The silk worm. days longer, till he desists entirely from feeding, and draws out a thread, in which he envelops himself, nearly in the same manner as we might wind thread round an oval piece of wood. In this receptacle, thus formed of the fine silken threads, the insect quietly remains in the state of a chrysalis, and in a fortnight would issue from its shell, were it not killed by exposure to the heat of the sun, or of an oven. The silken bags or cocoons are then put into hot water, and stirred with twigs to draw out the ends of the threads, which are wound off on a reel made for the purpose. Thus to a worm or a caterpillar are we indebted for our greatest luxury in dress. The gum of which its web is composed furnishes us with all our silks and velvets-a reflection well calculated to humble our pride. What! Canst thou be vain of the silk that covers thee! Reflect to whom thou owest it, and how little thou art capable of contributing to the splendor of thy dress. Consider how often the most insignificant objects are designed for the advantage or the ornament of man. A worm, which we scarcely condescend to look at, becomes a blessing to whole regions, and a source of wealth. But how must the sight of these insects put many people to shame! The majority of mankind resemble them in passing a great portion of their lives in eating and drinking; but how few are there who by their labors confer benefit on the world! Let us, my brethren, with generous zeal exert our faculties and our energies for the advantage of our ellow-creatures, and strive, with equal disinterest dness, to promote their felicity. The rainbow. JULY 4. THE RAINBOW. WHEN the sun shines upon falling drops of rain, and we are placed in such a direction that we see the cloud from which the rain proceeds before us, and have the sun behind our backs, we perceive a rainbow. The drops of rain may be considered as transparent globules, in which the rays of the sun fall, are twice refracted and once reflected. Hence arise the colors of the rainbow; they are seven in number, and follow each other in the following order. The red color occupies the lowest place; then come orange, yellow, green, blue, purple, and violet. The darker is the cloud which covers the sky behind, and the closer the drops fall, so much the more vivid will be the colors of the bow. As the drops keep continually falling, the spectator sees a new rainbow every moment, and as each observes these falling drops from a different situation, it is impossible for him to see the same bow as another, but he beholds one totally different and distinct from those seen by the persons around him. This meteor can only last while the falling drops are succeeded by others. Considering the rainbow merely as a natural phenomenon, it is the most magnificent display of the colors of Nature that the Creator has exhibited: but when I reflect that God hath made this meteor a memorial of his mercy, I can discover in it more than one subject for edification. When the rain descends over the whole horizon, no rainbow can pos sibly be formed. Whenever, therefore, we per◄ ceive a rainbow, we may rest assured that there is The rainbow. no reason to apprehend a deluge, since, in that case, the clouds would not gradually pass away, but would pour forth their torrents over every part of the earth at once. Thus, when the sky is covered with rain-clouds only in one quarter, and the sun appears in another, it is a sign that these clouds are dispersing, and that the heavens will soon again become serene. Hence also it is, that no rainbow is to be seen, unless we have rain before us and sunshine behind. Thus it is necessary that there should be rain and sunshine at the same moment. We should see no colors if the sky were too clear ; and for this reason, that part of the horizon where the rainbow appears must be covered with dark clouds. Neither could there be any rainbow without the action of the sun and the refraction of his rays. If we take all these circumstances into consideration, they will naturally suggest many edify. ing reflections. Whenever this beauteous arch decorates the heavens, I will think: How majestic is the Lord in all the works of his hand! How great is his tenderness toward his creatures! I now see that the Almighty remembers this world in mercy. Let all flesh adore him, who so graciously keepeth the covenant he hath made. He hath not yet annihilated the world. To him be given praise and adoration for ever and ever. But I observe another circumstance which may suggest useful reflections. Before me I have rain, and behind me sun-shine. This is an emblem of my life. Though my eyes oft overflow with tears, yet" the sun of righteousness ariseth upon me with healing in his wings." (Mal. iv. 2.) Nests of birds JULY 5. NESTS OF BIRDS. THE structure of birds' nests exhibits many remarkable circumstances, which cannot be uninte resting to a mind eager after knowledge. Are not these edifices, so diminutive, yet so regular, com. posed of so many different materials, selected with such care, arranged and constructed with such industry, neatness, and ingenuity, with no other instruments than a bill and two feet, justly entitled to our admiration? That human hands can erect magnificent buiklings, according to the rules of art, is not so astonishing, when we consider the understanding with which the artists are endued, the implements of various kinds with which they can facilitate their operations, and the materials which they possess in such abundance, as that a bird, in want of almost every thing necessary for such an undertaking, should with his bill and his feet only be able to combine so much elegance, solidity, and regularity in the construction of his nest. This subject, therefore, deserves a`more attentive consideration. How curious is the structure of the nest of the goldfinch or chaffinch! The inside of it is lined with cotton, and fine silken threads; and the outside cannot be sufficiently admired, though it is composed only of various species of fine moss, with which the whole exterior surface of the nest is interwoven, and covered with the utmost art. The color of these mosses, generally resembling that of the bark of the tree on which the nest is built, proves that the bird intended it should not be easily discovered. In some nests hair, wool, VOL. III. NO. 14. C Nests of birds and rushes are dexterously interwoven. In some, all the parts are firmly fastened by a thread, which the bird makes of hemp, wool, hair, or more commonly of spiders' webs. Other birds, as for instance, the blackbird and the lapwing, after they have constructed their nest, plaster the inside with mortar, which cements and binds the whole of it together; they then stick upon it, while quite wet, some wool or moss, to give it the necessary degree of warmth. The nests of swallows are of a very different construction from those of other birds. They require neither wood, nor hay, nor cords; they make a kind of mortar, or rather, of cement, with which they form a neat, secure, and comfortable habitation for themselves and their family. To moisten the dust, of which they build their nest, they dip their breasts in water, and shake the drops from their wet feathers upon it. But the nests most worthy of admiration are those of certain Indian birds, which suspend them with great art from the branches of trees, to secure them from the depredations of many animals and insects. In general, every species of birds has a peculiar mode of building. Some construct their nests in houses, and others in trees; these among the grass, and those in the ground; but always in the way that is best adapted to their security, the rearing of their young, or other objects intimately connected with the preservation and welfare of their species. ` Such is the wonderful instinct of birds with respect to the structure and disposition of their nests, which are sufficient to convince us that they are not mere machines. What ingenuity and intelligence, what skill and sagacity, what industry and patience do they display in the construction of their |