To prevent the necessity of the bird striking each insect with its arrow, a viscid or sticky juice bedews the tongue, which is poured out from a very large gland. The tongue of the toucan, a bird of the American tropics, is composed of a long, firm, narrow cartilage, fringed along each side with a continued barb of fine, slender projections. TONGUE OF A TOUCAN. These are directed forward, and become longer toward the tip. The tongue, from its structure, can not be used to turn the food, or guide it into the gullet; and hence, when the bird seizes any morsel, it is thrown with a jerk into the widely-opened throat, and then swallowed. It has been remarked with truth, that whenever we find anything required to be accomplished for the welfare of God's creatures, then we trace his operation. And at every step of our progress in our study of the works of the great Creator, we see that which should lead us to adore his attributes, displayed in the humblest as well as the noblest of those works. THE FARMER'S FİRESİDÉ. AROUND the fire, one wintry night, And mirth went round, and harmless chat. When, hark! a gentle hand they hear Low tapping at the bolted door, And thus, to gain their willing ear, 66 Cold blows the blast across the moor, "So faint I am, these tottering feet No more my palsied frame can bear; And shield me from the biting blast; With hasty steps the farmer ran, And close beside the fire they place The poor half-frozen beggar-man, With shaking limbs and pale-blue face. The little children flocking came, And chafed his frozen hands in theirs ; And busily the good old dame A comfortable mess prepares. Their kindness cheered his drooping soul, The children then began to sigh, More glad than they had done before. MANY a week had passed since Mary Burton had been at the Sunday school. When last she was there the snow-flakes fluttered softly through the air, and nestled snugly in every quiet corner. Now, beautiful summer was come. Birds and butterflies, trees and flowers, felt a new life, and God was proving his loving kindness to our world by ten thousand gifts, No. 254. FEBRUARY, 1866, B It was not illness that kept Mary from the Sunday school. So Miss Ashwood, her teacher, found when she called to inquire for her. But Mary would not give any good reason for her absence, and in reply to the teacher's kind words, persisted in saying she could not go to school for a few Sundays more. However, in Mary's private talks with her friend, Ellen Nolan, she told her the secret that since mother died she had got no new clothes, and that father thought her mourning good enough to wear a little longer. But she was resolved never to go to the Sunday school again in that nasty crape bonnet and an old black frock. And the foolish little girl added, that she would tease her father until he gave her an entire new summer suit. For a while the teasing was not very successful, except in making her father angry. But, after some weeks, when Mary had ceased to speak on the subject, and had given up all hope of the new dress, a most unexpected piece of good fortune occurred. One morning her father put a sovereign into her hand, telling her to buy the clothes she required, and adding that he would be glad if Ellen's mother could spare time to go to the village with his little girl, and help her to make a suitable choice. Now Mary did not wish for Mrs. Nolan's company, as she kucw this wise, motherly woman would only buy plain, useful things. She, on the contrary, had set her heart on having something very fine. As it happened, Mrs. Nolan was baking bread for her family when Mary burst into the cottage full of one idea-the new frock. At that moment it was |