Wonders of God's Creation: Volume 3

Actually, selections of the Creator's work are beyond numbering. The earth itself speaks thereof, the skies above it, waters surrounding it, mountains embracing it and the vast assortment of living things spread over the face of it.

The wonders under its surface also disclose vast treasures He has placed there for the benefit, comfort and needs of mankind and all living things. Nor can we overlook spectacular forests, the tasty fruit of orchards, the meadows and rich food value of lush vegetation, so pleasing to the eye and contributing to the welfare of all.

It is the author's hope that these few examples will impress on every reader the Creator's work of power and wisdom and the realization that not one iota thereof could have come about in any other way. The psalmist has expressed this well in his inspired writings: "Many, O Lord my God, are Thy wonderful works which Thou hast done, and Thy thoughts which are to us-ward: they cannot be reckoned up in order unto Thee: if I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered." Psa. 40:5.

S.R. Gill

This Earth on Which We Live: Chapter 1

"Ah Lord God! behold, Thou hast made the heaven and the earth by Thy great power...there is nothing too hard for Thee." Jer. 32:17

The Bible or the Textbook?

About 100 years ago so-called "scientists" began rejecting the Bible record of creation and introduced "evolution." This has now become a widespread teaching and an enforced study in many schools.

Why is this so? The Bible gives a clear answer, saying that such "walk in the vanity of their mind, having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart." Eph. 4:17,18.

School children, as well as adults, are confronted with this false teaching often including cleverly drawn "pictures" in series, showing man (looking like an ape) first moving about on hands and feet, then up a tree, or in a cave, etc., and at the end of the series as finally standing erect.

But no matter how clever they may be, these are just the imaginations of those who turn their backs on the Bible record and want to draw others into their folly. Even among themselves they have great disagreements as to their theories. What a contrast to the Christian who knows from the Bible account that the first man, Adam, was created by God physically and mentally complete, some 6000 years ago as a very special part of His creation.

Textbook reading may be compulsory, but may those who know the Lord as Savior and God as Father, reject these false teachings and hold fast to His Word where truth alone is found. May the visible and invisible things of creation be an ever constant source of joy and pleasure to such.

"Ascribe ye greatness unto our~ God. He is the Rock, His work is perfect." Deut. 32:3,4.

The Earth Still Turns

"While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease." Gen. 8:22.

God has placed the earth and every planet and star in its own special orbit through the vast reaches of space, and all spin through it in perfect order and always on schedule. If this were not so, long ago they would have collided with each other and produced chaos too great to imagine.

Astronomers are continually amazed to find, through improved instruments, that the galaxies of stars reach farther away than has been thought, and some now say there may be no end to them! No one on earth will ever know for sure, but those who, through faith in Christ, will be in the glories of heaven with their Savior will then undoubtedly learn all about His wise creation. Will that include you?

We have been taught that the earth turns on its axis every 24 hours (although it is actually 23 hours, 56 minutes and 4.1 seconds), providing an average of 12 hours of daylight and 12 hours of darkness every day of the year. Who do you think arranged this, and why doesn't it ever run down or change? The answer, of course, is found in the Bible verse: "The Lord by wisdom hath founded the earth; by understanding hath He established the heavens." Prov. 3:19.

The earth's tilt of 23° on its axis is another provision of the Creator, bringing a welcome change in seasons, as our opening verse states. This places more areas of the earth's surface under the benefit of the sun's warmth than would be possible if it were not tilted.

Imagine what life would be like (if there could be any life) if the earth didn't rotate every 24 hours! On one side the heat would be so unbearable that nothing could live, and on the other side it would be so dark and cold everything would freeze solid. Aren't you glad the Creator is the One who controls this turning? We should thank Him, among other things, for the way this design takes care of all His creatures—some are active in daylight hours and go to sleep around sunset, while others sleep in the daytime and are active at night, all according to His plan.

It is sad to realize how mankind's carelessness has spoiled many benefits our loving ProvIder has given us, yet He continues to provide for us in every necessary way. We can only agree with the Psalmist: "The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament [expanse] showeth His handiwork." Psa. 19:1.

We are so used to these marvels that we rarely think about them, but it is good to stop and think over what this Bible verse tells us: "The mighty God, even the Lord, hath spoken, and called the earth from the rising of the sun unto the going down thereof." Psa. 50:1.

What's Under Our Feet? Part 1

"For thus saith the Lord that created the heavens; God Himself that formed the earth and made it; He bath established it, He created it not in vain."Isaiah 45:18.

Busy with so many things, most of us don't think Much about what's below the ground or under ocean waters, unless there is an earthquake or volcano that gets our attention. But there are many things down there known to man and other things that can only be guessed at. What we do know is that "In the beginning God created the heaven [atmosphere and starry skies] and the earth" (Gen. 1:1), and that He had a purpose in it, not only for His own pleasure but for the benefit of mankind and of the other creatures He was to place on it.

We see in Gen. 1 a period of time arranged by God (and its length known only by Him) when the earth he had formed in perfection was allowed to become "without form, and void" Gen. 1:2. We are not told why this took place, but we believe that during this apparently long time such things as gold, silver and other minerals as well as coal, gas and oil, along with gems of all kinds, were forming under the surface for the later use of mankind when all was put back in order again. There are those who speak of this space of time as "evolution," but we know nothing could have survived to "evolve" after the earth became without form and void. Creation took place exactly as the first two chapters of Genesis (and many other Bible references) state.

About 70% of the world's surface is water, making a beautiful scene for astronauts in space. The greatest depth of 36,198 feet, is in the Pacific Ocean. Incidentally, the bottoms of the oceans are not flat, but have valleys and mountains, some higher than the tallest on land. Many islands of the seas are actually the tops of such peaks poking up through the ocean.

If you could bore a hole straight through the middle of the earth it would be almost 8,000 miles long, and to travel around the equator you would have to cover about 25,000 miles. The earth is not the biggest planet, but is the most important since it is the only one on which God has placed mankind and other forms of life. Here He provided just the right amount of heat and light from the sun, a perfect composition of air for sustaining life, ample water for every need, plus a balance of night and day to meet the requirements of everything. Consider, too, the benefit of gravity to hold things in place and yet allow them to be moved as needed. On any other planet lower gravity would make you too light, and higher gravity would make you uncomfortably heavy. These-things are just a few of God's benefits to us in His marvelous creation.

Now let's consider in some detail just what is under our feet.

What's Under Our Feet? Part 2

"Happy is he... whose hope is in the Lord his God: which made [the heavens], and earth, the sea, and all that therein is." Psa. 146:5,6.

As to what's beneath us, some answers have been provided by scientific exploration. The outer crust of the earth, for instance, is not the same in every place, but in general is about 25 miles deep on land and only one-fourth that much under the ocean floors.

It's the soil of this crust that the Creator prepared to nourish trees and other vegetation and in which vegetables, fruits, grains, etc. grow. At various depths, but still within the crust, coal, oil, minerals and gems are found in abundance, indicating how liberally He has provided for generations before us, ourselves and those generations that may come after us.

Below the crust is a layer about 2000 miles thick called the mantle. This is thought to be where big earthquakes start as well as volcanoes that break right through the crust and release their fire, steam, smoke and ashes from mountain tops. Such forces have been known throughout history, and we are aware of them in our present time, too. Mount St. Helens in Washington State was an example, as well as constant eruptions on the Island of Hawaii. Frequently we hear of disastrous earthquakes in South America, Mexico, Asia and other places. There is no sure way to tell exactly where or when any of these things may take place again.

Finally, at the center of our earth is the core, thought by some to have a cover of molten metal over 1000 miles thick surrounding it, but they think the great core itself is made of solid iron or nickel or a mixture of both. However, this is just a guess and something only the Creator knows.

Volcanoes, earthquakes, strong winds and rain do make some changes in the surface of the earth, but they are not of too much consequence. The world will remain essentially the same until, because of man's sinful departure from God, His judgment will fall on it. That is the time the Bible speaks of: "But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up." 2 Peter 3:10.

Before that judgment comes, He will take to heaven all those who know the Lord Jesus as their Savior, but the awfulness of hell will be the destiny of those who have refused His love. Later He will recreate the world in unspoiled beauty where sin will never mar it again, but those who have refused the Savior's love will never see this new beauty.

These are true and serious thoughts. Are you sure your eternity will be in heaven?

A Few Facts About the Oceans

"All the rivers run into the sea; yet the sea is not full: unto the place from whence the rivers come, thither they return again." Eccl. 1:7.

It was a wise observation of Solomon expressed in the above Bible verse. How marvelously the Creator has arranged through the inflow of rivers and evaporation of ocean surfaces, that all continues the same since the Lord God first established it. About three fourths of the earth's surface is covered by its oceans, just the right amount to bring the greatest benefits to all.

Rain, as we know, is necessary for life to exist, and most of it comes from evaporation of sea water into the atmosphere. Winds carry this moist air over the land where the moisture drops as rain or snow. Much of the snow dropped on mountains remains until the summer sun melts it. The melting snow fills streams, lakes and wells with sweet water for all living things during dry, hot summer months. This should always be a reminder of how God cares for us and all His other creatures.

The oceans, together with the sun's warmth, combine to make the world a livable place. The great amount of water helps moderate the earth's temperatures. In summer the water absorbs heat from the sun and stores it until wintertime when it is released to reduce the chill of the air over the land. In the summer this storehouse of water is cooler than the land air and, blown by the wind, again adds to the comfort of all.

Many things besides fish are in the oceans. Chemicals and minerals, for instance, continuously deposited by the rivers bring untold millions of tons of gold, silver, manganese, iron and innumerable other things into it, some of which are recovered for man's use. For instance, the salt in the shaker on your dining room table probably has come from the ocean. The saltiest water of all is in the Red Sea and the least salty is in the polar seas where huge icebergs form.

The sea is more than five miles deep in some places in both the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, and many high mountains rise from those deep floors. The tips of some come above the water to form islands, such as those in Hawaii, the Aleutians, the Marianas, etc., many of them making lovely home sites.

Solomon, as indicated in our opening verse, was familiar with many of the wonders of the oceans and left this message for us in the Bible: "Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth." Eccl. 12:1. It is important to know Him as the Creator, but more important to know Him as your Savior! Is this true of you?

Treasures of the Snow

"Hast thou entered into the treasures of the snow? or hast thou seen the treasures of the hail?" Job 38:22.

What are the treasures of snow and hail? There are many. Among others, by means of them, the Creator stores long-lasting supplies of water on mountains and hilltops, as well as covering the ground at lower levels. In warm weather these high and low storehouses melt and seep into the soil or release a flow of clear water into rivers, lakes and reservoirs—a vital supply for the needs of every living thing. Coming fresh and pure from melted snow, this water is more valuable than can be told. This is one of the important treasures.

On its way to lower levels, this "treasure of the snow" makes itself known, as rivers it has formed pass through powerhouses, turning huge electric dynamos. In other places it turns waterwheels and millstones in flour mills and other kinds of machinery. Here are other treasures for mankind.

Vast supplies of melted snow seep into underground reservoirs, called aquifers, some of which are very deep and hundreds of miles long. The Creator has placed most of these under dry lands where quantities of it are pumped to the surface to nourish crops that would otherwise die in the hot sun. On a smaller scale, homes in every part of the world depend on wells which have originated the same way. The treasures are seen here, too.

Glaciers are formed by millions of tons of snow and hail that, over the years, have become hard ice. Growing deeper and deeper, its very weight forces it down a mountainside, pushing at the ice that has gone ahead of it. The 40-mile-long Columbia glacier in Alaska came into existence this way.

As these glaciers move slowly along, they dig into the soil and create wide valleys which later become forested or covered with grass and flowers, adding to the beauty of the area. Great pieces of ice from those that reach the ocean drop off to form icebergs, providing a mixture of fresh and salt water in big bays. Many forms of sea life thrive in this blend of water and are eaten by fish, seals, whales, porpoises, etc., some of which become a source of food for humans.

The list of treasures keeps growing, and if space allowed, we could add many more.

In the 37th chapter of Job, verses five and six, we read: "Great things doeth He, which we cannot comprehend. For He saith to the snow, Be thou on the earth... and to the great rain." God's bounty never stops at our mere needs, but He provides beyond our power to ask or think. There is not only the beauty of snowcapped peaks showing His handiwork, but in more ways than we have discussed, hidden "treasures of the snow" provide benefits to us. We can truthfully say, "How unsearchable are His judgments, and His ways past finding out!" Rom. 11:33.

The Wonders of God's Creation

"And God made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night: He made the stars also." Gen. 1:16.

Have you ever slept out in the open? Perhaps as you were lying on your back in a sleeping bag you suddenly noticed that the stars were beginning to come out. There were just a few at first, but more and more soon appeared until the sky seemed chock-full of them—some twinkling, others colorful, but all thrilling you with their beauty.

After a short while you perhaps realized that a group of stars you had especially noticed were no longer where they first were, but now were twinkling through some nearby trees and others seemed to have taken their place. If you thought about it you probably realized this was due to two things—the earth was turning about a thousand miles an hour, and the stars themselves were traveling at a similar or even greater speed. But you knew that tomorrow night they would be there again.

An experience like that is something to be thankful for. David, out in the fields with his sheep, had the same experience and later wrote the 8th Psalm, declaring, "When I consider Thy heavens, the work of Thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which Thou hast ordained; what is man?" Also in the 19th Psalm he wrote, "The heavens declare the glory of God," as well as similar thoughts God put in his heart to write.

It must be that everyone in the world at some time wonders about those billions and billions of stars—where they came from, how they always have their own place in space, or why they never crash into one another. It would seem that the Creator wants everyone to recognize that He alone brought them into being and keeps them in their places. His beautiful displays should cause each one to say, "Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power: for Thou hast created all things, and for Thy pleasure they are and were created." Rev. 4:11.

Astronomers have wonderful opportunities to look at the stars with huge telescopes and find much more of their beauty than the rest of us. Every year they discover galaxies never seen before, and many feel there is no end to the whole universe. They have given names to some stars, but could never find enough names for the billions more that are out there. However, the Creator knows exactly how many there are and has given a name to every single star, as we read in the 147th Psalm, "He telleth the number of the stars; He calleth them all by their names." Isn't that wonderful?

Surely we should recognize Him as Lord of all and declare with the Psalmist, "Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised; and His greatness is unsearchable." Psa. 145:3.

The Miracle of Soil

"He left not Himself without witness, in that He did good, and gave us rain from heaven, and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness. Acts 14: /7.

If you have garden space in your yard, dig your spade into the soil, turn it up, smooth it out and plant some seeds. In doing this you will start the wonderful process of new life arranged by the Lord God when He created the world. Soon, when rain and sunshine have done their part, new plants will appear. With your care (but otherwise left to themselves), they will grow rapidly and be able to reproduce themselves many times over with their seeds. As far as earthly needs are concerned, this means of securing food out of the ground is one of God's richest blessings, just as the above verse tells us.

The soil around us is indeed a miracle. It is full of life 24 hours a day, including billions of invisible microbes (bacteria, fungi, etc.) which give essential elements as well as producing nutrition on which plants depend.

There are visible helpers as well, though seldom seen because they work underground. Worms are one of the most important, munching their way through the ground, loosening and fertilizing it by pulling leaves and grass down and depositing mineral-rich "castings" on the surface in exchange. Moles and even ants do much the same, as do many insects. The roots of grass, plants and trees all play their part, too. Everything has been arranged by the Creator to work together to replenish the richness put into the soil when He created it.

A very important need of soil is nitrogen, which is made available to plants by the activities of some of the microbes. Rain and lightning are also most important contributors of valuable nitrogen, carrying it right into the soil where it can be used. Aren't the ways of the Creator wonderful?

We cannot fairly criticize farmers who are pressed to get more and more crops out of a piece of ground and are unable to give the land needed times of rest. But the result is that it loses important properties and can then only produce enough food if fertilizers and chemicals are added. But the Lord well knew land should not be overworked and instructed His people of old that every seventh year they should give it a "year of rest" so that its important qualities could be restored.

And on the subject of crops, the Bible speaks of another kind of sowing to which careful attention should be given. It tells us "Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap." Gal. 6:7. This refers to our way of life that is always seen by God, and that whether we engage in bad things or good things, we will find them returning either to our sorrow or our happiness. This is important. Think about it.

Nature's Janitors: Part 1

"The Lord is gracious, and full of compassion; slow to anger, and of great mercy. The Lord is good to all: and His tender mercies are over all His works." Psa. 145:8,9.

All kinds of natural litter fall on the ground in the forests day and night. If it weren't for busy crews of "janitors," which the Creator has provided, long ago this litter would have piled up so deeply that life on the earth could not be possible. Trees, plants and other vegetation would not be able to withstand the pileup of tons of waste material smothering their roots. Animals, birds, fish and even humans dependent on plants and trees for food would starve—their dead bodies adding just that much more to such an awful situation.

What is this crew of "janitors" and what part do they play in the Creator's plan? One of them, quite visible to us, is the common angleworm. Untold millions of them are constantly at work, eating their way through the soil and returning to the surface again and again to gather leaves, grass and other litter to take to their burrows for disposal.

But angleworms are just part of the visible crew. Lizards, mice, squirrels and other small animals do their part, as well as beetles and innumerable other insects, some visible, some invisible, all taking part in the endless chore of breaking down the litter of fallen leaves, dead trees and rotten material. As they eat this it passes through their digestive systems, becoming rich fertilizer which feeds the roots of existing vegetation as well as seeds just starting out. Mushrooms and toadstools also take part in the process.

If we could place on a scale all the beautiful fall leaves that drop on one acre, they would weigh over a ton, and in the tropical rain forests the leaves which fall to the ground would weigh three times that much. What becomes of all these when the time comes for new leaves to appear on the tree's branches? Through the effects of sunshine, rain and snow, combined with the work of the "janitors," it takes about two years for these to be changed into rich, soft soil. In evergreen forests of pine, fir, cedar, etc., it takes nearly twice as long, but these are eventually changed into new soil the same way.

When the Creator placed trees and vegetation on the earth on the third day of His new creation, He knew exactly what this lovely growth would need, and in His wisdom all this "janitorial" force was created to take care of it. This brings to mind the Bible verse, "Thou, even Thou, art Lord alone; Thou hast made... the earth, and all things that are therein... and Thou preservest them all." Neh. 9:6.

Because of all these silent helpers nothing is ever wasted in the wonderland of God's creation, the earth. How wonderful it is that we can know Him not only as our Creator, but also as our loving Savior. Do you know Him as your Savior?

Nature's Janitors: Part 2

"Yea, the darkness hideth not from Thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to Thee." Psa. 139:12.

Many industries produce what is called "toxic waste"—material that is harmful to the soil and water with which it comes in contact. But while many of the things of nature also produce waste products, they are helpful rather than harmful. In fact, the Creator's order in the things we call "nature" is that nothing is ever actually wasted; as trees, grass and other vegetation die, their very death is the first step in renewing life in the forest.

In our preceding article we learned of some of the visible things—weather and creatures—that help dispose of the forest's litter and convert it to good soil to nourish new and old growth. But, even more important than those busy creatures are the invisible ones which work side by side with them. These are the bacteria that take over when the work of the others is completed. Many billions of bacteria, too small to be seen without a microscope, are always on hand to do their part in the whole process of breaking down the waste products of forests and orchards.

These organisms not only eat and secrete the softened material already partly decomposed by the great "janitorial" armies of insects and animals—each doing a tiny but important part in enabling more new growth to maintain itself and repeat the whole process year after year—but in some instances they work ahead of the others, preparing the material for them. We see the effect of these organisms in a piece of fruit with a brown mushy spot on it. Bacteria may start this and a bird or animal finish it off.

Almost all these "janitors" in the soil are too tiny to be seen by the naked eye, and no one but the Creator knows for sure how many different kinds there are. We do know there are billions and billions of them, more than could ever be counted, and all are a part of God's wonderful creation.

All this activity is going on night and day, and few people are even aware of it. But God is not only aware of it, but is the One who has made them and given them their important place in this vast world-wide system, and He watches over them as they do their work.

As we think of this amazing activity and how that which has died becomes new life again, we can see a happy picture of the person who has trusted in the Lord Jesus as his Savior, and how the Bible says this person has "passed from death unto life." John 5:24. Another Bible verse explains more about this person: "If any man [or boy or girl] be. in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." 2 Cor. 5:17.

These happy people enjoy entirely new lives in the sight of God, a life that will be theirs for eternity. Are you one of these changed people who has new life?

Trees of the Desert

"The wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad... and the desert shall... blossom as the rose." Isa. 35:1.

The Sonora desert lies mostly in Mexico, but reaches into southern California and Arizona as well. It sustains thousands of desert plants and trees designed by the Creator to withstand the harsh climate, including many strange ones which most of the time appear to be dead, but to which a rainstorm brings an immediate change.

One of these is the boogum, or cirio, tree. Its trunk looks like a huge pole reaching 25 feet or more in height and almost as big around at the top as at the bottom. Its stiff, thorny branches have leaves and flowers in the short, moist season, but otherwise it appears dead and bare. Large groups of these grow on rocky slopes of the desert where the only rainfall comes in the form of infrequent cloudbursts. The Creator has designed some of its roots to spread a great distance to greedily draw the moisture into its trunk and branches. Its other roots go down deep, also taking in as much moisture as possible.

In contrast to the boogum, and growing nearby, is another rather strange-looking tree. Because it has such a thick trunk and limbs, it has been called the elephant tree. In spite of its odd looks, this is one of the most beautiful trees of the desert when a good rainfall brings out its fresh leaves and pretty flowers.

Another is the ocotillo, or candlewood, a thorny bush with many bare branches reaching upward and also designed by the Creator to withstand the dry heat of the desert. This one, too, is leafless most of the year. But the magic of a rainstorm brings out its greenery along with many scarlet-colored flowers that almost look like bright flames shining at the top of its long stems.

Yet another is the jumping cholla, a large, cactus, tree-like bush and one that is to be carefully avoided. It should never be touched with bare hands as it is totally covered with needle-sharp stickers that are most painful to remove from wounded flesh. Its flowers are a creamy white.

The Bible verse at the beginning of this article looks on to a future time, known as the millennium following God's judgment against those who have refused His love and bringing His blessing to those who have been faithful to Him.

In Sol. 2:12-13, there are expressions that cheer the heart of all who today love the Lord and which are brought to mind by the blossoms of the desert plants we have just considered. Here is what it says: "The flowers appear on the earth; the time of the singing of birds is come.... Arise, My love, My fair one, and come away." For all who know the Lord as their Savior, this reminds us of a wonderful promise of a soon-coming time when He will call us home to the glory of heaven. Will you be part of that happy company?

The Pretty Almond Tree

Jacob said: "Carry... the man a present, a little balm, and a little honey, spices and myrrh, nuts and almonds. " Gen. 43:11.

When Jacob sent his sons to Egypt, hoping to receive some favors there, it is interesting to see that the gifts he sent included almonds. In those days nothing was known of vitamins and other nutrients which almonds contribute to health, but this was a wise choice, as we now know, for these tasty nuts contain minerals as well as vitamins and other nutrients, and so represented a valuable gift.

An orchard of almond trees is a beautiful sight when loaded with fragrant, pinkish-white blossoms surrounded by shiny, pointed leaves. These blossoms soon develop into fruit that, in its first stages, looks something like a small, unripe peach. This fruit has a silvery-green rind (soft at first, but turning leathery and hard) which surrounds the nut that is forming inside. This hard outer covering, or hull, finally splits open when fully ripe, curling downward to let the nut drop out. This yellowish nut, with which most of us are familiar, has a soft shell that is easily broken open to get at the edible almond.

Almonds are enjoyed all over the world, whether they are eaten plain, roasted, or used in desserts, candy and food products. They also provide an oil for cooking purposes and another product which can be seen in the small bottles on grocers' shelves called "almond extract," which is used for flavoring certain foods.

In addition to the sweet-almond trees of California and southern Europe, many bitter-almond trees are grown in the Mediterranean and tropical countries, mainly as shade trees. However, their nuts are also used in making certain perfumes and cosmetics valued by the ladies, as well as in cough syrups, soaps and a variety of other things. But these almonds are far too bitter for eating whole, even when roasted.

