per jaw, and eight in the under, the intermediate cental mammalia. The difference extends not only ones in the upper jaw being longer than the rest; to the form of the body, and the structure of those the three front grinders compressed, and the last four parts upon which the classification is founded, but it tuberculated; those above triangular, but the under extends to the very covering, the hair of the opossum ones oblong, and two canines in each jaw, making being unlike that of most other animals. It is neiin all fifty teeth, which is a greater number than is ther sleek nor frizzled; and it has more resemblance possessed by quadrupeds of any other genus. Their to whalebone than to common hair, and on the naked gape is wide, and the appearance of the mouth rag-parts there are sometimes scales. This uncouth sort ged; but their bite is feeble, compared with the size of covering the semi-transparent ears, which appear of their biting apparatus. Their tongues are beset reddish when seen against the light, the yellow sinwith horny tubercles, like those on the tongue of a ister eyes, the short legs, and the singularly-formed cat; and their tail is in part naked on the under side, feet, give these animals a repulsive appearance, which and prehensile. Their ears are very large and na- is in nowise diminished by the very fetid and offenked, and their aspect is altogether very peculiar. sive odour which they give out. The different speTheir hind feet have the thumb or fifth toe long, and cies vary considerably in their habits; but they may capable of acting in opposition to the other four, so be generally described as nocturnal animals, the prinas to lay hold like a hand. The four toes which act cipal part of which inhabit trees, in the holes of together on the hind feet are furnished with nails; which they lodge; and they prey upon birds, lizards, and when not used in grasping, the nailless one is and other small animals. Some of them also haunt turned to the rear, like the hind toe of a bird. Their the waters and feed upon shelled mollusca and cruslegs are short in proportion to the size of their bodies; tacea. they plant their feet upon the round pad of the sole when they walk, and their rate of motion on the ground is but slow. In trees, however, which the greater number of them chiefly inhabit, they have much power of themselves, and climb and hold on They are, as we have said, all nocturnal animals; with much address. Their eyes have the irides yel- and they are all carnivorous: but they do not possess low, and the pupils are vertical, like those of the fox. the same degree of power and energy as the carniv It has been said of them that they have a gape like orous animals, properly so called: and they are rea pike, the ears of a bat, the feet of an ape, and the markable for stupidity, or at all events they do not tail of a serpent; and, certainly, taking their char- display the same cunning as the fox, though their acters all in all, they differ very much from the pla-eyes resemble those of that animal. The habit is

All the species have the general characters of marsupial animals, the most remarkable of which in the skeleton are the two marsupial bones attached to the pubis, which support the pouch.

different, however, for the opossums, generally speaking, seek their prey in trees, whereas the fox is an animal which, though fond of brakes and other cover, is incapable of climbing. The form of their hind feet enables them to lay hold of a branch, and retain that hold, while they have a perfect command of the head and anterior extremities for other purposes. Thus they can make use of the crooked claws with which their fore feet are armed, to help them in the capture of their prey. At settlements near the woods, where they are plentiful, these animals are sometimes apt to play the weasel in poultry-yards; and, like that animal, they suck the blood of their victims.

in the pouch, or at least resort to it occasionally as a place of safety, until they are grown to about the size of rats.

