2.  Having elicited from a lady that she is not engaged for the ensuing dance, exclaim, with a smile of triumph, “I am! and must go and find my partner.”

3.  When conversing with one young lady, whom you do not design to compliment by leading out for waltz, quadrille, or galoppe, mazurka, or Russian cotillon, &c., take particular care, in her hearing, to engage yourself to another.  This is equally kind and polite.

4.  Upon the conclusion of a dance, either leave your partner standing in the middle of the room—­which I have beheld performed with admirable effect—–­or, hastily leading her to a seat, quit her instantly:  which proceeding says, in plain English, “Lady, I would not stay another moment with you for anything that could be offered me, lest the world should choose to fancy we are engaged.”

Respecting giving and lending, which are sometimes necessary worldly duties, your guide must be this brief, but infallible rule—­“Venture a small fish to catch a large one.”  Those antiquated beings, indeed, whom the polite style “horrid bores,” but whose generic appellation is Christians, are accustomed to “lend and give, not hoping to receive;” yet this maxim cannot of course be supposed to influence the conduct of those who desire to advance themselves in the world, because they are bound to bear in mind, that they cannot admit of any principle of action which tends, in the slightest degree, to militate against their interest.—­Et caetera desunt.

M.L.B.

* * * * *

THE NATURALIST.

THE WHITE-HEADED, OR BALD EAGLE.

(Concluded from page 389.)

The intrepidity of character, before mentioned, may be farther illustrated by the following fact, which occurred a few years ago, near Great Egg Harbour, New Jersey.  A woman, who happened to be weeding in the garden, had set her child down near, to amuse itself while she was at work; when a sudden and extraordinary rushing sound, and a scream from her child, alarmed her, and starting up, she beheld the infant thrown down, and dragged some few feet, and a large bald eagle bearing off a fragment of its frock, which being the only part seized, and giving way, providentially saved the life of the infant.

The appetite of the bald eagle, though habituated to long fasting, is of the most voracious and often the most indelicate kind.  Fish, when he can obtain them, are preferred to all other fare.  Young lambs and pigs are dainty morsels, and made free with on all favourable occasions.  Ducks, geese, gulls, and other sea fowl, are also seized with avidity.  The most putrid carrion, when nothing better can be had, is acceptable; and the collected groups of gormandizing vultures, on the approach of this dignified personage, instantly disperse, and make way for their master, waiting his departure in sullen silence, and at a respectful distance, on the adjacent trees.