discharged over the Atlantic from the waters of the Gulf Stream, in a winter's day, would be sufficient to raise the whole column of atmosphere that rests upon France and the British Islands from the freezing point to summer heat.

Every west wind that blows across the stream on its way to Europe, carries with it a portion of this heat, to temper there the northern winds of winter. It is the influence of this stream that makes Erin the "Emerald Isle of the Sea," and that clothes the shores of Albion in evergreen robes; while, in the same latitude, the coasts of Labrador are fast bound in fetters of ice.

As the Gulf Stream proceeds on its course, it gradually increases in width. It flows along the coast of North America to Newfoundland, where it turns to the east, one branch setting towards the British Islands, and away to the coasts of Norway and the Arctic Ocean. Another branch reaches the Azores, from which it bends round to the south, and, after running along the African coast, it rejoins the great equatorial flow, leaving a vast space of nearly motionless water between the Azores, the Canaries, and Cape de Verd Islands. This great area is the Grassy or Sargasso Sea, covering a space many times larger than the British Islands. It is so thickly matted over with gulf weeds that the speed of vessels passing through it is often much retarded. When the companions of Columbus saw it, they thought it marked the

limits of navigation and became alarmed. To the eye, at a little distance, it seems substantial enough to walk upon. Patches of the weed are always to be seen floating along the outer edge of the Gulf Stream. Now, if bits of cork or chaff, or any floating substance, be put into a basin, and a circular motion be given to the water, all the light substances will be found crowding together near the centre of the pool, where there is the least motion. Just such a basin is the Atlantic Ocean to the Gulf Stream; and the Sargasso Sea is the centre of the whirl.

Columbus first found this weedy sea, in his voyage of discovery: there it has remained to this day, moving up and down, and changing its position according to the seasons, the storms, and the winds.

MAURY.

QUESTIONS.-1. What is the ocean-river that is spoken of? 2. What forms its banks and its bottom? 3. What is its fountain? 4. Where is its mouth? 5. What is the breadth of the Gulf Stream in the Strait of Florida? 6. Describe its after course. 7. Show its effect upon the climate of Europe. 8. Contrast the climate of Ireland and that of Labrador. 9. What causes the difference? 10. What is the Grassy or Sargasso Sea? 11. How is it caused? 12. Give an illustration.

EXERCISES.

1. Point out on a map of the world all the places mentioned in this lesson.

2. Point out and explain all the strictly geographical terms in the lesson.

IN the hollow tree in the grey old tower,

The spectral owl doth dwell;

Dull, hated, despised in the sunshine hour,
But at dusk, he's abroad and well:

Not a bird of the forest e'er mates with him;
All mock him outright by day;

But at night, when the woods grow still and dim,
The boldest will shrink away;

Oh, when the night falls, and roosts the fowl,
Then, then is the reign of the horned owl!

And the owl hath a bride who is fond and bold, And loveth the wood's deep gloom;

And with eyes like the shine of the moonshine cold
She awaiteth her ghastly groom!

Not a feather she moves, not a carol she sings,
As she waits in her tree so still;

But when her heart heareth his flapping wings,
She hoots out her welcome shrill !

Oh, when the moon shines, and the dogs do howl, Then, then is the cry of the horned owl!

Mourn not for the owl nor his gloomy plight!
The owl hath his share of good :

If a prisoner he be in the broad daylight,
He is lord in the dark green wood!
Nor lonely the bird, nor his ghastly mate;
They are each unto each a pride-

Thrice fonder, perhaps, since a strange dark fate
Hath rent them from all beside!

So when the night falls, and dogs do howl,
Sing Ho! for the reign of the horned owl!
We know not alway who are kings by day,
But the king of the night is the bold brown owl.
B. CORNWALL.

The owl.-The owl is a nocturnal bird, sleeping during the day, and searching for its prey during the night. The horned owl is so called from the great length of the feather-tufts, which are placed upon the head, and erect themselves whenever the bird is excited.

QUESTIONS:-1. Where does the owl generally reside? 2. Why is the bird called the spectral owl? 3. What other word is used for spectral in the lesson? 4. When does the owl come abroad? 5. How is he treated by the other birds during the day? 6. How do they feel towards him at night? 7. At what time is the owl said to reign? 8. To what are the eyes of the female owl compared? 9. Why do we speak of the "shine of the moonshine cold"? 10. How does she welcome her mate? 11. When do dogs generally howl? 12. What share of good has the owl? 13. Why is he called a prisoner during the day? 14. Why cannot the owl be called lonely? 15. What renders these birds happy in each other's company? 16. Why is the owl called "the king of the night"?

1. Give in your own words the meaning of these phrases(a) Not a bird of the forest e'er mates with him; (b) The boldest will shrink away; (c) She awaiteth her ghastly groom; (d) She hoots out her welcome shrill; (e) Mourn not for his gloomy plight; (f) Fate has rent them from all beside.

2. Give the derivation of spectral, despised, reign.

3. Connect the meaning of these words with the root of spectral -spectre, inspect, inspector, inspection, expect, expectation, respect, spectacle, circumspect, prospect, retrospect.

ac'-cents, sounds, tones.

Excelsior.

clar'-ion, a kind of trumpet.

de-vice', motto, the words on
the banner.

THE shades of night were falling fast,
As through an Alpine village passed
A youth, who bore, 'mid snow and ice,
A banner with the strange device,

Excelsior!

His brow was sad; his eye beneath,

Flashed like a falchion from its sheath,

And like a silver clarion rung

The accents of that unknown tongue,
Excelsior!

In happy homes he saw the light

Of household fires gleam warm and bright;