The Virginian opossum, extending as it does over so vast a range in latitude, is subject to much variation of colour. There is also considerable difference between the appearance of the young ones and those which have arrived at perfect maturity. The body of the young animal is generally of a yellowish gray, mixed with some hairs entirely white, and others entirely black; the last of which are most abundant along the back, and give that part of the animal the appearance of being marked with a dorsal line. A band of a similar colour descends from each side of It is not a little singular that marsupial animals the neck to the fore legs; these legs, and also the should be found in two zones of the earth, which lie hind ones are covered with black hairs, and the tail nearly on opposite meridians, the centre of the one is covered with scales, with a few short and weak about 120° east, and the other about 60° west of the hairs thinly interspersed. The hands, that is, the meridian of London; aud that in all the districts be- prehensile parts of the hind feet, the ears, and the tween them there should be no animal of this char-point of the muzzle, are naked. The skin on the acter, or even approaching to it. What stage of the soles of the feet is violet black; but the toes and geological duration of countries may answer to ani- nails are flesh-coloured. The whiskers appear mals of this singular order, it is not easy to say; for, to be used as instruments of touch, as is the though we admit that a few specimens have been case with all mammalia which seek their prey by found fossil in our own latitudes, it is impossible for night; and it is presumed also, that the toes, which us thence to conclude that the animals belong either have a very delicate covering, are highly sensitive. to an early or a late stage of the country; for we The eyes are small, without any external lids, and have them in the rich woods of South America, and are remarkable for their convexity and consequent in the comparatively barren extent of New Holland, projection beyond their sockets; and from this pecuwhile there are none in Southern Africa, which is liar structure of the eye, it is probable that the aniintermediate between these, and partakes of the mal sees only at short distances, but that its vision characters of both. there is quite microscopick.

In some of the species, the female is furnished with a distinct abdominal pouch for the reception of her young during a portion of the period of gestation, and as a place of safety occasionally till they are able to shift for themselves; and this pouch is more developed in some than in others.

The Virginian Opossum.-This species is by far the best known, from its abundance in the southern states. But as it is very generally distributed over America as far as the borders of Patagonia, or at all events to the margins of the Pampas, the name Virginian is by no means descriptive of it, as it is found over a range in latitude of certainly not less than five thousand miles, while the individuals are far more numerous in South than in North America, if the whole surface of each be taken.

The usual size of the opossum is the same as that of a cat; its covering consists of a mixture of black and white hairs, with the ears having the one part black and the other white. The head often entirely white. It is very generally distributed, inhabits the woods, is not timid in the vicinity of settled places, prowls about in the night, killing poultry, sucking eggs, and committing other little depredations; but we need hardly add that, to man, it is quite harmless. The young, which are often as many as seven in number, are exceedingly light and small, at the time of their birth, that is, the time of their first birth, when transferred from the internal uterus to the pouch. The gestation in the uterus lasts twenty-six days, at the end of which the young have no vestiges of eyes or of ears, and are, indeed, little else than small lumps of gelatinous matter. They do not open their eyes till about the fiftieth day; but they readily find out the teats in the pouch, and attaching themselves to these, they increase in size. They remain

From the structure of the nose it is presumed that the sense of smell is very acute; but it cannot be very delicate in our way of estimating; for in that case the animal would be perfectly intolerable to itself, the odour which it emits when disturbed or threatened being described as one of the most offensive in nature.

In many parts of South America the opossum is so abundant that it prowls about in the villages, and even in the towns. D'Azzara mentions that they are frequently found lying dead in the villages, near the shores of La Plata, and even in the streets of Monte Video. He was the first to get a correct account of the marsupial apparatus of the female, which we shall give in nearly his own words: "The female has the whole length of the belly cleft or slit, and appearing like a person's waistcoat buttoned only at the top and bottom. This cavity the animal has the power of firmly closing. Within it are thirteen teats, extremely small, one in the centre, and the rest ranged round it."

Before the female comes to maturity, this marsipial apparatus is but little developed, there being only a slight fold of skin on each side the abdomen. After the young are weaned, the marsupium also collapses, and it is gradually reproduced as the time approaches when it is to receive a new litter.

