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42. The lion and tiger feed on other wild beasts, and tear their prey in pieces. So they have strong forepaws-strong enough to tear a man's shoulder from his body, and .sharp claws on their feet to assist them. Birds of prey, or those birds that feed on other birds, as the kite, the eagle, etc., have crooked and powerful talons or claws, to enable them to seize other birds.

43. The whale is furnished with fins, called oars, instead of fore-feet, which are supported by bones similar to the fore-feet of quadrupeds. They have no hindfeet, but have a thick tail, which has a fin or oar. By means of these fins they sail with great rapidity through the water, and can strike a boat or ship with such force with their tail as to cut it into pieces.

44. The parrot, wood-pecker, and others of that class, have the outward toe on each side turned backward, which enables them to grasp substances more firmly with their claws, and affords them a sure support in climbing. They can cling with great force to the rough bark and branches of the trees.

45. Then there is another class of birds--the goose, duck, pelican, etc., which are called web-footed, because their toes are connected by a web or membrane which fits them for swimming.

46. Their legs are situated far back on their bodies; their feathers are thick, smooth, and oily; their skin under their bodies is covered by a layer of close down,

42. How are the feet of the lion and tiger adapted to their necessities? With what kind of feet are the birds of prey furnished? 43. What serves the whale instead of feet? What enables them to sail in the water? How strong is their tail? 44. What enables the parrot and wood-pecker to climb and support themselves? 45. What are web-footed birds? For what does this construction fit them? 46. How are their legs situated By what is the skin underneath their bodies covered?

BONES OF THE LOBSTER.

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which prevents them from coming in contact with the water; they have long necks, so. that they are enabled to procure their food from the bottom of the water without difficulty. When you see the swan gliding so prettily over the water, think how well adapted she is for her situation!

47. There is one bird, the pelican, that has a bag or pouch in its bill to hold the fishes and worms till it has need for them.

48. The principal bones of some animals are on the outside of the body, and serve as a covering or protection to the other parts, as in the lobster. Lobsters belong to the class of invertebral animals, and have no skeleton or internal bones; but they are covered by a thick shell, which serves them for two purposes-it is a shelter for all the softer parts of the body, and is the instrument of motion.

49. We have bones fitted and joined to enable us to move; but the lobster has not. Instead of them he has a thick shell on his back. This keeps him warm, and prevents his exposure to the rain and the cold; it is a nice and snug house in which he may repose in peace and quietude. You would probably ask if this shell grows in the same manner that our bones increase in size.

50. This shell is incapable of growth. As the animal increases in size, he throws off his old shell to change it for another. When this is cast aside, his soft body is

46. What advantage is their long neck? 47. Where does the pelican put its food? 48. Are the bones always underneath the skin? Describe the bones of the lobster. 49. How do the bones of the lobster differ from ours? Describe the house in which the lobster lives. 50. Does this house ever increase in size? What does the animal do when his shell is too small?

exposed, and remains in a defenceless state; but by instinct—which I shall explain hereafter-he hides himself away in some retired spot, where he can wait in security till a new shell is formed. This is done by a hard substance resembling lime, which is left on the outward surface of the skin by the blood in its circulation, that grows firm and hard, and finally fits over the body and makes a new shell or covering.

51. Insects have no internal skeleton, but are provided with a hard external covering, which serves to support their motions, and protect their organs.. In some it forms a complete shell. In others it consists of a tough muscular coat divided into rings. Clams and oysters have no bones. They are supplied with muscles, which permit them to move, and living in a warm house, they can spend their life answering the end for which they were created.

52. Fishes are covered with a thick, strong skin, and generally have scales arranged over each other, like the shingles of a house. Their bodies are covered with a thin slimy matter, which defends them from the water, and they breathe by means of their gills, through which they take in air.

53. Crocodiles are covered with a thick coat of scales, which are proof against a bullet, or blows of any kind. This covering appears very fine, resembling carved work. The crocodile is from twenty to thirty feet in length, and can run with the speed of a man,

50. How is the new shell formed? 51. Describe the bones of insects? What is their use in different animals? What have clams and oysters instead of bones? How are they enabled to move? 52. Describe the covering of fishes? How do they breathe? 53. Describe the covering of crocodiles. How great is their speed?

BONES OF THE TURTLE.

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and being insensible to blows, is very dangerous. When a person is pursued by one, he can scarcely avoid him in any other way than by making a turn; for they are so long that it is difficult for them to turn their bodies around.

54. The turtle and tortoise have an upper and lower shell, joined at the sides, through which the head, tail, and four extremities extend. The upper shell is formed by the extension and enlargement of the ribs and part of the back-bone, and the lower one by the sternum or breast-bone, so that a part of their skeleton is on the outside of their bodies; the ribs, breast-bone, and vertebræ, forming their shell or covering. Their stomach is simple, their intestines long, and they are capable of going without food for a long time.

55. They are very tenacious of life, have strong muscles, especially in the mouth and throat; for, when they bite anything, they will not open their teeth, even if whipped or beaten with a stick. A turtle once caught a fine little gosling in the water by the wing, and held him fast by the teeth, and would not let him go till some one shot him with a rifle, which stunned him. A person once caught a turtle, cut off his head, and threw it away; but for several days afterward, the body moved around the house as though alive, owing probably to muscular contraction. I might tell a great many interesting facts about different birds and animals, but I must pass on to different subjects.

The bones are covered by a thin substance called

53. How can crocodiles be avoided? 54. Describe the covering of the turtle and tortoise. How is the upper shell formed? How is the lower shell formed? Do they require much food? 55. How strong are their muscles in the mouth and throat? What anecdote is related of a turtle?

periosteum. When this is diseased people have the rheumatism.

56. Perhaps some will say, why do not the joints rub together and prevent their moving? This would be the case if they were not continually moistened by a fluid called synovia, which enables them to move very easily, in the same way that wheels can turn much faster and better when well oiled. If there were nothing to moisten our bones, they would creak, and make as much noise as some carriage-wheels do when not properly oiled.

But the bones and joints alone would not enable us to move in all the various directions we desire; therefore nature has provided us with a great many different muscles for this purpose, as well as to give form and proportion to the body.

57. The following cut represents a man with the muscles which cover the bones, without the skin. The muscle is what we call lean meat. Do not forget, children, when you eat beef-steak, that you are eating the muscles of the ox, which keep his bones together, and enable him to draw the great loads. The muscles are red because they contain blood.

58. They cover the bones, crossing the joints, running along up the limbs, over the back, arms, and neck, and are particularly large and numerous where they are most needed, as in the back, hips, legs, etc., and though

56. By what are the bones covered? What is the rheumatism? Do the joints rub together? What enables them to move easily? What would be the result if the bones were not moistened? What is necessary beside bones and joints for all our motions? What is the office of the muscles? 57. What is represented by the cut? What is muscle? What are the muscles of the ox? Why are the muscles red? 58. How numerous are the muscles?

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