These popular nuts remind us of the third day of creation when the Lord God created the first trees told of in Gen. 1:11. In the 29th verse of that chapter, Adam was informed, "Behold, I have given you... every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat [food]." It was there that almonds, and all other trees, got their start, and in God's goodness they have kept on growing to our present time, providing nutritious food for untold numbers of people.

In Rom. 8:32, we read: "He that spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?" Have you thanked Him for His goodness in creation and for the best gift of all, the Lord Jesus Christ, who is the Savior of those who put their trust in Him?

The Desert's Joshua Trees

"I will set in the desert the fir tree, and the pine, and the box tree together: that they may see... that the hand of the Lord hath done this." Isa. 41:19,20.

Joshua trees in American deserts have been planted by the Lord, too, and He has placed around them many living creatures. These trees are found only in the deserts of the United States from Utah to California and northern Mexico. A large display of them can be seen from your car in the Joshua Tree National Monument in southern California where soil and rainfall are just right.

Many grow as high as 40 feet with an assortment of odd-shaped branches supported by a thick, woody trunk and ending in clusters of thick, dark-green leaves. In the center of these clusters of leaves, a pretty display of greenish-white flowers appears after the winter rains. When other desert plants spring to life at the same time, the desert looks like a beautiful flower garden.

The Creator has arranged that Joshua trees do not crowd one another, for each needs lots of space to benefit from scarce rain and nourishment from the poor desert soil. But they are there for a purpose; they are a shelter and life support for many animals, birds and other kinds of desert life, many never seen by human eyes but always under the Creator's care.

For instance, many lizards live here including the zebra-tailed variety, scooting over the ground with its striped tail lifted over its body. Another is the long-nosed leopard lizard that always runs upright on its two hind legs, and the loose-skinned chuckwalla that never seems to be in a hurry, and many others.

Certain tortoises find a good life among the Joshua trees as do a variety of snakes, including some rattlers. Kangaroo rats make their homes here, too. Gophers are all around, and desert wood rats make nests underneath or up in the tree trunks. Mice, too, are plentiful and jackrabbits and cottontails represent part of the assortment, as do occasional coyotes, foxes and badgers.

Great numbers of birds abound here, including falcons, roadrunners, hawks, quail, ravens and owls. Many of them make nests in these trees and others locate on the ground underneath. Bats hide in the Joshua’s in daylight and hunt desert insects at night.

Although people may drive by these trees and scarcely give them a glance, we see they are really another wonderful example of God's creation and His constant care over it all. How happy those of us are who know this loving, caring, planning God. We can clearly see a master design and know that all things did not come into being "just by chance." This is why the Bible says, "Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth." Eccl. 12:1. And to remember our Creator means also to remember the love that brought Him from heaven to die on Calvary's cross for all who will admit they are lost sinners and accept Him as their Savior. Are you one of these happy people?

Palm Trees - Another of God's Gifts

"Blessed is the man that trusteth in the Lord.... For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters.. neither shall [he] cease from yielding fruit." Jer. 17:7,8.

The Bible often speaks of palm trees. For instance, in Ex. 15:2'7 we read that when the Israelites were thirsty and weary in the desert "they came to Elim, where were twelve wells of water, and threescore and ten [70] palm trees" where they enjoyed a good rest. Another occasion is found in John 12:12,13, telling of "much people... when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, took branches of palm trees, and went forth to meet Him."

Palms grow throughout the tropics and other places where there is abundant sunshine. Varieties include cabbage palms, sagos, palmettos and the well-know date and coconut palms. An oasis of palms around a well of water is always a welcome sight in the desert. They also add beauty to many ocean islands, leaning over the shoreline, and the Creator has so formed them that they stand firm in the fiercest gales, fronds (leaves) trailing in the wind and their flexible trunks bending gracefully. Coconuts from them are often carried on ocean waves to distant shores, were they take root and soon add beauty and supply food to yet another spot.

It is easy to see why palm trees are considered one of the Creator's great gifts to mankind, providing daily food for millions, as well as timber, fuel, boats, dishes and a long list of useful things. Soap and candles are made from coconuts and sugar from the tree's sap. The fruit of some is dried into starch, used in puddings and parts of the fronds are made into clothing.

Date palms provide one of the most reliable foods for people in many places. Large groves grow right in the southern United States, their fruit appealing to the appetites of those who like their sweet and nourishing quality, which also often helps cookies, bread and cakes, as well as candies, taste so good.

As we speak of the wonderful fruit coming from so many of these palms, we are reminded that we are ourselves told in God's Word, the Bible, to be "fruitful" in our lives, just as our opening verse states. Another verse in Col. 1:10 says, "That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work." Also, reading from Luke 6:43,44, "For a good tree bringeth not forth corrupt [bad] fruit; neither doth a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. For every tree is known by his own fruit."

What kind of fruit shows itself in your life? When a Christian really wants to please the Lord and be helpful to people around him, the Lord will always help him or her to do so, when such a desire is told to Him in prayer. Do you do this?

A Visit in the Riparian Area

"The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: He leadeth me beside the still waters." Psa. 23:1,2.

No, riparian is not the name of a country; it is one kind of beauty spot the Creator has arranged in many lands, hidden away from general view.

A stream of clear, cool water makes its way around the slopes of a hill or quietly winds its course through a flat area where banks are green the year round with grass and brush. Tall trees stretch out their branches and often meet overhead with those from the opposite bank. This is called a riparian area.

What lovely places these are quiet and peaceful with the sun peeking through the leaves and sparkling here and there on the stream. The riparian area is the home of many fish as well as a resting place for those migrating upstream to lay their eggs. It is also a favorite place with small animals, such as squirrels, chipmunks, rabbits, gophers, etc., as well as with numerous birds calling back and forth. It is a safe place for them all hidden from their larger enemies, including birds of prey searching out in the open.

A visitor sitting quietly near the stream will soon see or hear these residents and perhaps get a glimpse of a mother deer with her little fawn, a coyote, fox or even a bobcat coming to drink in the cool, clear stream.

Sports fishermen love these places, too, as do campers, not only for catching trout and salmon, but because of the soothing and restful surroundings. They enjoy the pleasant calls of so many birds and lovely displays of ferns, flowers and other plants, many of which take on added beauty in the autumn time.

What a beautiful picture the stream presents as it moves through the riparian area—sometimes in a series of small white cascades, but more often quietly gliding through more level areas, where it is like the "still waters" referred to in the opening verse.

Perhaps the Psalmist was enjoying a riparian visit when he also wrote: "He sendeth the springs into the valleys, which run among the hills. They give drink to every beast of the field.... By them shall the fowls of the heaven have their habitation, which sing among the branches." Psa. 104:10-12.

When you have an opportunity to visit such a place as this, be sure to think of the One who created it and who also provides you with many blessings in your life. And be sure to thank Him often for His wonderful ways and love to you.

The Amazing Human Body: Chapter 2

"I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvelous are Thy works....in Thy book all' my members were written." Psa. 139:14,16

More Than You Can Do: Part 1

"And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul." Gen. 2:7.

Have you ever put a jigsaw puzzle together? Some of them are hard to do, but with patience you find that the pieces finally fit into one another.

Just to see what would happen (but never could), let's make believe that you learned of a place where you could get parts for making a human body, and you think how nice it would be if you could make someone your size for a companion just by putting them together like a puzzle. So you send away for a full set (we're still pretending, of course) and are full of excitement when it arrives.

Looking the packages over you note one is marked "Bones for Skeleton," another reads "400 muscles," and the label on yet another reads "Blood Vessels, Veins and Capillaries." Moving these into your house, you temporarily leave behind others with a variety of labels, such as "200 Million Nerve Fibers," "30 Feet of Digestive Tract," "Body Cells—Red," "Body Cells—White," "Heart and Lung Parts" and many more.

After getting these all inside you pick up a book that came with them, entitled "How to Assemble Parts Follow Directions Carefully." As you look over the instructions you begin to realize what a difficult "puzzle" this is going to be in putting everything together.

You continue reading; "Arrange skeleton first," it says. "This is an extremely important foundation for all that will be attached to it! Be sure the 26 pieces of vertebra are in just the right position so the spinal column will be curved correctly and flexibly, but strong enough for its job." It goes on to say, "Note that these pieces are hollow so the thick spinal cord, containing blood vessels as well as 21 pairs of nerves, can pass through it all the way from the brain to the hips. Be sure everything is kept absolutely clean. Follow the diagram for placing the 12 pairs of ribs in their right positions. Be careful that the hip bones are placed at just the right angle and those for the legs, as well as shoulders and arms, so they will be free to move in their socket joints at all times."

About this time (in our "pretend" account) you are beginning to feel very uncomfortable and wonder if you can possibly follow all those directions accurately, plus the directions for the great number of other items that will have to be placed in and around these parts of the skeleton. Undoubtedly you would begin thinking, "I shouldn't be doing this at all" as the opening Bible verse came into your thoughts and you realized that only the Lord God can really make a human being and give it life.

The next page will disclose what becomes of this "make believe" situation.

More Than You Can Do: Part 2

"I will praise Thee; for I am fearfully [amazingly] and wonderfully made." Psa. 139:14.

In the foregoing we started a "make-believe" account that pretended you, the reader, thought it would be fun to put together another human being, if the body parts could just be ordered and assembled. In this imaginary account you had just received the many boxes of body parts, but were wondering about the wisdom of getting involved in such a project. Now let's go on from there.

Turning the pages of the instruction book, you find a heading, "Heart, Lungs and Blood Vessels." It reads, "Now that the bones are laid out, note that each one has tiny holes running through it. Pass the capillary blood vessels through these holes and connect them to the larger blood vessels leading to the heart and lungs, as shown in the diagram."

At this point you give up. You haven't even gotten to the part about the miles of large and small blood vessels and know that neither you nor any person on earth could possibly put them in their proper places. Nor have you yet read instructions for placing the brain inside the skull and connecting its thousands of nerves to other body parts, nor how to get eyes, ears, nose and mouth securely in their places.

And those millions and millions of cells! Where do they all go, and how are you to turn them into flesh and skin and other parts? You just don't have the courage to even look at more instructions. All you now want is to get the foolish idea of making a human being out of your head and send the order back.

Well, this has all been "make-believe," but perhaps this will help to impress each of us with how wonderful the human body is and how the Lord God alone can create it and give it a living soul: "The Lord God... breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul." Gen. 2:7. This He did in a moment's time when He made Adam out of the dust of the ground and also created Eve for a companion. What He has since arranged is also wonderful, in first creating a baby and having it fully develop after it is born.

No wonder David, the Psalmist, could make the expression in our above Bible verse—as he thought of the wonders of it all—and also write, "Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in Thy book all my members [all parts of my body] were written... when as yet there was none of them. How precious also are Thy thoughts unto me, O God!" Psa. 139:16,17.

Aren't you glad to know that the Lord God is the One (and the only One) who can create life? Even if we could put a body together, we could not give it life. But it is no puzzle to God to put all our body parts together in perfect order and give us the breath of life. Let us never be deceived by the teaching of "evolution" which states that we came from monkeys or other forms of life. The teaching of God's Word, the Bible, is where real truth is always found.

About Your Skull

"I will praise Thee; for I am fearfully [amazingly] and wonderfully made: marvelous are Thy works." Psa. 139:14.

A bare skull may not look very attractive, but it shows better than can be told how wonderfully the Creator has made this part of your body. Notice, for instance, how openings for ears, eyes, nose and mouth are designed so that these parts make a pleasing appearance to a person's face without interfering with one another. Notice, too, how the upper jaw remains firm, but the lower one is hinged to take care of chewing, talking, etc. If it were otherwise, how difficult it would be to do those things!

Important as these features are, the principle purpose of the skull is to protect the brain which the Creator has given us—a brain superior to all other living things of the earth. The skull is remarkably strong, 1/4 inch thick at the top and thicker at the base, making a light-weight, strong armor. Over its top and sides is a scalp of tough skin and over that is a protective mat of hair, both coverings being a helpful part in protecting what is under them.

Then inside the skull is a thin, but tough lining between it and the brain to help protect important nerves and blood vessels. This is called "dura mater." But that's just part of the story. As further protection against bumps, blows and falls, the skull holds a special fluid cushion in which the brain "floats." The rigid casing of the skull surrounds the brain very closely, and all empty spaces are filled with this important fluid.

Nothing has been overlooked. Even the nerves that take care of smell, hearing and sight, are sheltered in special notches of the skull to protect them as they attend to their duties.

Through an opening in the bottom of the skull, the spinal cord enters the brain with a marvelous system of nerves that carry messages between the brain and all parts of the body. This opening is so placed that the head of a man is perfectly balanced to enable him to hold it upright and cause his whole body to stand in an erect position which, incidentally, apes and monkeys cannot do, unless holding on to a support. The spine itself becomes the principal support of your entire head—skull and all.

This is just one of many differences between an ape and man. They are not the same at all, even though there are those who tell us they are. The reason they teach such things is to take our thoughts away from a loving God, our Creator. David followed his God-given thoughts in the opening Bible verse by declaring: "How precious also are Thy thoughts unto me, O God!" Verse 17. And God's loving thoughts are the very same toward you today. Don't listen to any who would tell you differently.

Your Body's Kind Boss

"Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised; and His greatness is unsearchable." Psa. 145:3.

Do you know that your body has more than 5,000 parts? The Lord God, who created us, made each part for a particular purpose, and they work together in harmony as they did when He created Adam. We understand how important some parts are, such as the heart, lungs, digestive system, etc., but perhaps you have never heard of a very important part of the brain called the hypothalamus which is about the size of a man's thumb. Let's take a look at it.

The hypothalamus realizes you need food before your stomach is aware of it. So it sends your stomach a message, as though it were saying, "It's time more nourishment was getting into this body. Tighten up your muscles to make him hungry so he'll eat some food." Without such a message, your stomach wouldn't tell you to eat something.

The same is true of your heart. When you are afraid, working extra hard, running or nervous, a message is sent to it, "Beat faster and get the blood flowing more quickly into this person's veins." Your hand held over your chest at such a time would tell you your heart is doing exactly as told. At the same time your lungs are told to bring in more oxygen, which is why you find yourself breathing harder under such conditions.

It is important that your body stay at 98.6°F. even if the weather is roasting hot or freezing cold. The hypothalamus is right on the job about this too. Let's suppose you are outdoors in the sun and uncomfortably hot. A message immediately goes to your blood vessels, "Tighten up a bit and don't let the blood go through too fast!" The heart gets similar instructions, and the sweat glands are told to get to work to help cool the skin. Then, too, the stomach is told to make you thirsty so a new supply of water can replace the evaporating sweat. If the day is cold, just the opposite messages are sent and, among other things, the sweat glands close up to keep necessary water inside you, while the blood is told to flow more quickly to help produce heat.

If there were more space we could go on and on about this remarkable hypothalamus and how a loving, and wise Creator has placed one in your body to take care of these and hundreds of other duties as well.

In the days of David, the Psalmist, people did not know about such things, but he recognized how wonderfully God had made him and wrote, "I will praise Thee; for I am fearfully [amazingly] and wonderfully made: marvelous are Thy works." Psa. 139:14. Have you ever thanked God for His wonderful care over you?

What Your Nose Knows

"In whose [God's] hand is the soul of every living thing, and the breath of all mankind." Job 12:10.

Many think of the nose merely as a means of breathing and smelling, or as a nuisance at times. But it is much more than that. As one of the world's best air-conditioners, it was an extremely important provision of God when He created man.

What is it that my nose knows? Among other things, it knows how to filter air, how to tell the difference between good and bad food, how to add moisture to dry air, how to make cold air warm, how to bring back memories, and how to make your voice sound good or bad. It knows many more things, too, that we do not have room to write down.

First, your nose filters all the air you breathe, doing this in two ways—by hairs in the nostrils catching impurities, and by sticky mucus secreted from tiny sinus tubes above it. The mucus, controlled by tiny "brooms" that sweep it into position, keeps the impurities from entering your lungs.

How does it know good food and bad food? By sensitive little bulbs that pick up the slightest odor. When something smells spoiled or sour, your nose sends a message to the brain which immediately tells you not to eat it. This is another safeguard the Creator has provided.

Why should moisture be added to dry air? Because your lungs and throat require controlled amounts of it. This, too, is supplied by the nose with just the right amount added to each breath. By the same token, cold air is also harmful to your tissues, and the Creator has placed automatic "warming ovens" at the top of each nostril. These are flat pieces of bone about the size of a postage stamp which warm the cold air before it is passed on.

What does your nose have to do with memories? The pleasant odors it detects often make us think of an event that took place long ago, just as an unpleasant smell will bring a not-so-welcome memory.

Finally, your nose has much to do with your voice, for as you speak, much of the tone passes through it. We become aware of this when thee. nose is stopped up with a cold and our speech and singing sound strange to others, as well as to ourselves.

The nose was given an important part when the Lord God formed man and "breathed into his nostrils the breath of life." Gen. 2:7. This was not done to any other creature, and it is another example of God's special interest in us. He provided us a life not only for this world, but for eternity, and has assured us that our eternity will be in heaven if we accept His• Son, the Lord Jesus, as our Savior. But the Bible faithfully tells us to do this right now, saying, "Behold, now is the accepted time, behold, now is the day of salvation." 2 Cor. 6:2. If you have not yet done this, do it right now! Tomorrow may be too late.

Your Faithful Soldiers

"Great and marvelous are Thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are Thy ways." Rev. 15:3.

Among the wonders of God's creation nothing can equal the human body and mind. Human intellect far excels that of all other creatures, and it is only because of sin having come into the world that our bodies do not now have their created perfection, but are subject to sickness, weakness and death.

But, even with sin having caused these sad things, God, in His love for mankind, has given our bodies the ability to perform most remarkably, including an almost unbelievable array of "soldiers," without whose services we could not survive. Let's investigate some of them.

Although unseen, untold millions of bacteria are always present all over our bodies, but are unable to harm us unless they discover a cut or injury that leaves an open wound. But some do enter through the nose and mouth, so that a vast number of them are always inside our bodies, and if the Creator had not provided a way to fight them, our life span would be short indeed.

This is where the marvelous work of our soldier guards takes place automatically. There are thousands of types of microscopic soldiers that come to our rescue when the invaders show up. The main ones are called white blood cells. About a trillion of these move through every part of our bodies at all times, searching for intruders. Finding some, they immediately attack, and at the same time a part of the body called the thymus starts manufacturing millions more to help in the battle that is to take place. Some of the new reinforcements are called, by the medical people, "helpers" and others "killers."

Amazingly, everyone in this combined group knows exactly where to go and what its particular job is. When the battle is over, the same crews clean up the entire area, remove their own dead ones as well as the destroyed enemies, and then take part in repairing the part of the body that has been damaged. Have you ever heard of anything more amazing? It reminds us that with God all things are possible.

Is it not a gracious provision of His love that, although death is the penalty of sin, yet He has placed such a remarkable means of defense within us? If it were not so, a baby's first illness would cause its death. No doubt His kindness in prolonging some lives is to give full opportunity to believe in the Lord Jesus as the Savior of all who put their trust in Him, before it is too late.

The uncertainty of life (soldier cells are not always winners of the battles) should cause all to hear His faithful word: "Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation." 2 Cor. 6:2. Also, "To-day if ye will hear His voice, harden not your hearts." Heb. 3:7,8. Do not delay if you have not yet come to the Savior. Tomorrow may be too late!

Those Feet of Yours: Part 1

"He... set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings. And He bath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God." Psa. 40:2,3.

A newborn baby has 350 bones, some so soft and pliable that they hardly appear as bones. Some of these fuse together as the baby grows, so that when he is full-grown the number is reduced to 206. It takes the foot, with its 26 bones, about 20 years to fully develop as one of the most distinctive parts your whole body.

The arrangement of these 26 foot bones has been perfectly designed by the Creator not only to support your weight, but to enable you to move freely about. This is important because, just in the normal pattern of activity, an adult walks about 65,000 miles during his lifetime (equivalent to two-and-a-half times around the world).

Your foot's perfectly designed arch acts as a spring in tune with the bending of your knees and movement of the ankles and toes.

Many of these bones are not strong in themselves, being only half the thickness of a pencil, yet the way they are arranged, they are strong enough to support a heavy person. If you had X-ray vision to see through the skin of your foot, you would discover why they don't break, even with all the rough treatment they get. The bones in the foot are attached to strong muscles by over 100 tendons, keeping them in place and working in harmony with the muscles, so the work load is shared by all of them working together.

Not only are those parts of the foot kept in such remarkable order, but to further strengthen them, the whole wonderful package is kept in place by tape-like bands strapped over and around them. Then there are the important blood vessels bringing constant nourishment to all parts, as well as nerve ends that carry messages to and from the brain.

The principal purpose of our legs and feet is, of course, to carry our bodies wherever we need to go, and God in His Word, the Bible, reminds us to be careful where we let them take us.

If we are His children, through faith in Christ, the opening verses tell us what He has done for us. Another verse says, "Ponder [think about] the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established." Prov. 4:26. Another place says it this way, "Lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees; and make straight paths for your feet." Heb. 12:12,13.

These are important instructions if we are to live happy, Christian lives, pleasing the Lord Jesus and helping those around us.

Those Feet of Yours: Part 2

"Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. " Psa. 119:105.

On the preceding page page we considered the marvelous structure of a person's foot, with its 26 bones, as well as tendons, ligaments, nerves and blood vessels.

Your feet, which you may have just taken for granted, are one of the outstanding features of your body. No machine designed by the most clever engineer could, for its size, match the human foot for its ability to move your body about and hold up the amount of weight put on it. The only way we can grasp at all how it can work so marvelously is to admit that God, the Creator, has provided its wonderful design.

Its service is not only to enable you to walk about, but to run, jump, kick and stand still when necessary. If you weigh around 100 pounds, then the pressure on each foot, when you run fast, will be equal to about 500 pounds, and a man weighing 175 pounds will have a running pressure of half a ton or more. Just think also how a healthy foot can take the terrific impact of a soccer or football player giving a forceful kick to it!

You may be resting when just standing still, but the foot has work to do even then that you would never think of. At such times messages fly back and forth from your brain to each foot in order to keep you steady and in balance -subconsciously tightening a muscle, moving your big toe, the ankle bone, the heel, the sole of your foot and other parts, all taking a share in the messages that come through the amazing nervous system the Creator has given your body. Thus you keep your balance without even knowing all this is going on. But that's why, if a person faints while standing, he will immediately fall over. The body parts can't communicate with each other at such a time.

The Bible tells us of this, stating, "But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased Him.... There should be no schism [division] in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another." 1 Cor. 12:18,25. Isn't that a wonderful thing?

So we see a little of how important this part of the body is and the wisdom of taking care of these feet, so valuable to us. Let us remember, too, that the Lord Jesus, of whom the Bible says, "The eyes of the Lord are in every place, beholding the evil and the good" (Prov. 15:3), is constantly watching our walk, and when we are aware of mistakes we have made, our prayer should be like that of the Psalmist: "When I said, My foot slippeth; Thy mercy, O Lord, held me up." Psa. 94:18. Yes, He will always put us back on solid ground when we confess our sins to Him.

Breathing and Eating

"And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life." Gen. 2:7.

What a marvelous thing the human body is, designed by our Creator, who makes no mistakes. Let's look at the part the nose, mouth and throat take in the life of each of us, for it is through them that air for our lungs and food for our stomachs reach the vital parts of the body where further miraculous things take place.

The nose certainly is easy to see, but it is much more complex than it appears for it is made up of a combination of parts working together in harmony. It is used principally to breathe in air, but functions in other ways as well, including the smelling of a rose or other object and assisting in improving the taste of food.

Medical people refer to the nose as a nasal cavity, made up of two nostrils, divided by the septum. The hairs inside, which we sometimes think of as a nuisance, are extremely important, for their job is to filter incoming air, picking out dust, bacteria and other impurities that would be harmful to our lungs. The soft inner lining of the nose, like the rest of the airway, contains many small glands which secrete mucus onto the surface. Also the surface is covered with short, hair-like projections which beat rhythmically in a special direction. These automatically sweep out accumulated mucus with its collection of filtered impurities, sending them on to the stomach, which knows how to dispose of them.

