Page 96 - Third Book of Reading Lessons

RE DING LESSONS. 95
many separate stars. Hence arises that optical l­ lacy, by which we are led to believe, that the stars which we behold are innumerable.
LESSON XVll.
THE V MPIRE.
TAL10N, n., the claws or bony substance a xed to the et of animals. F. and S. talon, om talus, L., the postern or heel bone.
MEM1BRANE, n., the upmost thin skin of anything; a web of several sorts of bres, interwoven together r the covering and wrapping up of some parts. F. membrane, om embrana, L., so called be­ cause it covers the members.
PERPEKDIC1ULARLY, ad., in the direction of a straight line up and down; so as to cut another line at right angles. F. perpendicu,­ lairement, om pendeo, L., I hang.
QuES1TIONED, pt., interrogated. F. questionne, om qu ro, L., I ask, I seek.
8AN1GUINARY, a., bloody. F; sanglant, om sanguis, L., blood. DEBIL1ITY, n., weakness, feebleness. F. debilite, om debilis, L. (de
and habilis), weak.
QuAD1RUPED, n., a ur- oted anim . L. quadrupe.,-quatuor, ur,
and pe s, feet.
FAB1ULous, a., igned. F. fabuleux, om ri, L., to speak. SoL1ITARY, a., single. F. solitaire, om solus, L., alone, or all one. AsAN1noNED, a., rsaken. F. abandonne; abandonner, to give up or
over, to desert. The root is either om the A.S. abannan, to de­ nounce, or bindan, to bind, or put under bond.
1. THE vampire is chie y und in South America; it is about the size of a squirrel, and its wings, when extended, measure ur or ve et. It has a sharp black nose, large and upright ears, the tongue point­ ed, the talons very crooked and strong, and no tail. At the end of the nose, it has a long, conic, erect membrane, bending at the top, and exible. They vary in colour, some being entirely of a reddish brown,
others dusky. They live on esh, sh, and uit, and are peculiarly nd of blood. The vampire of India, and that of South America, I consider distinct