Farewell, dear boy! IfI might weave thy web of future

fate,

Cast out each dull and darkening line-how bless'd should be thy state!

But may'st thou meet the future still more grateful for the past!

And what I've sung thy first birth-day-remember to thy last!-Swain.

MOSSES.

MOSSES are almost constantly green, and have the finest verdure in Autumn. Some of the mosses spread in a continued leaf; others grow hollow above, like small cups; others round on the top, like mushrooms; and some shoot out in branches. All these have their different seeds, which do not require great delicacy of soil, but take root on any thing where they can grow unmolested. Those mosses which rise immediately from the earth are more perfect; some of them white and hollow, or fistulous; and some of them not much inferior to regular plants. The more perfect sorts grow on stones, in the form of a fine pile or fur, like velvet, and of a glossy colour, between green and black. But the first sort, which appears like scurf or crust, seems to rise but one degree above the unwrought mould or earth.

The commonest weed, when met with in unexpected situations, or when cultivated in countries where it is not indigenous, oftens becomes an object of great interest. It is related by the traveller, Park, that, when wandering on the African desert, worn out and fatigued and almost disposed to lie down in despair, his attention was attracted by a little moss-one which he had, probably, often seen before, and passed by unnoticedgrowing in the wide waste, without companions of any species, and that, on contemplating it, he was arrested by the thought, that, if the Almighty supported this insignificant plant in the desert, and caused it to put forth its leaves and fruit, why should he despond, or once give way to the sentiment that no protecting or guiding arm was near? From reflections such as these he was

stimulated to proceed, until he at length reached a refreshing oasis, where his strength was recruited.

"Whatever way I turned," says Park, "nothing appeared but danger and difficulty. I saw myself in the midst of a vast wilderness; in the depth of the rainy season, naked and alone, surrounded by savage animals, and men still more savage. I was five hundred miles from the nearest European settlement. At this moment, painful as my reflections were, the extraordinary beauty of a small moss in fructification irresistibly caught my eye. I mention this to show from what trifling circumstances the mind will sometimes derive consolation; for, though the whole plant was not larger than the top of one of my fingers, I could not contemplate the delicate conformation of its roots, leaves, and capsula, without admiration. Can that Being, thought I, who planted, watered, and brought to perfection, in this obscure part of the world, a thing which appears of so small importance, look with unconcern upon the situation and sufferings of creatures formed after his own image? Surely not. I started up, and disregarding both hunger and fatigue, travelled forward, assured that relief was at hand, and I was not disappointed."

THE MOSS IN THE DESERT.

AH! lovely flower, what care, what power,
In thy fair structure are displayed
By Him who reared thee to this hour
Within the forest's lonely shade!
Thy tender stalk and fibres fine

Here find a shelter from the storm;
Perhaps no human eyes but mine
E'er gazed upon thy lovely form.
The dew-drop glistens on thy leaf,
As if thou seem'st to shed a tear;
As if thou know'st my tale of grief;
Felt all my sufferings severe.
But, ah! thou know'st not my distress,
In danger here from beasts of prey,
And robbed of all I did possess

By men more fierce by far than they.

Nor canst thou ease my burdened sigh,
Nor cool the fever at my heart,
Though to the zephyrs passing by

Thou dost thy balmy sweets impart.
Yet He that formed thee, little plant!
And bade thee flourish in this place,
Who sees and feels my every want,

Can still support me by His grace.
Oft has His arm, all strong to save,
Protected my defenceless head
From ills I never could perceive,

Nor could my feeble hand have stayed.
Then will I still pursue my way,

O'er this wild desert's sun-burnt soil,
To where the ocean's swelling spray
Washes my longed-for native isle.-Letham.

THE MANTIS, OR WALKING LEAF.