Helping the hairs do their work, sinuses, located above the nose, drop small amounts of mucus into each nostril to moisten them and aid in the filtering process. Part of this moisture from the mucus is passed on to the air just breathed, which is also warmed in the nose so it will be just right for the lungs. The sinuses located above and beside the nose also assist in this task.

Of course there are times when, bothered with a bad cold, it is difficult to breathe through the nose and we have to get air through the mouth. That is a wonderful provision of the Creator, for otherwise we wouldn't get enough air under such conditions to keep us alive. However, breathing through the nose best prepares the air for the lungs.

As our opening verse expresses, the very first breath that gave life to Adam was breathed into his nostrils by the Lord God. This was not true of any other creature, and mankind has always had a special place in God's thoughts.

When He reads your heart does He find that you have special thoughts toward Him, too? He has done so much for you in providing His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, to be your Savior if you will only trust in Him. Your thoughts should indeed be of thankfulness and acceptance of His wondrous gift of salvation.

The Mouth Does More Than Talk

"Thy hands have made me and fashioned me: give me understanding, that I may learn Thy commandments [or instructions]." Psa. 119:73.

The mouth is a very efficient part of our heads and contains some very essential parts. These include the teeth (which we are inclined to take for granted unless we have a toothache)that are perfectly adapted to the kind of food we eat.

As the mouth closes on a bite of food, chewing immediately begins. At this time the very active tongue joins in the action, moving the food from one side to the other, all the while gradually working it from the sharp front teeth (incisors and cuspids) on to the bicuspids and finally back to the molars which finish the chewing process. All this time saliva has been added to it so that when the food is reduced to fine particles it is also moist enough to safely enter the throat and pass on down to the stomach.

Where the backs of both the mouth and nose come together there would be danger of the tongue pushing food up into the nose, which could cause a lot of trouble, but a partition, called the palate, prevents this from happening. This palate actually forms the roof of the mouth and toward the front is hard and rigid, but in the back becomes soft and elastic.

Another precaution against food going the wrong way after it has been chewed is a pink safety valve behind all this, hanging down like a baby's thumb, called the uvula. If food or liquid threatens to go the wrong way, this swings upward automatically along with the soft palate to keep it from doing so.

On either side of this little safety valve are the tonsils, which help trap bacteria and other microbes that might get past the controls in the nose.

Your lips are the first to touch anything offered to your mouth. They are very sensitive and signal whether to accept anything that may be too hot or cold. They have a great deal to do with speech and singing, too, as well as visually showing the kind of mood you may be in—cheerful, sad, frightened or surprised. The tongue, which covers the whole floor of your mouth, is the principal organ of taste and decides whether something is sweet, sour, bitter, salty or tasteless.

Doesn't it seem strange that with both the nose and mouth performing so marvelously, we scarcely ever think of them? How good the Creator has been to provide these things that go on performing all the years of our lives, with scarcely a conscious command or instruction from us. Who but God could form each part of our bodies in such wonderful ways?

"Know ye that the Lord He is God: it is He that hath made us, and not we ourselves.... Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise: be thankful unto Him, and bless His name." Psa. 100:3,4.

The Throat's Part in Our Lives

"Serve the Lord with gladness: come before His presence with singing." Psa. 100:2.

On the two preceding pages we have looked into the services given to our bodies by the nose and mouth. After their work is done the throat (pharynx) takes over. About five inches long, it is located about seven inches from our lips and connected to the esophagus (down which food travels) and to the windpipe (through which air moves to the lungs).

At that point where the throat divides into two tubes, the Creator has provided an amazing safety valve (epiglottis) to keep the air and food separate from each other. Both begin their journeys sharing the pharynx, but where they separate the air passage going to the front and the food tube behind it—there is the safety valve to make sure the right material goes into each one. When no food is on the way, the valve allows the air to pass along to the windpipe and lungs, but keeps it out of the food tube. But when food is present this wonderful valve shuts off the part to the windpipe, and the food goes on down to the stomach. Otherwise there would be some real problems.

This part of the body is one of the wonders of God's creation and could never come about by so-called evolution. How interesting that the valve doesn't have to be told, but just opens and closes at exactly the right time!

The larynx, also called the voice box, is an important part of the throat. It is from there that our voices and songs originate. Within it „ are two vocal cords through which air from the lungs is forced when we talk. These cords are usually relaxed, but speaking or singing draws them close together, and as air is forced through they vibrate to make a great variety of sounds. The amount of air forced through and the degree of tightness of the cords determine just what sound will be heard, so that when talking or singing, these have to change their tightness over and over instantaneously.

Of course the forming of words and music also requires the use of the tongue, mouth and even our teeth. But how wonderful it is to think how all these cooperate to work so perfectly. Animals may grunt, moo, squeal, etc., but cannot speak or sing as we do. Birds can produce God-given melodies delightful to hear, but they cannot compose any other music. It is only mankind that has this ability, and that is because of the kindness of our Creator in making it possible.

When we consider all the ways He has provided for us, surely we should respond to Him as our opening verse expresses and serve Him with gladness, letting our vocal cords bring forth songs and prayers of praise and thanksgiving.

Birds - a Part of Earth's Beauty: Chapter 3

"For, 10, the winter is past, the rain is over and gone; the flowers appear on the earth; the time of the singing of birds is come." Sol. 2:11,12

The Fantastic Flamingo: Part 1

"Known unto God are all His works from the beginning of the world." Acts 15:18.

There are six species of flamingos, the most beautiful and outstanding bird throughout the world. Three species are in the Andes mountains of Peru, Chile and Bolivia and the Galapagos islands west of South America. The others are in Central America, Mexico, parts of Africa and the Bahama islands. Because plume hunters killed so many, they no longer live wild in the southern United States.

It is a memorable sight to see a flock in flight, with colors ranging from pale pink to deep scarlet, or a combination of the two, with some white accents as well.

One species known as the greater flamingo is the largest and most numerous. It is as much as six feet tall with a wingspan of five or six feet and can fly 35 miles an hour. Another species, called the lesser flamingo, is the smallest.

Each flamingo (regardless of species) has a long, graceful, snake-like neck and heavy body held high on long legs with webbed feet. During resting periods it stands on just one leg, with the other lifted up and bent, having its head snugly tucked under a wing. Its box-like beak is distinct from that of any other bird: the lower part is like a scoop and the upper part forms a lid.

When feeding, its bill is thrust upside down with scoop open into the ooze at the bottom of a marsh, and its flexible neck swivels this around in circles to collect food of various kinds. Then it lifts its head out of the water, pressing the two bill parts tightly together to squeeze mud and water through the sieve-like center edges of the beak. The food that remains (algae, small shellfish and other animals) is passed into its throat by its long, thick, oily tongue.

In one of the Bahama islands, a colony of a species known as the Caribbean, consisting of over a thousand beautiful orange-red birds, is protected by the government. Many tourists go to see them, and some have been trained to march in perfect order, like prancing horses, and perform other tricks for the visitors.

During nesting season most of the South American group, as well as those in Central America and Mexico, are exceptionally beautiful, with brilliant red plumage over their entire bodies, except for their beaks which are a combination of light pink, white and jet black.

While the opening verse assures us of God's watchful eye over these birds, they, of course, are not aware of their Creator nor of His care. But He has given us His Word, the Bible, to tell us this is so, and more importantly to tell us of His more special loving thoughts toward us. It is a very rewarding Book to read. Do you read it every day?

The Fantastic Flamingo: Part 2

"The Lord is good to all: and His tender mercies are over all His works." Psa. 145:9.

Flamingos make their homes in great colonies on lake shores, river mouths, or shallow ponds and marshy places, preferring water that is slightly salty. Nests are made by rolling mud (sometimes mixed with pebbles) into little balls with their beaks to a selected spot and tamping the balls in place until a nest rises anywhere from six inches to three feet above the water. It looks like a miniature mountain with a large crater on top to hold a single egg. In the hot sun this nest dries out almost as hard as cement, and that's all they do to it—not bothering to line it with soft material as most birds do.

There may be thousands of nests in one colony, each one looking identical, but every bird knows which is its own. Just one egg is laid each year in late winter or early spring, the mother and father flamingo sharing in incubating it for about a month and feeding the young bird for quite a while after it hatches.

The gray and fluffy chicks are covered with soft down; their bills at first are straight and legs are short, but these develop quickly. At two-and-a-half months they can fly and are nearly fully grown in a year's time. However, they do not turn pink until four years old. Then, with great displays of their pretty wings, necks, heads and legs, mates are chosen, and soon a new pair is building another nest and raising their own little one.

Shrimps are their favorite food. These, along with small crabs, help account for their brilliant red plumage. But they also eat great quantities of algae that float in the water, as well as plankton, insects and fish. In Kenya, where food is plentiful, it is not unusual to see these lovely birds feeding in groups of millions, turning a large water hole into a beautiful pink area in the otherwise dry desert. Tourists sometimes ride in airplanes to get the best view of them.

For many years these birds were cruelly killed for their beautiful feathers as well as for their very tasty meat. But we are glad that in most places they are now protected.

It is not difficult to think of the Creator's pleasure in creating such lovely birds, and He gives us the assurance in the Bible that He is good and kind to them, as expressed above.

And it is He who provides for our needs, too. But He has done more than that, as we read in Heb. 11:40, "God having provided some better thing for us." This promise is, "The gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." Rom. 6:23. It is only through faith in the Lord Jesus that this wonderful gift can become ours. Have you accepted Him as your own Savior? Is the gift of eternal life yours?

The Happy Warblers

"I [the Lord] know all the fowls of the mountains." Psa. 50:11.

Warblers are well named, defined by the dictionary as "birds that sing with trills," meaning their songs have a great run of notes going up and down so quickly that it almost sounds as if their beaks were trembling.

There are about 125 varieties of warblers. Most of them spend the short summer months in North America and the rest of the year in Central and South America and a few other tropical areas. They are small birds, about the size of a sparrow. All have cheerful warblings (although their melodies are not all the same) and are very active, but there is a great variety of pretty colors among them, including some red, some yellow, blue, greenish-gray, yellow-green, orange, etc.

Warblers are a real help to mankind in eating caterpillars, moths, plant lice and other insects that are harmful to growing crops and flowers. Farmers are understandably pleased when these birds nest nearby.

Their food is obtained in a variety of ways, and the bills of each have been designed by the Creator to best serve each of them. For instance, the long, slender bill of the blue-winged variety easily penetrates buds and flowers for insects that are otherwise hard to get at. The American redstart has a flat bill which helps it capture insects flying through the air, etc. Each kind of warbler's bill, legs, feet and wings are designed in ways which only the Creator could do for its individual pattern of life. Many find insects in foliage while walking on the ground; others find them while flying and some, like the black-and-white species, hunt their prey on tree trunks and branches, the strong claws on their feet holding them on the side of the tree.

Nests are mostly cup-shaped in trees or shrubs, but a few build them on the ground or in rocky areas. The females construct the nests, in which they usually lay four eggs, incubating them for nearly two weeks. When the little ones are hatched, both parents feed them for another two or three weeks before their feathers are developed and they are able to fly away on their own.

These cheerful birds, with their great variety of songs, would surely thank God for His goodness if they were able to, and perhaps David the psalmist was thinking of this when he declared: "Let everything that hath breath praise the Lord." Psa. 150:6. But he knew birds could not do this with their voices and added in the same verse, "Praise ye the Lord."

We surely should praise Him for His wonderful works and His goodness in dying on Calvary's cross for the sins of everyone who will accept Him as his personal Savior. Have you thanked Him for that work of love?

The Ungainly Ostrich

"The ostrich.... [leaves] her eggs in the earth, and warmeth them in the dust.... She scorneth the horse and his rider." Job 39:13,14,18.

Although it cannot fly, for size and strength no bird can match the 300-pound, 8-foot tall ostrich of Africa. Neither can a rider on a horse match its 50-miles-per-hour speed across the desert. The female is called a dun and to raise a family lays half a dozen or more ivory-colored eggs (each one 24 times as large as a hen's egg) in a hole scraped in the sand. She sits on them during the day or, as the above verse says, leaves them exposed to the hot sun. The male takes over incubating them at night.

The ostrich is a very hardy bird; some live up to 70 years. Those in the wild usually live in flocks of 100 or more and peacefully share the open spaces with zebras, giraffes and other animals. If necessary, they defend themselves with their strong legs—a well-directed kick either killing or discouraging any attacker.

Its appearance seems strange indeed. Its long, bare legs with ankles like knees and its manner of walking on the two padded toes of each foot, with head held high, give an almost mechanical appearance. Short, heavily feathered wings give it a football-shaped body, and its bulky feathered tail looks like it was just stuck on to help balance it. Topping it all is a long, naked neck with a flat, hairy head having bulgy eyes and a wide beak, all combining to look like a periscope. In fact, this is one of the Creator's provisions for it, enabling it with its keen vision to see from a lofty height over miles of desert land, just as a submarine's periscope scans the ocean.

Visitors to ostrich farms are amused to watch one swallow an unpeeled orange. Down its long neck goes the orange, spiraling around, the bulge visible all the time through its skin, until it disappears at the bottom. The birds are also sometimes tamed and ridden by people brave enough to try. But, as no saddle is provided, it takes an experienced person to be able to ride very far without sliding off over its tail.

Why do you think the Lord God created such an odd bird? We might ask the same question about some unusual fish, or the platypus, or an opossum, or strange insects, or other unusual birds. Do you not suppose that as the Supreme Designer of the universe it was never. His purpose to make every animal, fish, bird, or even every person alike? How monotonous that would be! The same is true of flowers, vegetables, trees, etc. How grateful we should be that He included such a wide difference in all He has made—another example of His wisdom.

And remember, too, that He did not leave anything to the chance that "evolution" would improve on it. No, for after every part of creation was brought into being, the Bible tells us, "God saw everything that He had made, and, behold, it was very good." No improvements have been necessary.

The Busy Phalaropes: Part 1

"And God created... every winged fowl after his kind." Gen. 1:21.

You may never have heard of the pretty sandpiper-like birds called phalaropes, but there are great numbers of them that travel thousands of miles every year, mainly between the cold Arctic lands of the North and the warm tropical countries of Central and South America. Some travel even farther south to West Africa, New Guinea and the coasts of Arabia. Those that make the longest trips fly as much as 15,000 miles each year in their round-trip migrations!

There are three species of this rather strange bird. One is known as the gray (but sometimes called the red); another has the name of red-necked (also called the Northern), and the largest of them all, with just one name, is the Wilson's.

The gray (red) travels in early summer up into the Arctic tundra areas where great quantities of food await it; the red-necked (Northern) prefers to have its summer home a little farther south, sometimes as far down as Canada. The Wilson's variety chooses farther south yet, nesting in southern Canada and along the northern border of the United States.

Because the Wilson's phalarope spends part of its time in California where it can be observed closely, more is known about it than the others, so we will pretty much limit our study to that species in this article.

The coloring of all these birds is different in summer than in winter. The one called gray (red) has gray and white plumage in winter, but is bright red in summer. The Wilson's, on the other hand, is also a very pretty bird in summer; its wings, neck and top of head are a combination of blue, orange and deep red with the rest of its body white. In winter its coloring changes, giving it brown wings, legs and crest atop its head, but plain white over the rest of its body.

These birds are equipped by the Creator with long legs and partially webbed feet, as well as long beaks, all of which are useful as they wade around shorelines looking for insects and food particles. But they are also good swimmers and have been given thick water-proof feathers that help them float high on water.

With most birds the male has the outstanding colorful feathers, but with these it is just the opposite, especially during the nesting period when the females are actually the prettiest and like to show off their colorful feathers when trying to attract a mate. The mother bird is also a little larger than her companion (just the opposite of most other birds) and has some strange ways about her, which we will look at on the following page.

Meanwhile let us never forget that "all things were made by Him [the Lord God]; and without Him was not anything made that was made." John 1:3.

The Busy Phalaropes: Part 2

"Thus saith the Lord, thy Redeemer... I am the Lord that maketh all things." Isa. 44:24.

In our study thus far it was mentioned that the mother phalarope has some strange ways. One of these is that the female birds prefer to travel without their mates, and in flying either north in the spring or south in the fall, they always arrive at their destination a few weeks ahead of their mates.

Arriving at a promising area (on which all the females seem to agree) each one selects a spot that seems to suit her as a nesting site. Having made a choice, she gets to work with her strong legs and beak, digging a shallow nest in the dirt, either close to a pool of clean water or sometimes in a meadow a short distance away. She seems to consider she has completed her part of the job when she has finished the digging and leaves it up to the male to line the hole with moss or leaves when he arrives. Usually the females make their nests near others to form a sort of colony.

When the males arrive, each female picks out the one she would like for a mate. Then she shows him her nest and soon is busy laying three or four eggs in it. After this she leaves him and, like an obedient.

husband, he takes over the responsibility of incubating the eggs and taking care of the chicks when they hatch out. Sometimes the mother bird will decide to raise a double family. She will build another nest, lay eggs in it, and this time, seeing her mate is already busy on the first nest, she actually takes over and incubates and raises the second group herself. Aren't these strange things for a mother bird to do?

When fall weather is coming the mother birds leave the little ones with the father birds and depart by themselves for the tropical lands where they will spend the winter. A few weeks later the deserted ones also leave on the same journey, joining her at a stopping point on the way.

A principle stopping point for the Wilson's species is small Mono Lake in the mountains of California. This lake is quite salty and the home of myriads of little creatures called brine shrimp, which the phalaropes especially like. At Mono Lake they stop for a month or more, refreshing themselves with this nutritious food as well as mosquitoes ar}d brine flies, fattening up and renewing strength for the rest of their journey. Thousands of them leave together, temporarily darkening the sky as they take off.

In the lives of these interesting birds we easily see God's wonderful care over them and His wisdom in directing them north in the summer and south in the winter to preserve their great numbers and provide ample food at all times of the year.. _

His ways are best for each of us too, and the Bible gives us good counsel, saying: "In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths." Prov. 3:6.

Cheerful Ovenbirds

"The glory of the Lord shall endure forever: the Lord shall rejoice in His works." Psa. 104:31.

Ovenbirds were not given this name because they are baked in ovens, but because their nests look like an old-fashioned baker's oven. There are many varieties of ovenbirds throughout North and South America. In North America they are found only east of the Rocky Mountains. All are noted for their lovely melodies, especially when a bright moonlit night brings them out to sing in groups.

Their unusual oven-like homes are admired by bird lovers. However, it takes much searching to find one as they are well concealed. The nests, looking like ovens or igloos, are made of twig-supported mud or clay with a small opening at the bottom. Usually these are built on the ground, up against a fallen tree, and near a pile of brush or leaves. They are so well hidden that a person may walk right past one and never see it.

When a male ovenbird wants to attract a mate, he puts on quite a display. With wings and tail spread out, he hops around with his head bobbing up and down excitedly. If a female is impressed by this she will agree to be his mate, and they soon are busy building a home. This is done very carefully. As it progresses, if they are not pleased with any part they will remove that section and do it over, or perhaps when finished will add something to improve it.

After the eggs are hatched and the chicks are in the nest, the mother is most careful to protect them. When she leaves them for any reason, she stays close to the ground to avoid letting the nest be discovered, running like a mouse for a good distance before taking to the air. When she returns she does the same.

Those in South America are found all over that large continent, some in deserts, some on ocean shores and others in mountains as high as 16,000 feet above sea level. These usually make their nests somewhat differently from their northern relatives, although following an oven-like pattern. One variety even makes its home in plain sight and seems to prefer being near people. These oven-like nests are often built snugly on top of a fence post or stump.

Who taught these unusual birds to build such elaborate nests and how to raise and protect their young? Who gave them such sweet voices? Of course it was the Lord God, their Creator, of whom the Bible says, "0 Lord, how manifold [what variety] are Thy works! In wisdom hast Thou made them all." Psa. 104:24. None of the birds or animals are aware that they are watched over by their Creator, but we who experience that care and love to us should always be thankful to Him and say with the Psalmist: "Oh that men would praise the Lord for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men!" Psa. 107:8. Have you ever thanked Him for His love and care?

The Pond-Loving Jacana (Lily-Trotter)

"Great and marvelous are Thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are Thy ways." Rev. 15:3.

A person approaching a pond in among the trees of a tropical forest might think his eyes were deceiving him, in what appears to be a group of large birds walking on the water. But, coming closer, he would find them actually walking on lily pads. These are jacanas.

There are eight varieties of them; two of these live in North, Central and South America where they are often called lily-trotters or banana coots. These pretty birds, mostly black or deep blue with the outer half of their wings solid white, have a deep red face with a yellow beak. They are about the size of a chicken and have long, thin, scaly legs and toes, enabling them to spread their weight over enough area of a lily pad so they can walk on it without even getting their toes wet. Jerking their tails and taking high steps across the floating pads, they pick up seeds, insects and small fish, at times lifting the edge of a pad, hoping to find food on the bottom side. Flies are snatched out of the air and swallowed immediately. Bees are also favorites, but before swallowing one, they hold it under water so it cannot use its stinger. Who do you think taught them to do this?

Family life is left up to the male jacana, who first builds a floating nest on the water without any help from his mate. When that is finished, the female shows up and lays half-a-dozen eggs, but flies away again and lets the male do the incubating for about three weeks.

The newly hatched babies are helpless, with just a thin, moist covering of down. The father pushes them under his wings to dry out, keeping them sheltered for about three days. Soon feathers appear, and then the young ones are big enough to follow their parent across the lily pads in search of food. From then on their lives are on the water, and there is no need ever to go ashore. When in danger, young and old all dive under water for safety, but they normally spend the entire day walking across the lily pads, gathering their food. The young ones never see their mother. Isn't it amazing how the father bird takes over these responsibilities?

Jacanas are part of the Creator's wonderful works, of which the Bible speaks: "Thou, even Thou, art Lord alone; Thou hast made... the earth, and all things that are therein... and Thou preservest them all." Neh. 9:6.

His love extends to each of us in a very special way. He wants each of us to draw near to Himself, not just as the Creator of all things, but admitting we are helpless sinners. He wants us to trust in the Lord Jesus who came into the world to die for us. Have you done this?

Birds of Paradise: Part 1

"And out of the ground the Lord God formed every beast of the field, and every fowl of the air." Gen. 2:19.

There are more than 40 species of birds of paradise. Each is so outstandingly beautiful that when the explorer Magellan first took some back to Spain the people said they were so grand they could only have come from paradise, and that's how they got that name.

It takes a male five or six years to get his mature plumage, but once he has it, the use of his feathers in courting a female companion is very important to him. The female, incidentally, is not decorated in such colors, but this is a wise provision of the Creator, for in her drab feathers she is not easily spotted by enemies that would like to get her.

Birds of paradise live all the way from sea level to some 6000 feet high in New Guinea, Australia and a few South Sea islands. The males have the most extraordinary plumage of any bird in the world. Usually these birds nest in trees, often near the very top, and generally lay just two eggs. When these hatch out, they become the full responsibility of the mother, as by then the father bird has flown away to find another companion. Only on rare occasions does one of the father birds help a little in feeding the young ones. This behavior is disappointing to bird lovers, most of whom appreciate it when both parents share responsibilities and are loyal to each other.

The diet of these birds includes fruit, berries, seeds, insects, frogs and reptiles. These birds are rather stout and heavy-billed and vary from the size of a robin to that of a crow (long plumes and "wires" not included).

Noted for their loud, clear calls that can be heard for quite a distance, as well as their pretty coloring, they have been given a wide variety of feathering among the different species—one special decoration being a pair of wire-like tendrils anchored to their backs and extending out in odd ways two or three feet past their tails. Also, beneath the wings of some, are long, delicate plumes in contrasting colors, or sometimes in pure white, that can be raised and spread out like a cape over their bodies.

All plainly show the pleasure of the Lord God in creating so many beautiful varieties of these birds, as well as untold others that have obeyed His command and multiplied throughout the entire earth. There are many that have never been seen by men, but the eye of their Creator is always on them. Some of the ones that are known will be described in the next article.

Birds of Paradise: Part 2

"I will praise Thee, O Lord, with my whole heart; I will show forth all Thy marvelous works." Psa. 9:1.