Composition of Vegetable Substances.-Azote is an invariable part of the compound of all the animals, but not of plants, while carbon is the characteristick of the latter. On burning them, the azotick smell immediately marks the animal. The most essential of the compounds of vegetables are, carbon, oxygen, and hydrogen merely

ed with a single and most tremendous volley, hy which the ship was destroyed, and several lives lost

HAVRE is a large commercial town in the north of France, and is situated at the influx of the Seine The reformed religion was that of the majority of into the English channel. This town is strongly the inhabitants of Havre; and the protestants called fortified, being surrounded by walls and defended by in the English to their aid in October, 1562. The a citadel, which is considered the most regular and English being obliged to surrender the town by cahest constructed in France. It is believed to have pitulation, after twenty two days' siege, departed with been founded by Louis XII., but when Francis I. the honours of war, and an epidemick, by which more ascended the throne, in 1515, it was but a mere than twenty thousand perished in London, during creek, in which fishermen sought refuge in stormy the three months succeeding the return of the fleet. weather, having only a chapel dedicated to our La- Cardinal Richelieu, next to Francis I., was the great dy of Grace, which has disappeared, and a tavern benefactor of this town. He improved the harbour, or house of refreshment, still existing, with a boat built fortresses, and established a foundry, every and boatman, rudely carved on stone, which was cannon from which, bore his name. Havre was probably its sign. Francis I. built a town here, and bombarded by William III. in 1694, and by admiral fortified it against the English. By a curious desti- Rodney in 1759. It was not till 1786 that the great ny Francis lost the battle of Pavia and his liberty, publick works which now distinguish it were proand Havre was almost destroyed by an inundation jected. Here Sir Sidney Smith, in 1796, by an enin the same year. Restored to France, he recon- terprise of rare hardihood, cut out the French cruiser structed Havre, and in the port built a ship of a thou-"Le Vengeur," and, by an equally bold manoeuvre sand tuns, colossal in his time, having on board a of the second in command of the Vengeur, was taforge, windmill, chapel, tennis-court, and perfect in ken into Havre on board his own prize. all respects-except that it would not float-as appears from Rabelais. In 1545, a fleet of two hundred vessels, in the roadstead of Havre, menaced Henry VIII. and England. Francis I. came to Havre with his court, and gave a grand fete on board the "Philip." During the rejoicing, the ship-kitchen took fire; the ship was instantly in a blaze, and the royal party had hardly left it when, in the midst of the flames, a hundred cannon, charged for the purpose of being fired off in honour of the fete, thunderVOL. IV.--48

1

Bonaparte visited Havre for the first time in 1802, after the peace of Amiens, and saw its capabilities for being the first town in France in maritime commerce, and the best roadstead for the most numerous fleet. He again visited it in 1810, with the emperess Maria Louisa. To him Havre owes the great improvement of its port and its publick works. The cocks and sluices, on a peculiar site and grand scale, are the most important and interesting of the publick works. The docks form a segment of a vast circle,

partly embracing the town, with the quay for its base. I therefore called "Canton Bobea," being a mixture In these, some vessels ready for sea, others with of refuse Congou with a coarse tea called Woping, their keels up, others again new built but not launch- the growth of the province. The better kind of Boed, with the din of hammers and general movement, hea comes from the district of that name in Fokien, give proof of active and extensive commerce. The and, having been of late esteemed equally with the port consists of three basins, separated by four slui- lower Congou teas, has been packed in the same ces, which admit the passing of two frigates. The square chests, while the old Bohea package is of an roadstead of Havre is capable of holding the whole oblong shape. navy of France, and may be entered with almost any wind. Its special commerce is the direct import of colonial produce, and the export of the manufactured goods and produce of France; but it carries on also an extensive trade with the United States of America and maritime states of Europe. Within a few years after the restoration of the Bourbons and the peace, it has taken the lead of all the French ports in the Atlantick, and especially invaded the trade of Bordeaux. There are two lighthouses on the summit of La Heve, which command a view of the sea at twenty leagues' distance. Havre has also considerable manufactures of several kinds, of which the principal are tobacco, cordage, lace, sugar, china, vitriol, paper, and cotton.

The town is surmounted by the beautiful suburb of Ingouville, on the brow of a hill, partly wooded, and partly studded with pretty houses, having an extensive view of the sea. Havre contains nearly thirty thousand inhabitants.