THE most curious insect I ever met with is that called the Walking-leaf. It has four wings; the two upper are membranous, or like parchment; the two lower folding the body. It has six legs: the front or foremost, serrated or toothed like a saw, and ending in a single nail, which seems not intended to assist the animal in walking, but to use as arms. The four hinder are properly its legs, and help it forward, though with a very awkward motion. The elytra, or cover of the wings, is generally a bright green, fading into a brown or yellowish hue, and so nearly resembles the foliage of a plant in its stages, that it has obtained for the insect the name of the walking leaf. But that which gives it its most striking characteristic is the structure of its head. That part which, in other insects, is generally a flat immovable breast, is in this elongated into a flexible neck: to this its head is lightly attached, so that it has the power of turning it in different directions.

There are numerous species of this insect, but they all present an appearance so singular and habits so extraordinary, that they seem to be endued with qualities superior to almost any other animated being; and such has

been the effect on vulgar and ignorant minds, that they ascribe to them powers and properties almost supernatural. There is a gravity in his motions, a wisdom in his aspect, and a sage and deliberate character in the manner in which he moves his head, that it has obtained for him the name of Mantis, or soothsayer, many of whose qualities are ascribed to him, and he is actually believed to possess them. He reposes deliberately on his hind legs, like an animal in a sitting posture, and then he raises one or both of his fore legs like arms in such a way, with the nail projecting, that he looks exactly like a human being, pointing with his finger to some object to which he directs the attention, and at one time he is supposed to be intimating a future event, and then he is called the Diviner, and consulted like an oracle. At another he is thought to be pointing out the right path to a traveller; and in countries where the insect is found, particularly among the superstitious peasantry of the south of France, when a traveller loses his way, he searches among the bushes for a Mantis to direct him. On some occasions, when he is sought after, he suddenly contrives to elude his pursuers, and disappears. Hence he is supposed to be gifted with supernatural powers to deceive and escape from his enemy, and he is called the Invisible. He lives for a length of time without food, light, or air, even longer than most insects, and from this tenacity of life, he is called the Immortal.

From the various and curious accounts I had heard, I was very desirous to examine them in their native state, and be an eye-witness to their motions and habits. Whenever I was in a country where they are found, I always procured some, and so had an opportunity. The first place I saw one was near Ephesus, in Asia Minor. We were taken prisoners, and detained all night on the banks of a river, by a party of Turks, and they accidentally set fire with their pipes to some dry reeds and bushes which covered the ground about us. As the fire advanced, the grass and leaves seemed endued with animation, and to be moving from it. On looking a little closer, I found what I thought was vegetable matter, had really life. The humid soil and great heat of the climate had pro

duced a vast number of insects in this place, and among them several kinds of Mantis, who were disturbed by the fire, and instinctively moving from it. Their motions were very grave and deliberate. After moving a little way, they stopped and looked back, as if to see whether the fire was advancing to them, and then walked on again. I brought away with me a large one, which exactly resembled a branch with a leaf attached to each side, and I kept him a long time at the palace at Constantinople, watching his motions, which exactly resembled what I had heard of them. He sometimes held up his fore-feet, with his head raised, as if in the act of prayer; and sometimes he would turn and look up to me in the same attitude, as if entreating me to let him go. I caught another on a pine tree in an island of the sea of Marmora, which was endued with a faculty of distinguishing sounds, and was attracted or repelled as they were agreeable or disagreeable. He was standing on a table, when a lady in the room struck a pianoforte. He started, turned his head in the direction of the sound, and astonished every one present by actually raising and letting fall one of his fore-feet, as if beating time to the music. On another occasion I was exhibiting the insect to a friend in my apartments, and turned round to call his attention to some curious motions it was making. When I looked again it was gone, as if it rendered itself invisible at the moment I took my eyes from it. We searched every where, but could find no trace of it, though it was as large as a bird. A few days after it re-appeared, and I found it clinging to the wall.

They seem to possess different faculties or habits in different countries. I never saw those I had in the East point out the way; but I did in the West. One day I lost my way on the side of the Corcovado mountain, in Brazil. This mountain abounds with curious and beautiful insects, and negroes are frequently sent out by their masters with gauze nets to catch them. I met a party, and inquired the road. One of them had caught a Mantis, and motioned me to ask him. I did so, and the insect actually lifted up one of its fore-feet, and seemed to point to a path in the forest, with its long finger-like claw. The negro said,