THE PAR. IIS 



Maldive Islands. As a medium of exchange, the Cowry 

 must have been introduced at a remote past, when ci* 

 vilization was in a rudimentary stage. It is still used 

 as currency over an immense area extending from the 

 south Asiatic countries to the interior of the African 

 continent. In this family of shells, the head of the ani- 

 mal is large and broad, the tentacles or feelers long, and 

 the eyes placed on projections on their external bases ; 

 the foot is large, expanded, and elongated behind. 



The cowries are nearly all tropical animals, inhabit- 

 ing Coral reefs and submerged rocks. In their habits 

 they are shy and slow. 



VII. 



EXTBAOTS FROM AN ANONYMOUS 

 JOURNAL (II). 



THE PARK, 



A delightful morning ! There was a serene freshness 

 everywhere. The dew-washed foliage and grass looked 

 green and lovely. The air resounded with the wild 

 minstrelsy of innumerable birds, and every tree and every 

 bush had a colony of its own. From the graceful 

 kodcfaba and sombre mango came rich delicious strains 

 such as doyal birds only can sing. Shaliks and sparrows 

 and little sun-birds chirped on trees, on shrubs, on 

 hedgerows and housetops. Conspicuous, because most 

 demonstrative, were the crows which were busy cawing 

 and fluttering on every side. Far off the air was full 

 *f a wailing cry, harsher and more piercing it sounded 



