No. XXI.] APPENDIX. 297 



tying one end to the copper wire and tlie other to the trunk of a tree. All 

 being ready, I went in to dinner, and the alarum speedily rang. The thief 

 had moved the thread and puUed the wire out of the mercury. I ran out 

 and caught the boy, who declared that he would never come again if we 

 only would let him go this once. All such little devices you may contrive, 

 and they have a good influence in encouraging the habit of spontaneous 

 invention. 



Chemical and mechanical occupations are more especially for the 

 young gentlemen, but the yotmg ladies may have their share of occupation. 

 They wiU find that their botanical studies may be much improved by 

 studying the growth of plants. Those who live in the country, may 

 cultivate their flowers with more ease; but even those who live in the 

 middle of London are not altogether precluded from this pursuit by the 

 difficulties of their situation. Many plants may be gi-own under glass in 

 great perfection, as Ward has taught us. Here is a specimen of the rarest 

 of English ferns (called the Tunbridge fern), which grows and fructifies 

 in Mnsbury Circus as well as in any part of Great Britain. I, myself love 

 to see plants grow in this manner, and I have generally lilacs in blossom at 

 Christmas; and with a little trouble and protection you also may have 

 many choice plants even in the centre of London. To such of you as may 

 at once like to commence the cultivation of plants by this process, I have 

 brought some Lycopodiums, which I wiU distribute after the lecture, and 

 which you can readily grow under glass. 



To cultivate plants with success, it is quite necessary that you should 

 attend to certain circumstances. As horticultural weapons you must 

 employ and regulate the heat and cold, the light and darkness, and the 

 damp and dryness of the soil and atmosphere. By properly managing 

 these natural powers, success will attend your efforts, and you will be 

 delighted to see the fronds of ferns unfurl themselves, and many a choice 

 flower will gladden your eyes with delight and fill the room with odoriferous 

 perftime. However much the sun may be obscured from your room, still 

 some forms of vegetable life will be put forth ; and though by comparison 

 the rose or lily may superlatively excel chickweed or groundsel, yet there 

 is no plant, however insignificant, however common, which has not its own 

 peculiar beauties and charms, and which would not be esteemed as a 

 marvel of design if others more beautifial were absent from the comparison. 



Li the study of natural history young people may bring many objects 

 of the greatest interest under their notice. Here is a pet toad, which has 

 lived under my roof many years. It was the smallest toad I ever saw, 

 when I caught him in the woods where the Crystal Palace now stands. 

 He has done me much good service, by eating the insects which damaged 

 my pla,nts ; and you see that he has now grown to reasonable proportions. 

 It is a matter of much interest to see this creature feed. When he 

 perceives an insect like a cockroach, he sits perfectly motionless, tdll, by 

 directing both eyes upon the creature, it exactly ascertains the distance, 

 when in an instant it darts out its head with an inconceivable rapidity 

 and swallows its prey. Now every creature, if attentively examined, will 

 be found to have its peculiar mode of feeding ; and really a large volume 

 might be written on this subject alone, fuU of the most curious 

 information. 



Look at these beautiful Guernsey lizards, which astonish us by their 



