tered all over the earth are the remains of huge and unknown monsters which must have existed previous to man. Very often in making excavations or blasting rocks, these fossils are discovered, and are immediately exumed and pronounced upon by the learned and scientific who are interested in matters of this kind. The light which the researches of geologists have thrown upon the structure and age of the world, coupled with the different fossil remains found from time to time, enables s to form some ideas-imperfect though they must necessarily be of the condition of things in those dark ages when the intellect was not developed, and matter seemed scarcely more than another name for chaos. The earth was the abiding-place for hideous things, and the air was darkened by thousands of flying reptiles. It is a picture upon which the mind does not like to.linger, and where the shade seems to overpower the light. On page 418 is a fine illustration of the skeleton of a rhinoceros. The first of these animals which appeared in Europe was the one of which Pliny makes mention as having been presented to the Roman people by Pompey. According to another Latin author, Augustus had a rhinoceros killed in the circus when he celebrated his triumph over Cleopatra. Strabo had an opportunity to see a third at Alexandria, and has left in his writings a brief description of it. These three animals were one-horned. When Domitian was emperor, two two-horned rhinoceroses came to Rome, and they may be seen engraved on the medals of this ruler. Inscriptions or ancient monuments reveal the fact that they were brought to the capital of the empire in the times of Antoninus, Heliogabalus and Gordius III. The failing power of Rome, and disturb ances caused by the invasion of the barbarians, deprived Europe of a sight that was only procured with much trouble. At the time when Europe recovered from these disasters, the new impulse given to commerce, added to the interest taken in the natural productions of foreign countries, caused some of these animals to be again imported into Europe. The first had but one horn, and had been sent from the Indies to Emanuel, King of Portugal, in 1513. This king sent it to the pope; but on its way it died on board the vessel. The distinguished painter Albert Durer executed an engraving of it, taken from an imperfect drawing that had been sent to him from Lisbon, and the rhinoceros was for a long time painted or drawn from this model. In 1685, the second one was carried to England. In 1739 and 1741, two others were exhibited all over Europe. The specimen of 1741, it appears, was removed to Paris in 1749, and forms the foundation of the description given by Daubenton, of the species. A very young specimen reached the menagerie of Versailles in 1771. A sixth very young individual, from the Indies, that was intended for the menagerie at Vienna, died at London, when it arrived, and was dissected by Mr. Thomas, who published his observations. In 1818, a travelling menagerie brought another to Paris, and it passed under the observation of M. Cuvier. Since then they have been on exhibition in England, but not so much on the continent. Notwithstanding the rarity of these animals in Europe at the present time, it is established beyond dispute, that they existed there in large numbers before the continent was inhabited by man. Bones of the rhinoceros have been discovered in multitudes of places, buried in the earth; in fact, they are nearly as common as the bones of elephants, and are usually found mixed with them. They are not confined to the southern parts of Europe, but even in its northernmost regions. The first remains of which positive account is given, were collected in England in 1668, not far from Canterbury, in the course of digging a well. In 1751, a large number of bones of this species were dug out in the chain of the Hartz mountains, and from their form they were first taken to be those of elephants; but Meckel, the renowned anatomist, after comparing one of the teeth found in this heap with the teeth of the living rhinoceros he had examined at Paris, proved, in a satisfactory manner, and by the same method that has given us so much information in regard to lost species, that the bones in the Hartz were the bones of the rhinoceros. From this time, the path was fairly opened for all the researches on this kind of fossil. Twenty years after this, a still more remarkable discovery was made in Siberia. A fossil rhinoceros, not reduced to bones alone, but entire, with its skin, was found in December, 1771, on the borders of the Wiluji, a river which flows into the Lena below Yakoutsk, in Siberia, in the 44th degree of latitude. Ballou's Monthly Magazine. The peculiarity of this individual, which was covered with hair, proves that the kind to which it belonged differed from that of warm countries, the only variety we now know, and was suited to inhabit cold and temperate regions. Unfortunately for the curious, the skin of this valuable animal was not preserved, but its