This graceful, active and harmless animal, although apparently fitted only to inhabit a land rich in pasturage and under a mild climate, is a native of the rugged and frigid peaks of the Alps, and there alone seems capable of its fullest enjoy

ment.

"Behold, on the point of yonder shaggy rock," says the Magazin Universel, (a celebrated illustrated popular Magazine of Paris before us), "behold this beautiful little quadruped, which seems to be standing sentinel, while a herd of similar animals, on the neighboring upland plain, peacefully crop the carline and génépi, or lick the saline surface of the stones. At the first glance you would take it for a tame goat; he is of the same size, form and aspect; but he wants the beard, his eyes are larger, more lively and beautiful, and betray a nature more timid and restless. His forehead is crowned with two small horns, as black as ebony, which rise side by side from between the eyes, and stand as if to protect the two sharp and slender ears, which are placed behind them. That coat of light hair, like a doe's, with a black stripe down the back, from the

head to the tail, is its summer dress. In the spring it was of an ash-grey, and in winter it will be dark brown, almost black. The hair, which at this season is short and thin, like the stag's, will then be long and thick like a sheep's: but its face will preserve its light buff color, and the two black marks on the cheeks.

"This vigilant sentinel walks with his eyes surveying the neighborhood, ready to give warning to the flock, at the slightest appearance of danger. Suddenly he strikes his two fore-feet upon the ground, and leaps to a higher rock above, and then to one higher still. He goes and comes, jumps up and down, and then springs up again, with the greatest rapidity, his eyes fixed on something at a distance, his nostrils expanded and his ears. bent to listen. Hark, how he whistles, so loud that the rocks echo the sounds."

"He must be excited by some violent passion; for his usual voice is a bleat, more feeble than that of the sheep. What can be the cause? You can neither see nor hear anything to cause his alarm. But at a distance, perhaps half a league off, is a hunter, of whose approach he is warned; and there will be

no rest until he has discovered him, and the flock, in obedience to his warning, shall have fled to a place of safety. To escape the danger, he will exert every faculty which nature has given him. You may see him gain the steepest eminences, or throw himself down a precipice almost perpendicular, striking the rock three or four times during his descent, and suddenly stopping on a little spot, scarcely large enough for his feet to rest upon. To see him thus pass from one precipice to another, you would almost believe he had wings."

A French traveller in Switzerland, M. Lantier, thus describes the manner of hunting the Chamois. "Amidst rocks and snows, braving all kinds of dangers, the hunters, like the animals they pursue, leap down precipices, and slide over the ice, and yet live only on bread and water, and have no pillow but stones. They set off in the night, that they may arrive at the highest pasture-grounds before daybreak, when the mountain goats go out to feed before the appearance of the flocks of sheep.

"When the hunter approaches the spot, he cautiously surveys it with a spy-glass, and proceeds until he discovers a Chamois. He then seeks to attain some elevation above it, and taking deliberate aim, fires his gun, and commonly brings down the innocent animal, as it feeds in peace. When he can see the horns he presumes he is within rifle-shot: the weapon in use being something like a rifle, with a grooved barrel. Some of them will give two shots. If the animal falls, the hunter springs upon it, and carries it home for food for his family, especially if it is young. But sometimes he takes only the skins of the old ones, especially if the distance is great, and the roads bad. The horns, hoofs and indeed all parts are of some use.

"But if the Chamois, or a flock of them, discover the hunter at a distance, they fly, with a surprising speed, over rocks,

glaciers, and everything; and then commence his toil and dangers. He pursues as well as he can; and when night overtakes him, he makes his bed where he may: on snow or ice, among the rocks or in the crevice of the broken surface around him. There, without light or fire, he takes a frugal meal, on bread so hard that he needs a stone to break it, or cuts it with the little knife which he carries, to dig steps up the walls of ice which he is often obliged to climb."

"My father and my grandfather," said a young Swiss to an English traveller, "lost their lives in hunting the Chamois; and I expect the same death. I call my hunting bag my shroud, and expect to die with it but I would not exchange my life for any other." Six months af serwards his feet slipped, and he was dashed down a precipice to rise no more.

The Chamois is the only species of Antelopes which inhabits Europe, except one; and, while the others choose the hottest regions of Asia and Africa, he is found only on the second grade of Alpine regions, near to the verge of perennial snow. From March or April until October or November, the little young Chamois follow the mother; and those graceful little animals are easily tamed, if placed among a flock of goats. It then loses all its natural wildness and timidity, enters the stable, and becomes perfectly domesticated.

In the wild state it lives from 20 to 30 years. The flesh of the Chamois is good food. and it yields sometimes as much as 12 pounds of excellent fat. But the skin is the most valuable part of the animal, and that is the principal object of the hunters. It is strong, supple and rough, and bears long use, when made into gloves, vests and other garments.

This harmless little animal is agreeably associated with the picturesque and sublime scenery of its native mountains, and with the simple and hardy people that surround them.

West Point.

A correspondent of the American Traveller, thus speaks of this delightful spot:

We reached the dock at West Point at 8 in the morning. Turning to the left, we followed an avenue on the banks of the river, amid high precipices and deep ravines, embowering trees and water glimpses.