MANUFACTURE OF TEA.

2. Congou, the next higher kind, is named from a corruption of the Chinese Koong-foo, “labour or assiduity." It formed for many years the bulk of the East India Company's cargoes; but the quality grad. ually fell off, in consequence of the partial abandonment of the old system of annual contracts, by which the Chinese merchants were assured of a remunerating price for the better sorts. The consumption of Bohea in this country has of late years increased, to the diminution of Congou, and the standard of the latter has been considerably lowered. A particular variety, called Campoi, is so called from a corruption of the original name, Kien-poey, “selectionchoice;" but it has ceased to be prized in this country, from the absence of strength-a characteristick which is stated to be generally esteemed beyond delicacy of flavour.

3. Souchong (Seaou-choong, "small or scarce sort") is the finest of the stronger black teas, with a leaf that is generally entire and curly, but more young than in the coarser kinds. What is called "Padre Souchong" is packed in separate paper bundles, of about half a pound each, and is so fine as to be used almost exclusively for presents. The As tea has always held so principal a place in our probability is, that its use in that way by the Cathointercourse with China, it requires some particular lick missionaries first gave rise to the name. The consideration, as an article of commerce. We have finest kinds of Souchong are sometimes scented seen before, that the fineness and dearness of tea are with the flowers of the Chloranthus inconspicuus, determined by the tenderness and smallness of the and Gardenia florida; and they cannot be obtained, leaf when picked. The various descriptions of the even among the Chinese, except at dear prices. A black diminish in quality and value as they are gath- highly crisped and curled leaf, called Sonchi, has ered later in the season, until they reach the lowest lately grown into disrepute and been much discussed, kind, called by us Bohea, and by the Chinese (Ta- in consequence of being often found to contain a cha) "large tea," on account of the maturity and ferruginous dust, which was probably not intended size of the leaves. The early leaf buds in spring, as a fraud, but arose from the nature of the ground, being covered with a white silky down, are gathered where the tea had been carelessly and dirtily packed. to make Pekoe, which is a corruption of the Canton 4. Pekoe being composed mainly of the young name, Pak-ho, "white down." A few days' longer spring buds, the gathering of these must, of course, growth produces what is here styled "black-leaved be injurious in some degree to the future produce of Pekoe." The more fleshy and matured leaves con- the shrub, and this description of tea is accordingly stitute Souchong; as they grow larger and coarser both dear and small in quantity. With a view to they form Congou; and the last and latest picking preserve the fineness of flavour, the application of is Bohea. The tea farmers, who are small proprie- heat is very limited in drying the leaves, and hence tors or cultivators, give the tea a rough preparation, it is, that Pekoe is more liable to injury from keepand then take it to the contractors, whose business ing than any other sort of tea. There is a species it is to adapt its further preparation to the existing of Pekoe made in the green-tea country, from the nature of the demand. The different kinds of tea young buds, in like manner with the black kind; but may be considered in the ascending scale of their it is so little fired that the least damp spoils it; and

value.

1. Bohea, which in England is the name of a quality, has been already stated to be, in China, the name of a district where various kinds of black tea are produced. The coarse leaf brought under that name to this country is distinguished by containing a larger proportion of the woody fibre than other teas; its infusion is of a darker colour, and, as it has been more subjected to the action of fire, it keeps a longer time without becoming musty than the finer sorts. Two kinds of Bohea are brought from China: the lowest of these is manufactured on the spot, and

for this reason, as well as on account of its scarcity and high price, the Hyson-pekoe, as some call it, has never been brought to England. The mandarins send it in very small canisters to each other, or to their friends, as presents, under the name of Loongtsing, which is probably the name of the distric where the tea is made.