skeleton was. Passing from the consideration of the fossil rhinoceros to that of the living specimens of the present, we find them possessed of many peculiarities. The skin, which is very rough and hard,cannot be pierced by the claws of lion or tiger, will turn the edge of a sword, and is proof against ordinary musket bullets. Africa, living with the elephant in forests, It is found in the warm regions of Asia and and feeding on herbage, and leafy twigs, and shrubs. It is a peace SKELETON OF A RHINOCEROS. able animal unless when irritated; then it charges upon its enemy with the head down and horn forward. Though not very active, its immense weight and strength make it a powerful assailant, and a match even for the elephant. The single-horned or Indian rhinoceros was well known to the ancients, and is generally believed to be the uni corn of the Bible, though not of the Ara bian poets, which was either a wild bull or an antelope. It leads a quiet indolent life, wallowing on the marshy shores of rivers and lakes, and bathing itself in their waters. It moves slowly, the head carried low like the hog. Its great strength enables it to pass easily through the thickest jungles, and it is found in the warmer parts of continental India. In captivity, especially if taken young, it is gentle, obedient and grateful for kind treatment, although it has sometimes fits of anger without any known cause. It is fond of bread, fruit and particularly of sweets, collecting and holding its food by the long upper lip. It is not uncommon in our menageries, and tricks, but is far inferior to the elephant in is sometimes trained to perform some simple intelligence. The two animals are said to have an antipathy to each other. MARKET SCENE AT THE CAPE OF GOOD HOPE. The animated picture on page 420 represents the principal features of a market scene at Cape Town, the capital of the Cape of Good Hope. In the background is a negro with his boat, while a lively conversation seems to be going on between the two principal figures. A native, pipe in mouth, is engaged in dressing fish, while the little darkey beside him is feeding a bird which bears the characteristics of the pelican. One man carries fish strung upon a pole; another has apparently just bargained for one which he holds in his hand, and on the low table between them lies a crawfish. Looking at the dusky faces of these children of the sun, one sees stretching out, in imagination, the sandy barren plains and arid ridges of Cape Colony. The bright-winged flamingoes walk leisurely through the water or flit through the air like some gay tropical flower, the rich luxuriant vegetation charms the eye-where aridity does not reign-and far out on the immense table-land, away from the bustle of human habitations, roam great herds of antelope, elk, springbok and elephant. Interspersed almost equally among the white population one sees the short, yellow-brown, ugly-featured Hottentots, showing on their faces the low grade of intellect they possess, the still more viciouslooking Malabars, the passionate yet industrious Malays, the beautifully-formed Africanders, and the dusky Caffres. Mingled with these are the Boers, descendants from the Dutch, the men tall and well developed, and the women, many of them, majestically beautiful. Added to these are people who evidently belong to every nationality under the sun, and who bear upon their features the marks of excitement and anxiety. Some of these have been attracted to Cape Town by the fame of the diamond mines, where gems of a fabulous value have been discovered by a few lucky miners. One can see by the eager looks and gestures that they are on a quest which engrosses all the energy of their being. Women and little children are at the diamond-fields, for some men have taken their families with them to the mines. Hardships and inconveniences are endured with undaunted hearts, while the thought inspires them that another day, even another hour, may place in their possession riches to last a lifetime. Alas! how many a poor fellow has gone there with the bounding pulse and bright eye of hope and ambition, only to realize disappointment, misery, and perhaps death! Of the multitudes who flock to the diamond mines of Cape Colony, comparatively few can realize their expectations; but what of the far greater number who fail? Sad, indeed, must be some of the scenes enacted at these mines, which can only find parallels in the lives of miners in the gold-bearing regions of California in 1848-9. Temptations to dishonesty and crime abound, and sometimes the fortunate miner who proudly and gladly bears to his tent a valuable gem, has, by his hard-earned success, only fastened evil eyes upon him, and loses his prize, or even his life. Cape Colony, or the Cape of Good Hope, is situated in the southernmost part of Africa. Its area has been estimated by British authorities to be 250,000 square miles; but according to German geographers it does not exceed 200,000 square miles. The entire population in 1856 was estimated at 