an inch on the other portions of the body. Yet, in spite of its enormous thickness and its tough quality, it is quite pliable when seen on the living beast, and accommodates itself easily to all its movements.

8. The hippopotamus is, as the import of its name, river horse, implies, most aquatic in its habits. It generally prefers fresh water, but it is not at all averse to the sea, and will sometimes prefer salt water to fresh. It is an admirable swimmer and diver, and is able to remain below the surface for a very considerable length of time. When young, it takes its stand on its mother's neck, and is borne by her above or through the water, as experience may dictate or necessity require.

9. There are various modes of hunting this mischievous but valuable animal, each of which is in vogue in its own particular region. The pitfalls above mentioned are universal throughout the whole hippopotamus country, and lure many an animal to its destruction without needing any care or superintendence on the part of the men who set the

snare.

10. There is also the "down-fall," a trap which consists of a log of wood, weighted heavily at one end, to which extremity is loosely fixed a spear-head well treated with ' poison. This terrible log is suspended over some hippopotamus path, and is kept in its place by a slight cord which crosses the path, and is connected with a catch or trigger. As soon as the animal presses the cord, the catch is liberated, and down comes the armed log, striking the poisoned spear deep into the poor beast's back, and speedily killing it by the poison, if not from the immediate effects of the wound.

11. The white hunter of course employs his rifle and finds that the huge animal affords no easy mark, as, unless it is hit in a mortal spot, it dives below the surface and makes good its escape. Mortal spots, moreover, are not

easy to find, or, when found, to hit; for the animal soon gets cunning after it has been alarmed, and remains deeply immersed in the water as long as it is able; and when it at last comes to the surface to breathe, it only just pushes its nostrils above the surface, takes in the required amount of air, and sinks back again to the river bed. Moreover, it will often be so extremely wary, that it will not protrude even its mouth in the open water, and looks out for some reeds or floating substances which may cover its movements while breathing.

12. As a general rule, it is found that the most deadly wound that can be given to a hippopotamus is on the nose, for the animal is then unable to remain below the surface, and consequently presents an easy mark to the hunter. A heavy ball just below the shoulder always gives a mortal wound, and in default of such a mark being presented, the eye or the ear is a good place to aim at.

Wood.

CXL. THE MONTHS.

state, to set forth; festseßen.

pu-ri-fi-ca'-tion, cleaning; Reinigung.

stat'-ure, the height of the human body; Leibesgröße; Statur. re-fer', to relate; to point; sich beziehen; hinweisen.

res-ur-rec ́-tion, the rising again from the dead; Auferstehung. der-i-va'-tion, the tracing of a word from its root; Ableitung. ex-cel', to surpass; sich auszeichnen.

lus^-ti-ly, in a lusty or vigorous manner; lustig.

van'-i-ty, worthlessness; Nichtigkeit.

pre-cede', to go before; vorhergehen.

mer ́-it, goodness or excellence entitling to reward; Verdienst.

1. Come, ye months of the year, gather around me, and tell me all about your names, your general appearance and humors. Ye have lived a long time in this world, though each of you counts but a limited number of days. So speak

out freely, for ye must be able to give the requested information. Which shall be first?

2. I, January; for I am the first born amongst my brothers. Be it stated in the beginning, that we all owe our names to the old Romans, and that with all civilized nations of this time we bear our old Latin names, slightly altered in spelling and pronunciation, according to the spirit of the different languages.

3. The old heathen Romans worshiped many gods, amongst which was Janus, the god of time. He was represented with two faces, an old one, looking backward, and a young one, looking forward. In honor to this god my name was given to me, which therefore means "the month of Janus," and I was placed at the beginning of the year because Janus seemed to look with one face into the new year, and with the other back to the old one.

4. While I step over the earth, the ground is covered with snow, and bitter frost builds icy bridges over rivers, ponds, and lakes. Yet I am a great favorite with old and young, for then sleighing and skating abound, and my long evenings unite the family around the blazing fire.

5. I am the second month of the year, and my name is February. This means "the month of purification," (from the Latin word for "I cleanse,") because from the 18th to 28th day of my rule the Romans used to offer up sacrifices, in the hope of purifying themselves from their sins.

6. You must not mind that I am somewhat short in stature, for I can boast of almost all things that my older brother accomplishes, and every fourth year, when I have my boots new-heeled, I am nearly as long as the rest are.

7. I, the third month, am called March, after Mars, the Roman god of war. At a time I have been the first month of the Roman calendar. I introduce spring, and, therefore, I am generally very welcome when I show myself on earth.

8. Now it is my turn! Make room for merry April. My

name denotes "the opening month," from the Latin word meaning "to open," for I open, as it were, the ground, so that grass, and herbs, and flowers may appear, and the buds of the trees begin to swell. Very often I open the windows of the skies, too, and have the earth sprinkled by abundant showers.

9. I am the only month that bears a name referring to the appearance of nature. In my train is mostly found Easter, that great festival of the Church, which is celebrated in remembrance of the resurrection of Christ.

10. Now let me speak, for I see brother May hesitates, and very likely he would not say much about himself, though he is the loveliest of us all. You must know, he is a little bashful. The derivation of his name and that of mine, June, is somewhat uncertain. Some think that we have been named in honor to the Majores and Juniores, two classes of senators in ancient Rome.

11. My brother excels in mild and most pleasant weather. While he rules, the earth is dressed in her most splendid verdure, the corn begins to grow, and thousands of little birds build their nests, and fill the air with their merry twitterings. Either he or I bring Pentecost, the church festival of the descent of the Holy Ghost,

12. My days are a good deal warmer than those of my brother's, (indeed, the warmest season of the year, summer, begins in them,) in consequence of which a variety of berries and early fruits ripen, and many roses and other flowers are to be seen in their fullest bloom.

13. Well, brother, haven't you prattled long enough now? You have kept me waiting a good time for my turn to speak, though I am possessed of only a little patience. You must all know that my temper is the hottest. So you will not wonder, hereafter, when you see the flashing of my looks, and hear the roaring of my voice, commonly called by man a thunderstorm.

14. I am the farmer's friend, for I fill his barns with ample store of wheat and hay, whilst the inhabitants of cities are glad of being able to flee from my fervent looks to the refreshing breezes of the sea-coast, or hide themselves in the cool shade of a country seat.

15. The greatest honor is done to me in this country on the fourth day of my rule. Then the houses are decorated with flags, and all kinds of frolics are going on. I think I don't need to tell you why?-My name July was given to me in honor of Julius Cæsar, a celebrated Roman general and statesman.- Next!

16. My story is soon told. I am the eighth month, and bear my name August from Octavianus Augustus, the first emperor of old Rome. There is no great difference between me and brother July, as we are exactly of the same length, and have many another trait in common. So you may speak, September.

17. I and all the rest of us have our names from Latin numerals; viz., septem, octo, novem, decem, meaning seven, eight, nine, ten. My name, therefore, denotes "the seventh month." But you are the ninth, I hear you say. Very true, I only beg you to remember that March told you that he once used to begin the year, and from the place we then held in the calendar, our names originated.

18. While I command, the weather becomes less warm, for with me comes that beautiful season called autumn. Apples, pears, grapes, and other fruits are gathered in field and garden, and the leaves begin to change their color, and prepare for falling.

19. And I, October, shake them down from their airy seats, when I breathe lustily through the land. I sing to man the song of the vanity of all earthly things, and earnestly remind him of the time of his own "fall."

20. With me, November, comes commonly a short season of fair, mild weather, known by the name of the Indian sum