"Having discovered the den of one of those powerful animals, he ran to acquaint his father with it. Michael had killed above a hundred bears in single combat, but as he was grown old, he no longer went out alone to the hunt. His son offers to be his second. 'I consent; thou knowest upon what condition. Thou mayest || rely upon me, art thou quite sure of thyself?' 'You shall see, father.' They set out, the son armed with a poniard, the father with nothing but his boldness and the recollection of his numerous triumphs.

"He sees a bear coming towards him, walking upright on his hinder paws, as all these animals do when they encounter a man. He rushes on it, as if he was only thirty years old. He seizes the bear in his arms, which grasp is returned. His son instead of striking, runs away. And the rocks did not crush him! and the abysses did not swallow him!

"Poor Michael! what can he do? what will become of him? No less robust, and more determined than his adversary, our Hercules, from pull to pull, and all the while going backwards, draws it to the edge of a neighbouring precipice. The terrified bear lets loose its prey, st uggles and escapes, and Michael falls into the abyss. He was found, and carried home with bruised and broken limbs, but still living.

"And your son, what is become of him? The coward! You will never see him till after my death. Indeed he never was seen till after that period; no one spoke to him, looked at him, nor took the least notice of him. He quitted the country, and was never more heard of.

"Another of these bear-hunters, armed with a dagger, seized a bear of the largest species, in his arms, and dragged it to the border of a cornice, in order to throw it into the abyss; the bear sensible of its impending danger, broke loose and ran off."*

In 1799, a little book was published in Paris, entitled, "Sentimental Journey in Switzerland," by C. Hwass, jun. The author being in the house of a peasant, remarked a bear's skin of a prodigious size. "I took hold of a gun which | appeared to me to be better made than any of the others which were displayed." "That," said my old host, "was the gun of my son. He was killed by the bear whose skin you have jus' now noticed. He had mortally wounded the bear, but the furious beast had still strength enough

A certain Cantaret after having slain Antiochus in combat, seized his horse and vaults on it. The courser immediately runs off with him, and leaps into an abyss, where both perished.

PLIN. LIB. I. CAP. 42.

left to rush on him and suffocate him. I found them both dead, lying next to each other."

EAGLES.

These birds inhabit the Pyrenées, in consider. able numbers. "On the station of the south peak (Pic du Midi), a vigilant eagle came to re cognise us on the frontier. His female was also desirous of seeing us at no great distance; she showed us the white feathers which distinguish her from her sublime spouse. He, hovering over our heads at an elevation of fifty feet, seemed to count us as we passed. I still in idea see his formidable talons bent back on his breast, and his sparkling eyes darting fiery glances at us. As he was flying away from us, 1 exclaimed,-King of the air, reign here, far from those tyrants who would make war on thee; but be not thyself a tyrant.

"Some shepherds who were accustomed to see these birds, told us that they had not much reason to complain of them: Were it not for a poor cat which they seized lately whilst it was sleeping on the roof of yon cottage, we should have scarcely any thing to reproach them with. But we have this cat at heart. If you had but heard how it inewed! had you seen how it struggled in their talons, whilst they were carelessly taking it to their young ones!'†

"These peasants showed us the inaccessible peak where these cagles live without rivals; on which their aerie, or nest, is situated, and from whence they make their incursions. The reason why we do not forgive them for having caught our cat, is because this place abounds in par. tridges, and they might have picked up as many as they chose to stoop for.'

"We were also told that here in general the eagles live in a family way, each in its own rounds. Those who venture to fly beyond their limits, and seek their prey too near their neighbour's domains, expose themselves to violent assaults. We had lately found the carcase of an eagle with its feathers still on, which our guide made no doubt but had been killed in single comb.t."