On the preceding page we mentioned the magnificently colored feathers, plumes and unusual features of the various species of birds of paradise. The most outstanding feature is an extension of usually two, slender, wire-like filaments crossing each other beyond the tail, or at times curling to form a pair of circles or other pretty shapes. On some birds there are six of these and on some others a dozen appear—but these larger numbers form small coils snugly against the tails and do not extend far out. Let's study a few of them: One called Count Raggi's is an example of one with 12 wires. It is bright yellow all over, except for red feet and a bright-green balloon-like head. It is unusually active in winning a mate, dancing about on a tree limb to attract a likely female. There it spreads its wings upward to show how high its pretty plumes reach, then turns nearly upside down to make its feathers flash more brilliantly than ever. If she doesn't respond he repeats the performance for another one when he has the opportunity.

The king is also outstanding. It is brilliant red over its top and throat with a green band over its chest, dividing the red from a white under-body. From its short purple tail two long filaments reach out with small balls of purple feathers on their ends.

Another has the name Saxony and looks almost like a robin with dark top feathers and orange below. But the distinctive thing about it is a pair of long, glossy plumes—one blue and the other brown extending from the back of its head far past its ordinary tail, with a total distance more than twice the length of its body. The Creator has given it these pretty ornaments in place of the wire-like filaments most others display.

The superb has a different arrangement. An olive-green body and wide-spreading tail contrast with its bright blue chest and short wings of the same color. But this is one that has no stringers behind it.

The white-plumed one lacks the spectacular colors of the others, but has a great display of long, fluffy white plumes extending from its back instead. These it can raise over its body to look like a most beautiful cape.

The beautiful feathers of these, as well as a wide variety of other birds, represent perhaps the greatest display of God's visible handiwork, but in fish and animal groups there are other beauties as well. On the other hand, it is often the plain-colored creatures that have the greatest skills and amazing ways of life. They are all part of God's creation, and we should think of Him and His wisdom whenever we have occasion to observe any of them.

The Noisy Puffbirds

"I know all vie fowls of the mountains: and the wild beasts of the field are Mine." Psa. 50:11.

There are many species of Puffbirds in the rain forests of Central and South America. They are not very big, only about seven inches from their beaks to the tips of their tails, but they make up for any lack in size by their loud and noisy chatter. Their heads, with big red eyes, are rather large in proportion to their bodies and are decorated with a long, white, feather tuft under their bills and another on top of their foreheads. The name "Puffbirds" has been given to them because they often sit with these feathers fluffed out like a puffball.

The Creator has provided them with wide short bills, enabling them to scoop insects out of the air with ease. Sitting on a branch or other high place in groups, individuals dart out quickly now and then for passing bugs and flies, or spiders and lizards they may spot, as well as small frogs.

One, called the white-eared, is among the prettiest. It is all white on its throat and lower parts, decorated with a vivid-orange beak and reddish-brown cap, with narrow black ribbons across it, matching its tail feathers. Its reddish-brown wings are decorated with numerous black patches.

Another, the swallow-wing, has a bluish-black cape over its head and down most of its back and wings, but sports a distinctive white area between its cape and tail. Its body is a nice combination of blue beak and breast with orange lower plumage.

The smallest, but most active, is the white-fronted. In spite of its name, only half of its front is white, the balance being a grayish-blue, nicely matching its broad tail feathers. The male and female of this group surround their burrow entrances with sticks to help conceal it, and together remove the fresh dirt from the tunnel so enemies can't easily find their underground home.

With all Puffbirds both parents work together digging a burrow and making a nest at the end. After the eggs are laid, both also share incubating them. However, after hatching, the male always stays with the chicks for a week or more while the female finds food. She brings this to the tunnel entrance, and the little ones get good exercise walking up to get it. The male doesn't eat any of this food, so has to make quick trips outside to satisfy his hunger. Chicks fly from the nest when about three weeks old.

The Bible verse at the top of the page tells us that the Lord God knows all about these birds which He has created and cares for. He knows all about you, as well, and wants you to trust in Him by accepting the Lord Jesus as your Savior. Have you done this?

Mallards by the Million

"The Lord God formed every beast of the field, and every fowl of the air; and brought them unto Adam to see what he would call them." Gen. 2:19.

What an interesting job Adam was given! The English language was not then in use, but in whatever language he spoke, it was his privilege to be the first to call a duck a duck.

The mallard is the wild duck from which most domestic ducks have been bred. The male (sometimes called a greenhead) is one of the beautiful birds of God's creation, with a glossy purplish-green head, black neck and narrow white collar. The rest of its body is brown except for 12 white tail feathers.

Millions of mallards spend summers in Canadian prairies and additional numbers are just across the United States border, particularly in North Dakota where "pothole" ponds are ideal for nesting.

Females are plain brown and, like the males, have orange legs and webbed feet. Their nests are well hidden, lined with down and feathers, usually in thick grass at the edge of a pond or lake. The hatching and training of the ducklings is left to the hen. The little ones can walk and swim expertly a few hours after hatching.

Mallards are the most common (and noisiest) of all ducks, the female's quack being so loud it can be heard a mile away. In addition to acorns, wheat and other grains, their food includes water insects, frogs and fish. When feeding in shallow water, mallards have a "bottoms-up" position, feasting on underwater plants and insects.

They like to eat in concealed places in the daylight, but raid grain fields at night, to many farmers' dismay. Some areas are now being planted especially for them so that they will not go into the farm fields until crops have been harvested; then they feed on the grain left on the ground.

Some mallards spend the full winter along the coasts of Alaska and western Canada, but others migrate to Texas and California before winter, returning north in early spring. Their migrations are beautiful to see as, high in the sky, their V-shaped groups with heads and necks outstretched move swiftly along.

Do you think the Lord God, the Creator, cares about birds and their nests? A Bible verse tells us He certainly does: "If a bird's nest chance to be before thee in the way... thou shalt not take the dam [mother bird] with the young." Deut. 22:6. And if He cares about birds on their nests, doesn't He care much more about you? The Bible answers this question also, "Casting all your care upon Him; for He careth for you." 1 Peter 5:7. The invitation is also given, "Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in Him; and He shall bring it to pass." Psa. 37:5. Have you committed your way to Him?

The Beautiful Grebes

"I will remember the works of the Lord: surely I will remember Thy wonders of old.... Thou art the God that doest wonders." Psa. 77:11,14.

This very interesting bird, about the size of a duck, is found in the warmer northern climates of many countries. Large numbers of grebes in many varieties live in the northwestern United States, Canada; Alaska and Iceland. Most of the species fly quite well, and some of them migrate to the Pacific and Atlantic coasts for the winter months and then return north in the spring. However, three species do not fly at all and the others fly only when necessary, preferring to remain near their nests in the marshy areas of ponds and lakes.

Although provided with strong legs, they do not walk well. They look like they are sliding along on their stomachs! In water, however, they are extremely graceful and wonderful swimmers. Although they are a rather large bird they can dive from the surface of the water without leaving even a ripple to show where they were or any indication as to where they will come up. They are excellent swimmers, both on the surface and underwater, and are much more at home there than on land.

The nest, which floats on the water, is built with weeds, sticks, reeds, etc., by the male and female together. It is tied to something solid or anchored underwater to keep it from drifting away. Isn't it remarkable how the Creator taught them to do this?

Much time is spent "oiling" their feathers much like ducks do. This "water-proofing treatment" is done by rubbing their beaks against special glands on their bodies, then working the waxy deposit into all parts of the dense feathers.

Although they do not have webbed feet, the Creator has given them special fleshy edges on their long toes to aid in swimming. Their legs are not round like most birds, but pointed in front and back—a real help in moving swiftly through water and a help in catching fish which they spear with their long, sharp, pointed beaks.

An unusual thing about all grebes is that they eat great quantities of feathers, even feeding them to their little ones. No one is quite sure why they do this, but some think the feathers may act as strainers or cushions to keep fish bones and other sharp objects from piercing the inside of their bodies. Whatever the reason may be, it is part of God's wonderful order.

There are about twenty species of grebes throughout the world, many of them strikingly pretty, such as the red-necked. It is brilliant red all along its long neck from its chest up to a soft-white head and a contrasting black cap. Descriptions of other species follows.

The Beautiful Grebes

"Thou, even Thou, art Lord alone; Thou hast made... the earth, and all things that are therein... and Thou preservest them all." Neh. 9:6.

Among the various species of grebes, one called the hooded, a native of the Andes mountains in Argentina, is one of the prettiest. From the top of its beak, pure-white feathers slope upward as far as the forehead where a red crest rises up beyond the top of its head like a hood, giving it its name. The rest of its head, back, sides and throat are deep-velvety black atop a long snowy-white neck. Its body is coal black on top and white speckled with gray underneath. Brilliant scarlet eyes add to a most beautiful picture of the Creator's handiwork.

Another interesting species is known as the black necked, or eared, probably because of the group of yellow feathers pointing from its eyes to the back of its neck. Otherwise it is plain colored, grayish black above and orange and white below. One called the pied-billed grebe covers its half-dozen eggs with mud in the daytime throughout incubation. When little ones hatch they quickly take to the water, clinging tightly to the i mother's feathers and back. They don't seem a bit afraid when she dives and swims, going right along with her. Traveling this way, the mother snatches food wherever possible, and then by twisting her long neck backward she feeds all those on board.

The western grebe is the one most familiar to Americans. It has a long body and thin neck with brown or black feathers on top of its head and neck, but white below and having a long yellow pointed bill, making it quite pretty. The western is noted for carving on an unusual "water dance" when mates are being chosen. Both the male and female, while floating on the water, will suddenly rise up side by side and run swiftly on the surface of the water for quite a distance. They also both go through elaborate head-shaking exercises to impress one another.

After the western's nests are built, from two to six eggs are laid, and about a month's incubation is shared by both parents until the chicks are born. Even then both the mother and father continue to share in raising them for about three months, carrying them on their backs when out on the water.

The ways of these birds show again the care of God in giving them remarkable instincts. But He gave more than this to mankind. In the Bible the question is asked, "Who hath put wisdom in the inward parts? or who hath given understanding to the heart?"Job 38:36. The answer is that the Lord God, the Creator, has done this, and the Bible also tells us that "The fear of [reverence for and faith in] the Lord is the beginning of wisdom." Prov. 9:10. Do you have that wisdom and understanding?

Multi-Colored Kingfishers

"And out of the ground the Lord God formed every beast of the field, and every fowl of the air; and brought them unto Adam." Gen. 2:19.

There are about 100 species of kingfishers, ranging in size from six to eighteen inches and divided into two groups—the water and the forest types. Many of the forest types never go near water and live on insects, small rodents, snakes and lizards.

The water kingfishers, which are more often seen, make their homes in hollow trees or dig burrows in a bank where the little ones hatch and develop before going outside to learn to fish on their own. The parents stay together year after year. The Creator, watching over all His creation, has given these birds unusual coloring—many are strikingly pretty with high crests on their heads. For instance, the common, which is the smallest, has colors that change according to the angle of light reaching it. At times it appears sky blue, but as it turns on its perch it becomes a beautiful emerald green with a variety of colors on its head, throat and other places.

By contrast, the largest is the African giant which is not as brightly colored as the smaller ones—more of a speckled gray above and light brown beneath. One from Ethiopia, the malachite, is a small bird, its speckled-gray head topped with a crest of a dozen feathers. White patches behind its ears and on its neck blend with a rust-colored beak and legs. A soft orange breast and underparts, and pretty purple feathers on its back, wings and tail, top it all off.

In America the most commonly seen is the belted, about a foot long. You may have seen one on a bare branch near a stream, patiently waiting until suddenly it dives headfirst into the water and returns with a fish in its beak. Incidentally, kingfishers do not spear fish with their beaks as we might think, but grasp them with open mouths, then hold them tightly in their closed beaks.

Perhaps millions of these birds live in various parts of the world most of them never, or only occasionally, seen by people. But there is One who always watches over them. He has told about His care over lowly sparrows (true of kingfishers as well). In Luke 12:6 He said, "not one of them is forgotten before God." Then He adds, "Ye are of more value than many sparrows."

Now the reason the Lord spoke these things was to let everyone know of His love and care over every person in the world and to give His invitation, "Whosoever shall confess Me before men, him shall the Son of man [Himself] also confess before the angels of God."

To "confess the Lord before men" means to confess Him as your Lord and Savior. When this is done with a true heart, not only will He let the angels know you are His, but your name will also be written in the Book of Life and will never be removed. Have the angels been told your name? Is it written in the Book of Life?

The Tough Frigate Bird

"Great and marvelous are Thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are Thy ways." Rev. 15:3.

The frigate, with a body about the size of a chicken, stands out from other seabirds in many ways. Considered by some to be the greatest flier of all birds, it can perform amazing tricks in the air that few birds can match; these include eating, drinking and even sleeping while air born. It can fly 1000 miles without resting and has no problem rising as much as 4000 feet into the sky. The Creator has provided the means for such flights by giving it extremely light-weight bones, along with an eight-foot wingspread and strong, forked tail to act as a rudder and brake.

Another name for it is man-of-war, because of its bad habits. Sharing islands with great colonies of other birds, it robs them whenever there is opportunity. For instance, seeing a booby flying with a fish in its beak it goes after it, sometimes even grabbing the booby's tail and shaking it until it drops its catch, which the frigate then claims for itself. At other times one will land on a pelican's head and eat fish right out of its pouch.

This behavior seems strange, because it is quite capable of catching its own food when necessary. Spotting a fish while flying over water, it drops straight down as though headed for a crash landing, but just before hitting the water its tail and wings fan out to break the speed, and it snatches the fish without getting more than its large beak wet.

Frigates nest in many ocean places, including southern California, Mexico, the Gulf states and tropical islands. The female is a plain brown color, but the male has a jet-black body and bluish-green head, plus a flap of red skin suspended from his breast which he can pump up with air to make a red balloon nearly as large as himself. This he does when seeking a mate, standing on his perch, throwing his head back and forth and with loud whoops seeming to say, "Don't you think I'm beautiful? Let's build a nest together." Sure enough, some female responds to this invitation. Then, after he picks a spot for their nest, she takes over building it with sticks that he brings to her. Soon they settle down to raise just one chick, to which they give their careful attention for about a year.

Such birds remind us of the great variety to be found in God's creation. And isn't it nice that it is so, for we wouldn't want every bird, every animal, or even every human to look alike, would we? And so it is with each of us; our way of life is different one from another, but the important thing is to let the Lord Jesus rule our lives, as the Bible verse says, "Seek the Lord and His strength, seek His face continually. Remember His marvelous works that He hath done." 1 Chron. 16:11,12. Do you do this? Is He your guide through life?

Birds on the Move: Part 1

"The winter is past... the flowers appear on the earth; the time of the singing of birds is come. " Sol. 2:11,12.

Seasonal migrations are usual with many animals, fish, butterflies and other creatures, but none can match the wonderful migrations of billions of birds taking place all over the world twice a year—fall and spring.

It is an unforgettable experience to observe a little part of this when, in the countryside as the sun is about to set, the honking of a flock of geese overhead is heard and looking up, they are seen circling lower and lower, following the leader of their V-formation, until they drop down on a pond or swamp nearby. There they may remain just overnight, or perhaps for several days, resting and feeding before continuing their long trip from Alaska, the Yukon, or Canada's Maritime provinces. They are headed to the warmth of the southern United States or on into Mexico, or even farther, where they will stay through the winter months before returning to the north the following spring.

Many millions of ducks, swans and other waterfowl make these trips over North America's flyways, and millions of other birds fly even farther than these twice yearly. It is understandable that many questions are asked. Why do they do this? How do they know where to go? Where do they get strength for such flights? How do they find their way?

Bird lovers and trained researchers take such questions seriously and have spent years of research and much money and effort, trying to find the answers. Although they still confess they understand very little concerning some of the things involved in such massive migrations, they have discovered things that are of interest, and we will borrow from what they have learned to bring some of their findings to our readers in this and following articles.

But when all is said and done, there is only One who truly knows all about them, and that is their Creator. He is the Lord God, the same Creator of the heavens and earth and all things contained therein, as the Bible tells us, "Thou, even Thou, art Lord alone; Thou hast made... the earth, and all things that are therein, the seas, and all that is therein, and Thou preservest them all." Neh. 9:6.

It is claimed there are about 100 billion birds in the world, and while many make their homes in warm climates and do not migrate, a vast number do. For instance, in America alone there are an estimated 10 billion birds that fly to and from other countries. Additional billions in Europe and Asia, never seen in American countries, make their flights to other places, as well. We will consider some of these in the following issues.

Birds on the Move

"Yea, the stork in the heaven knoweth her appointed times; and the turtle [turtledoves] and the crane and the swallow observe the time of their coming." Jer. 8:7.

This verse speaks -very plainly of God's care over the birds and His appointment of the time of their migrations. In the preceding issue mention was made of the work done by bird lovers and researchers looking into the migrations of birds throughout the world. Now, let's get a globe of the world and look at the facts about just a tiny number of the many millions of birds involved.

The greatest traveler of all is the Arctic tern that flies from the Aleutian Islands to Antarctica every fall and returns again in the spring—some 12,000 miles each way! A shorter journey is the 25-hour, 500-mile, non-stop trip of the 8-ounce ruby-throated hummingbird, flying from the United States over the Gulf of Mexico to Central America. How do you think this tiny bird can do this?

From various parts of Europe, storks make round-trip flights of 14,000 miles to Israel, the Nile River and South Africa, the young ones going a week or two ahead of the parents, although they have never migrated before. How do they know where to go?

Swallows arrive in Southern California every March after a 6000-mile flight from Argentina, going to the same nest previously used, while orioles wintering in South America return in May to their summer homes in the eastern United States after a 2000-mile flight.

The Tennessee warbler, weighing about as much as two quarters, flies some 3000 miles from Canada and the northern United States to Central and South America each fall. Some fly nonstop. Others take short rests en route. Their close relatives, blackpoll warblers, raising their families in northern Canada and Alaska, get together with others of their kind in New England during September, then the whole group continues another 2100 miles on a 100-hour nonstop ocean flight to South America. By contrast, bobolinks in the fall fly almost entirely overland from Canadian prairies to the pampas of Argentina—a 6000-mile trip returning in the spring.

Golden plovers from Alaska fly over the Pacific to Hawaii—a 2000-mile trip -and after resting go on another 2000 miles south. Parent birds take off first, leaving the young ones to follow later. Never having done this before, can you explain in what way their little ones know how to reach the Hawaiian Islands? One thing we do know is that these flights, and untold numbers of others, speak of the Creator's • care over all His creation, from the smallest to the greatest. "Known unto God are all His works from the beginning of the world." Acts 15:18.

Birds on the Move: Part 2

"And out of the ground the Lord God formed... every fowl of the air." Gen. 2:19.

At various times we've reviewed a few facts about the migration of birds in which the question was raised: why do they migrate? There are two principal reasons. One reason is that those summering in the north need to move away from soon-coming cold weather with short winter days providing very little sunshine.

While departure times from northern points usually follow close schedules, in some way humans cannot understand, migrating birds have been given ability by the Creator even to know about weather changes long before our weathermen and will advance their migration time to get away before heavy storms move in.

Then, after some six months in the sunny south lands, the birds get restless and seem to sense that the ice and snow on ponds and streams of the north are melting. Days are getting longer again, and an invigorating climate for hatching and raising their young compel them to make the return trip northward.

The second principal reason for their migrating is that food supplies are all-important, and somehow they instinctively know that plenty of fresh, nourishing food will be waiting for them at the other end of their journey. For instance, as though anticipating the arrival of hungry birds from the south, aphids, caterpillars, mosquitoes, grubs, flies and other insects of the north make their appearance just in time for the travelers to benefit by this nourishing food and, there is plenty of it to last a long time! The same is true of new plant life springing up, providing additional food and nesting materials.

But after several months in the north, the appetites of the growing bird families pretty well deplete this abundance of food. In contrast, southern lands have benefited by the birds' absence, and new supplies will be awaiting their return in the fall.

Incidentally, in the Arctic areas there has been a general warming of the atmosphere in the past 40 or 50 years, resulting in many birds now migrating there for summer months that did not go there before. Who told them about the improved climate? and how did they find the way there?

The answers explained above may well be accurate, but the source of the implanting of these actions in the heads and wings of so many varieties of birds can only come from the Creator, of whom the Bible says, "For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth." 2 Chron. 16:9. Also, "In whose hand is the soul [breath] of every living thing." Job 12:10.

Birds on the Move: Part 3

"By them [springs of water] shall the fowls of the heaven have their habitation, which sing among the branches." Psa. 104:12.

Two questions are frequently asked about the migration of birds: where do they get strength for such flights? and how do they find their way?

For any of them, whether a small hummingbird or a large goose, to fly non-stop over a wide ocean certainly takes a great deal of strength and could not be done if the Creator did not give them a terrific hunger long before such a trip takes place. Eating great quantities of extra food provides an unusual layer of fat (sometimes doubling their weight) which becomes all the "fuel" needed for strength while traveling. Isn't this a wonderful provision of the One who always has them in His care?

The question, "How do they find their way?" remains unanswered, although researchers try hard to find out. But all they can do is make some guesses -one of which is that the birds are guided by the sun and perhaps have a hidden compass inside them. But this raises a new question: how are they able to find their way when the sun is hidden by fog or clouds? Another guess is that when flying at night they are guided by the moon and stars. But again, what do they do when these are not visible?

Still another guess is that their routes are learned from the parents. But then we ask, what about those that fly away and leave their young ones to follow later? Then, some birds have been carried from one side of the Atlantic Ocean to the other side and raised there until released at migration time. How do these find an entirely new route to the same destination as their former companions? Similar tests have been made by taking certain eggs to distant countries, hatching and releasing them at the migratory period. These birds, too, find their way without difficulty.

It must be admitted that wonderful controls are at work in the heads of these birds, and the most dedicated researcher may never come up with a true explanation. We know the real answer lies with the Lord God who gives them these abilities and implants needed guidance and wisdom in their heads, so that they adjust to any unusual circumstance. Certainly, these migrations are indeed one of the outstanding wonders of God's creation.

Another very special wonder is that He invites every boy and girl, every man and woman, to come to heaven when life here on earth is finished. The Lord said when He was here, "I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto Myself; that where I am, there ye may be also." John 14:2,3. This is His promise to everyone who comes to Him as a helpless sinner and accepts Him as their personal Savior. Have you answered His invitation?

The Philippine Eagle

"They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles." Isa. 40:31.

The rare Philippine eagle's name identifies it with its Pacific Ocean homeland where it is now protected from hunters. For many years they were killed because many natives thought they kidnapped babies.

Perhaps this undeserved reputation came about many years ago when one of these eagles was seen carrying a small monkey to its nest and the native mistakenly thought it was a human baby! Actually, Filipinos have now been convinced that that could not possibly happen and have learned that this eagle's food supply is mainly small animals like squirrels, snakes, bats, a few birds and only an occasional monkey.

The Philippine eagle is large and impressive, with a crown of bristly brown and white feathers surrounding its rather fierce-looking head and a strong, blue, hooked beak appearing so threatening beneath its piercing eyes. This hooked beak is part of the Creator's design to enable it to capture necessary food and mercifully kill it quickly. Sharp claws on strong feet are also part of this provision.

Its nest is always placed high in tall trees. Just one egg is laid each year, and the mother seldom leaves the nest during a two-month incubating period while the male brings food to her. Occasionally he will help in the incubation. Then, after the eaglet hatches, both parents share in feeding it, even for a while after it learns to fly. An eaglet is dependent on its parents for a long time.

The feathers of mature eagles form a pretty design when wings are outstretched and tail feathers extended. Behind the white throat and neck feathers and out to the middle section of the wings they are mottled light brown, edged and flecked with white. The remaining half of the wings is dark brown, but each feather is tipped with ivory white. Long tail feathers are dark except for white tips.

The Bible speaks of eagles in many places, often referring to their strength and to the great heights to which they fly. They are indeed an impressive part of God's creation. That holy book tells us that "the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps." Jer. 10:23. But it is interesting that a promise in writing was given to the young people of Isaiah's day (which is still a promise today), in which the Bible uses eagles as an example of God's blessings to those who put their trust in Him. (See our opening verse.) Without that trust, problems of life can be very troublesome, but God graciously helps His own to overcome them. Have you put your trust in Him?

The Lovely Fairy Tern

"This also cometh forth from the Lord of hosts, [who] is wonderful in counsel, and excellent in working." Isa. 28:29.

