Serpents without venom never employ their teeth, either as instruments of attack or defence; it is by the strong folds of the body and tail, that their enemies are destroyed. They hiss, dart out their forked tongues, erect themselves on the tail, but never attempt to use their teeth.

The black snake of the United States is about six feet in length, and preys upon squirrels and birds. It may sometimes be seen among bushes, waiting to make a prey of the birds that are hopping among them. It seizes its victim with great quickness, and kills it by coiling around the body, in the manner of the boa constrictor. It is perfectly harmless, and generally seeks an instant retreat when approached by man. The striped snake, blind snake, blind worm, aquatic viper, &c. though some of them have a formidable appearance, are harmless and inoffensive.

The larger tribe of serpents, though without venom, are very much to be dreaded. They never attack, except openly, and conquer by dint of strength. To this class belong the boa, the anaconda, and the depona.

In India, dancing serpents are common. These are carried about in a broad flat vessel, somewhat resembling a sieve. They erect and put themselves in motion at the word of command. When their keeper sings a slow tune, they seem by their heads to keep time; when he sings a quicker measure, they appear to move more briskly. From this trick, successfully practised, it is most probable have arisen all the boasted pretensions, which some have made to the art of charming serpents.

Of all animated beings, man offers the most wonderful variety in his internal conformation; quadrupeds come next; and other animals follow, in proportion to their powers or excellencies. Insects seem, above all others, the most imperfectly formed; from their minuteness, the dissecting knife can go but a short way in the investigation.

One thing argues an evident imperfection; which is, that many of them can live a long time, though deprived of those organs which are necessary to life in

the higher ranks of nature. Many of them are furnished with lungs and a heart, like noble animals; yet the caterpillar continues to live, though its heart and lungs, as is often the case, are entirely eaten away.

We may define insects to be little animals without `red blood, bones, or cartilages, furnished with a trunk, or else a mouth opening lengthwise, with eyes which they are incapable of covering, and with lungs which have their openings on the sides. This definition comprehends the whole class of insects, whether with, or without wings, and whether in their caterpillar, or butterfly state.

In a cursory inspection of the insect tribe, the first animals that offer themselves are those which want wings; that appear crawling about on every plant, and on every spot of earth which we regard with any degree of attention. Those, therefore, that never have wings, but go creeping about till they die, may be considered as constituting the first class of insects.

The second order of insects consists of such as have wings, but which, when produced from the egg, have their wings cased up in such a manner as not to appear. The third order of insects is of the moth and butterfly kind. The fourth order is of those winged insects, which come from a worm, instead of a caterpillar, and yet go through changes similar to those which moths and butterflies are seen to undergo. To these, we may add a fifth order, a numerous tribe, lately discovered, to which naturalists have given the name of zoophytes. They seem to be a set of creatures placed between animals and vegetables, and form the link, which connects animated and insensible nature.

The structure of insects is altogether very curious. They are all annulose animals, that is, they have their

bodies divided across into a greater or smaller number of rings, or segments. They are without a spine, or any thing like an internal skeleton, and thus the insertions of all the muscles, by which their parts are moved, are on the external covering, which is to them at once skin and skeleton. This, in its composition, is a good deal like horn, though it is not fibrous, like that substance. Sometimes, too, it is elastic. We know of no surface so perfectly smooth as the covering of some insects. It admits also of every degree of color and transparency.

The wings of insects are worthy of attention, from the beauty of their structure, and the nicety with which they are adapted to the habits of the animal. Most winged insects have four wings. These are constructed of a delicate network of horny substance, and are sometimes covered with feathers or scales.

The form of the legs is often exceedingly curious, and we find in them all that perfect harmony of orga nization and use, which can be so clearly traced in all the mechanism of animated nature. Thus, if the insect has only to walk, and not to leap, the thighs are slender; but when it has to leap, they are swelled out in breadth, to afford room for the action of the muscles.

The claw is equally varied in its structure. Sometimes it is in the form of a rake for hewing down and drawing along mud; sometimes the claws are hooked, all bending in the same direction, by means of which it can suspend itself; sometimes, again, the claws act opposite to each other, like a hand, and at other times, there is but a single claw, to which a little protuberance serves as a thumb.

Such are the outlines of the merely mechanical structure of insects. The other parts are equally cu

THE WITHERED LEAF.- -GRACEFULNESS. 123

rious. The nervous system, which is ramified from the brain, is contained in the head; the singular formation that is often displayed in the mouth, which is, at one time, a pump, and at another a pair of scissors; and the long and singular changes, through which many of them have to pass, before they can enjoy the day or the hour which is given them to wanton in the sun; taking them, diversified as they are among many genera and species, they form ample and delightful study for the most active mind, through the most prolonged life.

THE WITHERED LEAF.

Он! mark the withered leaves that fall

In silence to the ground;

Upon the human heart they call,
And preach without a sound:

They say, "so passes man's brief year!
To-day his green leaves wave;
To-morrow, changed by time, and sere,
He drops into the grave."

Let wisdom be our sole concern,
Since life's green days how brief!
And faith and heavenly hope shall learn
A lesson from the leaf.

GRACEFULNESS.

BE graceful in your manners.

The different effect

of the same thing, said or done, when accompanied or deserted by graceful manners, is almost inconceivable; they prepare the way to the heart.