Queer Conveyances.

Otago Witness, Issue 1752, 20 June 1885, Page 27

Queer Conveyances.

Some birds are known to fly long distances, carrying other birds on their backs. Small birds take passage across the Mediterranean Soa on the backs of larger and stronger ones. They could not fly so far. Their strength would give out, and they would drop iq the water. Along the northern ohore of the sea in autumn the little birds assemble to wait the coming of cranes from the north, as people wait for 'the train at a railroad station. With the first cold blast tho cianeo arrive flock after (look. Thoy fly low over the cultivated fialds. They utter a peculiar cry, as of warning or calliug. It answers the aamo purpose as the ringing of the bBJI when the train is about to start. Tho small birds understand it ; they get excited. They hasten aboard, scrambling for places. The first co come get the best seats. If the passengers aro too many some will have to flit back again to the hedges until the next train. How they chatter thoir good-byea to those who go aud those who stay. Thoy have no tickets, but all tha same tbey are conveyed safely. Doubtless the great birds like this warm covering for their backs. la this way the small birds pay their fare. And it is these last who must be out in the wet if it storms. The little passengers are of different species, like Americans, 1 risih, Germans, and Chinese travelling together in cars or steamships. Thoir journoy takes thorn through the air, hi#h above the waters. They ar.e close companions on tho way. By-and-bye they reach tho beautiful South country. There they build vests and sing, as thoy build hero and sing for us in our happy summer timo. Surely it is plain that God cares for the sparrows.— Exchange.

Tnß Skin op lN3Ecrs,— The skin or outer cover of the insect consists of tha cuticle, not ooroparable with any part of tb.9 skig of a

vertebrate, and underlying" tissues. Th&cuticl® co iplsts of two vary distinct!; la-yero — one thick and transparent, tha other, in ■which alao pigfrnent is dnvelopod, thin and opaque. The pigutent in disposed in beautiful microscopic marking*, differing in different spocies, A Fjiog's IsstiiSot — 'A writer in Nature says : "Lv.t night I rescuod a frog from fche ci''i.vs of a' oat, aud to my groat surprise ifc turuocl, and after gazing at me for a few ceccuda, jumped slightly towarda raa, Salting after each leap and looking (up into my face. Tt. thu3 gradually approached, and in about two or tbreo minutes had actually climbed tipon obo of my feat, Its mute appo&l for protection was moat ranarkable, aud could not be misundoratoosl.''