"Ah, children, children," said Mrs. Polly, with a wise shake of her head, "when you come to look back upon life from as long a pilgrimage, you will see that the busier you are, and the more good you do, there will be less inclination to be discontented. And with such a beautiful world around you, and so much to learn about it, and the wise lessons it can teach, who would be anything but contented?—But I am keeping you from your companions, Master Herbert, so I must wish you good-day, sir. Good-day, miss," said Polly in English; "I'll now take a nap;" and with that she laid her head on her back, and went off to sleep.
As Cockatoo followed her example, Herbert knew by experience no more could be got out of them; and with a united "Good-bye, dear old Polly! Good-bye, Cockatoo!" Herbert and Jane returned to the house and were soon sending a whole fleet of soap-bells up into the sunshine.
ART GIFT-BOOKS.
A SERIES OF FIRST-CLASS AND RICHLY ILLUSTRATED BOOKS ON NATURE AND NATURAL HISTORY.
THE BIRD WORLD—DESCRIBED WITH PEN AND PENCIL. By the Author of "The Arctic World," &c. Beautifully Illustrated with Fifty-one Full-page and upwards of One Hundred other Engravings, from designs by Giacomelli, and engraved by Rouget, Berveiller, Méaulle, Sargent, Whymper, and Morison. Imperial 8vo, full gilt side and gilt edges. Price 10s. 6d.
Not intended to usurp the place of a manual of zoology; but in language full of beauty and tenderness, it presents us with sketches of bird life. Beautiful as many parts of the text are, the chief charm of the book lies in the illustrations which adorn its pages. They were drawn and engraved expressly for this work, and from their admirable fidelity to nature, their combined grace, and strength, and delicacy, constitute the claim of the present volume to the public favour.
THE BIRD. By Jules Michelet, Author of "History of France," &c. Illustrated by Two Hundred and Ten Exquisite Engravings by Giacomelli. Imperial 8vo, full gilt side and gilt edges. Price 10s. 6d.
Not a book of ornithological science, but a history of the Bird in its most picturesque and poetical aspects, from the egg in the nest to the "triumph of the wing" in the sea-eagle. We have described here birds of the Polar Regions and of the Tropics; birds of passage, birds of prey; the song of the nightingale and of the robin, &c. The exquisite illustrations introduce varied kinds of landscape scenery.
THE INSECT. By Jules Michelet. With One Hundred and Forty Illustrations, drawn specially for this edition by Giacomelli, and engraved by Rouget, Berveiller, Méaulle, Jonnard, Whymper, Sargent, and other eminent Artists. Imperial 8vo, cloth, richly gilt. Price 10s. 6d.