to keep at a distance from the country where the lion is found.

MR. CAMPBell.

I dare say you have seen Nero and Wallace in the wild beast show. These two lions had a combat with dogs some years ago. Nero was so gentle a creature, that the dogs did almost as they pleased with him; but when Wallace was attacked, he made sad havoc among them; managing them as easily as a cat would a parcel of rats. After the fight, I saw Billy, one of the bull-dogs who attacked Wallace, and sad indeed were the scars on his head and body. But we have talked enough about lions; I must, however, mention one remarkable circumstance which is recorded. Lions, when they are suddenly awakened from their slumbers, lose their self-possession, and generally run away in the direction they have been lying in. A man pursued by a lion had got into a tree; the lion laid himself down at the foot of it to wait for him: after waiting a long time, the lion fell asleep, when, by some accident, the man tumbled from the tree upon the lion's back, which so frightened the monster that he ran away with all his might, and thus let the man escape.

ALFRED.

Did any one ever hear of such a thing before?

Why, the man must have been frightened half out

of his senses.

MR. CAMPBELL.

I dare say he was. But now we must bid farewell to lions: fortunately they are a long way from us, and you cannot do better than resolve to keep a long way from them.

ALFRED was too much in earnest in listening to the account of the beasts of the earth not to secure the first opportunity of engaging Mr. Campbell in his interesting narration. "You have not yet given me an account of the camel," said he, laying hold of Mr. Campbell's hand, though I suppose much cannot be said about him: he is an ugly creature, and moves along so lazily that he can do but little good or harm in the world.

MR. CAMPBELL.

Indeed you are much mistaken: I have a great deal to say about this valuable beast. He appears lazy perhaps to you, because you see him in a country unsuited to his habits: but sit down, and

we will talk about him; it is a pleasant thing to turn from lions and tigers to an animal more useful to mankind, The wild beasts of the earth have their uses, for He who created them has created nothing in vain.

The advantages that we derive from the horse and the camel are so great that we could hardly do without them. While it appears an advantage to destroy the lion and tiger, it is undoubtedly our interest to preserve the horse and the camel.

ALFRED.

I do not see that the camel is of any great use. Horses are a great deal bettter for riding, and drawing carts, and waggons, and coaches: what a figure four camels would cut in drawing a mailcoach!

MR. CAMPBELL.

Very true: but camels are not used to draw mail-coaches, but for very different purposes.

ALFRED.

What purposes can they be? I never saw but one camel in my life, and he did nothing but walk about and carry two monkeys, one, dressed in a red jacket, on his back, and another on his head.

MR. CAMPBell.

You must remember that the countries abroad

are very different to this. Those inhabited by the camel are very hot, and have many deserts of hot burning sand, that horses cannot cross without great difficulty; but the camel being so patient and enduring a creature, and being able to live for many days together without water, is capable, not only of passing over the deserts, but of carrying great burdens across them also. In such countries the people could no more do without the camel than we can do without the horse.

ALFRED.

O do, Sir, tell me all about the camels, and the sandy deserts, and why people go across such places? tell me everything belonging to them.

MR. CAMPBELL.

That would be rather a difficult matter to do, but I will tell you enough to make you think better of the camel than you appear to think at present. There are different kinds of camels, one large, having but one bunch on his back; this creature will sometimes carry a thousand pounds' weight; another, smaller kind, with two bunches on his back; there is also a more slender and swift kind of camel, called a dromedary; some of this sort have one bunch on their backs, others have two; these dromedaries will travel, when required, a hundred miles in a day; now it is a good horse that will travel fifty.