charmingly sympathetic harmony from the illused strings.

'I will never play again,' cried the young man. Yes, I will-to touch it where you have touched it. Oh, I think you can do everything, and make everything perfect you look at.'

'No!' said Constance, shaking her head as she ran the bow softly, so softly over the strings; for you are not perfect at all, though I have looked at you a great deal. Look! this is the way to do it. I am not going to accompany you any more. I am going to give you lessons. Take it now, and let me see you play that passage.Louder, softer-louder. Come, that was better.

the afternoon, to ask if she thought of making any expedition? to suggest that his mother wished very much to take him to see this or that, and had sent him to ask would Miss Waring come? Constance was generally quite willing to come, and not at all afraid to walk to the bungalow with him, where, perhaps, old Luca's carriage would be standing, to drive them along the dusty road to the opening of some valley, while Mrs Gaunt, not a good climber, she allowed, would sit and wait for them till they had explored the dell, or inspected the little town seated at its head. Captain Gaunt was more punctilious about his mother's presence as chaperon than Constance was, who felt quite at her ease roaming with him among the terraces of the olive woods. It was altogether so idyllic, so innocent, that there was no occasion for any conventional safeguards, and there was nobody to see them or remark upon the prolonged tête-à-tête. Constance came to 'A first-rate violin-player, then,' said Constance. know the young fellow far better than his mother 'But I don't think my power goes so high as that. did, better than he himself did, in these walks-Poor general, what does he say when you grind, and talks. as you call it, all the morning?'

'Miss Waring, don't laugh at a fellow. I know I deserve it. O yes, do, if you like. I had rather you laughed than closed the piano. I had a good long grind at it this morning; but somehow these triplets are more than I can fathom. Let us have that movement again, will you?-Oh, notif you are tired. As long as you'll let me sit and talk. I love music with all my heart, but I love'

'Chatter,' said Constance. 'I know you do. It is not a dignified word to apply to a gentleman; but you know, Captain Gaunt, you do love

to chatter.'

'Anything to please you,' said the young man. 'That wasn't how I intended to end my sentence. I love to-chatter, if you like, as long as you will listen-or play, or do anything; as long as'

"You must allow,' said Constance, 'that I listen admirably. I am thoroughly well up in all your subjects. I know the station as well as if I lived

I think I shall make something of you after all.'

'You can make anything of me,' said the poor young soldier, with his lips on the place her cheek had touched, 'whatever you please.'

'Oh, mother smooths him down-that is the use of a mother.'

'Is it?' said Constance, with an air of impartial inquiry. I didn't know.-Come, Captain Gaunt, we are losing all our time.'

And then tant bien que mal, the sonata was got through.

'I am glad Beethoven is dead,' said Constance as she closed the piano. 'He is safe from that at least: he can never hear us play. When you go home, Captain Gaunt, I advise you to take lodgings in some quite out-of-the-way place, about Russell Square, or Islington, or somewhere, and grind, as you call it, till you are had up as a nuisance; or else'

'Or else what, Miss Waring? Anything to please you.'

'Or else-give it up altogether,' Constance

said.

His face grew very long; he was very fond of there.' his violin. If you think it is so hopeless as that 'Don't say that,' he cried; 'it makes a man-if you wish me to give it up altogether'beside himself. Oh, if there was any chance that you might ever- I think I'm almost sureyou would like the society in India-it's so easy; everybody's so kind. A-a young couple, you know, as long as the lady is-delightful.'

'But I am not a young couple,' said Constance with a smile. 'You sometimes confuse your plurals in the funniest way. Is that Indian too? -Now come, Captain Gaunt, let us get on. Begin at the andante. One, two-three! Now, let's get on.'

And then a few bars would be played, and then she would turn sharp round upon the musicstool and take the violin out of his astonished

hands.

'Oh what a shriek!