The first point of historic interest that we reached was 'Gee's Point,' a bold projection at the very head of the river, on which are the ruins of a small battery.— This defended a huge iron chain more than 1400 feet long, that was extended across the river in 1780 to the bluff on Constitution Island.

The next object of peculiar attraction was the splendid monument recently erected to the memory of Major Dade, two captains, four lieutenants, one physician, and ninety-seven privates-a detachment of U. S. Troops who perished on the 18th of December, 1835, in a battle with the Seminole Indians of Florida. The peculiarity of the case was, that out of this detachment of 108 men, but three survived. Although this magnificent pile of marble was supported by carved cannon, and surmounted by the American eagle, who stooped to entwine the laurel wreath around this remembrancer of the distant sleepers; yet how poor a substitute this, for the lives of those valiant men! Even the glory of war is terrible. And, as we gathered there, we could not suppress the suggestion of conscience, that generosity, yea injustice to the poor Indian, chased to the outskirts of our land, would have saved to us and him that vast amount of treasure, toil and blood, that was spent in the Florida

war.

From this point we ascended to the plain above, to witness the exercises of the cadets. We were particularly attracted by a party, who were throwing bombs some two hundred yards to an elevated barrel in Fort Clinton. As the fire of the fusee is visible, the passage of these bombs through the air is exceedingly brilliant.

The first building we visited was the Artillery Laboratory. The square, surrounded by walls and towers, contains some ordnance of interest. Here is the remnant of the famous chain that was thrown across the river; also two can

non taken from the British, and presented to Congress by Major Gen. Greene ; also, several brass mortars taken at the surrender of Burgoyne, and at the storming of Stony Point.

From the Laboratory we returned to the plain; and, passing Wood's monument, the delightful houses of the Professors, the old and new barracks, we reached the Academy. It is a fine stone building, 275 feet by 75, containing a chemical laboratory, riding and fencing halls, recitation, court and engineering rooms, with the finest models of fortification, architectural and civil engineering. The upper story is devoted to the mineralogical cabinet and Mr. Weir's hall and galleries for drawing, painting and sculpture.

On the line with the Academy is the Episcopal Chapel. Here all denominations are required to worship. Over the pulpit is a painting by Weir, of Pilgrim memory. It is said to represent the motto Righteousness exalteth a nation.' 'A female figure with an olive branch in one hand, and a Bible in the other, is looking to the Sun of Righteousness, just rising in the East. On the other side a Roman warrior has laid aside his implements of battle, while the star-spangled banner lies at his feet. Between these figures our country appears upon a globe, over which hovers an Eagle with an olive and arrows.'

On the same line with the Chapel is the library, an uncommonly fine building of recent construction. It contains about 15,000 volumes, full length portraits of Jefferson and Madison by Sully, together with busts and portraits of other distinguished men. This building contains a philosophical apparatus and an observatory. The three towers are devoted to telescopes and a transit instrument from Germany.

Leaving the plain and passing toward the river, we descended a flight of stone steps to Kosciusko's garden. This spot is surrounded by precipices above and below. It has a running fountain in the centre and is surrounded by a garden, shrubs and trees, said to have been planted by Kosciusko, in soil brought to the spot by his own hand. This was his favorite resort in the Revolutionary War.

Here we found several cadet officers, who had been invited to join us in a picnic dinner.

[For the American Penny Magazine.]
Thoughts at Sea.

To sit on the deck, when the ship is at

sea,

And watch all the changes the weather can bring

Was often a fav'rite employment to me: For sometimes the gale through the cordage would sing,

And sometimes the tempest tremendously

roar;

While the lightning flash'd bright, and the thunders replied

In peals most terrific; and torrents would pour,

As the vessel rush'd timidly over the tide.

And sometimes the sun, shining clear on the spray,

As the Sabbath appear'd spreading calmness around,

The flying-fish flutter'd so swiftly away,

And plunged in the deep azure billows profound.

O God of the ocean, and God of the land, How great is Thy goodness, how wondrous Thy power!

Thou holdest the seas in the palm of Thy hand,

And shalt live and shalt reign when the

world is no more.

From Headley's Letters from Long Lake.

appear

THE LOON.Taking Mitchell with me, we embarked on Monday in his birch bark canoe for Crotchett and Rackett lakes. Paddling leisurely up Long Lake, I was struck with the desolate ance of the settlement. Scarcely an improvement had been made since I was last here, while some clearings had been left to go back to their original wildness. Disappointed purchasers, lured in by extravagant statements, had given up in despondency and left.

