take of one of the most universal habits
of animal life--the love of frolic?--a desire which is equally as diffused
throughout the living creation as the inclination for fighting. A shoal or
"school" of beautiful unicorns also swam past our vessel at this time; they
were particularly large, and, from the numerous horns projected from the
water, there must have been many males amongst them. They swim, dive, rise,
and blow, much like other whales, throwing up their tails when scared, or
when intending to take a deep dive, in the same manner, but exhibiting far
greater quickness in foreseeing and avoiding the approach of enemies. No
satisfactory use has been assigned for the horn that arms the male narwal,
nor should any reason be conjectured for its presence that involves its
possessor's mode of procuring food, since the same necessity would be
unprovided for in the female; yet I have sometimes thought the horn was
employed to dislodge the flat-fish, on which the unicorn feeds, from the
recesses of the bottom, where they would naturally conceal themselves at
the sight of their enemy; and if the narwal seeks its prey in company, as,
from its constant appearance in a shoal, may be concluded, the raking of
the horns amidst the weeds and ooze would be as serviceable to the unarmed
females as to their gallant consorts.

* * * * *

THE GATHERER.

A snapper up of unconsidered trifles.
SHAKSPEARE.

* * * * *

OLD LOVE SONG.

When the bright God of day
Drove to westward his way,
And the ev'ning was charming and clear,
When the swallows amain,
Nimbly skimm'd o'er the plain,
And the shadows like giants appear.

In a jessamin bower,
When the bean was in flower,
And the zephyrs breath'd odours around,
Lovely Coelia she sat,
With her song, and spinnet,
To charm all the grove with the sound.

Rosy bowers she sung,
While the harmony rung,
And the birds did all flutt'ring arrive,
The industrious bees
From the flowers and trees,
Gently humm'd with their sweets to the hive.

Now the gay god of love,
As he flew o'er the grove,
By zephyrs conducted along,
While she play'd on the strings,
He beat time with his wings,
And an echo repeated the song.

Oh ye mortals beware
How ye venture too near,
Love doubly is armed to wound;
From her eyes if you run,
You are surely un