It goes through and through one's head. Don't you think an instrument has feelings? That was a cry of the poor ill-used fiddle, that could bear no more. Give it to me.' She took the bow in her hands, and leaned the instrument tenderly against her shoulder. It should be played like this,' she said.

Miss Waring, you can play the violin too?' 'A little,' she said, leaning down her soft cheek against it, as if she loved it, and drawing a

'Oh, not I. It amuses me. I like to hear you break down. It would be quite a pity if you were to give up, you take my scolding so delightfully. Don't give it up as long as you are here, Captain Gaunt. After that, it doesn't matter what happens-to me.'

'No,' he said, almost with a groan, 'it doesn't matter what happens after that to me. It's the Deluge, you know,' said the poor young fellow. I wish the world would come to an end first' thus unconsciously echoing the poet. 'But, Miss Waring,' he added anxiously, coming a little closer, I may come back? Though must go to London, it is not necessary I should stay there. I may come back?'

Oh, I hope so, Captain Gaunt. What would your mother do, if you did not come back? But I suppose she will be going away for the summer. Everybody leaves Bordighera in the summer, I hear.'

'I had not thought of that,' cried the young soldier. And you will be going too?'

'I suppose so,' said Constance. Papa, I hope, is not so lost to every sense of duty as to let me spoil my complexion for ever by staying here.'

Journal

shows little or no diminution, but remains very much as in the days of old before we acquired India.

snake, is immediately bitten, and probably before daylight, lies a corpse by the roadside.

The same reckless custom of passing after sunAmong the wild animals figuring in the list set through jungles inhabited by all kinds of as destructive to human life, the tiger naturally wild beasts, is, though in a less degree, a constant holds a prominent place; the deaths of no fewer source of danger, frequently ending in death. than nine hundred and eighty-five human beings It has already been remarked that the tiger, if are laid to his charge; and yet the animal, if left left unmolested, will seldom interfere with man, unmolested and not provoked in any way, will but more often, when disturbed in the daytime, seldom attack human beings. The truth is, will slink off with a surly growl of fear. This tigers, as a rule, are cowards, only too willing rule, however, certainly does not hold good with to slink away on the approach of man. In equal force after nightfall. Then wild animals former years speaking chiefly of our own ter- are all on the prowl after prey, and they seem ritories in British India-when tigers were much to be perfectly aware of the advantage they more common than they are nowadays, man- possess over human beings of a vision specially eaters were by no means rare. It was in those adapted by nature to penetrate the pitchy darktimes nothing uncommon to hear of high-roads ness of the night. Not only, therefore, is there stopped, large tracts of country left unculti- a greater probability of travellers meeting with vated, villages deserted, and permitted to fall dangerous animals when passing through the to ruin, owing to the ravages of these dreaded forest after sunset, but the tiger and his comrades creatures. Now, however, man-eaters have been of the jungle are then bolder and more to be nearly exterminated; occasionally one is heard feared; and though the tiger be a coward at of; but almost invariably his evil deeds attract heart, yet, under cover of darkness, and perhaps the attention of the civil officer of the dis- pinched with hunger, the sound of voices in the trict, and an organised expedition is sent in dead stillness of the night entices the brute to search of the marauder, and eventually the approach the roadway; and a string of defenceanimal is killed, either by the rifle of an English less natives, passing within a few yards of his sportsman, or by the matchlock of some local lurking-place, still further awakens his evil inshikarie. stincts. The temptation proves too great, and How, then, it will naturally be asked, if man-with a bound, he springs upon one of the hapless eaters are so rare, does it come to pass that travellers and carries off his shrieking victim. nearly a thousand unfortunate creatures lose their lives in a single year by tigers? In the first place, although man-eating tigers are now fortunately rare, yet there can be no doubt that the tiger when suddenly come upon in his lair, or met accidentally face to face when on the move, will, on the spur of the moment-more from fear, probably, than anything else-strike down any one barring his way, and pass swiftly on. Casualties of this kind often occur in wooded parts of the country. A tigress with young is especially dangerous, and will often furiously attack any one approaching the spot where the

cubs are.

