UNCLE IN ENGLAND. 



131 



open ; heavy rain beat into the case which had 

 not been shut ; and the next day, what had been 

 considered only specimens of shells, were found 

 crawling about the walls. 



This faculty, however, is not peculiar to snails ; 

 for M. Socoloff, a Russian, found that some 

 flies and small beetles, which had been long 

 immersed in spirit of wine, had returned to life 

 on being thrown into warm wood ashes. He 

 was astonished at seeing the flies start up, and, 

 after wiping the dust from their wings, fly away 

 as if nothing had happened. 



29th, Sunday. My uncle told us this 

 morning, that the book of Leviticus was so 

 called, because it describes the sacrifices and 

 services of the tabernacle, which were to be per- 

 formed by the tribe of Levi. He then read to 

 us some of the chapters, and he answered in the 

 kindest manner the questions which we all put 

 to him, about the different offerings, and the 

 regulations to be observed by the priests. 



As he closed the book, he said, " The object 

 of these observances has passed away with the 

 Mosaic dispensation, and it is now only neces- 

 sary to understand their general tendency. 

 Sacrifices and offerings had been established in 

 the infancy of mankind, and, though perverted 

 by folly and idolatry, they continued to form a 

 part of every worship in every country. It was 



