NATURE'S CHANGES. 281 



when alone in the forest, for he has within 

 himself an exhaustible source of occupation which 

 keeps his mind active, his thoughts engaged, and 

 his faculties in constant exercise. To him every 

 object has its attraction and importance, either 

 elucidating some principle or affording instruction; 

 and the more he learns the more his curiosity is 

 stimulated, rather than wearied, until after a time 

 he becomes almost independent of external cir- 

 cumstances, and loses all craving after the 

 artificial excitement of the outer world. He 

 finds "that there is society where none intrudes," 

 or, as the great master-mind Shakspere says : 



" Tongues in trees books in the running brooks 

 Sermons in stones and good in everything." 



I t' ct f Besides the beauties of Nature that 

 meet the hunter at every step, the 

 observation of the instincts, character, and habits 

 of different animals is one of the most entertaining 

 occupations. In the place of improvable reason 

 given to man, all animals are endowed with 

 faculties which impel them to perform certain 



