks swim, and they never were in the water before; I am sure we can do as well as they."-" Indeed, my dears," replied the Hen, " you are much mistaken, for you cannot. Brother Ducks know how to swim; it agrees with them, and will do them good but it will kill you who are Chickens, and therefore I beg you will come away from the edge of the pond; for if your little feet should happen to slip, and you should fall

in, you will certainly be drowned, and never see your poor mother any more."

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"Pooh!" replied one of the saucy Chicks, pray why should we be drowned in a pond any more than the Ducks? We see how they run upon the top of the water, and we could do the same; and if it is good for them, it must be good for us."-" It is no such thing," answered the Hen. "It will kill you, I tell you. Besides, the Ducks do not run upon the top of the water; they swim, and you cannot do that."Why cannot we?" inquired the chickens, "we are as old as the Ducks?"-" That is nothing to the purpose," said the Hen, every body cannot do exactly the same things.-Your brother Ducks can swim in water better than you, and you can run upon the ground faster, and scratch upon the dunghill, and amongst the grass, better than they can. Do, pray, therefore, be persuaded, and come away from the pond, for I tell you it will kill you.”

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"If our brothers go into the water, I cannot see why we may not go too," said the little naughty Chickens: and so in they all jumped; but no sooner did they feel the water, than they most heartily repented their disobedience; for they found, too late, that they could not swim, neither could they get to land again. So, after struggling about in the greatest distress for some time, at last they were all drowned.

Now, though it is very certain that Hens and Ducks never talked or reasoned in the manner described in the fable, yet it clearly appears that children who fancy they know as well as their parents, and therefore will not be persuaded to