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upon the left hand pendulum, and the same results will be obtained.

You will now understand how bodies that are like one another repel each other; and how unlike or dissimilar bodies attract each other.

8. To make an electrical sportsman.Make a small Leyden jar, as directed at page 139 of vol. 1, of the New Series, and have a stand turned for it to fit into as in the accompanying figure. Take a stout

piece of brass wire, and bend about threequarters of an inch of one end of it to a right angle; insert the straight piece into the stand of the Leyden jar, as shown in the figure; and take care that the end of the wire touches the tinfoil of the jar. Fasten the jar into the stand with a little liquid glue, but be sure that the jar does not fit too tight, because the wood is apt to contract and break the jar. To prevent this, fix the jar with some thin slips of cork, before you cement it into the stand. Carve a figure out of a piece of wood representing a man firing, as in the figure, or procure one like it. Paste a narrow strip of tinfoil, long enough to reach from the point of the gun along its whole length, inside the right arm over the right shoulder and down the back and right leg to the centre of the wooden stand upon which he is placed. Fasten the tinfoil on in the direction mentioned, and having placed a wooden stand upon the bent end of the brass wire connected with the Leyden jar, glue the sportsman to the stand, and connect the tinfoil fastened to him with the end of the brass wire. Affix a small brass knob upon the end of toe gun, or a brass tack with a large head;

in either case the brass at the end of the gun must be connected with the tinfoil extending to the stand. Solder a brass knob to the end of a piece of brass wire about nine inches long, and, having bent it to a convenient shape, place it in the cover of the Leyden jar, so that the knob shall be brought a very short distance from the point of the gun. Solder another knob upon a piece of brass wire eighteen inches long, bend the wire as in the figure, pass the small end through the cover of the jar, and then bend it up so as to make a small hook, to which you must attach a piece of brass chain long enough to touch the bottom of the jar. Cut some pieces of elder-pith into the shape of the bodies of pigeons, and then stick two small feathers into each for the wings; pass a fine silk thread through the body of each pigeon, and fasten the other ends to the under-part of the brass knob, by means of a fine piece of brass wire.

When this apparatus is used, a chain is connected at one end to the wire upon which the birds are placed, and at the other with the prime conductor of the electrical-machine, which is then turned, and the birds instantly rise, but fall, as if shot, as soon as the jar is discharged.

EVERYTHING FROM THE SOIL.-All the artists, manufacturers, and commercialists of the world are employed on the produce of the soil, and on that only. The watchmaker and the anchorsmith, the clothier and the lacemaker, the goldsmith and the lapidary, are all, and each of them, equally engaged in one object; namely, that of rendering the productions of the earth subservient to the use and convenience of man. The stock of every warehouse and shop, the furniture of every mansion and cottage, all implements and utensils, may easily be traced to the same origin. Even the books of the scholar, and the ink and quill through whose means he communicates his thoughts to others, are derived from the same source as the material on which the naval and civil architect exercises his ingenuity and skill. The loftiest spire and the smallest needle are both the effects of labour and skill exercised on the soil.

HABITS OF BIRDS EXPLAINED.

Why are birds usually classed according to the forms of their bills and feet?

Because those parts are connected with their mode of life, food, &c., and influence their total habit very materially.-Blumenbach.

Why have birds little power of suction?

Because of the narrowness and rigidity of their tongue; as may be seen when they drink, having to hold up their heads and depend upon the weight of the water for transmitting it into the craw.-Rennie.

Why are birds said to be "poised" in the air? Because the centre of gravity of their bodies is always below the insertion of their wings, to prevent them falling on their backs, but near that point on which the body is, during flight, as it were, suspended. The positions assumed by the head and feet are frequently calculated to accomplish these ends, and give to the wings every assistance in continuing the progressive motion. The tail also is of great use, in regulating the rise and fall of birds, and even their lateral movements.-Fleming.

Why do birds fly?

Because they have the largest bones of all animals, in proportion to their weight; and their bones are more hollow than those of animals that do not fly. Air-vessels also enable them to blow out the hollow parts of their bodies, when they wish to make their descent slower, rise more swiftly, or float in the air. The muscles that move the wings of birds downwards, in many instances, are a sixth part of the weight of the whole body; whereas, those of a man are not in proportion one hundredth part so large.

Why are birds covered with feathers?