Yes, the lovely fairy tern "also cometh forth from the Lord," as He, the Creator of all, delighted in every work of His hands. It is among birds that many of His most beautiful creatures are seen. Peacocks, cardinals, hummingbirds and many others have colorful feathers that draw our admiration. But the fairy tern is not among these, for it has no color except for a dark beak and black feathers around its soft, dark eyes. It is pure white and most attractive in its appearance, especially when in the air with outspread wings.

Fairy terns are natives of Hawaii, Midway and other Pacific islands and do not migrate as most other terns do. They are great fishers, gliding smoothly just above the waves to snatch fish without stopping. They continue fishing while holding each catch crosswise in their beaks and return to land with a dozen or so at a time.

This bird draws the attention of visitors to its home areas because of a most peculiar manner of laying eggs, incubating them and raising their young. They seem entirely disinterested in making nests, but deposit an egg on a rocky bluff or balance it on a bare branch, a piece of stranded driftwood, or almost any convenient, available spot. Surprisingly, these eggs that appear so carelessly placed and look as though they would fall at any moment, seldom do, and then only because of a strong wind or something meddling with them.

The parents themselves are quite careful about this, incubating the egg by settling very gently on it, covering it with soft under feathers. Those who have watched this never fail to be surprised at the skill with which both parents take on this incubating responsibility, particularly since it takes a month for the egg to hatch.

Again, as the baby bird breaks out of its shell, an observer would think surely it would fall from its support, and the egg and chick would be smashed below. But no, this hardly ever happens. The little new-born one has been given a sense of balance that few creatures have so early in life, and has also been provided with strong, long claws to hold securely to its odd home right from the start.

Chicks are cared for by both parents for about two months, fed mostly on small fish which they swallow whole. After that time the instincts given by the Creator, and what they have learned by watching their parents, enable them to go about on their own.

Although it is not likely that the Psalmist ever saw the pure-white fairy tern, he no doubt observed the care other birds display for their little ones when he wrote: "He [the Lord God] shall cover thee with His feathers, and under His wings shalt thou trust." Psa. 91:4. Have you put your trust in Him?

The Handsome Goldfinch

"Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father [being aware of it]. Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows." Matt. 10:29,31.

We have frequently looked at finches in general. Now let's look at just one of them, the goldfinch, in more detail. This is one of America's most beautiful birds (often called a wild canary). The male is an exceptionally pretty, compact and neat little bird, particularly in the spring and summer when he is dressed in golden feathers with a contrasting jet-black cap, wings and tail feathers and pretty cross stripes of white. His legs and short, sharp beak are orange-brown. But in the fall and winter he changes the pretty gold and yellow to look more like the olive-gray female.

These birds fly in a rapid up-and-down wavelike motion. It is delightful to watch this display and hear their distinctive sweet melodies. They seem so happy in the way of life the Creator has arranged for them.

Nests are made of thistledown and fibers from various plants, woven with strands of grass into a soft nest where five or six eggs are laid and hatch out as cute baby chicks after about two weeks. While the mother incubates the eggs, her mate faithfully brings her quantities of seeds to satisfy her hunger.

The Creator has made the goldfinch a seed-eater rather than an insect-eater. Accordingly, He has arranged for their young to hatch out in the late summer, just as seeds are ripening with the most nourishment and are easy to pick. Thistle seeds are a favorite with them, and climbing about the stickery thistle plant does not seem to bother them a bit. But there is a variety of other food for them as well, including ripe berries, the seeds of grass, weeds, wheat, oats, etc.

Baby birds are not able to digest whole seeds, no matter how ripe and tasty. Until they are older and able to digest and gather their own food, the parents feed them by eating and digesting the seeds in their own stomachs (crops) and then, putting their beaks in the little ones' mouths, they cough up the digested food.

How did the goldfinch—and all other finches—know to delay their nest building until late in the summer? And how did they learn such an unusual way to feed their little ones? We know the answer: the Creator gave them the instincts to do these things when He first formed them, and each new generation does not need to be taught again because these instincts come naturally to them, just as the Lord God planned it.

The Lovely Pintails

"These wait all upon Thee; that Thou mayest give them their meat [food] in due season. That Thou givest them they gather." Psa. 104:27,28.

In the large family of ducks, pintails have a prominent place, noted for their speed and handsome appearance. The females (hens) are rather noisy with their loud quacking, but the males (drakes) use double-toned whistles that are much more melodious.

Drakes' heads are usually reddish brown, with solid-white feathers from below reaching part way up their necks. Holding those pretty heads gracefully, they look like statues on the water. The hens, like their mates, have slender necks but dull-colored feathers. The tail feathers of both extend to sharp points, accounting for their "pintail" name. This is particularly noticeable when flying.

Their melodious whistling is one of the first signs of spring when they are preparing for migration to spots along the border of Canada and the United States and on into the Yukon and Alaska. In the fall they reverse the flights, traveling far and wide. Some from Canada fly to England, some from Alaska to far-off Hawaii, and others show up in India, Russia, Africa and Europe, while a large number make shorter flights to California, Louisiana, Mexico and South America.

In the fall months pintails are among the first to leave the north, and the following spring, the first to fly back. On these travels, great flocks nest in prairie country near the Canadian border, north and west of North Dakota, where there is an ample supply of wheat and other grains left on the ground after harvesting. Some also make California their choice, enjoying the barley and rice grown there. Hunting clubs, government groups and others are working together, planting separate fields of grain in places easy for the birds to reach, thus providing them with their own private farms in order to spare farmers' crops.

Pintails, along with numerous other ducks feeding in marshy areas, all mingle happily together, their many calls mixed in a tremendous chatter. As evening comes, pintails, pidgeons, teal, mallards, etc., all rise from the ponds or fields in large flocks, hurrying to find roosting places for the night.

With so many millions of birds in the world, do you think the Creator, the Lord God, can tell them apart? Does He really know about each one? Yes, He certainly does, just as the Bible verse above tells us. Another one states it this way: "I know all the fowls [birds] of the mountains." Psa. 50:11.

He also has His eye upon you and wants you to follow His guidance every moment of your life. "In all thy ways acknowledge Him," the Bible says, "and He shall direct thy paths." Prov. 3:6. That is the only true and happy way of life.

A Scarlet Beauty

"And God created... every winged fowl after his kind: and God saw that it was good. And God blessed them, saying... let fowl multiply in the earth." Gen. 1:21,22.

In the rain forests of South and Central America and Mexico, there are many brightly colored macaws (which some people consider the most beautiful of all birds), sharing the forests with closely related parrots. One macaw is named the red and blue, its upper and lower plumage a bright red complemented with patches of yellow, and a red tail tipped with blue.

A somewhat similar one is the blue and yellow. A flock of these in flight is a sight to be long remembered. Among the large ones is the Hyacinthine which is a solid deep blue. It can be identified by its unusually strong beak with a sharp point on the upper part extending beyond the lower one.

There are many more interesting ones as well. But the one considered most outstanding has the name of scarlet. It is one of the largest, measuring up to three feet from its beak to the tip of its tail. This one is a brilliant ruby red with blue trimming on its wings and tail feathers (on some the trimming includes green and yellow). Looking down on several scarlets in flight with wings outspread and tails straight behind them, they almost look like pieces from a rainbow in their bright contrasting colors—a beautiful spectacle!

Macaws resemble parrots in appearance and habits and also, like them, are inclined to be noisy. They all have big appetites and have been provided by the Creator with powerful beaks that can crack open the hardest seeds and nuts easily. Most of them hold their food with their feet while breaking it into pieces with these strong beaks. Like chickens and most other birds they have no teeth, but from time to time swallow grit or tiny pebbles into their gizzards, which break down the solid food into needed nourishment.

All macaws and parrots have strong, short, flat tongues which, together with their strong beaks, are used to grasp branches and pull themselves up or sidewise when searching for food. However, when one of them is tamed it will never bite its owner (some pay extremely high prices for these birds), but may just give a playful nip to his ear or cheek.

Macaws do make nice pets and can be taught to say a few words, but we do not expect them to know about their Creator who is always watching over them. Thanks to God's Word, the Bible, His many kindnesses are known to us, and we should always be grateful for His care over us. We should be especially thankful for the Savior's love in giving His life on the cross so that we may have our sins forgiven. He loves you and will forgive your sins and be your Savior if you will only come to Him. Have you come to Him?

Florida's Scrub Jay

"Great is our Lord, and of great power.... He giveth to the beast his food, and to the young ravens which cry." Psa. 147:5,9.

There are 36 types of jays in North and Central America. Some, preferring to make their homes in stunted oak trees, are known as scrub jays. An interesting member of this group is the Florida scrub jay. Its vivid blue and gray feathers and long, slender tail are similar to the common blue jay, but it doesn't have the crest on its head that marks most of its relatives.

These aggressive birds are about the size of a crow and among the noisiest of all birds. Lacking a real song, they resort to harsh calls, chattering away to their neighbors. The Bible does not mention jays by name, but our opening verse applies to them, too.

Scrub oak trees are part of the Florida landscape where there are old sand dunes, and the scrub jay is the only bird that makes its permanent home there, with the exception of hawks and a few other flesh-eaters. Some snakes and a small number of bobcats and various rodents are also resident of these areas.

The scrub jay has almost completely taken over every spot where the small oaks grow, claiming individual territories and forcefully keeping others out. Long ago they divided up all available property on these dunes and have prohibited entrance to others outside their own families ever since. They can do this because the climate of that part of the country stays warm year-round, so they do not migrate south in the winter as their northern cousins do. But, socially inclined, they like to have other scrub jays nearby, and their colonies are noisily happy together.

A pair of adults raises just one brood each spring. The female does all the incubating and feeding of the little ones, but the male guards them carefully and provides much of their food. However, he seems to feel it beneath his dignity to feed the youngsters, so turns his offerings over to the mother to pass along. Sad to say, the father bird can't seem to change, even in an emergency, so if the mother should die, her little ones soon starve to death.

If the young ones have not found mates and made nests of their own by the time new brothers and sisters hatch out the next spring, they also help bring food to the mother and keep an eye on the nest when both parents are away. Some of them also help the father defend the home territory if strangers try to move in.

Since there are so many birds in the world, do you think God, the Creator of all of them, pays any attention to these lowly scrub jays on the dunes of Florida? He certainly does, as the Bible often tells us. Look up these verses and see for yourself: Gen. 1:30, Psa. 50:11, Jer. 8:7, Matt. 10:29, and Luke 12:24. Then turn to Psa. 145:18,19 and see how He invites you to experience His love and preserving care, which is much greater to boys and girls than to birds and animals.

The Mallee-Fowl

"And God created... every winged fowl after his kind: and God saw that it was good." Gen. 1:21.

Some time ago we briefly considered this unusual bird, but now we'll give it a more complete look. A Mallee-fowl is large, about the size of a turkey, and has a rather long neck and a small head with a crest on top and a strong, sharp beak. Some of them are quite pretty, with a plain white front and underpart of the body, except for a striped black ribbon from the neck to the base of the chest. The outstanding feature is a pinkish-brown (or sometimes pinkish-gray) marbling of the wings and tail feathers, giving them an attractive appearance.

They are not too choosy about food, eating mostly seeds, as well as fruit and buds, worms and insects. They gather this food by scratching the soil for it, just as a chicken does in the barnyard. Although living in a hot, dry country, water is not a problem as God who created them, as the above Bible verse says, has given them the ability to go for long periods without it.

Their homeland in Australia is called "Mallee Country" because so many live there. In this area eucalyptus trees grow close together with scarcely any sunlight breaking through, except at random spots. In some of these bare, but hot spots will be found huge mounds of dirt, as big and high as a small cottage. This, however, is not a natural dirt pile; it is built by a number of Mallee-fowl working together (over the years), using their strong legs and sharp-clawed feet to form it. This is done by standing with their backs toward a central spot (forming a circle) and then digging and kicking dirt, leaves, broken branches, stones and anything else their feet may find toward that target. Each bird selects a place from which to kick and contributes its share toward making a more-or-less round heap.

When these mounds get too big to be managed, a new site is selected, and they start again from ground level. The beginning work is easy compared to what it becomes when the mound has been added to for several years and may become as large as 15 feet wide and several feet high. Just think what strong legs and feet they have to kick this material so high over such an area! Each year they work several days at building it a little higher—a tremendous job—and it's amazing some don't give up. But they work together very nicely, just as ordered by the Creator when He first formed them.

He wants all of us to behave just the way the Bible tells us, also. If we want to please Him and ask His help, He will enable us to do so.

The Mallee-Fowl

"And... the Lord God formed every beast of the field, and every fowl of the air; and brought them unto Adam to see what he would call them. " Gen. 2:19.

The adjoining page has told us a few things about the Mallee-fowl of Australia and their huge mounds of dirt. We have no way of knowing if the name Adam gave them, referred to in the above verse, was changed, but we have a clue to their present name—they are of the species known as "megapodes," which means mound-builder or incubator bird.

After completing the mound (previously described) each male bird picks a spot on the top, scoops out a hole about three-feet deep in which he places green leaves, grass, flowers and plant stems, then covers it all with the dirt he has just dug out. The bird follows God-given instincts in what it does and seems to realize the covered vegetation will soon decay under the dirt, producing much heat. In fact, he stays nearby and each day checks on the nest until he feels the temperature rising. Then he again digs into the hole and calls several females (hens), to come and lay their eggs in it, which are then covered with the material he has just scooped out.

At that point the hens consider their responsibility ended and disappear, apparently not caring or thinking of what will happen to the eggs or the chicks that will hatch from them. But the father bird stays on the job, checking every day by digging his beak into the nest to make sure there is plenty of heat to keep the eggs well incubated. If not, he scrapes hot sand over them and may do all this over and over for several weeks. Did you ever hear of such a busy, faithful father bird?

The male is so faithful in his care that if rain threatens, he will pile additional sand on top to absorb the moisture, and when the storm is over he will scrape it all off again. Finally, the chicks hatch, climb up through the dirt, and wobble weakly off to the brush where they learn to take care of themselves.

Sometimes, instead of digging nests at the top of the pile the male makes a tunnel into the side until he finds a spot where the temperature is just right, then he guides a hen to that spot to deposit her eggs and, like the others, he watches over them until the chicks hatch and work their way to the outside.

These unusual birds remind us of the wonders of all God's creation and the pleasure He had in forming them all. We might wonder how these birds ever thought of such an unusual way to incubate and hatch their eggs, but then we realize they didn't have to learn how to do this, for the Lord God arranged it for them when He first placed them on the earth and provided instincts that have been followed ever since. God loves and cares for you, too. Have you ever thanked Him for this?

The Scheming Antbird

"In six days the Lord made... [the heavens] and earth, the sea, and all that in them is." Ex. 20:11.

There are more than 200 species of ant birds in different parts of the world, but they are particularly numerous in Central and South America's tropical forests. They are small birds, most about the size of a sparrow, having no particular melody but making whistles, chirps and trills that are pleasant to hear.

Their rounded wings are shorter than most birds their size, but this is not important as most of their time is spent on the ground or in perching. Strong thick bills, some of them hooked, have been given them by the Creator, helping them capture and quickly eat their prey. Another provision from their Maker is their extra-strong legs, toes and claws, so suited to their manner of life. Most of their time is spent in small groups on the ground, vigorously scratching for food.

The name "antbird" does not mean they eat ants, but rather that whenever possible they use ants to discover and expose food for themselves. Only the big vicious army ants perform this unwilling service as they work their way over the ground in great numbers like columns of soldiers, hunting for bugs, worms, crickets, spiders, lizards, small frogs, etc.

As the ants move over the ground and expose these tidbits, the antbirds come right up to the edge of their columns and snatch some of the bugs and insects which the ants have overlooked or which they have not yet taken. Strangely, the ants do not bother the birds, even though they may be aware they are being robbed of some of their food and are quite capable of giving them painful bites.

The antbirds know it is only these big ants that can expose the hidden food and do not waste time following any of the many other smaller varieties found in those tropical areas, except when food is scarce. Then they will eat the smaller ants to relieve their hunger.

If army ants are not active, the birds do their own scratching through the soil with their strong, clawed toes. At times some will climb tree trunks like woodpeckers, searching under loose bark for tasty morsels, or will follow animals whose hooves turn up desirable food as they walk along.

Isn't it remarkable how the Creator has given these birds such a variety of ways and ability to find their food day by day?

Every person who knows the Lord Jesus Christ as his Savior is given an even better promise, as the Bible tells us in Phil. 4:19, "But my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus." We should thank Him every day for His great love to us and providing care.

The Scheming Antbird

"Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man bath not where to lay His head." Luke 9:58.

The many species of antbirds have been given a variety of names. Some are called antwren, antshrike, antvireo, ant-thrush, fire-eye, and many more, but all are closely related.

Most are rather drab looking with plain black and white or brown coloring. However, there are exceptions. For instance, the male of one species called bicolored has dark feathers on its wings and over its back, but is pure white underneath, making a sharp and pleasant contrast. The female is usually light brown above and white below. Another, called the ocellated (which means "spotted"), has a variety of pretty color patches over its entire body.

Yet another outstanding one goes by the name white-fronted. This one has a silky, white-feathered crest over its head, matched by a white beard under its beak. When in the air, these white ornaments blow back against its body, making it look like a flying arrow, but when still, they stand out and are pretty.

Antbirds make cup-shaped nests composed of leaves or fibers in forks of trees or the branches of shrubs. But they're not committed to any particular spots; some prefer nesting in a hollow tree, while others just make their nests right on the ground. Whatever the choice may be, the male and female work together on the nest, as well as in all their activities, and stay together for life. It surely is nice to see this faithfulness to each other.

Immediately after nest building, two or three eggs are laid. Once again, the parents share in incubating and watching over them—the male taking his turn in the daytime and the female at night. In about two weeks the little ones hatch out and remain in the nest for about two more weeks. Then it is time for the parents to gently but firmly push them out, so they will learn to fly and care for themselves. However, different from many birds, it is not unusual for some of the young to resist these necessary lessons, and the parents are patient with them, sometimes continuing to feed them for many weeks before they will venture away on their own.

In the above opening Bible verse, the Lord Jesus contrasted the birds—all of which have nests of one kind or another—with Himself when He was on earth and did not even have a home of His own. Another verse (2 Cor. 8:9) tells us "though He was rich [in heaven], yet for your sakes He became poor [on earth], that ye through His poverty might be rich." The riches He desires to give every one of us are those of everlasting life in heaven, through knowing Him as our Savior. Do you have these wonderful riches?

The Marvel of Birds' Eggs

"And out of the ground the Lord God formed every beast of the field, and every fowl of the air." Gen. 2:19.

Among the millions of eggs in birds' nests throughout the world, some are round and others are oval or pear-shaped. They have a wide range of colors and markings from pure white to pink, brown, yellow and even green and black.

It is a provision of the Creator to use an egg's coloring primarily to match its surroundings so it can't be easily seen. For instance, those of many desert birds match the color of the sand, rocks or brush around them. A striking example of how the pretty soft-pink color can conceal an egg from its enemies is found in the egg of the African sand grouse. She makes her nest on the ground underneath a camel's foot tree which has leaves the same color as the eggs. When the leaves fall around or into the nest, the eggs are almost impossible to see.

Eggs of owls, woodpeckers, kingfishers and many other burrowing birds are always white, so they can be easily seen by the parents in their dark homes. Another example of the Creator's, provision is seen in the plovers that nest on sandy or rocky ground—their eggs are entirely covered with markings that perfectly match the sand, gravel, etc. on which the nest rests.

With seabirds that make their homes on rocky cliffs without using a nest, an exception to uniform coloring is seen. In a small crowded space where eggs laid by many birds of the same kind lie almost next to each other on the bare rock, the color of each bird's eggs is often different from those of its nearby neighbor, for otherwise no mother would be sure which were her own. So the Creator has arranged an exception for such groups.

Occasionally, nests easily seen contain brightly colored eggs that seem to invite being snatched by nest robbers, but instead they are left undisturbed. That is because these eggs have a very bitter taste, and no matter how hungry a snake, mongoose or other robber might be, after one experience they definitely are not interested in trying one of these again.

The variety of egg shapes is also of interest. Many seashore birds, such as those already mentioned, that lay their eggs on the bare ledge of a cliff without a nest to hold them, have eggs that are pointed on one end and are large on the other. When these eggs are accidentally bumped they won't roll over the edge and be destroyed, but just spin around in a circle.

We know birds never give a thought to the wonderful design of their eggs, but we can easily see that they are special provisions of the Creator, as the Bible verse expresses it: "The Lord is good to all: and His tender mercies are over all His works." Psa. 145:9. This includes you. Have you ever thanked Him for His goodness and tender mercies toward you?

Common Tern's Nest on a Beach

"Yea, the sparrow bath found a house, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young." Psa. 84:3.

We have frequently considered some of the unusual nests built by birds in various parts of the world. With most nesting birds the female picks the spot and starts to build by herself. The male bird, showing up later, may not approve of his mate's work and make her change it or do it all over again. At other times he will rearrange the work the female has already done.

Many birds do not make nests at all. For instance, there are many of the seabirds that lay their eggs on bare rocks. Others, like the royal terns, just make a slight bowl-shaped spot in the sand—fully exposed—where one egg is laid. Often thousands of terns do this as a group, with the sandy "nests" nearly touching each other. Penguins, flamingos and many other birds nest in similar huge groups, with nests also close to one another, yet each mother, returning from gathering food, knows which nest is hers and makes no mistakes.

The European cuckoo, too lazy to build its own nest. invades another's., while the owner is away, knocking one of the existing eggs out and laying one of its own which matches almost perfectly with those already there. When the true mother returns she is unaware of what has happened, and when the little cuckoo eventually comes out of its shell she accepts it even though it doesn't look like her other babies.

The softest nest of all is one made by the eider duck in the maritime provinces of Canada. From her own body the mother duck plucks enough down to provide a soft, warm and comfortable lining for her eggs and for the little ones when they hatch out. Other ducks "wintering over" instead of migrating, will also do this.

A nature lover long ago wrote: "How well suited the lining of a bird's nest is, not only for the comfort of the young, but to keep the eggs from breaking. The tender and brittle eggs, which you can hardly carry in cotton, lie there without harm."

Certainly, the wonders of God's creation are not hard to see in every phase of bird life. He looks after even the lowly sparrow as well as the more exotic birds for their whole life span here on earth. But David, who wrote the above psalm, was thinking also of the goodness of the. Lord Jesus to the people of the earth, inviting them to let Him be their Shepherd and Savior, with a promise not only for this life but for the life hereafter, when he wrote: "Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever." Psa. 23:6. If you have accepted the Lord Jesus as your Savior, you too can apply to yourself what David wrote.

The Open-Billed Stork

"Yea, the stork in the heaven knoweth her appointed times; and the turtle [dove] and the crane and the swallow observe the time of their coming." Jer. 8:7.

Except for people living in Florida and Central and South America, few Americans have seen a stork living in the wild. However, many live in Europe, Africa, India and some other lands. They are big birds with long beaks and legs and partially webbed feet. It is a pretty sight to see them soaring through the air, big wings spread out, long necks extended and legs sticking straight out behind.

The open-billed stork is different from other storks in many ways. For instance, it makes its rough nest of sticks near marshes, whereas most others prefer dry and hotter places. But the main difference is that other storks don't eat snails, while this one lives almost entirely on them, taking them from the water in their shells.

Here's how the open-bill got its name. Because of the way it gets its food, the Creator has given it a special bill. Other storks have smooth bills, but this one's is grooved all along the edges. Also, the upper part of the beak curves downward, and the lower part turns up, so that when the tips are together there is a spot left open in the middle. In other words, it is "open-billed." This together with the grooves helps it to hold the slippery snail shells securely until it has a chance to insert the pointed tip of its bill into the shell, cutting the snail loose and eating it. We can certainly see this specially designed bill is a provision of the Creator, enabling this stork to capture the great number of snails it eats daily.

Open-bills are happy when there is opportunity to ride on the back of a hippo wading in the same spot. The hippo pulls up its own grassy food and exposes snails which are grabbed by the stork. The hippos don't seem to mind this since they have no interest in snails.