In another part of the Pyrenean mountains, near the top of the Peak of the south, (which is almost two miles in perpendicular height above the level of the sea), our traveller saw another pair of eagles. He says, "A prospect, which, to be properly regarded, demanded more than common attention, appeared all round us. At

† Mr. Barlow made a drawing, which he afterwards engraved, of an eagle which he saw brought to the ground after a severe conflict with a cat, which it had seized and taken up in the air with its talons.

more than a hundred fathom beneath our feet, fluctuated as it were, a vast sea, waving and foaming, it was a thick mist or fog, on the surface of which two eagles were hovering, which we were

anecdote of a pigeon in the preface to his musical
drama of Rosalinda:

"I was at the house of a Mr. Lee, in Cheshire,
whose daughter was a performer on the harpsi

ever she played the song of "Spero si," in
Handel's opera of Admetus, and this only, would
descend from the adjacent dove-house to the win-
dow of the room where she sat, and listen appa-
rently with pleasing emotions; and when the song
was finished, it always returned directly home."

told inhabited the inaccessible summit of a neigh-chord, and I observed a pigeon, which when-
bouring mountain. Those fierce birds after having
traversed clouds and fogs, seemed to have come
purposely this way to display the sublimity of
their bold flight to our eyes. They made, as if
swimming, the tour of several peaks, on which
we many times observed their vast projecting
shadows; (just then a rival fly buzzing touched
my face*), suddenly stopping their flight, they
seemed to float sleeping in the air; and after-
wards as suddenly darted over our heads quite
out of sight. In their different evolutions, they
came near enough for us to distinguish the colours
of their wings, and then all at once they plunged
into the fog, and we saw them no more."

The eagle rises higher in the air than any of the winged race. There was lately read at the National Institute in Paris, a memoir by C. la Cepede (author of a natur 1 history of fishes, oviparous quadrupeds, and serpents), on the flight and vision of birds, in which it results from his observations, that "the eagle, and man of war bird, (albatross), are endowed with the strongest power of fligh', and the acutest vision. The sight of these birds is nine times more extensive than that of the furthest sighted man; and in two hundred and twenty hours, or a little more than nine days, allowing them sixteen or seventeen hours of repose, they would make the tour of the whole earth."

Two other birds are remarkable for the swiftness of their flight. Wild swans when flying before the wind in a brisk gale, seldom fly at a less rate than a hundred miles an hour. So says Hearne in his account of Hudson's Bay and the northern ocean.

The carrier-pigeon has been known to fly from Bagdad to Aleppo, which, to a man is usually made a thirty days journey, in forty-eight hours.

To measure the rapidity of their flight in some degree, a person sent a carrier-pigeon from London, by the coach, to a friend in St. Edmund's Bury, and along with it a note desiring that the pigeon, two days after its arrival there, might be thrown up precisely when the town clock struck nine in the morning; this was accordingly done, and the pigeon arrived in London, and flew into the Bull inn, in Bishopsgate-street, at half an hour past eleven o'clock of the same morning, having flown seventy-two miles in two hours and a half.-(Annual Register 1765.)

A Mr. Lockman has given the following

OSTRICHES.

In the Travels from Buenos Ayres, by Potosi to Lima, by Anthony Helms, in 1789, lately published in English, the author says:- Seventythree miles from the capital the traveller enters on ar immense plain, by the Spaniards called Pampas, which stretches three hundred miles westward to the foot of the mountains, and about fifteen hundred miles southward towards Patagonia. This plain is fertile, and wholly covered with very high grass, but for the most part uninhabited, and destitute of trees. It is the abode of innumerable herds of wild horses, oxen, ostriches, &c which, under the shade of the grass, find protection from the intolerable heat of the

sun.

"As we pursued our journey late one evening, we saw large flocks of ostriches (Struthio || Rhea, LINN.), which had come forth from the long grass to refresh themselves with water. On the following day some of our attendants rode a considerable way into the grass, and brought back about fifty eggs of these birds. The heat of the sun being very great, and each of us carrying one in his hat, the young birds, to our no small astonishment, broke the shells and ran away into the grass, which they began to devour with as much appe ite as if they had been long accustomed to such a diet. The eggs are as large as an infant's head of a moderate size; and the young ostriches, when hatched, are in body of the size of a chicken two months old.

"These ostriches lay their eggs either singly, or twenty together, in nests; and it is probable that in the day time they leave them exposed to the rays of the sun, and sit on them only during night, to protect them from the effects of the dew.

