o preserve the animal's life, he
consented to its being again carried away to a greater distance; but
once more it returned. This made the ignorant people more certain than
ever that the poor seal was some evil being.

Again it was put on board a boat, the crew of which rowed to a much
greater distance than before, determining that the poor seal should
trouble them no more. Though following the injunctions of their master
not to kill it, they cruelly put out its eyes, and then threw it
overboard, to perish in the wide ocean, as they believed. Some time
passed, when one stormy night the gentleman heard above the moaning
sounds of the gale the plaintive cry of his favourite close to his
house. He went to the door, and, opening it, there lay the body of the
affectionate animal quite dead. Though deprived of its sight, it had
found its way back to the shore on which its master's house stood, and
exerting all its strength, had crawled up to the door; thus exhibiting
an amount of affection for its human friend such as can scarcely exist
in a greater degree in the breast of any animal.

CHAPTER EIGHT.

BIRDS.

When we observe the small heads and unmeaning eyes of birds, we do not
expect to find any great amount of intellect among them. They are,
however, moved by the same passions and feelings as larger animals, and
occasionally exhibit thought and reasoning power. I suspect, indeed,
could we understand their language, that we should find they can talk to
each other, and express their meaning as well as others of the brute
creation.

THE GANDER AND THE BANTAM-COCK.

A goose was seated on her eggs in a quiet corner, not far from a
horse-pond, in a farmyard. Up and down before her strode a game-cock,
which, watching the calm looks and contented manner of the goose, which
contrasted so greatly with his own fiery disposition, began to get
angry,--just as human beings who are out of sorts sometimes do with
those who appear happy and smiling. At last, working himself into a
downright passion, he flew at the poor goose, pecked out one of her
eyes, and while she was attempting to defend herself, trampled on and
destroyed several of her eggs. The gander, which was waddling about on
the other side of the pond, on seeing what was taking place hastened to
the aid of his consort, and attacked the savage cock. The cock of
course turned upon him, and a desperate battle ensued. The two
combatants, after a time, drew of