270,000 -about 120,000 colored people, and 150,000 whites. It was probably discovered, according to Herodotus, by Phoenician navigators as early as 610, B. C. 2096 years later the Portuguese Bartholomew Diaz reached it. The Dutch East India company established a colony there A. D. 1650. In 1652 Cape Town was fortified. The colony prospered, notwithstanding continued hostilities between the settlers and the natives. Free schools are now provided for in every district, and the colony has two colleges. Internal commerce is not much developed, but the import and export trade has greatly increased during the past few years. The population is a mixture of Hottentots, Caffres, negroes, Malays, and what are called the Boers. The Hottentots are of a low grade, seeming, in the opinion of the old Dutch colonists, to be between man and monkey. The Malays are not so idle and intemperate as the Hottentots, but are very fiery and vindictive. Ballou's Monthly Magazine. The Boers are for the most part well educated, and there are very few among them who cannot read and write the Dutch language. Those of them who live on the outskirts of civilization, and mingle with the all descendants of slaves, or those who have cruisers, are not inclined to work. The been taken from the slave-traders by British Fingoes, or Caffres, of whom there are about 25,000, are fast advancing in civilization. A LEAP IN THE DARK. BY FRANCES M. SCHOOLCRAFT. CHAPTER XVIII. T was far advanced in the summer. I PART FIFTH. Louis Hamilton and Alicia were in a quiet little German town. Alicia was sitting alone, looking out across a blue river to a slope of vines crowned by a ruined castle. Alicia's color was deeper and brighter, and her eyes larger and more lustrous than ever; but the lines were sharper, and there was a contraction of the forehead, and a melancholy in the look new to them, and she leaned back in her chair with an air of weariness. Every now and then she bent forward, and looked along the white road, which she could see beyond the bridge, with eyes of eager expectation, and then, with a sigh of disappointment, fell back again. At length a single figure on foot appeared, walking slowly and loungingly towards the bridge. Alicia's face brightened. She watched the figure until it disappeared, and then waited until it reappeared below her window. Louis Hamilton looked up and saluted her, and soon after entered the room. "My dear madam," he said, "do you remember that you did not marry me, but a name, and a likeness, and a fortune? All these you have, and, so far as I control any of them, they are at your service; but for me myself, I must remonstrate against your reproaches. You have no right to make any; and I think you would have found the real Francis Creighton even less attentive than I have been." "Hush!" said Alicia. "Do not speak so loud. Some one may overhear." "That is another thing," said Louis; "you are in such continual dread of detection that you have no peace. Better let me go to the antipodes, and own that Frank Creighton is dead." Alicia laid her head on his shoulder. "Louis!" she said, imploringly. "Why do you call me 'Louis?' That is dangerous." "Louis," she repeated, her voice trembling, "I believe you hate me." "I do not believe I could hate a woman," "Your 'two hours' were very long, Louis," said Louis; "especially a pretty and witty said Alicia. "I did not mean to be gone so long," said Louis, carelessly. "I have been alone all day," sighed Alicia. "This is a dreary place." "I think it very pleasant, and so did you yesterday." "I had not sat eight hours alone yesterday." "But, my dear Mrs. Creighton, let me ask you, why did you sit eight hours alone contrary to your own wishes? There is surely company enough to be found in Europe. You insist on going to these little towns, and I have accompanied you from one to the other with the greatest cheerfulness. You must see by this time that you do not like them, and had better go to Paris." one. But you wouldn't have me make love to another man's wife, would you? Think what a position mine is. Consider that I am a soul animating Frank Creighton's body. Louis Hamilton's body is gone-he jumped into the ferry one dark night; and where Frank Creighton's soul is, Heaven only knows." "Louis! Louis!" said Alicia, shuddering; "do not speak like that. You make me think of all sorts of ghastly things." "Then do not reproach me continually," said Louis, changing his tone to a gentle and good-humored from a sarcastic one. "You know we are two wicked children, Alicia, and we have nothing to say to each other, if we find out more wickedness in each other. "And in Paris, I should never see you," Tell me something that I can do, and I will said Alicia. do it. You say you have sat alone all day. Louis sat down at his wife's feet and took Shall we go out?" her hand. Alicia accepted this invitation with evident [Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1870, by THOMES & TALBOT, Boston, Mass., in the Office of the Librarian of Congress, Washington.] |