But our light canoe soon left the last clearing; and curving round the shore, we shot into the Racket or Racquet'e river, and entered the bosom of the forest. As we left the lake I saw a loon some distance up the inlet, evidently anxious to get out once more into open water. These birds (about the size of a goose) you know, cannot rise from the

water except by a long effort and against a strong damp wind, and depend for safety on diving and swimming under water. At the approach of danger they go under like a duck, and when you next see them, they are perhaps sixty rods distant, and beyond the reach of your bullet. If cornered in a small body of water, they will sit and watch your motions with a keenness and certainty that is wonderful, and dodge the flash of a percussion lock gun all day long. The moment they see the blaze from the muzzle they dive, and the bullet, if well aimed, will strike the water exactly where they sat. I have shot at them again and again, with a dead rest, and those watching would see the ball each time strike directly in the hol low made by the wake of the water above the creature's back. There is no killing them except by firing at them when they are not expecting it, and then their neck and head are the only vulnerable points. They sit so deep in the water, and the quills on their backs are so hard and compact that a ball seems to make no impression on them. At least I have never seen one killed by being shot through the body. Such are the means of self-preservation possessed by this curious bird, whose wild, shrill and lonely cry on the water at midnight is one of the most melancholy sounds I ever heard in the forest.-N. Y. Observer.

NEWSPAPERS. A good paper taken in a family seems to shed a gleam of intelligence around. It gives the children a taste for reading; it communicates all the important events in the busy world; it is a never-failing source of amusement, and furnishes a fund of instruction which will never be exhausted. Every family, however poor, if they wish to hold a place in the rank of intelligent beings, should take at least one newspaper. And the man who, possessed of property sufficient to make himself easy for life, surrounded by children eager for knowledge, is instigated by a vile spirit of cupidity, and neglects to subscribe for a newspaper, deficient in the duties of a parent or a good citizen, and is deserving of the cen sure of his intelligent neighbors.-Sel.

is

SELECTED ADVICE TO THE LADIES.-Always dress as neatly and plain as possible-let Flora be your jeweller, and a rose bud the only gem about you.-Sel.

WESTERN INDIANS.

The Choctaw Mission. Communication from the Rev. James B. Ramsey, July 16, 1846.

(Concluded from page 581.)

The account which it gives of the Examination, Addresses, &c. and also of the Examination of the Girl's School, under the care of the Rev. C. Kingsbury, of the American Board, will all be found interesting, and valuable as showing the rapid progress of the Choctaws in Christian civilisation.

Our examination was held the day before yesterday, Tuesday much to the satisfaction of all parties. The evening before a great many people had arrived, besides the trustees, the chiefs and head men; and during the morning they kept coming in from all directions, almost every one leading another horse for one of the boys to ride home; so that at dinner we had above 150 guests. We had killed, the afternoon before, an ox, three hogs and two sheep, which together with a moderate quantity of bacon, had nearly all disappeared the next evening. There were a number of gentlemen and some ladies from Doaksville and Fort Towson present; among others, Col. Pitchlynn's two daughters, and sister-in-law. Capt. Jones also, who you are aware is one of our trustees, a very intelligent man, and of polished manners, and a partner of Mr. H., brought his family along in a very handsome coach-the only thing of the kind I have yet seen in the nation. Our exercises commenced about 7 1-2 o'clock, and continued, with about an hour's recess for dinner, until about three. The school room, which however is small, was crowded all the time, but not a fourth part of the people were in at once that would have been had our accommodations been better.

The classes first examined belonged to Mr. Dwight's department, whose sole duty since I came has been to teach the English language to those who cannot speak it. As we have had no books suited for this, it has required great labor on the part of the teacher; and the examination, which was a sample of the daily teaching, was conducted simply by giv. ing the names of various objects in Choctaw, and requiring from the scholars the English ;-repeating short sentences in

Choctaw, and requiring a translation in English, and some conversation.

From most of this our trustees were absent; being engaged with the chiefs and captains and head men, in preparing and signing a memorial to Congress against the extension of the criminal laws of the United States over the whole Indian territory, in matters between Indian and Indian, as well as between Indians and white men, which they had been informed it was proposed to do, and which they strongly in their memorial deprecate, as a very great injury, and a gross injustice, though they scarcely thought it possible that such a thing could be scriously designed. Even should it be necessary in the case of the Cherokees,' say they, 'why should we be visited for the sins of our neighbours? We can govern ourselves, we have a feeling of national pride in this thing,-we are trying all we can to improve ourselves, and to elevate the mass of our people,-why now threaten to deprive us not only of a just right solemnly guaranteed to us, but also of one of our strongest incentives to self-improvement?' I could not but sympathise with them deeply, though I think still there must be some misunderstanding as to the design of the United States government.

The classes taught by Mr. Bissell were next examined. These had been studying reading, writing, arithmetic, (Emerson's 1st and 2d part), and Geography, (Parley's and Smith's.) Then came on the department taught by Mr. Wright, who has occupied the place of the first teacher since I came. These were examined in Geography, Arithmetic, (Emerson's third part,) Natural Philosophy, History of the United States, Algebra, Latin Reader; after which I examined one boy in Horace, who had been reciting to me since I came. Occasionally between the classes we had a speech or two from some boys previously appointed to prepare, which tended somewhat to vary the exercises, and to add to their interest. All at the close appeared pleased, and freely expressed their approbation.

After the examinations were through, and we went through them very rapidly, -the people, students, trustees, and all, were assembled under the shade of some trees at the end of one of the Academy buildings, where I had Colton's large Mis