"The ostriches that inhabit the Pampis are of the height of a calf. From the shortness of their wings they are unable to fly, but before the wind they run faster than the fleetest horse.”

HARES.

In the year 1774, William Cowper, the poet, being indisposed in body and mind, and incapable

The eagle and fly were the only living beings of diverting himself with company or books, which I saw on the peak of the south.

sought for something that would engage his at

tention without fa.iguing it. A leveret was given | him, and in the management of such an animal, and in the attempt to tame it, he thought to find an agreeable employment. Many others were offered to him, but he accepted only two mor“, and undertook the care of all three, which happened to be all males. Each had a separate apartment, so contrived, that the dirt made fell through into an earthen pan, which was daily emptied and washed. In the day-time they had the range of a hall, and at night retired each to his own bed, never intruding into that of

another.

We shall distinguish them liy the letters A. B. C. and continue in the words of the author.

A. grew presently familiar; he would leap mto my lap, would let me take hius in my arms, and has frequently fallen fast asleep on my knee. He was once ill for three days, during which time I nursed him; after his recovery he showed his gratitude by licking my hand and fingers all over, which he never did but once again on a similar occasion. Sometimes I carried him into the garden after breakfast, where he hid himself generally under the leaves of a cucumber vine, sleep. ing and chewing the cud till evening; in the

leaves also of that vine he found a favourite repast.

The kindness shown to B. had not the least | effect. He too was sick, and I attended him; but if, after his recovery, I took the liberty to stroke him, he would grunt, strike, and bite. He was, however, very entertaining.

C. who died soon after he was full grown, from a cold caught by sleeping in a damp box, was a hare of great humour and drollery. A. was tamed by gentle usage; B. was not to be tamed at all; but C. was tamne from the beginning.

I always admitted them into the parlour after supper, where they would frisk and bound about on the carpet. One evening the cat had the hardiness to pat C. on the cheek, which he resented by drumming on her back so violently as to make her glad to escape.

Each of these animals had a character of its

own, and I knew them all by their face only; like a shepherd who soon becomes familiar to his || flock, however numerous, as to know them every one individually by their looks.

These creatures immediately discovered and examined the minutest alteration in the apartmen's they were accustomed to play in, just as cats do.

C. died young. B. lived to be nine years old, and died by a fall. A. has just completed his tenth year. I lately introduced a dog to his ac quaintance; a spaniel that had never seen a bare, to a hare that had never seen a spaniel. The hare discovered no token of fear, nor the dog the least symptom of hostility: they eat bread at the same time out of the same hand, and are very sociable and friendly.

Hares have no ill scent belonging to them, and are indefatigably nice in keeping themselves

clean.

The foregoing is an abridgment of an account of hares, inserted by Mr. Cowper in one of the Gentleman's Magazines for the year 1784. It has likewise been published at the end of only the common editions of his works, to which we refe:. By a memorandum found among Mr. C.'s pa pers, it appears that A. died aged twelve years wanting a month, of mere old age. A short Latin epitaph in prose on A. and another of eleven stanzas in English verse on B. accompany

the account.

DIALOGUE BETWIXT SOMEBODY AND NOBODY.

Somebody. WHY, 'tis as hard to get a sight || late have affected a great deal of consequence, of you, Mr. Nobody, as it is of the invisible girl. I have called twenty times a day at your house. Nobody at home, is the constant answer. If 1 should go to church, however, I am sure to meet with Nobody there, especially when Dr. Triplechin preaches.

Nobody. And you're sure to meet with Somebody in all places of public resort, the opera, play, pic-nic, card-parties, &c.

Somebody. Yes: and you will often meet with Nobody in those places, that would wish to pass | for Somebody.

when it is well known, that the Nobody family
are the more ancient of the two. The Nobodies,
I assure you, Sir, are the true Pre-adamites. The
name is on record long before Adam.
Somebody. So is the family of Blank.
Nobody. A very old race.

Somebody. If we may credit the Spectator, they once filled all places of public trust in this kingdom.

Nobody. In trust for others, particularly the family of the Blocks.