When stork eggs hatch, the little ones are naked, but before long they grow a soft coat of down followed a little later by feathers. Both parents take care of them, shading them from the hot sun by stretching out their wings over them for shade and also bringing food in their throats which they cough up for them. The greedy youngsters eat more than their stomachs can hold, but the Creator has provided for this too. Instead of getting a stomachache, the extra food goes into a pouch in their throats until their stomachs are ready for it.

These interesting birds provide another example of the way God cares for every creature—big or small, as a Bible verse tells us: "In whose hand is the soul of every living thing." Job 12:10. We are told in other Bible verses how much more He loves and cares for every boy and girl in the world. Have you ever thanked Him for His loving care?

Animals - Small and Great: Chapter 4

"All Thy works shall praise Thee, O Lord....Thou openest Thine hand, and satisfiest the desire of every living thing." Psa. 145:10,16

The Seldom-Seen Lynx

"Known unto God are all His works from the beginning of the world." Acts 15:18.

The pretty cat-like lynx that slinks silently through trees, brush or snow for its prey likes the cold Arctic-like climate of the Yukon, Sweden and Russia, but many are also in warmer areas of Canada, the northern United States and a few Asian countries. But whether living north or south, they all prefer homes in thickets of trees or brush and customarily have tiny twin kittens each year.

A fully grown lynx will weigh from 30 to 60 pounds, be about three feet long and have a two-inch tail. Its fur is finest in the winter when it is a thick, luxurious gray mixed with long silver hairs. Its most outstanding features include a stubby fur-covered tail and a very noticeable pair of upright ears with long tufts of hair rising from the top of them. Many consider the lynx the most handsome animal in the Arctic region.

Their principal food in the north is the snowshoe rabbit, but if these are scarce they will go after small deer, caribou or large birds. The Creator has provided them with large paws, bigger in diameter than the palm of a man's hand, and in winter extra fur grows around the edges to help them walk in snow.

Those farther south also like rabbit meat, but include in their diet squirrels, gophers and other small animals and birds. They have keen sight and hearing and stalk their prey silently until close enough to make a springing leap and grab it. At times they lie on tree limbs, waiting to pounce on prey passing below. But, while the lynx is an enemy to small animals and birds, it is actually quite shy and no threat to people. If possible it will always vanish before a person can get anywhere near it.

Do you think the Lord God is aware of these animals as they live out their lives in such remote places? We know He is, for we read in the Bible, "The Lord is good to all: and His tender mercies are over all His works." Psa. 145:9. The verse following tells us more: "All Thy works shall praise Thee, O Lord; and Thy saints shall bless Thee."

This looks on to a coming time when God's punishment of sinful people will be over and He will restore the earth to peace and freedom from sin. At that time (called the Millennium) all created things will "praise Him" in their peaceful way, and a tiger, bear, lynx or any other vicious animal will no longer kill, but all will live peacefully together. And the saints of God (those who have accepted the Lord Jesus as their Savior) will bless Him more fully than is possible today. If you know the Lord Jesus Christ as your Savior, you should be happily praising Him right now, and it will be your privilege to praise Him even more in that future day as well.

Gorillas Can Be Gentle

"I have made the earth, the man and the beast that are upon the ground, by My great power." Jer. 27:5.

A full-grown gorilla, six-feet high and weighing 500 pounds, dressed in a heavy, black fur coat certainly looks threatening, but if you're kind to one and it gets to know you, it can be about as nice as a Shetland pony. A few people, studying their habits, have spent day after pleasant day with them in their African forest homeland.

Actually, wild gorillas are seldom seen as they are shy and disappear quickly when approached. As many as six family groups (a group being a male, two or three females and young ones) often live together, sharing feeding grounds. A male is much more powerful than a man, with massive bones, broad shoulders and long arms. Its open, vicious-looking mouth reveals strong jaws and tusk-like teeth, surrounded by a wrinkled, oily-black face with a large flat nose and furry ears. Underneath it all a rounded "pot-belly" stomach is much in evidence.

A frightening habit, never forgotten by those who have experienced it, is for a large male to let out an ear-splitting scream while thumping his hairy chest. When several more join in, it is easy to understand why a listener would consider them ferocious animals, but all this noise seems to be just that—harmless noise—merely "letting off steam."

Such big animals need lots of food, and most of the day is spent eating bamboo shoots, tree buds, various plants and vines, ferns, thistles and the wild celery which they particularly like. They are not meat eaters.

Females give birth each year or two to just one tiny baby, weighing less than four pounds, which clings to her chest but soon learns to ride on her back and has fun sliding down her sides. Groups of little ones play together, climbing and swinging on trees, or sliding down tree trunks. They often play while the parents take daytime naps. Each night the adults make new nests on the ground or in the lower branches of a tree, pulling grass and tender branches together, something like a huge bird's nest. But they only use them once and make a new one each night.

While gorillas and other apes look something like men, in no way are they related. The first chapter of the Bible makes it very plain that man was a separate creation, distinct from beasts, fish and birds. This is confirmed again by a verse in the New Testament, telling us plainly, "All flesh is not the same flesh: but there is one kind of flesh of men, another flesh of beasts, another of fishes, and another of birds." 1 Cor. 15:39. Do not listen to those who try to teach otherwise. The Word of God is always true.

The Always-Hungry Shrew

"And out of the ground the Lord God formed every beast of the field." Gen. 2:19.

There are more than 200 kinds of shrews throughout the world, with 30 kinds in North America. They are among the smallest of the animals—the tiniest is so small it could be hidden in a man's closed fist and weighs less than a dime. The largest is about a foot long, plus a tail of the same length and weighs about a pound. But in spite of their small size, they will attack, and with their sharp, needle-like teeth they will kill animals more than twice their size, often killing other shrews as well.

The reason for such fierceness is that they are always hungry, and many have to eat their weight in food every day in order to stay alive. A boy or girl weighing 50 pounds would have to eat about 200 hamburgers a day to keep up with them! Do you think you could do that?

Most shrews look like a mouse with a pointed nose. Because much of their food consists of worms, insects and lizards in the soil or under a cover of leaves, the Creator has given them long snouts with which to root out these creatures.

An African species, known as the elephant shrew, has an extra-long, flexible nose, like a miniature elephant's trunk.

Actually a shrew will eat almost any living thing it can handle, including small birds and snakes, mice, frogs and chipmunks. Because their tremendous appetites cause them to eat so many mice and insects, farmers are usually glad to have them on their property.

Most shrews are good swimmers, but one known as the water shrew outdoes them all and can stay under water a long time, devouring fish, frogs, crabs, etc. If its food gives out it will die of hunger in less than a day's time, so it also has to eat some of the land creatures the others do.

Most of them make grassy nests in the side of a bank or in short burrows where half a dozen or so little ones arrive in the spring. The mother takes care of them, nursing them for a short time, then training them to search for solid food. In just a few weeks she leaves them entirely on their own.

Do you think God cares about shrews? Yes, we know He does for the Bible tells us, "In [His] hand is the soul of every living thing" (Job 12:10), and He watches over all His creation, even though sin has spoiled so much of it.

We admire these little creatures but cannot help but think how they remind us of Satan who "walketh about, seeking whom he may devour." 1 Peter 5:8. Satan is very real, and we can only be kept from allowing him to tempt us into evil things if we know the Lord Jesus as our Savior, and in earnest prayer come to Him who "is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble." Is He your Savior? Is He a refuge and strength to you?

Another Unusual Anteater

"Seek the Lord and His strength, seek His face continually. Remember His marvelous works. " 1 Chron. 16:11,12.

The silky anteater lives in the forests of southern Mexico and down through Central and South America. It is very small, only about the size of a squirrel, but has a long, furry tail that makes it look somewhat larger. Its little body has honey-colored fur, and it has a rather pretty face, with round black eyes and a half-covered, pointed snout ending in a bare, pinkish nose.

In securing its food, composed of termites and ants, teeth would be of no value, so the Creator has instead provided it with a pointed nose and long, sticky tongue which it pokes into the nests of these insects and pulls them out in great quantities.

Different not only in size from its relatives, it is also a tree-climber, whereas the larger anteaters spend their lives on the ground. To aid in tree climbing, it has been given an extra joint on both hind feet, enabling its toes to bend around a tree branch for a good, strong grip—a provision of the Creator to help its food-searching activities. In addition, it has a prehensile tail (a grasping tail similar to that of many monkeys) with which it can suspend itself head downward while working with its strong front claws to tear bark off a tree, under which it finds its food. This special tail also may perform like an extra hand, helping to hold it tightly to a tree.

Silky is a night worker and spends daylight hours curled up in a nest of dry leaves in a hollow tree trunk, where the mother leaves her one tiny baby while she feeds. She nurses it for a short period, but then feeds it on digested insects coughed up for it, until soon the little one is able to scramble around and find its own food.

Because these animals hunt only at night and hide in the daytime, they very seldom encounter any enemies. But when they do, they are able to make a good defense by rearing up on their hind legs and slashing their opponent with the long, sharp claws of their front feet.

Do you think God takes note of this obscure little creature? The exceptional provisions for its way of life all tell us that He certainly does, and we are further assured by the Bible verse that says,. "In whose hand is the soul [life] of every living thing." Job 12:10. Another verse exclaims, "The eyes of all wait upon Thee; and Thou givest them their meat [food] in due season." Psa. 145:15.

How much greater is His love to us! He not only takes care of our daily needs, but has prepared a way for eternal life in the glories of heaven for all who will trust His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, as their Savior. Do not neglect doing this.

Likeable Alpacas

"Through faith we understand... by the word of God... that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear." Heb. 11:3.

In the South American countries of Bolivia, Argentina and Peru and nearby parts of the high Andes Mountains, large numbers of lively and playful alpacas seem to enjoy their time spent eating the tall grass and chewing their cuds. They are a lovable type of animal with odd but pleasant-looking, inquisitive white faces. Their expressions seem friendly when they look you over with what appears to be a big smile. They also have long, thick necks and upright, alert ears.

They are short, thick-bodied animals, looking like a huge stuffed toy, with coats of fleecy brown, black or white wool which covers them from head to feet like a huge blanket. Actually related to the camel and llama families, they are only about three to four feet high at their shoulders, although their long necks make them appear to be much taller. Even-toed and hoofed and about as nimble as mountain goats, they are right at home on the high, steep slopes of the Andes Mountains.

For as far back as anyone remembers, numbers of alpacas have been tamed, given good care and raised by many ranchers. Their valuable wool, when about twelve inches long, is sheared usually every year, and each one produces about six pounds. In Peru alone, where some two million of these animals are raised for that purpose, about three thousand tons (more than six million pounds) of wool are sheared every year. So you can see it is a large business and valued by the native people. (Maybe you have a sweater made of alpaca wool.)

While llamas and alpacas look alike to anyone not familiar with them, there are, of course, differences in them. One of these is that the llamas are stronger and principally used as pack animals, carrying loads across the plains and mountain passes, whereas alpacas cannot be used that way. Another easy-to-spot difference is that the alpaca holds its stubby tail close to its body at all times, while the llama holds it longer tail up in the air.

The Creator has given all these animals whose homes are from 12,000 to 16,000 feet above sea level, extra-large lungs and three times as many important red blood corpuscles as man has, which enable them to live and be active at altitudes where there is less oxygen.

It is interesting to consider the vast number of animals placed on the earth by the Creator, and we know He found pleasure in providing a great variety of them. The Bible clearly tells us this, saying, "Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power: for Thou hast created all things, and for Thy pleasure they are and were created." Rev. 4:11. Have you ever praised Him and thanked Him for His care and love shown to you?

The Capybara

"All things were made by Him; and without Him was not anything made that was made." John 1:3.

You may never have heard of the capybara, but it's possible that in the near future you may be adding the meat from this animal to your dinner table, as is now done in parts of its Central and South American homeland.

This animal is the largest of all the rodents and looks like a small pig or an overgrown guinea pig, covered in dark, coarse hair. Its hind legs are longer than its front legs, and webbed feet help make it a swift swimmer. It is a sociable animal, living in a group of 20 or more at the edge of a grassy plain adjoining a river, swamp or lake. Its happiest occupation seems to be standing up to its stomach in a muddy swamp, busily eating the plants growing there.

It does not have many enemies, but if a capybara is pursued by some beast out of the forest, its best means of escape is to plunge into the nearest water, leaving only its eyes, ears and nostrils exposed until the enemy goes away. However, it is not so easy to get away from angry farmers, when raiding a melon patch or field of corn. Perhaps it was first discovered that capybaras represent a tasty meal when one was shot and taken home for this purpose.

A mother raises four or five two-pound babies each year, born with a fair coat of hair and immediately able to open their eyes. Their front teeth start growing at once and never stop. If it were not for constantly biting and chewing plants and other foods, this could become a real problem, but the Creator has arranged that their eating habits and growth of teeth are in balance.

Strangely, the young ones have no interest in going into water until the parents coax them in. Then, like some children who are slow to take their parents' advice, they find that it is very pleasant. From then on they spend more of their waking hours in water than out of it.

Having discovered how tasty the meat of the capybara is, many South American ranchers now raise them in fenced areas. So it appears that this animal, once scarcely known even in its homeland, will become a well-known food supply even in far away places.

These unusual animals have followed their pattern of life ever since the day they were created and God declared, "Let the earth bring forth the living creature after his kind." Gen. 1:24. It is well to remember that the Bible, God's Word, is always true, and God's way is always perfect. Believing in the Bible's account of creation is the only safe ground on which to stand. Any other teaching is incorrect.

"Seek the Lord and His strength, seek His face continually. Remember His marvelous works that He hath done, His wonders, and the judgments of His mouth." 1 Chron. 16:11,12.

The Tasmanian Devil

"The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; and He knoweth them that trust in Him." Nah. 1:7.

The world contains many creatures strange to us, seen only by explorers or natives in some far-away spot. But the Creator had a purpose in forming every one of them, and they are always under His watchful eye.

One of these is the Tasmanian devil, found on the island of Tasmania, off the coast of Australia. It lives in woodlands and rocky, hard-to-reach places, hiding all day and coming out only after dark. Many who have seen this animal think it resembles a small bear or badger. It is about the size of a bulldog and is usually black with white patches. Its name pictures a mean-looking and fierce-fighting character toward most anything encountered.

Its short, heavy head contains sharp, strong, fang-like teeth that quickly tear and crush the flesh of victims and are so strong they can even bend some steel traps! When approached by an animal or person, it puts on a scary show, opening its mouth wide to expose these weapons, accompanied by growls and weird, screaming howls, frightening enough to turn most things away in a hurry. It also has very strong claws used in defense or when attacking its prey.

This unpleasant animal's diet is mainly the flesh of other animals, including sheep and pigs, making it an enemy of farmers. But one thing in its favor is that it also eats dead animals and birds, just as vultures do, and thus provides a good service in disposing of decaying bodies that spread disease and cause horrible odors.

Strangely enough, young ones can be trained as rather nice pets. They keep themselves clean by bathing in pools or streams, or like cats, licking their paws and wiping them over their faces and coats.

With their savage habits, it is easy to understand the name "devil," and their fierce ways make us think of Satan, that evil one of whom the Bible warns, "Your adversary [enemy] the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour." 1 Peter 5:8. This is a warning for each of us always to be on guard, because our enemy's evil ways can cause great harm.

How can we be protected from Satan? The verse at the beginning tells of One who will protect us if we trust in Him. Another Bible verse also gives this wonderful promise: "Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on Thee: because he trusteth in Thee. Trust ye in the Lord forever: for in the Lord Jehovah is everlasting strength." Isa. 26:3,4. How good it is to know this Savior and have His help and protection from Satan's evil ways! Are you trusting in this Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ?

The Hardy Musk Ox

"I have made the earth, the man and the beast that are upon the ground, by My great power." Jer. 27:5.

The five-foot tall, 900-pound musk ox is not really an ox. It looks more like a water buffalo or a big ram. The Eskimos have their own name for it, "oomingmak," which means "the bearded one."

Not many creatures could survive in the musk oxen's harsh Arctic circle homeland, but when it pleased the Creator to place them there He gave them special ability to survive, including a long, shaggy, dark-brown coat covering their entire body, right down to their hooves. During winter months an additional covering of soft, downy wool grows under the heavy outer coat, but when warmer weather returns this drops off, leaving just the coarse outer covering to keep them comfortable.

Another important provision, to protect them from wolves and polar bears, is a pair of heavy horns that curve down the sides of their heads, then turn upward with sharp points. This is an important feature, for as they follow their God-given instinct to stay together in herds of a dozen or more, they can make a united resistance when attacked. They do this by forming a circle, faces turned outward and horns lowered in warning. It would be a foolish enemy that would tackle such a determined group.

The Creator also gave them sharp, curved hooves with soft pads for traveling across the tundra and over rocky mountain slopes. With these hooves and the help of their strong horns, they dig in the tundra for hidden plants and in winter paw 'grid toss the snow away to expose this food.

Many of the herds prefer to spend the winter among the high peaks of the cold Arctic area (where temperatures often reach more than 50° below zero), because the strong winds of the mountains expose the grass and moss they eat. In warmer weather they return to lower areas where grass, willows, flowers and water are again plentiful.

Incidentally, babies stand on their feet immediately after birth and can keep up with the herd just a few hours later. They grow quickly and reach full size in five or six years.

As we notice the special features the musk ox has been given, our thoughts turn to the Bible verse that says, "God that made the world and all things therein... giveth to all life, and breath, and all things." Acts 17:24,25.

May each of us respond to the care and love our Creator shows us in even greater measure than animals have, and trust in Him as the prophet Isaiah did when he wrote: "0 Lord, Thou art my God; I will exalt Thee, I will praise Thy name; for Thou hast done wonderful things." Isa. 25:1. The Lord God loves to hear the praise and thanks of those who trust Him. Can you share in this?

North America's Flying Squirrels

"But be ye glad and rejoice forever in that which I create." Isa. 65:18.

While there are many "flying squirrels" in lands south of the equator, there are only two look-alike varieties in North America the northern, living mostly in Canada and about the size of a common gray squirrel, and the southern, slightly smaller and living in the forests of the eastern United States.

Their name in Latin means "gray mouse that flies," and because of their amazing movements through the air, in some places they are known as "fairy diddles." Actually, a more realistic name would be "gliding squirrels," for they do not actually fly but, as we will explain in the next article, they have special bodies which enable them to make great leaps between trees.

Unlike the gray and red squirrels, familiar to most of us, that are active during the daytime, both the North American "flyers" are active at night, which accounts for the fact that they are seldom seen, and people are often unaware that they are in the neighborhood.

These squirrels do not hibernate, but if the weather gets unusually cold, a dozen or more will keep warm by snuggling together in a nest until the weather warms up enough to resume their activities.

These closely related little animals are alike in many ways. They all tend to have grayish-brown backs and white stomachs. Their pretty fur is thick and silky, and their chins have long whiskeks. They also all have flat tails nearly as long as the rest of their bodies and large ears, as well as big black eyes. It is plain to see how the Creator wisely provided these features to help them in their manner of night-time living.

They are playful creatures, chasing each other from tree to tree or scampering up the trunk, accompanied by loud squeals. When gathering nuts they sometimes stop their work and bat some around, apparently just for the fun of it. In fact, seeing their different playful ways, they seem to be one of the few animals that get much pleasure out of all that the Creator has done for them. They don't seem to take life seriously and have been seen exchanging kisses with their companions. However, on rare occasions when they become irritated, one might be spotted stamping its feet like a spoiled little child, or lying on its back kicking its feet in the air as if to pummel a real or imagined enemy.

In many Bible verses the wonders of the Lord God's creation are spoken of, such as the words of David: "I will praise Thee, O Lord, with my whole heart; I will show forth all Thy marvelous works." Psa. 9:1. There is real joy for all who, like David, do this with their whole heart. Do you?

North America’s Flying Squirrels

"This also cometh forth from the Lord... wonderful in counsel, and excellent in working." Isa. 28:29.

As mentioned earlier, the outstanding feature that makes these squirrels different from their more common relatives and the reason for their being called "flying squirrels" is their amazing ability to travel considerable distances through the air. Although they appear to be flying, they are actually gliding, which in itself is outstanding.

On the underpart of their bodies, not easily seen when scampering up a tree trunk or along a branch, is a loose flap of furry skin on each side attached to each front leg and stretching back to where it is attached to each hind leg. This forms a "kite" that enables the squirrel to glide from one tree to another or safely parachute to the ground from a high point.

How do they do this? A flight begins high in a tree with the squirrel first bobbing its head in every direction, apparently sizing things up before taking off. Then it makes the leap with all four legs spread as far apart as possible, stretching the loose skin into a tight kite. Its target will usually be a lower point on the trunk of another tree, sometimes nearly 100 feet away, but usually closer. Gliding through the air, its flat tail acts like a rudder to keep it on course and then is lifted straight up to also act as a brake just as it lands.

It always lands in an upright position with the claws of all four feet gripping the tree's surface tightly. It immediately scoots around to the other side of the tree before venturing further, an instinct the Creator has given it to preserve it from an owl or another enemy that might have seen it land.

Nests are usually a hole in a dead tree trunk, sometimes one abandoned by a former owner and freshened up with leaves, moss, feathers, etc. There the mother will raise up to half a dozen little ones, caring tenderly for them for a few weeks before introducing them to the pleasures of gliding. Her first task is to take them gliding, one by one. She grasps a baby's loose skin in her mouth while it holds on upside down with its legs wrapped around her neck. Don't you imagine that's quite a thrill for the little one? It is not long before they venture forth on their own, without need of gliding lessons, for they have been given a natural instinct for it by the Creator.

In the coming happy time when those who have accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as their Savior will be in heaven with Him, they will happily exclaim: "Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power: for Thou hast created all things, and for Thy pleasure they are and were created." Rev. 4:11. Will you be in that happy group?

Gazelles and Gerenuks

"God... hath in these last days spoken unto us by His Son, whom He hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also He made the worlds." Heb. 1:1,2.

Two of Africa's closely related animals are the gazelle and the gerenuk. You have probably seen tranquil pictures of these pretty animals in their soft tan and pure-white fur grazing on the open plains. While they retain separate herds, they frequently graze side by side. Both animals get enough moisture from their food that they can go longer without drinking water in that dry land than most animals.

These two are similar in many ways; the Creator adapted them well to their surroundings. They are long-legged and have long, curved horns that stand almost straight up over their small heads. Both have soft, dark eyes with good vision, as well as large, pointed ears for keen hearing. Both of them have long, slender necks, the gerenuk's being the longer. In fact, its native name means "giraffe necked."

Their food is primarily lush grass, but includes leaves and foliage of many trees and brush, and flowers and fruit from desert plants. One distinction of the gerenuk is its appetite for the foliage of the African thorn bush which is covered with sharp spikes. It is amazing how it avoids the thorns, but manages, sometimes standing upright on its hind feet, to get at the high branches. Other animals avoid that thorny bush.

There are about 14 species of gazelles, some not conforming in all respects with the others. Most common is the Thompson's, with a dark band on both sides. Two of the smallest are the Grant's and dorcas varieties.

Another difference between them is the way they respond to the threat of vicious animals. Gazelles, aware of approaching wild dogs, lions, leopards, etc., immediately jump high in the air, bouncing up and down to signal the rest of the herd. Then they all run off at speeds up to 40 miles an hour.

The gerenuks react differently. When their keen senses tell of a nearby threat, they pass the message around, then freeze like statues, at times standing still for several minutes. The threatening enemy, realizing it has been spotted, usually leaves. But if it seems evident that the enemy is going to attack, the gerenuks dash off in strong leaps and bounds at great speed, usually escaping.

These animals are always in the care of the One who created them, as the Bible tells us: "The Lord is good to all: and His tender mercies are over all His works." Psa. 145:9. He does not expect animals to know this, nor to thank Him for it.

But He has done something even greater for mankind in providing Himself as the Savior of sinners. He invites you and me to personally accept His death on the cross to put away our sins forever. Will you come to Him as a sinner in need and accept His loving gift of forgiveness and eternal life with Him in heaven? Each one of us should accept His invitation and thank Him for such love.

The Charming Ocelot

"The Lord is good to all: and His tender mercies are over all His works." Psa. 145:9.

