and shows its teeth; the hair stands out from the skin; the tail appears suddenly to increase in size; and the animal utters a harsh and disagreeable growl. Its use in destroying rats and mice is well known. These it seizes suddenly, having watched its opportunity, and concealed its design by slow and stealthy steps. It is so fond of fish, that, much as it dislikes to wet its feet, it has sometimes been known to seek this food in water. It is attached to the places to which it is accustomed, and has been known to travel some miles, and even cross rivers, to return to its own dwelling.

It has the character of loving places more than persons, but if well treated this animal is grateful and affectionate. Pennant relates, that Henry Wriothsley, Earl of Southampton, having been confined for some time in the Tower on a charge of high treason, in the reign of Queen Elizabeth, was surprised by a visit from his favourite cat, which reached him, as it was said, by descending the chimney of his apartment.

The Cat is a very kind mother, and shows much attention to its kittens. It has also been seen to nurse, with great tenderness, the young of other animals, whose nature is different from its own, such as hares and squirrels. The ancient Egyptians, "professing themselves to be wise, became fools," and paid great honours to the Cat. Many embalmed specimens of this animal, in a mummy state, are preserved in the British Museum.

Rom. i. 22.

THIS animal is of the dog tribe; but it is generally larger, and more strong and muscular than the dog. The outward marks of difference, however, are not so strong as those of temper and habits. It has no good qualilities, and has therefore been generally detested and feared. The only part about it of use and value is its skin. The poet Thomson has, in a few words, drawn a just picture of this savage creature:

"Cruel as death, and hungry as the grave;

Burning for blood, boy, and gaunt, and grim!"

In countries where Wolves are numerous, whole droves flock down from the mountains, or out of the woods, and join in the work of havoc and mischief. They attack the sheepfold, enter the villages, and carry off sheep, lambs, hogs, calves, and even dogs. The

horse and the ox are frequently overpowered by their numbers, and man himself sometimes becomes their victim. They are most terrible in winter, when the cold is severe, the snow on the ground, and their usual food difficult to procure. They are found in most countries of the old and new continent. Captain Franklin met with some white wolves in his voyage to the Polar Seas. In Europe their numbers are much diminished, in consequence of the increase of population, and the extension of agriculture. They were once very formidable in England. King Edgar, who began to reign A.D. 959, took great delight in hunting Wolves, and encouraged his subjects to destroy them; and when it appeared that many of them had taken refuge in the woods and mountains of Wales, he changed a heavy tax which had been imposed on one of the Welsh princes into a tribute of 300 wolves' heads.

After this general description, it must be added, that, by care and kindness, Wolves have sometimes been so tamed, and altered in disposition, as to be rendered even affectionate to man. Mr. Bell, in his History of British Quadrupeds, under the description of the Dog, states an interesting case of a Wolf, which, on seeing him and others whom it knew, would come to the front of the cage to be fondled, and bring its young ones forward also, that they might share in the kindness shown towards it.

Reference to the Wolf is made in several passages of Holy Scripture. The first mention of it is in Gen. xlix. 27, in which the dying patriarch Jacob says of his youngest son, "Benjamin shall ravin as a Wolf," &c. a passage which the history of the tribe of Benjamin sufficiently explains. The reader will find other allusions to the same animal in Isaiah xi. 6; Jer. v. 6; Ezek. xxii. 27; Hab. i. 8; Zeph. iii. 3; Matt. x. 16; Luke x. 3; John x. 12; Acts xx. 29.

THE faithful Dog is not only the servant of man, but also his friend and companion. So many good qualities meet in the character of this animal, that volumes full of interesting accounts might be written on its habits and history; and certainly none of the several species surpass the Shepherd's Dog in courage, fidelity, perseverance, and affection for its master.

Some writers have thought that this race is the original one from which all the other varieties of dogs have sprung. Whether Buffon and others be right in this opinion, we will not argue. Certainly the creature before us is of an excellent stock-perhaps it is of the most ancient. Its manners and habits betoken a great degree of intelligence; and even the young dogs of this breed, before they have been trained, appear ready

to perform the services of their elders, or as the shepherds say, "A thorough-bred one will take to them naturally."

The services of the sheep-dog must have been noticed by most of our readers. On the moors and mountainsides of Scotland and Wales, and on the widely-extended downs of Wiltshire, vast numbers of sheep are committed, with confidence, to the care of a single dog. In Scotland, particularly, where the flocks are liable to be lost in snow-wreaths, this watchful guardian is ever on the alert, and almost always successful in preserving its helpless charge from injury. It is interesting also, in the crowded streets of the city of London, and other parts of the metropolis, to observe the quickness with which the drover's dog catches its master's wishes from his looks, and then directs the flock accordingly, or brings the troublesome part of it into order.

The earliest allusion to the Dog in the Sacred Scriptures, occurs during the sojourn of the Israelites in Egypt. " Against any of the children of Israel shall not a dog move his tongue."* It is mentioned in the Mosaic law,† and in other parts both of the Old and New Testament, in a manner which seems to show the contempt and aversion in which this animal was held. For some remarkable instances of this, see 1 Sam. xvii. 43; 2 Kings viii. 13; Ps. xxii. 16, 20, lix. 6, 14; Prov. xxvi. 11, 17; Matt. vii. 6, xv. 26, 27; Phil. iii. 2; 2 Peter ii. 22; Rev. xxii. ii. 15. But it must be remembered that as dogs in the eastern parts of the world were not domesticated, their better qualities did not appear.

*Exod. xi. 7.

+ Exod. xxii. 31.