Somebody. The Blocks one day or other will be

Nobody. 'Tis true, the Somebody family of the ruin of this nation.

Nobody. For myself, I have more distrust of many faults laid to your account: the talents

thus when

a favourite article of furniture is spoiled or broken, Nobody did it. Thus also when a lady affects indisposition, she sees Nobody, speaks to Nobedy, writes to Nobody, dreams of

Somebody. But what does genealogy, in these degenerate days? Get your nativity cast in the mint: a thousand guineas in your purse is worth all the Aps, Macs, and O's in the united king-Nohody. dom. If there's a stain in your character, a little gold dust will take it out-the best fuller's earth in the nation. What does it avail, that your ancestors bled in the front of battle, piled up thunder for the insulting foe, or diffused the stream of science through a thousand channels! don't you see the upstart hung round with titles, and the obscurity of his birth lost in the glare of his sideboard? Noboly. True: and yet Bonaparte would give settled at Doctors' Commons, then it is found that

a good deal for a genealogy.

Somebody. Yes: the French, who seem to be proud of the chains he has imposed on them, have really turned his head; they have fed him with the soft pap of flattery, they have inflated him with the gas of vanity to the size of an airballoon, and yet withal they cannot manufacture a genealogy so as to please him: his father was Nobody.

Nobody. And happy would it be for the repose of mankind, if he had been content to tread in the steps of his father.

Nobody. But her waiting woman knows that she sees Somebody, speaks to Somebody, writes to Somebody, and dreams of Somebody. When a fine lady shines forth in all the glory of the Persian loom, showered with diamonds, and perfamed with all the sweets of Arabia, if the spouse should collect courage enough to ask who paid for all those fine things, the answer is, Nobody; but when the account comes to be

Somebody paid for them, or is to pay for them, with a vengeance too. One thing I reinark, that, previous to the nuptial tie, the dear youth is always considered as Somebody, but whilst the honey moon is yet in its wane he is looked upon as Nobody.

Somebody. Very true. After all I have said, I must acknowledge, in the words of Goldsmith, "that even your failings lean to virtue's side." For instance: if a play should be got up, puffed, and d-d, it is applauded by Nobody. If a book printed on wire-wove paper, hot-pressed, Somebody. Happy indeed. Now, my good bound in morocco, and elegantly gilt, is found friend, I wish you well, but am often surprised to be wretched stuff, it is read by Nobody. If that you swallow things without the least exami- a book should be written in favour of religion nation-things that would stick in the wide and morality, though neglected by all, it is throat of credulity. For instance, when the read by Nobody. If a wretch should be coneditor of a newspaper tells you that his print ex-signed to the gallows for robbing a man of sixclusively contains the earliest and most authen-pence on the highway, he is pitied by Notie articles of information, Nobody believes him When Bonaparte says, that he'll invade this country, Nobody believes him. When a pensioner or placeman declares that he has nothinging virgin of her heart, or triumph over her inso much at heart as the good of his country, Nobody believes him. When a quack doctor tells you that his nostrum cures all diseases, Nobody believes him. When a boarding-school Miss, in the bud of beauty, declares that she would not for the world take a flight to GretnaGreen, Nobody believes her. I know there are

body, he is owned by Nobody, he is comforted by Nobody; whilst on the other hand, if a villain in high life should rob an unsuspect

nocence

Nobody. He is noticed by Somebody, caressed by Somebody, applauded by Somebody, invited to dine by Somebody, and held out by Somebody as the honestest and worthiest fellow in the universe.

Somebody. Too true.

SELECT ANECDOTES AND SAYINGS OF M. DE CHAMFORT, M. DE LA BEAUMELLE, AND OTHERS.

"I LOVE Society," said one of the French Princesses of the blood royal: 66 every body listens to me, and I listen to nobody."

Great memories, which retain every thing in discriminately, are like masters of inns, and not masters of houses.

A French player, performing at Turin, thus addressed the pit: "Ilustrious strangers."

Locke says, wit consists in distinguishing wherein different objects resemble each other; and judgment consists in distinguishing, wherein objects which resemble each other differ.