Ocelots, about twice the size of a house cat, are considered by many to be the most beautiful of all animals. They have pretty faces with long, white whiskers and small, upright ears pointing forward. Most are whitish or a tawny yellow, but the fur may also be reddish or dark gray. Whatever their color, they are always spotted with beautiful black markings over their entire body.

These decorative spots are in a variety of shapes, usually round, but sometimes oval or connected in chainlike streaks. Tails may be ringed or marked with dark bars, but the under-surface will be white, as is the inside of their legs. Strangely, markings on one side may differ from those on the other, and no two ocelots are ever marked the same way.

These are tropical animals, at home in the marshy areas or riverbeds of the humid jungles of Central America, as well as in the thick brush of Texas and Arizona, and as far south as Argentina in South America.

Active during the night, most ocelots sleep on tree limbs, or curl up inside a hollow tree or in the shade of dense bushes during daylight hours. Wherever possible they make their homes in trees and walk silently along the branches surrounding them.

In some areas their favorite food is monkey meat. They sometimes play dead to attract a monkey, then suddenly pounce on it. If monkeys are not available, they annoy farmers by going after lambs, young pigs or rabbits, but their diet also includes rats, mice, birds, snakes and lizards. Rather than chase their victims, they drop on them from a tree limb or silently stalk them through the woods or brush.

In past years the beautiful furs of these animals have been their downfall, as hunters have trapped and killed them in great numbers. This is now against the law, although there are always some who disregard this fact and kill them anyway.

The spotted coats of ocelots are an indication of the Creator's care over them, providing effective camouflage in the light and shadows of their home areas. They, of course, know nothing of the Creator's care, but as the Bible verse at the beginning of this article indicates, there is no creature, no matter how small or how large, how beautiful or how plain, that is not an object of His mercies and kindness.

But there is another Bible verse that every boy and girl, as well as every adult, may claim: "How precious also are Thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them!" Psa. 139:17. Have you thanked Him for those precious thoughts?

The Wallaby From "Down Under"

"These wait all upon Thee; that Thou mayest give them their meat [food] in due season." Psa. 104:27.

There are 39 known varieties of this interesting animal. Some of the pale-colored wallabies look like large rats while others are similar to rabbits, but most look like small kangaroos since they are part of the kangaroo family. However, the fur of most wallabies is brighter colored than kangaroos'. Wallabies' tails are more slender and bushy or tufted at the tip, whereas kangaroos' tails are quite plain.

These animals are known as marsupials, meaning the mothers carry their little ones in a pouch. The Creator has adapted them to the rocky areas of Australia, New Guinea and neighboring islands. (Australia is sometimes called the "Land Down Under" because it lies entirely south of the equator.) Most of them are speedy and if startled hop swiftly away on their strong hind legs. At other times they will hide in a cave or rocky crevice.

Wallabies live on grasses, but also eat foliage and bark from trees and roots of various kinds. They usually feed in the cool of the evening, at night or in early morning, leaving the shelters where they rest throughout the day. Another provision of the Creator is in providing them, in their hot, dry homelands, with bodies that get along very well on the moisture in their food, although they will drink water when it is available. One kind, the tammer, even drinks salt water when fresh water is not available.

Each year mothers have just one blind, helpless baby (like a baby kangaroo which is called a joey), and it remains several months in her pouch until it can eat solid food. Even then it stays near her, until big enough to care for itself, and is not ashamed to jump back into her pouch if danger is near. Babies are not born in this pouch, but, although tiny and blind, their sensitive noses tell them that's where their food supply is, and they make their own way into it to enjoy the rich, nourishing milk.

Usually brownish-beige in color, or occasionally red, gray or blackish, they are much like miniature kangaroos, having short front feet, long back feet and long, strong tails which they use for balance, support when sitting, and help in leaping. Full of curiosity, they usually stop grazing to watch a person going by.

Wallabies are content with the heat and dryness of their homes, and if they knew about their Creator and could speak, they would surely thank Him for His care over them. But boys and girls do have that ability, and God (your Creator, too) likes to have you thank Him. One Bible verse expresses it this way: "Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ." Eph. 5:20. Be sure to do this every day!

The Wallaby From “Down Under”

"O Lord, how manifold are Thy works! in wisdom hast Thou made them all: the earth is full of Thy riches." Psa. 104:24.

Let's consider a few of the varieties of wallabies living "down under." These vary in size from 12 to 40 inches, plus a 10 to 28-inch tail and weigh from 4 pounds to over 50.

One of the largest is the brush kangaroo, because in size and activities it appears more like a kangaroo than anything else. Another large one, most commonly encountered and best known, is the rednecked. It is particularly noted for the great leaps it can make.

Then there is the sure-footed rock wallaby, provided by the Creator with special thick pads of rough skin on its hind feet to give it a good grip on the rocks where it makes its home. It is stocky and unusually powerful, jumping and dashing around o rocks and precipices, making great leaps from cliffs and from rock to rock. Most of these are red in color with big, upright ears, large eyes and fine long fur.

Another of the rock family is known as the ring-tailed, because of the pretty bands of white, brown and pale yellow that circle its tail. Another, with the name shrub wallaby, is among the smaller ones. Each mother in this group seems to have a problem with her lively Joey that hops in and out of her pouch when she stops to rest or eat. Unable to teach it good manners, she sometimes will not let it in again until it gets back on good behavior. (So you see the mothers of lively boys and girls aren't the only ones who have problems!)

It's not hard to understand how the spectacled hare variety got its name, for each eye is circled by a light-orange ring, looking just like a pair of glasses. Another one that has an unusual tail also has an unusual name—the nail-tailed—because at the tip of its tail a horny spike appears. No one knows just what its purpose may be.

The hare walilaby, named for its size and movements, can jump higher than a man's head. Like a rabbit, with twists and jumps, it usually leaves its enemy far behind and is quite a sight to see.

Space doesn't allow listing more of these unusual creatures, so we will have to stop with these few, but how nice to know the Creator doesn't overlook any of them. They also give us reason to think upon His ways in every part of His wonderful creation, as the opening Bible verse tells us, and we must never forget that because we are a very special part of His creation, we should always seek to please Him.

The American Black Bear

"Then the beasts go into dens, and remain in their places. Out of the south cometh the whirlwind. and cold out of the north." Jot 37;8,9.

The black bear, often seen by hikers and campers in forests and mountainous country, is the small. est species of bear in North America, measuring from five to seven feet long and weighing around 300 pounds. It has short legs with powerful claws and just a stub of a tail. Its muzzle is usually tan, and there may be a patch of white on its breast. While technically known as the black bear, it is sometimes light brown or cinnamon in color, but should not be confused with the true brown bear of Alaska, which is the biggest of all.

Timid by nature, these bears avoid people, and it is rare for them to attack a person, unless a mother feels her cubs are in danger. Then she can be vicious with her teeth and claws. This is one reason forest rangers warn people not to feed or get near any of the wild animals.

The bear's diet includes such things as grass, roots, berries, corn and other plant material, as well as fish, small animals, birds and their eggs, ants, bees and their honey. Tearing the hives open, a bear is protected by its thick fur from the bees' stings.

Southern black bears are active throughout the year, but those in the north hibernate (males and females separately) in caves or dens in the fall, remaining until early spring. During this period two, three or four little ones are born. They are about the size of a rat and are hairless and blind for a month or so. Mother's milk is their only food until springtime, when they are about the size of a tomcat.

Coming out of the den, the mother teaches her cubs how to find food and care for themselves. They follow her about like little toy teddy bears. The mother keeps them close by until full grown, which sometimes means sharing her den for another winter.

The cubs, like so- many young, wild animals, are full of pep, wrestling, annoying their mother, climbing small trees and swinging back and forth before jumping off. If a tree is not strong enough for this, they enjoy riding it down to the ground doing this over and over again.

The hibernating of animals is referred to in the opening Bible verse and assures us that God provided for all creatures of earth when He created them.- No one has ever known a bear or other animal to show resentment at the discomfort of cold weather, but all just quietly accept it.

In this they are wiser than people, who complain about discomforts. How much better to turn over every trial to God, remembering that He says, "All things work together for good to them that love God." Rom. 8:28 You do love God and His Son, Jesus Christ, don't you?

Elephants at School

"For every kind of beasts, and.. things in the sea... hath been tamed of mankind: but the tongue can no man tame." James 3:7,8.

Elephants are included in the above Bible verse and have been useful to mankind over the years. In olden days they were often used in wars to carry soldiers and move heavy equipment. Royal people are still sometimes carried on elephants' decorated backs in fancy parades, and they are useful in many other ways.

An example of their usefulness is that in Asian countries they help in forest work, including uprooting trees, pulling them out for cutting, then carrying the logs in their trunks or tusks to storage areas where they cleverly stack them or load them on trucks.

What kind of school do they attend? When natives need a worker elephant they search wild areas for a suitable one. Then several men and two or more big, strong, tamed elephants go after it—an exciting and dangerous experience! The first thing is to get it off by itself where it is "tranquilized" with a dart from a special gun, and it soon lies sleeping on the ground. Strong ropes are tied around each leg above the foot, and the ends are tied to nearby trees. Another rope, passed around its neck, is tied to the "teacher" elephants standing on either side of it.

Awakening, it rises and tugs and pulls on the ropes until it realizes this is useless. Then the two teacher elephants move in pressing against it and gently but firmly making it understand it must do as they tell it. Soon the three of them move slowly around, the captive resisting, but gradually learning that neither its teachers nor the men are going to harm it. Soon the teachers take it slowly between them to a stockade where it is released.

With kind but firm treatment and continued teaching, it gradually loses its wildness and understands commands it must obey. Finally the day comes when, with the two teachers, the men take it to the forest where they are working. After many trips, with the patience and skill of men and teachers, the new member soon learns how to help with the work and does it willingly. Its school term is over It is only too true that we can tame the wildest creature, as the opening verse says, but are unable to control our own tongue. How naughty it can be and how sorry we often are for what we have said, but it can never be called back.

What can be done about it? Well, we can admit to the Lord Jesus how helpless we are and trust Him to control our tongue. He has promised to do just that if we ask Him. His promise is: "I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with Mine eye." Psa. 32:8. Won't you trust His promise?

African Wild Dogs (Or Cape Hunting Dogs)

"For every beast of the forest is Mine.... and the wild beasts of the field are Mine." Psa. 50:10,11. South African wild dogs live in packs of from five to thirty, often made up of family groups.

Almost always on the move, they stay just a few days in one spot, then move on to another, perhaps 25 miles away. About the size of a wolf and weighing around 40 pounds, they are vicious hunters and can outrun just about any other animal. However, they only kill when they need food.

For about three months each year a pack stays near the dens where as many as 16 pups are raised with much care, all parents sharing in this duty. Adults and young spend much time together, playfully pushing their muzzles into each other's mouths. When they are ready for a pack hunt, one or two stay behind to watch over the little ones.

The pups are really cute looking with inquisitive faces, bright eyes, big saucer-like ears pointing forward, and silvery whiskers sprouting sideways from their upper lips. The youngsters usually have tan-colored backs, but their sides and underparts are a blackish-brown, splotched with white patches on their throats and legs.

A dozen of the adults may spot a herd of impalas or other animals and set out to capture one of them. Several dogs chase part of the herd while their companions go after any that may have broken away. When one impala finally gets separated from the others, a single dog keeps chasing it. Knowing that the victim will run in a wide circle, the rest of the dogs leave the impalas they have been chasing and cut across the circle to get in front of the tiring victim. Soon, with dogs all around it the impala gives up; the chase is over and the pack moves in for the kill.

The dogs always eat as much of the food as they can, but do not quarrel over it as some wild animals do. Filled, they return to their dens and cough up portions for the pups and the guards that stayed with them. Later, when the pups are big enough to join these hunts and an animal is caught, the older ones let the youngsters eat their fill first This is just the opposite of lions, which satisfy their own hunger and let the little ones have what is left... if any.

The care these wild dogs give their young helps us to think kindly of them, doesn't it? Many of you have been favored with parents who have not only shown love and care to you in every way, but who knew the importance of telling you of God's love. They have explained about the precious Savior who gave His life to wash away the sins of all who admit to Him that they are sinners and accept Him as their Savior. Have you done this? And have you thanked Mother and Dad for telling you about Him?

The Possum That Isn't a Possum

"O Lord: let Thy loving-kindness and Thy truth continually preserve me." Psa. 40:11.

When an early explorer in Australia first saw certain little furry animals in the forests, they somehow reminded him of opossums in England, so he just called them "possums." But if he had watched them longer he would have realized they weren't opossums at all. Since then, different names have been given to them, some being known as lemurs, phalangers, colugos, etc. (A few of these were described in past articles.)

But one of these did keep the possum name and is now known as lead beater's possum. It is on unusually pretty little animal, an adult being about six inches long, plus a ten-inch tail. It has soft, gray-brown fur on most of its body, but white at the throat, stomach and lower part of its limbs. Deep, black-shaded eyes are alert over a pointed, bright-red nose, and large, furry ears crown its head. It has a long, gray-brown tail, bushy at the end, and sharp claws with soft cushions on the toes, enabling it to run safely over smooth bark without a sound.

It is a great tree climber and, like most of its kind, can make great leaps between trees with its four legs spread wide apart, to become a living kite, its long bushy tail acting as a rudder as it glides through the air, just as though flying.

It nests in holes in tree trunks where little ones are born. For several weeks they stay in their mother's pouch until ready to follow her and learn how to gather food, principally insects and the sweet gum of Acacia trees.

In parts of Australia there is a larger relative called the silver-gray bushtail possum. It is equally at home on the ground, where it walks with a swaggering style, or in trees, where it seems to take fearful chances in great glides—sometimes as much as 150 feet or a straight drop of 30 feet or more to the ground. Everything about them is on a bigger scale than the leadbeater's. Instead of pointing upright, their big ears stand out on each side of a rabbit-like head. Razor-sharp claws enable them to climb well and defend themselves very capably. Their calls are harsh, like a deep, barking cough.

The Bible tells us that the Lord God took pleasure in all His creation, so we can understand why He made so many different kinds of lemurs, phalangers and possums. We know, too, that He watches over each of them, for it is recorded in the Bible: "O Lord, Thou preservest man and beast. How excellent is Thy loving-kindness, O God!" Psa. 36:6,7.

He is the only One in whom we can put our full trust, as another Psalm says: "It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man." Psa. 118:8. Have you put your trust in Him?

Is It a Mule, or Ass or a Donkey?

"Be ye not as the horse, or as the mule, which have no understanding: whose mouth must be held in with bit and bridle." Psa. 32:9.

Those familiar with work animals would have no difficulty answering the question in our title, but most of us would have a hard time telling them apart. So let's study them a little.

Take the mule, for instance. This animal has a donkey for a father and a horse for a mother. Except in rare instances, a mule cannot be a father or a mother—a donkey and horse are almost always the parents of a mule. But when we reverse the parents—the father is a horse and the mother is a donkey—then the little one is called a hinny, although it looks just about the same as the mule. Kind of confusing, isn't it?

The Bible mentions mules many times. Even kings rode on them and people gave them as gifts to Solomon. They are about the size of an average horse, but have larger heads, much longer ears, tufted tails and smaller hooves. They are more surefooted and work more slowly than horses. In fact, they are very stubborn and can't be hurried.

Mules are common throughout the world, especially in Asia and parts of Europe, starting with light work when they are three years old and handling heavier burdens two years later. They make excellent pack animals over mountain trails. Thousands were used by the United States Army before modern machinery was developed.

How about the ass, which is also mentioned in the Bible? The names "ass" and "donkey" are given to the same animal; the male is also called a "jackass" and the female a "jenny." Although they have bigger ears they are smaller than most horses.

In the Far East, the ass still takes the place of a horse and is preferred by men and women riders. They are also used as pack and work animals. Jesus rode on one, as told in Zech. 9:9, "Behold, thy king cometh unto thee: He is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass." You can read the interesting story of this in the first nine verses of Matt. 21.

With few exceptions, asses (donkeys) and mules are stubborn and want to do things their own way. Because of this and the frequent need to use a whip with them, as well as with some horses, we are counseled in the opening Bible verse not to be like them.

Instead, another Bible verse says, "With good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men: knowing that whatsoever good thing any man doeth, the same shall he receive of the Lord." Eph. 6:7,8. Another Bible verse says, "Serve the Lord with gladness: come before His presence with singing. Know ye that the Lord He is God: it is He that hath made us, and not we ourselves." Psa. 100:2,3.

When we walk before the Lord as stated in these verses, we need no whip nor bridle and will find how much He loves to bless us.

The Frisky Marten

"Who knoweth not in all these that the hand of the Lord hath wrought this? In whose hand is the soul of every living thing." Job 12:9,10.

There are innumberable beautiful and interesting animals living in the wild, hardly ever seen because much of their activity is at night or their homes are in places difficult to reach.

One of these is the marten, making its home in much of Canada and Alaska as well as parts of the United States. Sometimes it is incorrectly referred to as a sable or fisher-marten, but it is somewhat different than these, although closely related. This animal's soft fur is usually gray or brownish above and lighter below, but occasionally black or yellowish. Hunters have for years trapped them in winter months when their fur is at its best quality, but this hunting is no longer permitted in most places.

The marten has a rather sharp face, with the appearance of always wondering what's going on. Its ears are large and alert and its eyes are extra large—provisions of the Creator to enable it to identify sounds quickly and see well when hunting at night.

It is mostly at home in trees where it can keep up with the liveliest squirrel or chipmunk. Sad to say, part of its tree-food comes from eggs and small birds taken from nests, but it finds other food on the ground as well. This includes almost any small animal, such as squirrels and mice, snakes, etc. It has a "sweet tooth" and is not afraid to rob a beehive, since its thick fur protects it from bee stings. Unlike the fisher-marten it will not go into deep water, but does catch frogs and fish near the shore.

In late spring the mother has her babies in a den, usually made in a hollow log or a tree. They are born with a light covering of soft fur, are extremely tiny (weighing only an ounce or so), but are fully grown in three months. While growing up they are frisky and full of pep, often having harmless fights among themselves. Later that energy is spent in continual hunting for food or fighting other animals.

As mentioned earlier, martens are not often seen by people, but they are seen by their Creator, of whom it is said, "Can any hide himself in secret places that I shall not see him?" Jer. 23:24. And this Creator, the Lord God, whose eyes are always on them is the One who provides for them as well, for He loves and cares for all His creatures.

How thankful we should be that He is also watching over every one of us. The Bible assures us of this, saying: "For the ways of man are before the eyes of the Lord, and He pondereth [pays attention to] all his goings." Prov. 5:21. Is He pleased when He sees the ways of your life each day?

The American Buffalo (Bison)

"I have made the earth, the man and the beast that are upon the ground, by My great power and by My outstretched arm." Jer. 2:7:5.

The buffalo or, more correctly, the bison shares with the moose the distinction of being the two heaviest land animals of North America. The buffalo is from nine to twelve feet long and as tall as a man from the ground to the top of its hump. Some bulls weigh nearly a ton, but cows are smaller. They are strong and tough and can live through storms that kill other beasts. They are also great runners—up to 30 miles an hour for long distances.

When Indians were the only people west of the Mississippi, there were millions of bison forming herds, often as far as the eye could see on the prairies of mid-America, all the way from Mexico up into Canada. For the Indians this was a principal food, and they made wigwams, blankets, clothing and other things from the hides. God provided plenty of grass and water, and even though the Indians killed many it did not make much difference as so many calves were born every year that their numbers just kept on growing.

But as white people moved west after the Revolutionary War, it became a different story. It is easy to understand that the settlers, like the Indians, found buffalo a good source of food and hides, but as they settled the land they not only used them for these purposes, but determined to get them off the land they wanted to farm. As a result many thousands were killed just to get rid of them.

Hunters from the eastern part of the country also, and "sportsmen," even from Europe, went west with their guns, thinking it was great sport to see how many they could kill, without even caring about the meat or hides. When railroads reached that part of the country, some hunters shot the beasts from moving trains. All this leaves a sad picture of that part of America's history. The result of all this was that, just 100 years ago, instead of millions of buffalo, there were only about a thousand left in the United States and Canada combined.

Bison are part of God's creation, and He surely had the Indian people in His thoughts in preparing such an abundant supply to meet their needs. Many people today are sad and ashamed to think of the way bison were deliberately killed. He, of whom it is said, "I know all the fowls of the mountains: and the wild beasts of the field are Mine," (Psa. 50:11), must have been displeased to see this cruelty and waste. However, we can be happy to know that His watchful eye and care are over those bison that are flourishing again, as we will discuss in the next issue.

The American Buffalo (Bison)

From the place of His habitation [heaven] He looketh upon all the inhabitants of the earth." Psa. 33:14.

When people, nearly 100 years ago, worried about the disappearance of bison from America they persuaded the governments of Canada and the United States to set up protective areas, such as Yellowstone National Park and Custer State Park, throughout the West. Others thought it would be profitable to raise them like cattle and take care of them in protected areas.

These good actions resulted in a gradual increase in the number of these animals so that now there are about 30,000 of them in parks and preserves like the National Bison Range in Montana where large herds now prosper.

Both bulls and cows have horns and shoulder humps. They are impressive with their shaggy, bearded heads and sharp, curved horns. When herds are threatened in any way, the males huddle together to form a ring around cows and calves, providing good defense. God, their Creator, gave them this instinct. In winter thick, heavy hair grows over the back part of their bodies. This drops off in springtime, sometimes hanging in loose patches until the animal rubs it off against a tree or big rock. They don't look too attractive during this period.

Calves, weighing about 30 pounds, are born in early summer and can stand up and nurse in half an hour. When they are about six weeks old they change their diet from milk to grass, which becomes their entire food supply along with leaves from certain trees for the rest of their lives. They do most of their grazing in the morning with the afternoon being a time of resting and rolling in the dust to get rid of insects.

When angry, bulls charge one another, coming together slowly with heads down, feet pawing the ground, and tails up in the air, while blowing volumes of air from their nostrils and raising clouds of dust—making a very scary sight. Suddenly they slam their heads together, pushing each other back and forth until one finally gives up. When the fight is over they walk peacefully away.

The Bible tells us God cares for the beasts of the field. But He cares much more for people on earth who, when He created them, were made in His likeness and for whom He has always shown His love. The greatest proof of His love was at the cross of Calvary where "He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." John 3:16.

Until the Savior comes to call those who love Him into heaven, His invitation to you to accept Him as your own Savior stands open. However, once believers are called up to heaven it will be too late for any who are left behind to accept His invitation. Will you be called up to heaven, or will you be left behind to face the punishment for your sins?

Rhinos - Ugly and Mean

"Will the unicorn be willing to serve thee, or abide by thy crib [stable]?... Wilt thou trust him, because his strength is great?" Job 39:9,11.

The unicorn is mentioned several times in the Bible. While no one knows for sure, some think it refers to the rhino, perhaps because the word "rhinoceros" means "horned nose." All rhinos have horns—some have two, others have just one. These horns actually are not made of bone, but are formed by hair-like fibers growing tightly together and are very tough and strong.

Rhinos are big. Some, like the so-called white rhino of Africa, are as much as 15 feet long and taller than most men. Their massive head has large, trumpet-like ears and huge nostrils on an ugly wrinkled snout. Their skin is rough and warty.

One type in India, weighing two to three tons, is an example of the armor-plated kind; with its loose skin folded into sections, it is the home of many parasites which attract birds known as oxpeckers. These birds may spend all day on a rhino's back and sides, providing considerable relief for it as they feast on the troublesome insects. They also give warning calls when other animals or people approach. This is, incidentally, another example of the Creator providing benefits shared between two creatures that are nothing alike.

Not only do these beasts look mean, but they are truly vicious and short-tempered—inclined to charge anything crossing their path whether it be an animal, a person, or even a car or train. Although they look clumsy on their short legs, they are as swift as a horse. It is a terrifying experience to be charged by one galloping at top speed, its feet pounding the ground while it snorts loudly through flared nostrils.

The African black rhino is the fiercest of all with its front horn two to three feet long and the back horn half that size. Their eyesight is poor, but a strong sense of smell and extra-sharp hearing make up for that problem. They are lightning fast when charging and extremely dangerous when wounded.