Green teas may generally be divided into five denominations, which are: 1, Twankay; 2, Hysonskin; 3, Hyson; 4, Gunpowder; 5, Yeung Hyson. Twankay tea has always formed the bulk of the green teas imported into this country, being used by

the retailers to mix with the finer kinds. The leaf is older, and not so much twisted or rolled as in the dearer descriptions: there is altogether less care and trouble bestowed on its preparation. It is, in fact, the Bohea of green teas; and the quantity of it brought to England has fully equalled three fourths of the whole importation of green. "Hyson skin" is so named from the original Chinese term, in which connexion the skin means the refuse, or inferiour portion of any thing; in allusion, perhaps, to the hide of an animal, or the rind of fruit. In preparing the fine tea called Hyson, all those leaves that are of a coarser, yellower, and less twisted or rolled appearance, are set apart and sold as the refuse or "skin tea," at a much inferiour price. The whole quantity, therefore, depends on, and bears a proportion to, the whole quantity of Hyson manufactured, but seldom exceeds two or three thousand chests in all.

ing of the best rolled and roundest leaves, which give it that granular appearance whence it derives its name. For a similar reason the Chinese call it Choo-cha, "pearl tea." Young Hyson, until it was spoiled by the large demand of the Americans, was a genuine, delicate young leaf, called in the original language Yu-tsien, "before the rains," because gathered in the early spring. As it could not be fairly produced in any large quantities, the call for it on the part of the Americans was answered by cutting up and sifting other green tea through sieves of a certain size; and, as the company's inspectors detected the imposture, it formed no portion of their London importations. But the abuse became still worse of late, for the coarsest black tea leaves have been cut up, and then coloured with a preparation resembling the hue of green teas.

Nothing could be more ill-founded than the vulgar notion, once prevalent in this country, that the colour of green tea was derived from its being dried on plates of copper. Admitting that copper were the metal on which they were placed, it does not at all follow that they should assume such an appearance from the operation; but the pans really used on these occasions are of cast iron, of the same round or spherical shape as the tatch described under the head of chymistry. Each of these pans is bricked in, over a small furnace. A quantity of fresh leaves are placed in the pan, after it has been sufficiently heated, and stirred rapidly round by the hand, to expose them equally to the action of the heat, and at the same time prevent their burning. After being a little curled by this drying operation, they are taken out and twisted or rolled by hand to assist the natural tendency; and the process of curling is continued for a longer or shorter time, according to the nature and quality of the tea. The hand seems to have most to do in the case of green teas, and the fire in that of the black. In the preparation of the finer teas, much care and attention is bestowed on the selection of the best leaves subsequent to drying; as in the separation of the hyson from its skin, or refuse-a business which falls to the lot of women and children. The tea, when prepared, is first of all put up in baskets, and subsequently packed by the contractors in chests and canisters. The black teas are trodden down with the feet, to make them pack closer: but the green-tea leaves would be crushed and broken by so rude a process; they are accordingly only shaken into the chests.

CHESS.

J. F. Davis.

The word Hyson is corrupted from the Chinese CHESS is the most celebrated and general of all name, which signifies "flourishing spring," this fine the sedentary games. One of the greatest charms: sort of tea being of course gathered in the early part of this game lies, no doubt, in the circumstance, that of the season. Every separate leaf is twisted and whilst man is everywhere surrounded by chance, in rolled by hand, and it is on account of the extreme this game, as generally played, he has entirely excare and labour required in its preparation that the cluded it, except that it must be decided by chance best Hyson tea is so difficult to procure, and so ex- which of the two players shall begin. The game pensive. By way of keeping up its quality, the affords so much variety, so much scope for calculaEast India Company used to give a premium for the tion, so many opportunities to exhibit foresight and two best lots annually presented to them for selec-penetration, that it has been held in great esteem by tion; and the tea-merchants were stimulated to ex-all nations acquainted with it, and all persons who ertion, as much by the credit of the thing, as by the have conquered the difficulties of learning it. The actual gain in price. Gunpowder, as it is called, is Mohammedans except chess from the law against nothing but a more carefully picked Hyson, consist-gambling. Whilst this game affords enjoyment wor