Page 27 Advertisements Column 2

Otago Witness, Issue 1501, 21 August 1880, Page 27

it ere now. Suffice it to say that a certain temperature, varying according to the thickness of the shell, is required to develop the young within the egg. The time required to develop the young — or, in common language, "hatch the eggs" — varies in different races, but is the same in all birds of the same species. Thus it is from forty to forty«five days for awans, twenty-eight for ducks, twenty-one for hens, about fifteen days for canaries, and only twelve days for the humming-bird. Almost all birds build a nest to receive their eggs, and serve as a dwelling for their little ones, whioh are unprovided with feathers during the early period of life, and which in many cases are very delicate, and quite unable to feed themselves. It is really wonderful to Bee the way in whioh many of their nests are constructed. I have a large collection of nests which were built by our native birds, and though these are not to be compared with the structures of tropical birdß, they are nevertheless quite sufficient to excite our admiration. The prettiest nest that I have in my collection is that of the fantail, a bird not much larger than your thumb. You will remember that I mentioned in the article on "Pishes" that we could link together reptiles and birds under the name of Sauropßida, or lizard-like creatures. Our reason for so doing would be the great likeness between the skulls and limbs of these two classes. No two animals certainly could be more unlike when in life, but compare their skeletons, and the dissimilarity speedily vanishes. The first thing that will strike you, when examining the skeleton of a bird, will be the great size of the breast bone ; and if the skeleton be that of a powerful flyer, you will notice a high ridge or keel running down its centre. This is to give greater strength to the bone, and to provide a solid ground for the great muscles which move the wings. If, however, the skeleton be that of a bird whioh does not fly, like the moa or the ostrich, you will find the breast bone to be without the keel altogether. The size of this keel, then, always gives a good indication of the flying power of the bird. You will notice next, perhaps, that the head is very small, and that the mouth is unpro* vided with teeth. The reason of this is that birds swallow their food whole, and consequently do not need large powerful jaws nor hard and solid teeth, whioh most quadrupeds require, to masticate their food : hence the small size of the head. The pointed beak and tapering head are of great assistance to the bird when on the wing. There are many other points of peculiar interest in the structure of birds, which I will not; have room to touch upon in this article. I would like you to notice the perfection of their respiration ; it is second only to that of in< sects. The air they breathe passes not into their lungs only, but penetrates to the remotest parts of their system, filling their very bones with life, and endowing them with activity and animation adapted to their aerial existence. The classification of birds is founded chiefly upon the modifications that occur in their back and feet — the instruments with which they obtain their food. According to the characters that oan be gathered from these, they are divided Into five sub-classes and twelve orders, eaoh of which I will endeavour to describe at some future time. There are many forms of animal life which are passed unnoticed by young people in general j but where is the boy or girl who will not stop to admire a bird of gay plumage or a sweet songster ? (When I say boy, I do not mean those cruel little creatures who cannot look upon a bird without at the same time looking for a stone.) There is, in fact, no class of animals bo universally admired as birds. Not that they are all of gay plumage, or that they are all musical. On the contrary, there is every variety of plumage, from the little gray lark to the magnificent bird of paradise ; and every variety of tones and qualities of voice from the monotonous morepork to the silvery-toned tui. The words of a well-known poet seem so appropriate that I think I cannot do better than quote them in conclusion : — " Sweet birds, that breathe the spirit of song, And surround heaven's gate in melodious throng, Who rise with the earliest beams of day Your morning tribute of thanks to pay, You remind us that we should likewise raise The voice of devotion and song of praise ; There's something about you that points on high, Ye beautiful tenants of earth and Bky." THE FOUR FRIENDS. " Lovely and pleasant in their lives, and in their death they were not divided." This sentiment, from David's lament over Saul and Jonathan, might have been appropriately Inscribed on the granite cross which marks four graves in Virginia. The occasion of the monument is thuß told : In 1853 four gentlemen entered their sons at a boarding-school at Cokesbury, S. C. They had been for years intimate friends and clergymen in the Methodist Church, These boys remained at this Eohool, room-mates and class-mates, for two years, and entered Wofford College, standing relatively first, second, third, and fourth, in a large clans. They remained at the institution four years, were room-mates all the time, graduating relatively first, second, third, and fourth. They then entered a law office at Spartansburg, and studied law under the same chancellor. The war broke out, and at the call for troops they all entered Jenkins' rifle regiment from South Carolina, and were messmates in the same company. Being near the same height, they stood together as comrades in battle in this regiment, At the second battle of ManassaH, August, 1864, a shell from the enemy's battery fell into the ranks of this company, killed these four boys and none other in the company. They are buried on the battle-field, and sleep together in the Bame grave. Their names were Capers, M'Swain, Smith, and Duncan, and they were the sons of Bishop Capers, Rev. Drs M'Swain, and Smith, of South Carolina, and Rev. Mr Dunoan of Virginia, the laet being a brother of Rev. Dr Duncan of Randolph Macon College. The grave is marked by a granite cross and inclosed with an iron railIng.