tail. This tail is its only means of defence against enemies. When attacked, it often lashes the sea with it until the water is covered with a white foam. The whale can easily knock a boat out of the water with its tail, and dash it to pieces.

9. Whales have also two large fins or paddles, one on each side. These are useful in swimming, and serve the purpose of arms, for when in danger from enemies, the female whale often puts them round its young one, of which it is very fond.

10. The nostrils are situated on the top of the head, and when the animal comes up to breathe, the air from its lungs sends up a mass of water or spray.

11. These whales are very timid creatures naturally, unless when attacked or their young are in danger. The slightest noise, or even a bird alighting on their backs, as they lie on the surface of the water, will frighten them off to the bottom.

Name the largest animal in the world. Where is it found? What is the ordinary length of the whale? What are a number of whales swimming together called? Name the two chief varieties of the whale. How big is the mouth of the Greenland whale? What sort of a throat has this whale? What is its chief food? How does it

obtain its food? What sort of a tail has the whale? What does it use this tail for? How many fins has the whale? Where are the nostrils situated?

THE WHALE.-PART II.

1. The Sperm whale, which is found in the southern seas, differs very much from the Greenland whale. The head, which occupies about one-third the length of the body, and nearly half the whole bulk, is blunter and heavier. It has no whalebone, but in the lower jaw are a number of sharp teeth. Its throat is said to be large enough to admit the body of a man, and it feeds on fish, and squids or cuttle-fishes.

2. The head of this whale contains a large cavity. It is filled with a vast amount of a clear oily fluid, which consists of sperm oil and spermaceti. The latter when pure is a white substance, and is used in making ointment and the best kinds of candles.

3. Whale fishing is carried on by men in ships, which are called "whalers," and are specially fitted up for this purpose. Both kinds of whales are captured much in the same way.

4. When the ships engaged in the Greenland whale fishery arrive at the whaling grounds, as they are called, a very striking scene presents itself to the sailors on board. Large mountains of ice, called icebergs, are seen floating about. Sounds like the firing of cannon are often heard, which are caused

by masses of ice breaking off the icebergs and falling into the sea.

5. On the floating ice around, numerous seals, and sometimes large white bears, can be observed. Every now and then, as the whales come up to breathe or blow, large jets of water are thrown into the air, like the water in a fountain.

6. There is no night in these northern regions during the whaling seasons, or at least it only lasts for an hour or two.

7. The whale is hunted by men in boats which are sent out from the ship. Some whalers take with them six or eight boats. These boats are rowed by four or more sailors. A man called a "harpooner” stands in the bow of each boat, ready to hurl a harpoon with his hand or fire it from a gun at the whale. The harpoon is a short spear to which a very long rope is attached.

8. As soon as a whale comes to the surface to blow, the sailors row rapidly up to it, and the harpooner hurls the weapon into its body. On being wounded, the whale at once lashes the sea with its tail, and makes for the bottom.

9. As it cannot remain very long under the water without coming up to breathe, the sailors in all the other boats are on the alert to look out for it. It has been known to come up just under one of the boats, and to upset it and drown the sailors.

10. When caught, the whale is fastened to the side. of the ship; and the fat, or blubber, as it is also called, which in the Greenland whale is often two or three feet thick, is cut off its back. This is melted

down into oil in furnaces on the deck of the ship, and is put into casks to be brought home. The whalebone is also taken out of its mouth, and the remains are then dropped into the sea.

11. A whaler will continue this fishing until many hundreds of pounds worth of oil and whalebone have been obtained.

12. One kind of whale, called the White whale, which is found on the north-east coast of America, is of a cream colour, and is only about fifteen feet long. It is caught in numbers at the mouths of some of the arctic rivers.

In what does the whale found in the southern seas, differ from the Greenland whale? What has it in the lower jaw? What is the large cavity in the head filled with? What is this oil used for? What are whale ships called? What does the whale do when it comes up to breathe? How is the whale hunted? How many men are in the boats? What is the man that stands in the bow of the boat called? What does he throw? When the whale is dead what is done with it? What becomes of the fat? Where is the White whale found?

1. A bird built her nest in a fair green tree,
In the midst of a beautiful wood;

She lined it with feathers, and made it so soft,
As only a mother could.

2. Primroses grew in the long green grass
At the foot of the chosen tree;

And the scent of sweet violets filled the air, Like odours from Araby.

3. There the daisy, that modest simple flower, With its eye of golden hue,