ongest in front; and as many as could reach it thrust their necks
beneath the crate, while the rest pushed them forward from behind. Thus
they succeeded in overturning the crate, and setting free their
imprisoned friend. With clamourous rejoicings from the whole troop, the
liberated duck limped off in their midst.

These sensible ducks teach us the important lesson that union is
strength. Not that they, you will agree with me, showed their wisdom
exactly in liberating their companion, who was placed in confinement for
his benefit. However, remember through life how much you may effect in
a good cause by sinking all minor differences, and uniting with others
like-minded with yourself.

THE TWO SPORTING FRIENDS.

My children have a black dog and a jackdaw; and though the bird shows a
preference for human companionship, when he cannot obtain that he hops
off to the dog's kennel, on the top of which he sits, talking to his
four-footed friend in his own fashion; and the dog seems well-pleased to
receive his visits. I fully expect, some day, to have some curious tale
to tell about them.

In the meantime, I will tell you of a raven which had been brought up
with a dog in Cambridgeshire. They had formed an alliance, offensive
and defensive, and could certainly interchange ideas. The dog was fond
of hares and rabbits, and the raven had no objection to a piece of game
for his dinner. Being both at liberty, they used to set out together
into the country to hunt. The dog would enter a cover and drive out the
hares or rabbits, when the raven, which was watching outside, would
pounce down on the animals as they rushed from the thicket, and hold
them till the dog came to its assistance. They thus managed to obtain
their desired feast--indeed, they were probably more successful than
many human sportsmen.

THE TWO HENS.

In Mrs F--'s poultry-yard, some duck-eggs had been placed under a
Dorking hen. A few days afterwards, a bantam began to sit on her own
eggs--the nests being close together. In the accustomed twenty-one days
the bantams were hatched and removed; but after the usual thirty days
required for hatching the duck-eggs had passed, none appeared, and so
the Dorking hen was taken away and the nest destroyed. Although ten
days had elapsed since the hatching of the bantam's eggs, the Dorking
hen remembered her neighbour's good fortune, and tried to get possession
of her brood--calling the little ones, feeding th