THE AGASSIZ ASSOCIATION 



57 



extempore fishing-rod is made of a cut 

 stick and a piece of string. An earth- 

 worm is tied to the lower end of the 

 string and let down into the water, 

 either just in front of a newt that is 

 seen or in a spot where some of the 

 creatures are supposed to he hidden. 

 A gentle tugging is presently felt, and 

 is sometimes rendered visihle hy the 

 bobbing of a piece of cork used as a 

 temporary float. Now is the time for 

 the exercise of a little patience, and 

 judgment. Give the hungry amphibian 

 sufficient time to swallow the worm, 

 or, if the latter be a large one, time to 

 get a portion well lodged in its stom- 

 ach ; and then a sharp haul lands the 

 creature on the bank before it has had 

 time to free itself from the treacherous 

 luxury." 



SOME FUNNY FEEDING ANTICS. 



"But if the worm happens to be a 

 larger one, say about three or four in- 

 ches long, the matter is not quite so 

 simple, and may end in disappointment 

 to the newt as well as death to the 

 poor worm. Newts do not know the 

 most effectual way of seizing a worm, 

 and frequently make the mistake of 

 snapping at the middle and commenc- 

 ing to swallow it at that point. In 

 this case the newt has to labor against 

 the double thickness which has to pass 

 through its mouth and gullet. This 

 often proves too much ; and after many 

 severe struggles to dispose of its prey, 

 it is obliged to relieve itself by dis- 

 gorging it entirely. 



If. however, it is more fortunate in 

 seizing the worm at one end, there is 

 generally a trouble of another kind 

 awaiting it, for one of its fellows, at- 

 tracted by the furious struggles of the 

 poor worm, makes a dash at the other 

 end ! Then follows an exciting scene. 

 Both newts continue to swallow the 

 worm, till at last their jaws meet, 

 each one having disposed of about one 

 half. But still they go on, each one 

 taking gulp after gulp, with a vantage 

 sometimes on one side and sometimes 

 on the other. After a time, however, 

 the weaker newt shows signs of ex- 

 haustion, and, relaxing its hold on the 

 worm, allows each gulp of its fellow to 

 deprive it of a portion of the meal that 

 had already been swallowed ; and then, 

 finding no hope for the retention of the 

 meal, suddenly ejects the remainder 



and swims away. But the fortune of 

 the sole possessor of the worm is no 

 brighter, for its stomach is distended 

 to its greatest capacity at the time that 

 the whole was left to its share ; and 

 after many unsuccessful attempts to 

 dispose of the free end, it is obliged to 

 eject even that which had been so sat- 

 isfactorily disposed of." 



Sequestered. 



BY CHARLES NEVERS HOLMES, NEWTON, MASS. 



There is a sylvan nook 

 Where purls a tink brook, 

 Where chansonnette of bird 

 All summer long is heard 

 And zephyr's lightest breeze 

 Is whispered by the trees. 



That nook is in a glade 

 Of mingled sun and shade, 

 A glade within a glen 

 Afar from haunts of men, 

 A glen of boughs and brakes 

 Where echo seldom wakes. 



The pines rise straight and tall 

 Around it like a wall, 

 Pine needles strew its floor, 

 Wide open stands its door. 

 Its roof is broad and high — 

 The tree-tops and the sky! 



There often comes the bee, 

 Well laden from the lea, 

 Oft flits the butterfly 

 On gorgeous pinions by. 

 And squirrel chatters fast 

 Or nimbly scrambles past. 



Unmarred by axe or flame 

 That spot remains the same, 

 A sunny, sylvan nook 

 Where purls a tiny brook, 

 Where chansonnette of bird 

 All summer long is heard. 



Spring Messengers. 



BY EDNA L. B0GUE, MONTCLAIR, NEW JERSEY. 



Blow, flowery bugles, blow, 

 Aerials bright of early spring, 

 Ring thy notes across the meadow, 

 Let every song bird on the wing, 

 Unite his lay, with thine, and sing. 



For pulsing life's in the air, 



Tingles with the breath of spring! 



Blow, flowery bugles, blow, 



On, and on, across the hills. 



Let little brooklets sing with laughter,- 



Romping, rippling, little rills. 



Blow, flowery bugles, blow. 



Ye aerial daffodils! 



