Objects , Advantages, And Pleasures Of Science.

of materials and of work than any other inclination Avhatever could possibly do . ffoiv the Bees actually make the tops ancl bottoms of their cells of three planes meeting in a point , and the inclinations or ano'les at ivhich they meet are precisely those found out by the mathematician to

bo the best possible for saving Avax and work . Who would dream of the bee knowing the highest branch of the Mathematics—the fruit of NeAvton ' s most wonderful discovery — a result , too , of which he Avas himself ignorantone of his

, most celebrated folloAvers having found it out in a later age ? This little insect ivorks Avith a truth and correctness which are perfect , ancl according to principles at ivhich man has arrived only after ages of slow improvement in the most difficult

branch of the most difficult science . But to the Mighty and AH-wise Creator , AA'I IO made the insect and the philosopher , bestowing reason on the latter , and giving the former to work Avithout it —! o Hiin all

truths are known from all eternity , AA'ith an intuition that mocks even the conceptions of the sagest of human kind . It may be recollected that Avhen the air is exhausted or sucked out of any vessel , there is no longer the force necessary to resist the pressure of the air on the outside

, and the sides of the vessel are therefore pressed inwards with violence ; aflat glass would thus be broken , unless it Avere very thick ; a round one , having the strength of an arch , Avould resist better ; but any soft substance , as leather or skin , would he

crushed or scpieezed together at once . If the air was only sucked out sloudy , the squeezing would be gradual , or , if it were onl y half sucked out , the skin Avould only he partly squeezed together . This is the process by which Bees reach the fine dust

and juices of hollo AV floivers , like the honeysuckle , and some kinds of long fox-glove , which are too narrow for them to enter . They fill up the mouth of the flower Avith their bodies , ancl suck out the air , or at least a large part of it ; this makes the

soft sides of the flower close , and squeezes the dust and juice toAvards the insect as well as a hand coidd do , if applied to the outside . We may remember this pressure or Wei ght of the atmosphere as shoivn by the Barometer and the Sucking-pump . Its

Objects , Advantages, And Pleasures Of Science.

iveight is near fifteen pounds on every square inch , so that if Ave could entirely squeeze out the air between our tivo hands , they would cling together with a force equal to the pressure of double this Aveight , because the air Avould press upon both hands ; and if Ave could contrive to suck or squeeze out

the air between one hand and the Avail , the hand would- stick fast to the wall , being pressed on it Avith the weight of above tAvo hundred Aveight , that is , near fifteen pounds on every square inch of the hand . Now , by a most curious discovery

of Sir Everard Home , the distinguished anatomist , it is found that this is the very process by which Flies and other insects of a similar description are enabled to Avalk up perpendicular surfaces , hoAvever smooth , as the sides of Avails and panes of glass in windows , and to Avail , as easily along the ceiling of a room Avith their bodies downwards and their feet over head .

Iheir feet when examined by a microscope , are found to have flat skins , or flaps , like the feet of Aveb-footed animals , as ducks and geese ; and they haA'e by means of strong folds , the poAver of drawing the flap close clown upon the glass or AvaH the fly walks onand thus squeezing out the air

, completely , so as to make a vacuum between the foot ancl the glass or Avail . The consequence of this is , that the air presses the foot on the Avail , Avith a very considerable force compared to the AV eight of the fly ; for if its feet are to its body in the

same proportion as ours are to our bodies , since Ave could support by a single hand on the ceiling of the room ( provided it made a vacuum ) more than our Avhole Avei ght , namely a weight of above fifteen stone , the fly can easily move on four feet in the

same manner by help of the vacuum made under its feet . ( To be continued . )

The Shadows Of Evening.

THE SHADOWS OF EVENING .

THE shadoAvs of evening falling Seem to darken tho hazy scene , And distant voices calling , Whisper of Avhat has been ;