We are told in the Gazette, that in the year 1883, no fewer than forty-seven thousand four hundred and seventy-eight head of cattle were devoured by wild animals; and there can be no doubt that the tiger is extremely mischievous in this respect, and in consequence lays a very severe tax on natives inhabiting villages bordering upon large forests or anywhere near to his stronghold. A pair of royal tigers will probably kill and devour from ten to twelve bullocks of large size within a month's time; and a tigress with two or three nearly full-grown cubs is still more destructive. The latter, not content with pulling down cattle for food, will often, out of pure mischief, destroy two and three at a time.

of

Again, cattle-keepers, or gwallas as they are termed in Bengal, often lose their lives by There are tigers which live almost entirely on courageously exposing themselves when endea- large game, such as deer and wild pigs, seldom vouring to rescue some one of their charges from approaching villages or the haunts of man; the clutches of the destroyer. At such times but, unfortunately, the great majority depend the tiger is especially dangerous. He has pro- almost entirely on cattle for food; and this is tably tasted blood, and often will not surrender not to be wondered at. The ruminants his prey without a struggle. Should a body of men keeping close together approach him as he crouches growling behind the bullock he has dragged to the ground, he will sometimes slowly and reluctantly beat a retreat; but often rendered furious by a shower of sticks and stones cast at him and by the shouts of his daring assailants, he charges out with flashing eye and a roar of rage, and strikes down one or more of his assailants.

A prevalent cause of death occasioned by anake-bites, &c., is the almost universal habit among the poorer classes of natives of travelling by night during the hot-weather months. It is exceptional to meet with a cobra during the daytime; but after sunset reptiles sally forth in search of food. A native, generally speaking, walks barefooted, or wears only a low shoe, which affords no protection to the ankle or leg. In the darkness, he treads upon or touches some deadly

the forest are timid, restless creatures, ever on the lookout against danger, so that it happens constantly that, in spite of the crafty, noiseless approach of their striped enemy, he is discovered ere he can creep to within springing distance. The tiger, however, is often more successful when lying in wait hard by some pool of water in the jungles. After a long hot day, towards nightfall, deer, parched with thirst, are often impatient to reach the precious water, and incautiously approach without perceiving their hidden enemy.

But the tiger soon discovers that he can provide himself with food with far less trouble and exertion by preying on cattle. Not only is stalking them an easy task when the herd is grazing on the outskirts of the jungle, but oftenunlike deer, which bound away almost immediately on discovering their lurking enemy-a

herd of cattle will stand spell-bound, paralysed with fear, their whole attention fixed upon the striped marauder grovelling along the ground and rapidly approaching to within springing distance. Then, when too late to make their escape, the foolish creatures turn to fly; but with a bound, the tiger is upon them, and seizing a victim in his terrible grip, brings it to the ground, and kills it with one wrench of his powerful jaws.

hundred yards of the houses. Since the time of the Indian Mutiny, when the country was disarmed, leopards have greatly increased in many parts, more especially in our hill territories. In former days, almost every village possessed two or three guns; now, however, only certain individuals bearing a license from the authorities carry firearms, and in consequence, wild animals are not sufficiently killed down.

The leopard is particularly addicted to carrying off dogs. The animal will seldom face a powerful dog in the open; but by creeping up unperceived and waiting for a favourable opportunity, it suddenly takes the dog at a disadvantage, fastening on to its neck, and seldom quitting its hold till the strength of its victim is exhausted. In spite of broad iron collars garnished with spikes for a protection, large-sized, valuable sheep-dogs are very often carried off by leopards in the valleys of the Himalaya.

