EECEEATIVE SCIENCE. 



31 



exhibit tlie same play of cilia as their 

 parents. 



But, instead of at once becoming fixed, 

 the action of the cilia causes the sponge to spin 

 about in the water, so as to have a real loco- 

 motive power of finding for itself a site, where 

 it casts anchor, and for the rest of its days 

 never knows either the pleasures or the pains 

 of travel. If every separate flint was once a 

 separate sponge, this locomotion accounts for 

 their detachment and their subsequent con- 

 cretion in distinct nodules. 



In the tank fitted up by Mr. Bowerbank, 

 and presented to the Crystal Palace, there 

 were, not long since, a number of living 

 sponges, in very good condition for observa- 

 tion. Whether they remain there we know 

 not, but we can teU those who keep aquaria 

 that, if the dredge or the hand-net bring up 

 specimens which it is wished to preserve, 

 that the great secret is darkness. In the 

 light they soon perish and cause putrescence ; 

 in a very subdued daylight they live for a 

 length of time, and may so be preserved for 

 microscopic observation. There are not less 

 than sixty species inhabitmg the British 

 coasts, and they differ considerably in their 

 conformation, though corresponding in their 

 physiological structure. 



ShIELEY HlBBEED. 



THE KEY TO A BIED'S HEAET. 



The number of feathered songsters that an- 

 nually find their way into cages in England 

 alone, and are kept unhappy prisoners there, 

 can hardly be credited. It may be fairly 

 stated at very many thousands. Of these, 

 multitudes die from neglect or starvation; 

 and how many broken-hearted? The few 

 that survive, with certain choice exceptions, 

 drag on a miserable life of lingering cap- 

 tivity. Eorming a part of the household 

 furniture, they are kept until they are worn 



out ; they are then replaced by others ! There 

 is "fashion" in bird-keeping as well as in 

 everything else. The question is. Should 

 these things beP I say, No. Birds have 

 very, very tender little hearts ; and they are 

 quite willing to love us, if we will only let 

 them. But we won't ! Let us reform this 

 altogether. 



I shall take it as granted that every 

 reader of Recreative Science is of a genial 

 and kindly disposition. There will there- 

 fore be a cordial assent to the doctrine, 

 that we should strive to make everything 

 li"ving beneath our roof "happy." How is 

 this to be done ? Nothing more easy. There 

 needs but the will, to accomplish the object. 

 This leads me to remark upon a very inte- 

 resting fact, viz., that every human being is 

 a magnet — powerful as any steel magnet can 

 be, albeit formed of a softer material. The 

 powers of attraction and repulsion are born 

 with us ; an observant eye may detect them 

 in daily operation. Thus, no one person can 

 touch another person without imparting and 

 receiving some influence from the contact. 

 Try this on a bird. Fondle it, and press it 

 to your cheek : it will soon become sen- 

 sible of your affection.* The eye, the hand, 

 the breath, the will — all act on it. There 

 are many of these sweet secret aifinities run- 

 ning throughout Nature. Opportunity dis- 

 covers them. The influence is excited by 

 proximity ; it is developed by contact. How 

 very much of the enjoyment of life is lost 

 from the want of a knowledge of this little 

 secret! "Natural Magic" should be sedu- 

 lously studied. It gives us irresistible power, 

 over both man and animals ; and thus enables 

 us to live in Uoo charming worlds at once.f 



* During a recent professional visit to the north 

 of England, and wliile in Liverpool more particularly, 

 I quite astonished all the lovers of hirds. Ere I took 

 my departure, I had made many of them quite pro- 

 ficients in the Art of Bird- taming. 



\ Having had in my possession, at one and the 

 same time, no fewer than 306 feathered songsters, and 

 many other animals, I speak from experience— aM 

 were tamed by " Natural Magic." 



