reptiles in the manner of calling chickens; and
when her father observed, if she continued the practice they would bite
her, the child replied, "No, father, they won't bite me; they only eat the
bread I give them."

[Illustration]

ANECDOTE LXI.

A Domesticated Seal.

A gentleman once succeeded in taming a seal. It appeared to possess all
the sagacity of the dog, lived in its master's house, and ate from his
hand. He usually took it with him in his fishing excursions, upon which
occasions it afforded no small entertainment. When thrown into the water,
it would follow for miles the track of the boat; and although thrust back
by the oars, it never relinquished its purpose. Indeed, it struggled so
hard to regain its seat, that one would imagine its fondness for its
master had entirely overcome the natural predilection for its native
element.

[Illustration]

ANECDOTE LXII.

Retribution.

In a park a fawn, drinking, was suddenly pounced upon by one of the swans,
which pulled the animal into the water, and held it under until quite
drowned. The atrocious action was observed by the other deer in the park,
and did not long go unrevenged; for shortly after this very swan, which
had hitherto never been molested by the deer, was singled out when on
land, and furiously attacked by a herd, which surrounded and presently
killed the offender.

[Illustration]

ANECDOTE LXIII.

Strange Rooks.

In a large north of England town a pair of strange rooks, after an
unsuccessful attempt to effect a lodgment in a rookery at a little
distance from the Exchange, were compelled to abandon the attempt, and to
take refuge on the spire of a building; and although constantly molested
by other rooks, they built their nest on the top of the vane, and there
reared a brood of young ones, undisturbed by the noise of the populace
below them. The nest and its inmates were of course turned about by every
change of the wind. For ten years they continued to build their nest in
the same place, soon after which the spire was taken down.

[Illustration]

ANECDOTE LXIV.

A Singular Foster-Mother.

On an estate in Scotland a terrier had a litter of whelps, which were
immediately taken from her and drowned. The unfortunate mother was quite
disconsolate, until, a few weeks after, she perceived a brood of
ducklings, which she immediately seized and carried to her lair, where she
retained them, following them out