cuse in Linnæus a thousand faults for that fact alone.

Lady Digby said, her American friend had been so obliging as to send many other curious things in the box, besides the specimen of this moss. 'Among others, I am sure, Lucy, you will like to see some pods of cotton, in their different stages of ripening. My friend tells me, that they grow on a bush, from two to four feet high, and that the flower is of a delicate straw color. I dare say you may have seen an engraving of it.'

'I think I have,' said Lucy. But O! Lady Digby, before you shut the box, will you give me leave to look at that green leaf -if it is a leaf?'

You do well to say, if it is a leaf,' answered Lady Digby. it is ?'

Do you know what

Is it the creeping leaf?' said Lucy. 'No,' answered Lady Digby. 'It much resembles the creeping-leaf, or mantis strumaria; but this is a different insect; by the country people in America it is called catydid, from the sound of its chirping, resembling the frequent repetition of Catydid! Catydid!'

Lucy examined this insect more closely. It was about the size of a rose-leaf, of the pale-green color of the inside of a pea pod, and apparently of that smooth texture: but, upon looking at it with a magnifying glass, Lucy saw, that what had appeared like the veins of a leaf, were the ribs or sinews of the wing; and in the intermediate spaces, which had, to the naked eye, appeared perfectly smooth, she now saw, embossed, innumerable little spots, looking like shagreen.

'Now I see the animal's head, where the footstalk of the leaf seemed to be, and its eyes, nose, and mouth,' cried Lucy. Pray look, Harry! Its head and face are like a horse's head and face in body clothes ;-look at its protuberant bladder-looking eye; the mouth, however, is like a pig's, or the antbear's, and round its neck it has a curious worked pelerine, standing up like the leather hood on the collar of a wagon horse. But what curious thing is that lying loose in the

box, with its green, long-jointed, stork-like legs? What do they belong to?

Before her question could be answered, her rambling eye fixed with delight and curiosity on a plant which hung flaunting from the top of the conservatory; she asked where its roots were, how it was nourished, or whether it lived on air?

Lady Digby answered, that it was reputed to live on air, as its name of flos aëris, or the air-plant, shows, and that probably it derives its nourishment from the moisture in the air. 'However this may be in its native country, it thrives much better here, if planted in a little light earth, or even in wet moss, as you may perceive, by comparing it with the other specimens which you see twined round that pillar, and which are all planted in pots. This plant, nevertheless, has been hanging, where you see it, for four months; and, though it requires a much greater heat, it is quite alive. It is frequently watered, and I want to try how long it will live in that situation. But,' continued Lady Digby, if you, my dear Lucy, who are so active and obliging, will run up stairs to the little turret within my room, you will find a book, with many paper marks in it, on my desk: bring it down to me, and it will tell you something more about this curious plant.'

Lucy vanished, and re-appeared, bearing in her hand the proof of her swift errand.

'This is a favorite book of mine and of my son Edward. All these marks he put in

for my edification. I was no botanist, but he and this little volume together have made me fond of what appears to me the most interesting and rational part of the study-that which opens to our view the curious and useful structure of plants, and the progress of vegetation. I like this book for another reason,' continued Lady Digby, turning to Lucy's mother, 'which makes me rejoice that it pleases young people. Without any ostentation of religious sentiment, it really inspires it in the best and happiest manner. Here is the account of the flos aëris,' continued Lady Digby. 'Will you read it to us? It is very short.'

Lucy read "There is one species of the epidendrum family, the flos aëris, a native of India, that deserves to be particularly distinguished. It is so called because it grows and blossoms when suspended in the air; and we are assured, that, hanging from the ceiling of a room, it will vegetate for years; it is likewise said to be remarkably reviving to the inhabitants, by the fine odor of its blossoms."

'That fact,' said Lucy's father,' of its hanging from the ceiling of a room, and vegetating for a length of time in that manner, is mentioned, if I recollect rightly, in one of Sir William Jones's letters, written when he was in India. He says, the flos aëris was at that instant suspended over his head; that he had tied its rootless branches to the beams of the roof, and he speaks with delight of the charming fragrance of the blossoms.'

And now,' said Sir Rupert, 'pray may I

ask-I have been very patient while you ladies have had the book to yourselves, with three pairs of hands upon it at once-may I ask the name of this favorite book, if name it have; for hitherto I have heard it called only it, or the book, or my favorite book— has it a name?'

'It has a name,' answered Lady Digby, ' and a name that will be well known to fame in due time, Dialogues on Botany.'

NEXT morning, after breakfast, an express came from the housekeeper's room to inform Lucy, that the canary-bird was beginning to draw up his bucket. Down stairs she ran immediately, and after her followed Harry.

The thirsty little fellow, now working for his own interest, and with his own good will, soon performed his task, and earned his thimble full duly raised. When lifted to the proper height, he held it, by keeping the collected chain fast under one foot. Then he dipped, shook his beak, and dipped and shook again, much to his own delight, and that of the spectators. When he had fully satisfied his thirst, he began to favor the company with a song; but his notes, even when joy tuned his throat, were so loud and shrill, that his mistress, the housekeeper, soon threw a white handkerchief over the top