Because, by this addition to the nonconducting appendices of the skin, birds are enabled to preserve the heat, generated in their bodies, from being readily transmitted to the surrounding air, and carried off by its motions and diminished temperature.-Fleming.

Why are the strongest feathers of birds in the pinions and tail?

Because the pinion-feathers may form, when the wing is expanded, as it were, broad fans, by which the bird is enabled to raise itself in the air and fly whilst its tail-feathers direct its course. -Blumenbach.

:

Why do birds moult?

Because they may be prepared for winter; this change being analogous to the casting of hair in quadrupeds. During summer, the feathers of birds are exposed to many accidents. Not a few spontaneously fall; some of them are torn off during their amorous quarrels; others are broken or damaged; whilst, in many species, they are pulled from their bodies to line their nests. Hence, their summer dress becomes thin and suitable. Previous to winter, however, and immediately after incubation and rearing of the young is finished, the old feathers are pushed off in succession by the new ones, and thus the greater part of the plumage of the bird is renewed.-Fleming.

Why do birds sing?

Because of the receptacles of air already mentioned but particularly by the disposition of the Farynx, which in birds is not, as in mammifera

and amphibia, placed wholly at the upper end of the windpipe; but, as it were, separated into two parts, one placed at each extremity. Parrots, ravens, starlings, bullfinches, &c., have been taught to imitate the human voice, and to speak some words: singing birds also, in captivity, readily adopt the song of others, learn tunes, and can even be made to sing in company, so that it has been possible actually to give a little concert by several bullfinches. In general, however, the song of birds in the wild state appears to be formed by practice and imitation.-Blumenbach.

Why do the notes of different species of birds vary?

Because, probably, of the structure of the organs of each species enabling them more easily to produce the notes of their own species, than those of any other, and from the notes of their own species being more agreeable to their ears. These conditions, joined to the facility of hearing the song of their own species, in consequence of frequenting the same places, determine the character of the acquired language of the feathered tribes.-Fleming.

Why are birds equally dispersed in spring over the face of the country?

Because, during that amorous season, such a jealousy prevails between the male birds, that they can hardly bear to be seen together in the same hedge or field. Most of the singing and elation of spirits, of that time, seem to be the effect of rivalry and emulation-G. White.

Why is August the most mute month, the Spring, Summer, and Autumn through?

Because many birds which become silent about Midsummer, reassume their notes in Septembe:; as the thrush, blackbird, woodlark, willow-wrel', &c.-G. White.

Why do birds congregate in hard weather?

Because, as some kind of self-interest and selfdefence is, no doubt their motive, may it not arise from the helplessness of their state in such rigorous seasons; as men crowd together, when under great calamities, they know not why. Perhaps approximation may dispel some degree of cold; and a crowd may make each individual appear safer from the ravages of birds of prey and other damages.-G. White.

Why do we so often fail in rearing young birds? Because of our ignorance of their requisite food. Every one who has made the attempt, well knows the various expedients he has resorted to, of boiled meats, bruised seeds, hard eggs, boiled rice, and twenty other substances that Nature never presents, in order to find a diet that will nourish them; but Mr. Montagu's failure, in being able to raise the young of the curl-bunting, until he discovered that they required grasshoppers, is a sufficient instance of the manifest necessity there is for a peculiar food in one period of the life of birds.—Knapp.

Why have most nocturnal birds large eyes and ears?

Because large eyes are necessary to collect every ray of light, and large concave ears to command the smallest degree of sound or noise. Why do stale eggs float upon water?

Because, by keeping, air is substituted for a portion of the water of the egg, which escapes.Prout.

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THE WORK-TABLE FRIEND.'

THE IVY.

Materials.-3 shades of green wool (2 skeins of each); I skein of black ditto; 1 reel of cannetille, and 1 of thicker wire.

