BIRDS, Father.

Yes; and these are more in number than quadrupeds. And how admirable is their clothing! All the power in the world could not have formed a feather. What a warm garment is that of a bird, and yet how light! Near the skin, the feathers consist of fine down; those employed in flight, are strong and hollow, that they may be light and suited to the purpose.

And birds, Father, have a little vessel of oil, to rub over their feathers, to keep them smooth, and to prevent the rain from penetrating into them; I often see the fowls in our yard, and our canary bird, spreading this oil.

This is a wonderful provision; and the fowls which live much in the water, have a large supply of it. These also have webbed feet, to enable them to swim; whilst other birds have feet which enable them to cling to the branches of the trees.

The nests of birds, Father, are very surprising.

They are, Frank; that of the wren, which we noticed in our late walk, was very beautiful, and a large building too, for such a little creature; and how suitable, since she lays a great number of eggs, and her body is so small, that it will not cover them all A

once..

The rook's nest, which was in the tree the storm rooted up in the park, was not warm, and it was all made of little bits of stick.

The rook is a large bird; it lays but four or five eggs, and these she can readily keep

warm.

How many eggs, Father, does one of our hens lay?

I can't tell you, Frank; I believe though, that if a hen should have plenty of food, she would lay nearly one hundred. This is a very kind appointment of Providence, that whilst birds of prey produce only a few young in a season, those which are useful to man, bring forth a large number. But let

us notice your third class.

AMPHIBIOUS ANIMALS, Father, or animals which live both on the land, and in the wa

ter.

Generally, they are of little, and many of them of no value to man; as the alligator, the frog, the otter, the river horse, and some others.

But the fourth class, FISHES, Father, are of the greatest service.

They are; they furnish through all the year an abundance of wholesome and palatable food. It is a perpetual harvest, provi ded immediately by God, without the care of man; he has only to reap the abundant

treasure.

The fins of the fish are as wings to them, with which they fly through the mighty waters; and many of them so swiftly, that they can easily get before a vessel in full sail. Their numbers are, in a very high degree, astonishing; let us only notice one instance, though many others of a like,kind might be easily named; pilchards are often so numereus on the coast of Cornwall, that they are not only eaten and salted, but are sold at a very low rate in vast quantities to manure the ground.

But INSECTS and REPTILES, are the most numerous of all the varied tribes of being. One class is destitute of wings; a second, have two; a third, have four; and a fourth, have wings, and spring from worms; and a fifth class is more wonderful than all the rest, it has the power of self-multiplication; I refer to the Polypi. If one should be cut into twenty pieces, each piece would become a separate and perfect animal.

This is indeed astonishing, Father.

It is. Insignificant as these little creatures appear, insects are often very formida ble; you have seen the cattle running wildly and in great anguish, goaded on by an insignificant fly..

I was reading about the locusts in the little book you gave me, and there it is said, that in the east they darken the sun, over

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run the whole country, and eat up every green thing..

They were one of the plagues of Egypt, and a dreadful plague indeed they must have been. With what infinite ease God can chastise a guilty people!

But what can be the use, Father, of such immense quantities of flies?

I cannot altogether tell you. In general, they furnish food for many of the creatures, which are beneficial to man; they also seek out and devour, every thing of a putrid and offensive nature; they are the scavengers of creation. No doubt they are serviceable in some way or other; perhaps as much so as the cochineal insect, which furnishes a rich crimson dye, if we were fully acquainted with them. God is too wise to have made any thing in vain. The smallest no less than the greatest, display his power, wisdom, and goodness, and suggest many inquiries to which no satisfactory answer can be given.

CONVERSATION IV.

THE NUMBER OF GOD'S WORKS.

You were pleased with the sermon this morning, were you not, Frank? You were very attentive.

I was, Father; yet I wish Mr. F. had said more on one part of his subject. To which do you refer ?

After he had quoted his text, he said that the works of God are innumerable; I wish that he had illustrated this part of his subject.

The remarks he made were judicious; it is impossible to bring all we might wish into one discourse. He amply proved his principal point, that wisdom is displayed in all the works of the divine hand.

But the text, Father, says, that they are manifold, as well as made in wisdom.

And so they are; and can't you illustrate this part of the subject yourself?

With your aid, Father, perhaps I can. Well, let us try. First, examine what is within the earth on which you tread; can you tell me what is to be found there?

I should not have thought of those, Father, though there are a great many. There is the soil on its surface; and gravel, for