Dec] AND SYMBOLS. 73 



old effete matter, and constantly receiving deposits of new and 

 living matter. Day and night, sleeping and waking, this cease- 

 less dying and ceasless resurrection is going on with more or 

 less rapidity ; the river of life flows on changing its particles, 

 but preserving the same form and appearance. In seven years 

 the whole structure is altered down to the minutest particles. 

 It becomes essentially a different body, though the individual 

 still retains his original form and his personal identity unim- 

 paired. B, 



An Example and an Emblem of Death. 



Though geographical research has dissipated most of the wild 

 stories formerly accepted in reference to the peculiarly fatal 

 concomitants of the Dead Sea, it well deserves its expressive 

 name. It is a dead sea; it has neither the ocean's living 

 movement nor deep-sounding roar; the surf and the spray 

 never sparkle on its rocks ; that " multitudinous laughter " 

 which Homer ascribes to the sea, is wholly wanting ; the wind 

 never makes a smile on its passive and sombre countenance. 

 By its shores one might realise Shelley's mournful wish, and 

 feel 



" In the warm air his cheeks grow cold, and hear the sea 

 Breathe o'er his dying brain its last monotony." 



It is lifeless, untenanted ; the fish found there, and brought 

 down by the Jordan, are dead. Unlike the Caspian, it is never 

 stirred by the whir of wings by the flight of gulls, or pelicans, 

 or sea-mews. The migratory birds sweep across it without 

 even a pause, without seeking the prey which they could not 

 find. Its waters are denser than those of other seas : their 

 constituents are different, and mingled in different proportions. 



D. 



Lucrative Deceit. 



The fishing frog is a sluggish fish, and as its ferocious appear- 

 ance by no means belies its character, it might be supposed that 

 it would have some difficulty in gratifying the enormous 

 appetite which must apparently be associated with such a 

 tremendous mouth. It is said, however, that the fish possesses 