FOR THE LARGEST LEAF.-With the darkest wool make a chain of 16; take a long piece of cannetille (about 12 inches), bend the wire underneath the last chain, leaving a piece for the stem, and crochet down the chain; over the wire 1 Sc, 1 Sdc, 9 Dc, 4 Sdc; bend the wire back, so as to work up the same side, 1 Sc, 1 Sde; turn the leaf in your hand, and bend the wire down; make 8 Ch; turn, and on the chain do 7 Sc, which will bring you to the wire at the end of the leaf; work down over the wire 12 Sdc; again bend the wire, and crochet over it 4 Sc, 4 Sdc, 8 Dc, 1 Sde, 1 Sc. Bend the wire down, and crochet 2 Sc, 5 Sdc. Make 9 chain, on which do 8 Sc. Then work down the remainder of the leaf 7 Dc, 2 Sdc, 2 Sc; turn back, and work up the leaf 6 Sc, 5 Sde, 5 Dc, 1 Sde; again bend the wire

down, and work over it 4 Sc, 16 Sdc, which will bring you back to the beginning the leaf. Take a slip-stitch, and fastes off.

All the leaves are done in the same way, only with a smaller number of stitches; the lightest shades of the wool being used for the smallest leaves. Each leaf is done separately, the ends of the wire being twisted together, and covered closely with the same wool as the leaf itself is made of, for which purpose about half yard should be left at the end of every leaf.

When the last and smallest leaf is made, a piece of the thicker wire should be held in with the ends, and covered with them. It is to be long enough to mount all the leaves upon. These are attached in the usual way, by having the ends of wire held to the main stem, and the wool wound round them all together. In covering stem with wool, the tint should be gra dually changed from the lightest to the darkest. Indeed, generally speaking, the shades selected for the foliage of the same

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and red over the red and black. stitches on the needle and take a third

of last row,
Do not break off black.

15th Row.-All red.

Knitted.
Purled.

1 red and 1 black alter

16th Row.-All red. 17th Row. nately.

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19th and 20th Rows.-All yellow. 21st Row-Fasten on the dark green, 4 yellow, 2 green, + repeat.

22nd Row.+ 2 yellow over 2 green, 2 green, 2 more yellow, + repeat. Fasten on purple, without breaking off the green. 23rd Row.+ 3 yellow which come over the 2 green of the 21st row, and one yellow beyond, 3 purple, coming over one yellow, and 2 green of 22nd row, + repeat. 24th Row.+ 3 purple over 3 yellow, 3 yellow over 3 purple, + repeat. off the purple.

Fasten

25th Row.+yellow on the 3 yellow, and the next purple, green on the other 2 purple.

26th Row. This row being purled, do two green before the two green of last row, and all the others yellow.

27th and 28th Rows.-All yellow. Break off green.

29th Row. Join on the red. 1 yellow and 1 red alternately. Fasten off the yellow, and join on the black.

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45th Row. + 1 red on the black before the one white, 1 black on white, 1 white on yellow, I yellow on black, 1 black on red, repeat.

46th Row. + Black on the white and yellow, red on all the others. + repeat. 47th and 48th Rows.-All red.

49th Row. -+ 1 red, 1 yellow, + repeat.

50th Row.+ 1 Black on yellow, 1 yellow on red + repeat.

51st and 52nd Rows.-All black.

Cast off these 65 stitches, with the 65 left on a needle at the 38th row, knitting a stitch from each needle together. You will thus join up the front of the foot. Now take up stitches at the instep edge of the stripe down the front of the foot, and with three needles form them into a round, taking a fourth to knit with.

1st Round of the instep.- 1 Black, 1

30th Row. Black over red, red over yellow alternately. yellow.

31st and 32nd Rows.-All black.

33rd Row. Join on the dark green, + red, 1 black, 2 green, 3 black, + repeat. 34th Row.+black over the 3 black and the 2 green, green cver the one black, 2 white on 2 red, 1 red on red, repeat. Fasten off green.

35th Row. + Black over last red, 1 red on white, 1 white on white, 1 red on green, 5 black on black, +.

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2nd Round.- 1 Red on every yellow, 1 yellow on every black.

3rd Round.-All red. Continue all red. 4th Round. +knit 2 together, pass the wool over the needle twice to make a stitch, + repeat all round.

5th Round.- Knit all round, treating the two threads round the needle as one stitch.

6th Round.-Purled. Cast off.

FOR THE TOE. With a fine needle take up the edge of the two sloping pieces at the toe, from the last green row to the ends of the 38th row. Let there be one stitch taken up on the green stripe, 9 on the red, and the same on the yellow, with 7 on the black.

With one of the coarse needles, take up 9 stitches at the front of the foot. Join on the black wool, and knit 8 of these 9 stitches on the right side of the slipper,

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