near the mouth of the river and bars the navigation. (2) The shallowness of the sea at many parts of the coast ;-notably at the Wash, where the Great Ouse enters the sea. (2.) Winchester, in Hants, on the River Itchen. This was the early capital of England, having previously been the capital of Wessex; it was probably chosen on account of its central position in the United Kingdom.-Peterborough, in Northampton, is associated with the defence of the fen country against the Normans by Hereward. Its comparatively elevated site probably decided the choice of the builders of its cathedral, to which most of its historical importance is owing. Fotheringay Castle, near Peterborough, was the birthplace of Richard III., and the scene of the trial and execution of Mary Queen of Scots.-Shrewsbury, in Shropshire, on the Severn, is noted in history for a battle fought near it in 1403, in which Hotspur was defeated and slain by Henry IV. It was one of the Welsh Border towns, chosen probably on account of its naturally favourable position as a fortress.— Boston, in Lincolnshire, on the Witham. Birthplace of Foxe, author of the "Book of Martyrs," and the original point of departure of the Pilgrim Fathers. Its means of ready communication with the sea seems to have led to its establishment as a port.-Scarborough, on the East coast of Yorkshire, was several times besieged by the Parliamentary army during the Civil War. Its establishment was probably owing to the position giving natural defences, yet ready communication by sea.-Cardiff, in Glamorganshire, on the Taff, has a castle, which was taken by Cromwell in 1648. It is a most important seaport.-Stirling, on the Forth, was the scene of several sieges from 1304 to 1312, in the war between England and Scotland; it was lost to the English in 1314. It was doubtless established as a fortress on account of its towering rock furnishing an excellent military position.-Aberdeen, on th Dee, Scotland, was created a Royal Burgh by William the Lion in the twelfth century, and burned by the English in the fourteenth. Cork, at the mouth of the Lee, Ireland, was partly built by the Danes; surrendered to Henry II. in 1172, and was taken by Cromwell in 1649. Drogheda, near the mouth of the Boyne, Ireland, was also besieged and taken by Cromwell in 1649. Aberdeen, Cork, and Drogheda were established on account of the facilities afforded to commerce by the positions they occupy.

(3.) Durham.-The leading industry is coal-mining. Shipbuilding is an important industry; glass-blowing and the quarrying and manufacture of grindstones are also carried on in various parts of the county. Towns:-Durham, Sunderland, South Shields, Hartlepool, Stockton, and Darlington. Rivers-Wear and Tees. Argyll.-The herring fishery is a leading industry, carried on chiefly about Loch Fyne. There are many whisky-distilleries in the county; sheep-farming and granite-quarrying are also important occupations. Towns: -Inverary, Campbelton, Oban, Dunoon, &c. Rivers :Owing to the mountainous surface and indented coast, these are only mountain streams.

"County" is a term equivalent to "shire" in meaning. "Shire" is of Anglo-Saxon origin, and was used to denote that division of a kingdom which was governed by an earl. The title of "count" in Norman-French answered most nearly to that of "earl" in Anglo-Saxon, and to some extent superseded it; and the term "county" came hence to be applied to the district the count governed.

SECTION IV.

Select one out of each of the following groups :

(a) Switzerland, Sweden, Austria.

(b) Arabia, Siberia, Japan.

(c) Mexico, United States, Cuba.

Give an account of the manufactures of the first, of the mineral and vegetable productions of the second, of the races or nations who inhabit the third.

(a) Switzerland.-Its manufactures are very varied, but the leading industry is in watches, many thousands of which are exported annually to the neighbouring European countries. Of late years, cotton has become an important item in the Swiss manufactures; while the making of coarse cloth and linen, from the fleeces of their sheep and the home-grown flax, is general among the peasantry. Among the minor manufactures of the Swiss may be included leather, paper, gloves, hardware &c..

(b) Arabia.-Among the mineral productions are to be found-hough not in large quantities -iron, copper, lead,

and coal; and among precious stones-onyx, emerald, and agate. Coffee is the principal vegetable production, while the date, palm, cotton, vine, fig, other fruits, and gums are cultivated as far as the generally arid nature of the country will permit.

(c) Mexico.-There are three distinct races in this country: Indians, Europeans, and Africans, of which the first-named are the most numerous, and are descendants of the ancient Mexicans. The Europeans are chiefly descendants of Spanish colonists, and form the ruling class in the country; while the Africans or Negroes, though no longer in slavery, are visibly diminishing in numbers. Besides these, may be enumerated the Mestizoes, Mulattoes, and Zambos, sub-divisions of the three above mentioned, caused by their intermarrying.

(a) The

known asexcept.

SECTION V.

North America,

Supply the blanks in one of the following passages: -of Canada now includes the various provinces -&c., in fact the whole of The territory stretches from the ocean, and contains an area of 3,580,310of the -is- in the province of

to the

The capital

Canada proper

contains the two provinces of -and- ; comprising also the basin of the- -on the north side of that river and of the -and on the south side north of the parallel of

and extends from 42° to 53°-Lat. and 60° to 90o. Long.

(b) Australasia is a term equivalent to

large and most important

it is a

-, chiefly in the southern

in

between the- -and- -oceans. Australia, the largestthe world, is sometimes called the sixth- ; it is included between 11° and 39°-Lat. and 113° and 154°Long. This island includes- -separate colonies, viz.,

-&c.

-&c. The chief towns of these colonies are(a) The dominion of Canada now includes the various provinces known as Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia (including Cape Breton), Manitoba, British Columbia (including Vancouver Island), the North-West Territory, &c.; in fact the whole of northern part of North America except the

extreme North-West. The territory stretches from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean, and contains an area of 3,580,310 sq. miles. The capital of the Dominion is Ottawa in the Province of Quebec. Canada Proper contains the two provinces of Ontario and Quebec; comprising also the basin of the St. Lawrence on the north side of that river and of the north shores of Lake Superior, and on the south side north of the parallel of 40°. It extends from 42° to 53° North Lat. and 113° and 154° West Long.

(b) Australasia is a term equivalent to Southern Asia: it is a large and most important continent, chiefly in the southern hemisphere between the Indian and Pacific Oceans. Australia, the largest island in the world, is sometimes called the sixth continent; it is included between 11° and 39° South Lat. and 113° and 154° East Long. This island includes five separate colonies, viz.,-New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, Southern Australia, and Western Australia. The chief towns of these colonies are Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, Freemantle, Perth, &c.

MUSIC.

1. Write over each of the following notes its pitch name (A, B, Do, Re, or other); under it, its duration name (Crotchet, Quaver, or other); and after it, its corresponding rest.

D. Re. A, La. C, Do. E, Me.

F, Fa. G, Soh. C, Do. A, La.

Crotchet, quaver, minim, semibreve, crotchet, semibreve, quaver minim.

1. Write OVER each of the following notes its name with regard to its position in the scale, third, fifth, or other; and UNDER each the time names for notes and rests.

2. Write the scale of D, or Re, placing a sharp immediately before every note requiring one, and marking the places of the

semitones.

2. Give an example of transition of two removes.

3. Write over each of the following pairs of notes the name and quality (major third, perfect fourth, or other) of the interval it forms.

3. Write over each of the following pairs of notes the name and quality (major third, perfect fourth, or other) of the interval it forms.

4. Write over each of the following, the name of the major scale or key, and under each the name of the minor scale or key, of which it is the signature.