STAAL STABAT MATER. 



most common species on the Missouri. It is a 

 large species, of a ferruginous colour, and has the 

 tail larger than the otl 



The red squirrel, chick-a-ree, or Hudson's bay 

 squirrel (S. Hmisonius), is a beautiful species, very 

 common in the Northern States. The ears are 

 distinctly tufted; the colour is reddish-brown above, 

 pale beneath, with a pretty distinct black line on 

 each flank. It is smaller than the gray squirrel. 



& quadrivittatus is a very small species, inhabiting 

 the vicinity of the Rocky mountains, about the 

 head waters of the Platte and Arkansas. The 

 general colour is reddish above, mixed with black, 

 and whitish beneath, with four broad white lines 

 on the back. It has not been observed to ascend 

 trees, but nestles in holes, or on the edges of rocks ; 

 and the nest is composed of a most extraordinary 

 quantity of different vegetable substances, some- 

 times sufficient to fill a cart. Its principal food 

 seems to consist of the seeds of the pine. 



The ground squirrel (tamias lysteri) has been 

 separated from sciurus, on account of the presence 

 of cheek-pouches; it differs also, somewhat, in its 

 habits, as it makes a burrow, generally, about the 

 roots of trees, or along fences and walls, often of 

 considerable extent, and having several branches, 

 and always two openings. It is one of the most 

 familiar animals in the United States, and is usually 

 seen running along fences and walls; but it occa- 

 sionally ascends trees. On the back are five longi- 

 tudinal black bands, separated on each side by two 

 white ones. It is a very pretty and lively animal. 



The common flying squirrel (pteromys volucella) 

 differs from sciurus in having the skin on the sides 

 very loose, and capable of being spread out when 

 the limbs are extended, with the assistance of an 

 additional bone articulated with the wrist. By 

 means of this structure, the flying squirrels are 

 enabled to make surprising leaps : taking advantage 

 of the wind, they launch into the air, buoyed up as 

 by a parachute, and sail swiftly and obliquely 

 downwards. It is an exceedingly beautiful animal, 

 very common in many parts of the United States. 

 Another and larger species is found in Canada and 

 about the Rocky mountains. 



STAAL, MADAME DE, an ingenious French 

 writer, first known as mademoiselle de Launai, 

 was the daughter of a painter of Paris, where she 

 was born, towards the close of the seventeenth 

 century. Her father, being obliged to quit the 

 kingdom, left her in great indigence ; but some 

 female recommendation procured her a good edu- 

 cation at a priory in Rouen. Her patroness dying, 

 she was compelled to hire herself as bed-chamber 

 woman to the duchess of Maine. Unfit, however, 

 for the duties of such an office, she was about to 

 quit it, when a singular event rescued her from 

 obscurity. A beautiful girl of Paris, named Tetard, 

 was induced by her mother to counterfeit being 

 possessed ; and all Paris, including the court, flock- 

 ing to witness this wonder, mademoiselle de Launai 

 wrote a very witty letter on the occasion to M. de 

 Fontenelle, which was universally admired. The 

 duchess of Maine, having discovered the writer in 

 the person of her waiting-woman, employed her, 

 from that time, in all her entertainments given at 

 Sceaux, and treated her as a confidante. Thus 

 encouraged, she wrote verses for some of the pieces 

 acted at Sceaux, drew up the plans of others, and 

 was consulted in all. She was involved in the 

 disgrace incurred by the duchess, her patroness, 

 during the regency, and was kept two years a 



prisoner in the Bastile. On her release, the duchess 

 found her a husband in M. de Staal, lieutenant in 

 the Swiss guard, having previously refused the 

 learned, but then too aged, Dacier. She died in 

 1750; and some Memoirs of her Life, written by 

 herself, were soon after published in 3 vols., 12mo. 

 They contain nothing of much importance, but are 

 composed in a pure and elegant style, and are very 

 entertaining. A fourth volume has since appeared, 

 consisting of two comedies acted at Sceaux, en- 

 titled L'Engouement, and La Mode. This lady, 

 who, even by her own description, did not abound 

 in personal attractions, was, nevertheless, engaged 

 in various gallantries or amours more or less senti- 

 mental. Being asked how she would treat such 

 matters in her Life, " I will paint myself en buste," 

 was the reply. Her Memoirs have been poorly 

 translated into English. 



STAAL, MADAME DE. See Stael-Holstein. 



STABAT MATER; a celebrated Latin church 

 song, in terzines, which is sung in the Catholic 

 church, particularly on the festival of the Seven 

 Sorrows of Mary, and generally during the services 

 in Lent. Some consider one of the popes (John 

 XXII., or one of the Gregories) as its author; but, 

 according to the most probable opinion, it was 

 written by the Minorite Jacobus de Benedictis, 

 generally called Jacoponus, who lived in the thir- 

 teenth century, a learned jurist, whom the death of 

 his wife induced to enter, in 1268, the order of the 

 Tertiarii, and to give himself up to the severest 

 penances, which terminated in insanity. He died 

 in 1306. The words have received several changes. 

 The best composers of church music have employed 

 their talents upon it. The best compositions are 

 those of Palestrina (for eight voices), of Pergolesi 

 (for two voices, with an accompaniment) and As- 

 torga. Among the later composers of this beautiful 

 piece are Haydn, Winter, Neukomm, and Stun/ (a 

 very excellent composition). The Stabat Mater 

 is one of those Latin songs of the early church 

 which breathe a truly poetical and sacred enthu- 

 siasm, and cannot be generally known in this 

 country. We, therefore, give it at length, as we 

 have done the Dies Irtz. 



Stabat mater dolorosa, 

 Juxta crucem lacrvmoaa, 



Dum pendebat films ; 

 Cujus animam gcmentem, 

 Contristatam et dolentem 



Pertransivit gladius. 



O ! qnam tristis et afflicts. 

 Fuit ilia benedicta 



Mater Unigeniti. 

 Quae mcerebat et dolebat 

 Et tremebat, cum vidcbat 



Nati pcenas mclyti. 



Quis est homo qui non fleret 

 Christi matrom si videret, 



In tanto supplicio ? 

 Oiiis posset non contristari, 

 Piam raatrem contemplari 



Doleutem cum fllio. 



Pro peccatis suae gentis, 

 Videt JcBura in tormentis, 



Et flaicellis subditum ; 

 Vidit suum dulcem nature, 

 Morientem, desolatum, 



Dum emisit gpiritum. 



Eia mater, fons amoris ! 

 Me sentire vim doloris 



Fac, ut tecum lutroain. 

 Fac ut ardeat cor meum 

 In amando Christum Deuin 



Ut illi complaceam. 



