459. In some Islands of these seas the wild fowl and their eggs are the chief support of the innabitants; and the downy feathers of some are very valuable.

460. The walrus, the seal, and the whale, also produce a large quantity of oil, which serves the inhabi tants of the frozen regions for fuel, light and food.

461. It is only in the torrid and hot regions that we find the most ferocious of the beasts of prey, the lion, the tiger, the hyena, and juguar or American tiger. The wild boar, the wolf, and the hear are the only beasts of prey which are formidable, beyond the hot region, except the cougar and catamount of America, which resemble the panther in form and fierceness.

462. These regions are also distinguished for the huge size of some of their animals, and the beauty of others. The elephant, the hippopotamus and the cameleopard are from ten to fifteen feet in height. The great boa or anaconda is sometimes thirty feet in length. The ostrich, the cassowary and the condor, resemble quadrupeds, rather than birds, in their size and strength. 463. The antelope, the leopard, the zebra, and other animals of this zone are remarkably beautiful. The numerous birds are adorned with the richest plumage, and the feathers of the ostrich and the bird of paradise are the ornaments of kings.

464. In the Torrid Zone, serpents are most numer. ous and poisonous. The air is clouded with insects also, whose sting is extremely painful, and some like the locusts, move in such immense bodies, that they destroy the vegetation of whole countries.

Questions-How are animals distributed on the earth? What are the most useful domestic animals? Where are these and some other animals found? Where are they found in the greatest perfection? In what regions and countries are the horse and the ox used as beasts of burden. (See the view on the Allas.) Describe the same particulars with regard to the ass and mule, the lama, the camel and

he elephant. What animals are used for food? What other articles of value are obtained from these animals? In what regions, &c. do you find furred animals chiefly, and what are the principal? What other useful animals are mentioned, what are their uses, and where are they found? Where are the lion, the tiger, and the most terrible beasts of prey, found? What else is remarkable among the animals of the torrid and hot regions? What are some of the most beautiful? What can you say of the serpents and insects? Examine the view of animals in the Atlas, and mention the regions and countries in which each is usually found.

MINERALS.

465. Minerals are not distributed on the earth according to climates, like animals and vegetables. But by the care and kindness of Providence, those which are most necessary to man, are found in almost all countries; and others are more or less abundant, according to their importance.

466. It is remarkable also, that the most barren portions of the earth abound most in mineral treasures. 467. The most valuable minerals are the metals, and the ores from which they are extracted.

468. The most common and useful of the metals are iron, copper, lead and tin; the more scarce and precious metals, gold and silver, are chiefly used for money.

469. The diamond, topaz, agate and other precious stones, which are rare, are valued principally for their beauty. The more common minerals, as coal, salt, &c. are important to our comfort and life.

470. In our own country, and in most others, mineral springs, are often found, some warm and some containing iron, salt, or other minerals, which are very useful in the care of diseases.

The following tables show the situation of the most important minerals and mineral springs.

Questions. How are minerals distributed on the earth? What is remarkable concerning them? What are the most useful minerals? Which are the most important metals? What can you say of other minerals? What mineral springs are found?

TABLE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT MINERALS. Most abundant in.

ARTS AND MANUFACTURES.

471. Among savage nations there are no distinct trades, but each man builds his own hut, and makes for himself the few instruments, clothes, &c. which he uses.

472. Among civilized nations, each person usually attends only to one art or trade, except in Norway and Russia, where every family generally makes its own furniture, tools and clothes.

473. By the division of trades every thing can be made more easily and perfectly than among savages. Thus a man who makes clothes only, makes them better and more easily than if he attempted to make boats and tools also.

474. It is very difficult to till the ground, prepare our food, or make houses, clothing, and other things we need, without tools and instruments made of metal, such as ploughs, knives, &c.

475. The art of working metals is therefore the most important of all the mechanic arts, and is said to form half the employment of civilized men.

476. It is unknown to savages, and not well understood among barbarous nations, and they are therefore imperfect in all the arts of civilized life.

477. Among the half civilized nations, particularly the Turks and Chinese, some branches of this art are well understood. It has been brought to the greatest perfection in Germany, England, France, and other countries of Europe.

478. Barbarous nations are not well acquainted with the art of tilling the ground. It is said that in China and Japan, it is better understood than among us.

479. The various arts practised among us and other civilized nations, for cooking and preserving grain, meat and other articles used for food, are scarcely known among savage nations. But it is remarkable that almost all nations, civilized and barbarous, have learned to make intoxicating liquors, usually from the juice of vegetables.