breast. Luckily, however, I was protected by a loose, coarse canvas frock; and but for this I must inevitably have shared the fate of poor Trip.

6. As it was, I had almost given myself up for lost. My head was pressed with surpassing strength beneath my adversary's breast, and a faintness was gradually stealing over me, when I heard a long and heart-stirring shout. Was I to be saved? The thought gave me new life. With increased power I grappled, and succeeded in casting from me my determined foe; and, seeing a tree close at hand, I made a desperate leap to procure its shelter and protection.

7. I reached and clung to it for support, when I heard the sharp report of a rifle, and the bark about three inches above my head was penetrated with a ball. Another shot followed with a more sure aim, and the exasperated animal now once more within reach of me rolled heavily on its side. On the parties nearing, I found them to be my brother and a friend, who had at first mistaken me for the kangaroo, and had very nearly consummated what had been so strangely begun.

8. You may imagine that the little beauty I ever possessed is not much improved by the wound on my face, which still remains, and ever will. I am now an older hand at kangaroo hunting, and never venture to attack so formidable an antagonist with an ant-eaten club; my dogs also have grown too wary to rush heedlessly within reach of his deadly rips. We have killed many since, but rarely so fine a one as that which first tried our mettle on the plains of New Holland.

GREENWOOD,

1. THE structure of their bodies shows that seals are intended to pass the greater portion of their existence in the water; for the body is elongated, and formed very much like that of a fish, while the limbs and feet are so modified that they greatly resemble fins, and are put to the same

use.

The

2. In order to protect their bodies from the debilitating action of the element in which they live, they are thickly covered with a double fur, which, when immersed in water, is pressed tightly to the skin, and effectually throws off the moisture. In some seals this fur is extremely valuable, and is largely employed as an article of commerce. fur itself is kept constantly lubricated with a fatty matter secreted by the skin, and is thus rendered waterproof. The more effectually to defend the animal from the icy cold water in which it is often immersed, and from the ice-fields on which it likes to climb, a thick layer of fat is placed immediately below the skin, anu, being an excellent non-conductor, serves to retain the internal heat through the severest cold.

3. Aided by the imperfectly developed limbs, seals are able to leave the water and to ascend the shore, where they are capable of proceeding with no small rapidity, though in a sufficiently awkward manner, their gait par

taking equally of the character of a shuffle and a crawl. When moving in a direct line, without being hurried, they bend their spine in such a manner as to give them the appearance of huge caterpillars crawling leisurely along the ground. The spine is extremely flexible, so that the animal can urge itself through the water in a manner very similar to that which is employed by fish.

4. Their clumsy, scuttling movements when on land form a curious contrast with the easy grace of their progress through the water. When seals swim, they drive themselves forward by means of their hinder feet, which are turned inward, and pressed against each other so as to form a powerful leverage against the water, as well as a rudder by means of which they can direct their progress.

5. When they desire to leave the water, they rush violently towards the shore, shoot themselves upward, and scramble up the bank as fast as they can. On taking again to the water, they shuffle to the edge of the bank, and tumble themselves in in a very unceremonious manner, gliding away as if rejoicing that they are once more in their proper element.

6. The food of seals consists chiefly of fish, but they also feed largely upon various crustacea and upon mollusks. Their powers of swimming are so great that they are able to urge successful chase of fish; and it has several times happened that captive seals have been trained to catch fish for the service of their owners.

7. The brain of the seal is very large in proportion to the body; and, as might be expected from this circumstance, the creature is extremely intelligent, and is capable of becoming very docile when placed under tuition of a careful instructor. The eyes are large, full, and intelligent;

and the nostrils are so formed that they can be effectually closed while the creature is submerged beneath the surface of the water, and opened as soon as it rises for the purpose of respiration. At every breath the nostrils open widely, and seem to close again by means of the elasticity of the substance of which they are composed. The ears are also furnished with a peculiar structure for the purpose of resisting the entrance of water.

8. The teeth of seals are very remarkable, and admirably adapted for seizing and retaining the slippery prey. The canine teeth are long, sharp, and powerful, and the molar teeth are covered with long and sharp points of various sizes; so that, when once caught in the grip of these formidable weapons, there is but scant hope of escape for the fish.

1. I WELL remember the interest and almost awe with

which, on my first voyage across the Atlantic, I saw sud

denly emerge from the sea, the immense black oily back of a whale. It was close to the ship, and it rose like a great smooth bank out of the water, gave a sort of wallowing roll, and quietly sank from sight again. The excitement of the momentary sight prevented my attempting to estimate its measurement, besides that the entire animal was not exposed, but it seemed to me nearly as large as the vessel in which I sailed.