Because of the effects of age and climate. Thus, the seal changes colour with his age. Many also become either gray, as the squirrel, or snow-white, as the ermine; with us, merely during the depth of winter, but in the north, throughout the whole. Blumenbach.

Why have ruminating animals a four-fold stomach? Because its remarkable structure and mechanism may assist the rumination of their food. Thus the food, when first swallowed, and in a half crude state, is received into the immense first stomach, as into a storehouse in which it is only a little softened. From it small portions of food are successively taken up by the second stomach, which appears merely an appendage to the first, and propelled a second time through the gullet into the mouth. Next, the food, after being again chewed, is carried by a particular groove direct from the gullet into the third stomach, without passing through the two first; lastly, it is transmitted to be completely digested in the fourth, which approaches most closely to the stomach of other mammiferous animals.

DOMESTICATION.

Why does domestication produce certain variations in animals?

Because of the degrees of slavery and subjection under which those animals are to man. They do not proceed in half-domesticated species. In the cat, for example, a softer or harsher fur, more brilliant or more varied colours, greater or less sizethese form the whole extent of the varieties in the species: the skeleton of the cat of Angora differs in no regular or constant circumstances from the wild cat of Europe.

Why are the most remarkable variations produced in the dog?

Because that animal is most completely under the

Because they were furnished by fantastic representations on the ancient monuments of Egypt, in which the parts of different kinds of creatures are strangely combined, -men with the heads of animals, and animals with the heads of men.- Cuvier.

Why was the fable of pigmies credited?

Because of the custom of exhibiting in the same sculpture, in bas relief, men of very different heights, of making kings and conquerors gigantic, while their subjects and vassals are represented as only a fourth or fifth part of their size. Cuvier.

Why is the carnivorous bull of Agatharcides a monster of invention?

Because nature has never joined cloven hoofs and horns, as in the bull, with teeth adapted for cutting and devouring animal food.

The mouth of this bull, says the fable, extending from ear to ear, devoured every other animal that came in its way. - Cuvier.

Why had the ancients their fables about the graves of giants?

Because they believed giants to have been buried wherever the bones of elephants were dug up.Cuvier.

END OF THE QUADRUPEDS.

ORIGINS AND ANTIQUITIES.

THE CALENDAR.

Why is a table of the year called a calendar? Because the Romans called the first days of each month Calends, from a word which signified called; on account of the pontiffs on those days calling the people together, to apprize them of the festivals in the month then beginning.

Why is a calendar of the year called an almanack? Because of its derivation from the Arabic, Al manach, to count. Verstegan makes the word of German origin, Almonat; and says that our Saxon ancestors were in the practice of carving the annual courses of the moon upon a small piece of wood, which they called Almonaught, (al-moon-heed).

Why are the days of the week called by their present. names?

Because our Saxon ancestors dedicated them respectively to their gods: thus, Sunday from SunnanDæg, or sun's-day, because it was dedicated to the worship of the sun; Monday from Monan-Dæg, to the moon; Tuesday from Tuisco, the most ancient god of the Germans; Wednesday, a contraction of Wodin's or Odin's day; Thursday from Thor's Dæg, or the Thunderer's day, to the worship of Thor, the bravest of the sons of Odin; Friday, from Friga, the wife of Odin; and Saturday, from Seater-Dæg, from the idol Seater.