The Asiatic lion, from certain characteristics, such as the almost total want of a mane in the male, and its smaller size, was formerly held to be of a different species from the lion of Africa; but naturalists are now inclined to consider the two animals identical. Little is known of the habits of the Indian lion, and except in Cutch, Guzerat, and one or two other spots in the Bombay presidency, it has become extremely rare. Sportsmen who have met with and shot the animal describe it as dangerous Included in our Indian carnivora are three when wounded and followed up; but, like the species of bears. Two of these, the brown and tiger, unless provoked, the Indian lion almost Himalayan black bear, are confined to our invariably endeavours to make off on being northern hill regions. The third species (Ursus disturbed. Nor does the animal appear to be labiatus) is only found in the plains of India, or nearly so bold and dangerous after nightfall, as rather in our lower ranges of hills, for it is found is the case with the African lion. A crouching in the Neilgherries of Madras. The last-named lion in long grass or bushes, even in compara- species never eats flesh, subsisting chiefly on wild tively bare open ground, is more difficult to dis- fruit, various roots, grain, termites, and honey; tinguish than the tiger, on account of the tawny but the two Himalayan species undoubtedly occahide exactly matching the colour of the surround-sionally kill sheep, goats, and cows, and devour ings. It may be here mentioned that it is a mis- the flesh. take to suppose that the male lion in its wild state carries the long flowing mane that we see in specimens shut up in cages. The lion often inhabits dense thorny thickets; and his mane, from constant combing' and wear and tear when passing through prickly bushes, becomes shortened in a measure, and wants the flowing luxuriance of hair so marked in our caged specimens. The Indian lion, though an inveterate cattle-killer like his striped brother, seldom, if ever, takes to devouring human beings.

A number of deaths are annually laid to the charge of the bear tribe. Woodcutters are often brought in terribly torn and disfigured. Sometimes individual cases occur when the bear attacks a man without the slightest provocation. A she-bear with cubs is perhaps more jealous of human beings approaching her young than any other quadruped. She will at such times furiously attack and pursue any one coming near to her whelps, often inflicting terrible wounds with her teeth and claws; but never, as we so constantly read, does she, on coming to close quarters, attempt to hug or squeeze a man in her powerful grasp.

The panther and leopard both in a great measure bear a similar character to the royal tiger; they seldom will attack man, unless provoked, driven to bay or wounded, when, like all Though in general nocturnal, all three species the larger felidæ, they become highly dangerous, of the Indian bear will sometimes be met with and lives are often lost in their pursuit on foot. in the daytime, more especially during the rainy Instances now and again occur of both these season, when the grass and jungle grow thick animals showing unusual ferocity and taking to and matted. At such times, in out-of-the-way man-killing; but fortunately this habit is excep- spots where the forest remains undisturbed, the tional. The panther of Central India-a large Himalayan black bear will be met with searchpowerful beast is held to be, by many experi-ing for acorns below clumps of oak-trees, or enced sportsmen, as also by native hunters, a more dangerous animal to cope with than the tiger; and both panther and leopard ascend trees with facility, a power fortunately denied to the tiger.

Not many years ago, an officer seated in a tree in company with a native fired at a panther passing below, wounding the creature severely. The panther sprang up the stem of the tree, dragged the unfortunate sportsman down to the ground, mauling him so dreadfully that he died soon after; and then actually ascended the tree a second time and killed the shikarie.

The panther, like the tiger, is direfully mischievous in killing cattle; and the leopard continually harries the flocks and herds of the villagers, often taking up its abode within a few

amidst the branches gathering the fruit; and just before nightfall, a black shuffling object will sometimes be met with on the public road. But, as a rule, if left alone, a bear will seldom molest a human being.

One other animal of the carnivora, the 'Bhériá' or 'Indian wolf,' has to be noted to complete the list, and this animal justly carries a bad reputation for destroying life. There is something peculiarly horrible in the character of the Indian wolf. He hardly ever will face a man or a woman, but makes children his chief prey.

In some of our northern provinces, more especially Oude and parts of Rohilkund, as also throughout the north-western provinces of Bengal, the loss of life from wolves is terribly great. Unlike the larger felida,