A tragedy for the rhinos is that their horns are in demand by people who grind them up and sell the powder at high prices as so-called medicine. They are also hunted by some native warriors who consider it a matter of pride to carry daggers with handles made from the horns. The result is that, although protected by the governments of Africa and India, poachers kill great numbers illegally just to get the horns, and it is feared these animals may some day become extinct unless the poaching can be stopped.

When those who love the Lord are with Him in heaven, we will learn and understand why such creatures as rhinos have been given a place in His creation. Meanwhile we can say "Thou art worthy... for Thou halt created all things, and for Thy pleasure they are and were created." Rev. 4:11.

Never Tease a Moose

"Be not afraid, ye beasts of the field: for the pastures of the wilderness do spring." Joel 2:22.

One of the largest animals of North America is the moose, found mainly in Alaska but in many areas of Canada and the northern part of the United States as well. It likes areas with lakes, rivers and pastures with ample food, as the Creator has promised them in the Bible verse above. They obtain some of their food while feeding in chest-deep water, dipping their heads under to pull plants out by the roots.

The bull moose of Alaska is the largest and boldest, weighing almost a ton with shoulders as high as eight feet. Their huge size, plus big antlers, make an impressive sight and they are very bold, so that even if a truck or slow-moving train annoys them, they do not hesitate to charge it—sometimes knocking it off the highway or railroad track. It is easy to see why they are seldom attacked, although a calf or a sick or old one might become the victim of a bear or a wolf pack. But if an enemy makes the mistake of attacking a moose, it may pay for the mistake with its life, as one kick from a moose's sharp hooves can crush a skull, break a leg or badly cripple it. The big antlers are equally dangerous.

The dark-brown moose is not a pretty animal. Its long face is marked by a baggy muzzle hanging over its chin and another loose fold of skin (called a dewlap) dangling at its throat, and it has a hump on its back. But, with its massive crown of antlers, it does present a mighty awesome appearance.

While it may seem awkward to us, the moose is one of God's creatures, as the Bible clearly tells us: "For every beast of the forest is Mine.... And the wild beasts of the field are Mine." Psa. 50:10,11. It is the divine Creator who has given it such strength and ability to survive in harsh, cold winters and who also provided it with large, split hooves and broad feet to make walking easy on marshy ground and through snowdrifts. He knew what their needs would be when He created them and included four foot-long legs and strong muscles so they can run at speeds of 35 miles an hour. The Creator has also given them coloring that blends with their surroundings, so that they are usually well hidden from enemies. Of course, no animal is aware of the One who created and preserves it, but how about us humans? Ah, there's a real difference, for we have the ability to know of the Lord God and all He has done and is still doing for us. The Psalmist, thinking about this, wrote, "Oh that men would praise the Lord for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men!" Psa. 107:8. Are you one who does this?

The Great Tapir

"I have made the earth, the man and the beast... by My great power and by My outstretched arm. "

Jer. 27:5.

If you were in the wilds of Mexico or Central or South America and found yourself face-to-face with a strange brown animal known as the tapir, the first thing you probably would notice would be that, although it is as big as a small donkey, with its short legs, tiny tail and pig-like head, it looks more like an overgrown pig.

It would be a special treat if a baby tapir were there, too, for they are really cute, weighing only about 15 pounds when born and with white stripes all along their backs and sides. When resting in the grass they might be mistaken for a big watermelon.

If you didn't show any sign of wanting to hurt the tapir you would find it wouldn't hurt you, either, for the Creator has given it a shy and gentle nature. Their food includes such things as water plants, grass, leaves and fruit, and they never kill another animal unless in self-defense.

These animals stay close to their homes, but make paths for miles through the thick jungle. Some lead to water holes which they visit morning and evening, enjoying a swim and wallowing in the mud to get rid of ticks and other pests. They also walk along the bottom of these ponds, even though completely submerged, and slide down banks into the water for the fun of it.

About their only enemy is the fearsome jaguar. However, when a jaguar springs on a tapir it receives an unexpected, rough ride through low brush where it will quite likely be knocked off. But if it hangs on, it next finds the tapir jumping into deep water and going on down beneath the surface. At that point the jaguar gives up.

Tapirs remind us of the great variety of animals placed on earth by the Creator and His untiring care and provisions for all. We know, however, the lives of animals are for this world only, but that God has given to each of us an everlasting life and provided a way in which that life can be spent happily in heaven with Him.

A few verses from the Bible explain how this can be. First we need to understand clearly "All have sinned, and come short of the glory of God." Rom. 3:23. That is a tragic statement, but happily we are told, "But God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." Rom. 5:8. We also read this wonderful statement: "Therefore being justified by faith [in the Lord as our Savior], we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." Rom. 5:1.

If you want that peace and everlasting life in heaven, think about these important Bible verses.

The Odd Opossum

"Let all the earth fear the Lord: let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of Him." Psa. 33:8.

What is this strange thing coming down the forest trail, looking like a miniature gray trolley car loaded with passengers all hanging onto an overhead support? It turns out to be a mother opossum carrying eight babies who are strung along her back and clinging to her long, bare tail which she arches completely over herself. The mother is very careful about her big family.

Female opossums are the only animals in the United States and Canada that have pouches (like kangaroos have). Baby opossums are no bigger than a bumblebee when born outside this pouch, and within two minutes they smell their mother's milk located in her pouch and climb in, remaining there for three months. For a few more months after that, they are given the piggy-back rides while their mother introduces them to fruits, nuts, insects, fish, frogs and vegetation.

One thing the mother doesn't have to teach them is how to "play possum," for this is an instinct given to them by the Creator when He first placed them on the earth, and it is carried on from generation to generation. When danger threatens, instead of trying to run away (they're not too fast on their feet) they fall to the ground, jaws dropping open, tongues hanging out, eyes glazed and barely breathing—looking just like a dead animal and even giving off that kind of an odor.

A fox or coyote might come right up to them, but they do not move a muscle nor blink an eye and are usually left alone because the attacker is not interested in dead meat. People, too, have found them this way and grabbed their fur, shaking them just to see what will happen, but they always lie perfectly still until the danger is past. Isn't it wonderful how the Creator has given them this ability?

As we consider the various habits God has given all His creation, we look on in amazement. One important provision He has given each of us is an intelligence to understand His precious Word, the Bible. There we find that He loves us, and He knows all about us. We also find that we are lost sinners. Yet His desire is that we might live forever in His heavenly home, although we cannot go there with our sins on us.

Does the Bible provide a remedy for us? Yes. In Titus 2:13-14 we read of "the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ; who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from all iniquity [sin]." If we admit to Him that we are sinners and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ who died to save us from our sins, God will then accept us as His very own sons and daughters forever and ever. How important it is to do this right now!

Mule Deer - the Pride of the West

"Thou shalt not eat any abominable thing. These are the beasts which ye shall eat: the ox, the sheep, and the goat, the hart, and the roebuck, and the fallow deer." Deut. 14:3-5.

Mule deer are found from the states of Washington to Texas, from Manitoba and Alberta down through Montana to southern California, Arizona and on into Mexico. Tourists are often delighted to see them in the redwood groves of California, as well as at Yosemite, Yellowstone, the Grand Tetons and Glacier Park.

This is a majestic and pretty deer with soft eyes and velvety coat, so very impressive as it stands alert, head held high, with its grand spread of antlers. Its coat, brown in summer and gray in winter, has a white fur patch at the back from which a short, black-tipped white tail is used as a warning signal to others when danger is near. Pronged antlers, the pride of bucks (females rarely have them) are divided into two branches with short, sharp tines and are shed and renewed each year. Hunters consider them quite a trophy.

Weighing some 200 pounds, they are larger and more heavily built than most deer and often reach five feet in length and stand three feet high at the shoulders. As smart and wary as any animal, they have survived intense hunting over the years. Protected in many areas, there are probably over a million throughout the west. Rather than running as a horse does, they move in a series of stiff-legged leaps, landing back on all four sturdy legs after each jump and can keep going swiftly this way for a long time. Good swimmers, they do not hesitate to cross rivers and lakes when necessary.

Why are they called mule deer? Because of their large open ears that stand erect behind the horns. When the Lewis and Clark expedition, way back in 1804, first saw them they were reminded of mules back home and gave them this name, which still identifies them.

Fawns (often twins) are usually born in the spring and stay with the mother through the summer. They are prettily covered with white spots on reddish-brown bodies until about five months old. Mule deer like to stay in groups, and 300 to 400 may be seen at one time migrating to high altitudes in the summer and back to the valleys in the winter to fill their constant need of grass, shrubs and leaves, flavored whenever available with lots of acorns and nuts. Like all living things they are always under their Creator's watchful care.

Our opening Bible verse is from the laws given to God's Old Testament people and points out that fallow deer (related to the mule deer) were among the clean animals they could eat. Although we are not now under those laws, God does want us to avoid the unclean things of the world and follow the clean, pure ways given in His Word, the Bible. It is good for us to remember this in everything we do.

The Strong-Jawed Wolf

"I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth His life for the sheep. But he that is a hireling, and not the shepherd... seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth." John 10:11,12.

Wolves make their homes in the forests, tundra and prairies of North America, Europe and Asia. They look much like a German shepherd dog. A big wolf will be more than six feet long and weigh 175 pounds. They have been equipped by the Creator with broad heads, powerful jaws and strong limbs. A pack of them can bring down an elk or a horse.

The gray and timber wolves are most common, often gray, brown or black in color, but in the far north their thick fur is usually white. The red wolf, smaller than the others, is not always red but sometimes tan or black. All live in groups of 6 to 20 and are loyal to each other, fiercely protecting their territory. One among them wins the place of leader by defeating the others, which sometimes show their respect by rolling over or crouching on the ground when he or she comes near. When a kill is made, all wait for their leader to eat first.

Wolves show much skill in hunting—two or three families often banding together. Finding a herd of caribou they seem to pick out which one to go after, usually a very old or very young one, or one that is injured or sick. When the herd panics, this weaker one drops behind and becomes an easy prey while the strong, healthy ones escape. This may seem cruel, but such sudden death is more merciful to the weaker ones than leading a sick and painful life and slowly dying.

Imagine the surprise of mountain sheep trying to escape a pack of wolves by climbing a steep, rocky cliff only to find some of the pack have circled around and are waiting at the top. Moose are tougher to fight, kicking the wolves with their hind feet and slashing with their sharp front hooves. But the wolves know this and try to make them run, for a moose can't kick when running, and then they attack. Those most successful in resisting wolves are the musk-oxen. You may recall an earlier article telling how these defend themselves by forming a tight circle with lowered heads and horns facing out. The wolves can't break this defense and will only attack a musk-ox when it is alone.

In spite of many stories about wolves stalking and attacking people, it is very unusual for them to do so, but they, do go after farm animals with the result that they are hunted and killed by ranchers and others.

While we can see how these animals are given their skills and provisions by the Creator, we also see in them a picture of that which is evil, as expressed in the opening Bible verses. The Lord also said "Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves." Matt. 7:15. We need to ask God to remind us of-the truth of His Word and not pay any attention to the "false prophets" who do not speak the truth.

Weasels Are Cute but Have Bad Tempers: Part 1

"Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in His sight: but all thing are naked and opened unto the eyes of Him with whom we have to do." Heb. 4:13.

As springtime comes to North America, thousands of baby weasels are born in underground dens, hollow logs and other hideaways. Each nest will have from three to ten or more, so tiny that two dozen altogether would scarcely weigh a pound.

The Creator has arranged their birth between winter and summer so they can learn to care for themselves during the warm days that follow. Before they can be independent they need the care of both parents, for it will be about a month before their eyes open. During this time the mother stays close by and nurses them. Then for another month both parents bring solid food and begin taking them outside to teach them how to survive in a harsh world. When they are about four months old the parents' work is done and the little weasels are on their own.

There are many varieties of weasels throughout the world, inhabiting forests, meadows and grasslands. All have beautiful fur, but their nice looks conceal a fierce nature, making them a threat to small rodents and birds. Actually they are considered "cousins" of mink, otters and skunks and are provided with musk glands that spray an awful-smelling liquid, even worse than that of skunks.

Weasels are always on the go and full of curiosity, bounding over the ground with snarls, hisses and fearsome noises as they search for prey, often squeezing into burrows when their noses tell them there's a tempting meal down there. Although they are small enough to hold in a man's hand, they are not afraid bf larger creatures, some going after marmots, woodchucks and even rabbits—all much larger than themselves. One of their worst offenses is breaking into chicken coops and killing chickens which, of course, makes them unpopular with many farmers.

But in spite of these practices they are a delightful example of the wonders of God's creation with their pretty coloring, bright eyes, large ears and black noses. Because of the quality of their fur, people hunt them, especially in the winter when their fur is thick and bright. Most of them change color in the different seasons, particularly those living in the far north. These are an attractive brown in summer but turn pure white in winter—a provision of the Creator, camouflaging them from their enemies.

The verse at the opening of this article reminds us that God is always aware of all His creatures. We may be sure that if weasels knew this they would thank Him for such wonderful care. But God did not make us like weasels—we can read God's Word, the Bible, and know His special care over us. Everyone is happy who can agree with the words of Psa. 33:21, "For our heart shall rejoice in Him, because we have trusted in His holy name." Is that trust and happiness yours?

Weasels Are Cute but Have Bad Tempers: Part 2

"Great and marvelous are Thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are Thy ways." Rev. 15:3.

The three most common weasels in North America are the least, the short-tailed and the long-tailed: The least is the smallest of all, weighing just a few ounces when fully grown and seldom more than six inches long, plus a one-inch stubby tail. It is quite pretty—its back a light brown, changing to white at its throat, stomach, the inside of its legs and its feet. During winter those in the far north turn completely white, but those in the south become a spotted brown mixed with the white. These are provisions of the Creator to conceal them from enemies.

This little one is a real help to mankind, because its appetite for mice and other small, destructive animals helps to keep these under control. Mice represent its favorite food and are easily caught since this weasel is so small it can follow them through any hole.

The short-tailed is often called an ermine. This one is twice the size of the least. During summer it is a soft brown along the back and sides, but creamy white underneath. Strangely, it is the only one with brown feet. When it turns all white in winter it is hunted for its pretty fur.

It also hunts mice, rats, moles, squirrels, birds and snakes. The Creator has given it instincts to arrange rooms in its burrow for storing food for cold winter days and to know how to prevent this food from spoiling.

The long-tailed is the largest of all, measuring up to 18 inches, plus a black-tipped tail about half that length. Even so the males weigh only about a pound and the females even less.

It makes its home throughout Canada and the United States, except for hot desert areas, and hunts day and night for its food. It is a great climber, often chasing its prey (which rarely gets away) out to the end of a tree limb. It is the fiercest of the three and will even attack a dog or a man if cornered.

Bold hunters themselves, all weasels have numerous enemies, including hawks, owls, foxes, wildcats and coyotes. But with their thin bodies and speed they usually escape by diving into a nearby burrow, a narrow crevice in a rock, or under a pile of brush.

All these animals are unaware of God's care, and He does not hold them accountable, but provides for them as a gracious Creator. However, every human has been given an intellect and a conscience and God has given the Bible for a guide. We are told, "Let them... commit the keeping of their souls to Him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator." 1 Peter 4:19. This means we should not only trust our bodies to Him, but accept Him as our Savior to be sure our eternal life is safe in Him. Have you done this?

The Tailless Chimpanzee

"The mighty God, even the Lord, hath spoken, and called the earth from the rising of the sun unto the going down thereof." Psa. 50:1

Chimpanzees (which are usually called chimps) are members of the ape family, which includes gorillas and orangutans, all living in central Africa. Almost all zoos keep some and often teach them clever tricks to amuse visitors.

In the rain forests they communicate by grunts, hoots and calls, sometimes so loud they can be heard more than a mile away. They usually band together in groups of 40 or more. Old males sleep alone at night, but join the groups in the daily search for fruit and other food. All like to groom one another, sometimes kissing and holding hands. When they are friendly they grin with their teeth covered by their lips, but when they are angry their lips are pressed tightly together.

Chimps have small, round heads topped with large ears. Faces, ears, hands and feet are a bare pink, but the rest of their body is covered with thick, dark-brown hair. Mature ones are two to four feet tall and weigh from 50 to well over 100 pounds. Some live as long as 40 years.

They can stand upright for only a very short time. When they walk they drop down on all fours, stooping over with their arms dropping to the ground with closed fists. This is in contrast to human beings with whom standing or walking in an erect, upright position was established when they were created by the Lord God. Chimps and gorillas may look somewhat like humans, but there is no relationship at all. Each was created in its own pattern. Mankind alone was given "a living soul," extending life into eternity, compared with all other creatures for whom death means the final end. Any other teaching is incorrect.

Mother chimps have just one baby at a time, and so are able to give it lots of attention. While she moves from place to place, the baby clings to her back or sometimes hangs underneath, grasping the hair on her stomach. The little ones play, climb trees and wrestle with one another while the mothers are busy.

When large amounts of food are available, a group may invite others to join them by loud barking. Groups often work together, and farmers find it difficult to keep them out of their orchards because the chimps always post a sentry to warn when anyone approaches.

The loving care of the Creator for these and all creatures is so nicely stated in the Bible verses: "0 Lord, Thou preservest man and beast. How excellent is Thy loving-kindness, O God! therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of Thy wings." Psa. 36:6,7.

As these verses indicate, although He cares for all creatures, it is only mankind that can know His love and His goodness which not only provides for daily needs, but has given us a Savior. If we place our trust in Him, we are assured of an eternity in heaven. Have you placed your trust in the Lord Jesus Christ?

You Would Like a Cuscus

"For of Him [God], and through Him, and to Him, are all things: to whom be glory forever. Amen." Rom. 11:36.

In the forests of several areas of the south Pacific, including Malaysia, New Guinea and Australia, one of the most colorful and lovable little animals in the world makes its home.

There are many varieties of the pretty little cuscus (sometimes called a phalanger). Some have white fur, others have yellow, black, or even grayish-green. Some are of mixed colors, such as the whitish-gray spotted cuscus, with numerous patches of soft reddish color spread over its coat. In fact, many of them change color several times in their lifetime. Their round eyes, bulging outward a little, may be yellow, orange or red, and their button noses most likely are a bright yellow. All are tidy in their habits and keep their hair in good condition by frequently combing it with their sharp claws.

The cuscus is part of the animal family known as marsupials, a mother usually giving birth to one or two very small, underdeveloped babies each year and carrying them in her pouch for several months before they are able to hop out and make their own way around.

These are good climbers and spend most of their lives in tall trees where they hunt smaller animals, insects, lizards, small bird eggs and fruit, adding portions of -green leaves to help their digestion. Very seldom do they come to the ground. They never seem to be in a hurry, and it is not unusual for one to sit all day high in a tree as though enjoying the scenery, but actually sleeping, for they do much of their hunting at night.

The Creator has provided them with strong claws, their hind feet also having fleshy pads to make them more surefooted on bare branches. He has further provided for their safety with a prehensile tail, which they can wrap around a nearby tree limb for extra security.

The cuscuses have few enemies, but if threatened will lash out with their forepaws while barking and snarling. Actually they are difficult for animals or birds to kill, because their fur, which grows so thickly that it covers their ears, fits so loosely on their bodies that an enemy cannot easily get a good hold on them.

We have enjoyed considering many animals, both small and great, gentle and vicious, odd-looking and handsome, and with each one we could think of the words of the Psalm writer: "0 Lord, how manifold [numerous] are Thy works! In wisdom hast Thou made them all: the earth is full of Thy riches." Psa. 104:24.

It should be our joy also to follow the reminder, "O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the Lord our maker." Psa. 95:6. Just think of how much we have to thank Him for!

Is It an Anteater or a Porcupine

"Who knoweth not in all these that the hand of the Lord hath wrought this? In whose hand is the soul [life] of every living thing, and the breath of all mankind." Job 12:9,10.

In many rocky and high areas of Australia and New Guinea lives an odd animal called an echidna or spiny anteater which is about 18 inches long. Its roly-poly body is covered with sharp quills, almost hiding its black fur and making it look like a porcupine, which it is sometimes mistakenly called.

Its eyes are small, and it apparently has no ears and not much of a brain either. Its bare snout has a narrow mouth, but instead of teeth a long tongue with ridges on it crushes its prey. It is a slow animal that hunts at night and hides in the daytime. The only time it is not slow is when escaping enemies that would like to make a meal of it—which they can only do if they are able to get at its unprotected throat or stomach. When pursued, its rough, sharp claws rapidly dig a hole deep enough to get its head and legs into. It is not at all concerned about the rest of its body which is covered with needle-like quills, for no animal wants to get any of these in its mouth or paws. If there is not time to dig a hole, then it curls up in a ball, tucking its bare spots safely under the quills. If there is not time even to do this, then it fights with its sharp claws. Because of these instincts and safeguards provided by the Creator, an echidna is seldom captured.

There are two kinds—the long-nosed and the short-nosed. Except for this difference they are much the same, their snouts, short or long, searching through the soil, in rotten logs, or inside termite mounds for food. The short-nosed echidna hunts mostly termites, ants and other insects, but the long-nosed prefers worms of various kinds. Its longer tongue has tiny hooks on it that firmly hold onto its prey.

The mother echidna has a kangaroo-like pouch on her stomach in which, once a year, an egg is laid. When the baby hatches, the pouch becomes its home. But when only a few weeks old its barbs begin to grow, and the mother, finding this uncomfortable, puts it outside where it learns the ways of scaly anteater living.

These animals seem very strange to us, but they are part of the wonderful creation of His of whom our opening verse speaks. David, the Psalmist, in his writings often speaks of the wonders of God's creation and gives Him thanks, as in these verses: "I will remember the works of the Lord: surely I will remember Thy wonders of old. I will meditate also of all Thy work, and talk of Thy doings. Thy way, O God, is in the sanctuary [place of worship]; who is so great a God as our God?" Psa. 77:11-13.

How good it is for each of us to have these same thoughts and to thank and praise the Lord God for all His care and love for us. We should especially thank Him for the love that has provided a Savior for all who will put their trust in Him. Have you done this?

The Lively Kinkajou

"Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power: for Thou hast created all things, and for Thy pleasure they are and were created." Rev. 4:11.

If you like pets you would find a tamed kinkajou (also called honey bear) an appealing and playful one. But in the wild they are tough and fierce. In the forests of southern Mexico, Central America and parts of South America, this six or seven-pound thickly furred member of the raccoon family makes its home. Fully grown they are two feet long, or slightly smaller, plus a slender tail of the same length.

Like some monkeys, their tails are used to grab branches in traveling through the trees and enable them at times to hang upside down, as well as being a help in keeping their balance when jumping from one branch to another.

They are a pretty grayish-brown with some faint darker colors and a white stomach. Heads are round with pointed noses, cup-shaped ears and large, innocent-looking eyes adding to their beauty. The Creator has also provided them with sharp claws on their front feet to help in climbing. They also will hold a piece of fruit or other food in one hand while breaking off pieces with the other for eating, just like we do.

During the day they nap in crotches of trees, with tails wrapped snugly around them. They become lively at twilight, hunting food, including fruit, honey, small birds and animals, insects and nectar licked from flowers. Long tongues are a help in probing crevices for insects. At times they will use their long tails to reach into insect nests, then pull them out and lick off any insects stuck to them.

Usually just one baby is born to the parents each year, looking like a cute little kitten with its soft tan fur and tightly shut eyes that don't open for about four weeks. But long before that its tail can get a tight grip on things it encounters. When only three months old it might be found playfully hanging head-downward with its tail securely wrapped about a small limb. In a year's time it is fully grown. Many have long lives for so little an animal—some in captivity reaching nearly 20 years.

These cuddly animals are examples of the Creator's care for all living things, even in the wild, tropical forests. But His thoughts toward every boy and girl are far better, for He invites you to live with Him in heaven when your life here is over. In great love the Lord Jesus made this possible by bearing on Calvary's cross the sins of all who admit they are sinners, thank Him for dying for them and take Him as their own Savior. Will you be with the happy ones who will be with Him for all eternity?

The Magnificent Elk

"Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in His sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of Him with whom we have to do." Heb. 4:13.

In Europe the animal called an elk is really similar to the American moose, whereas the elk of America differs in some ways. Because of this difference, those in America are technically known as wapiti, but are most commonly referred to as elk.

Related closely to the deer family, the American species is second only to the moose in size. A big male may stand as high as five-feet tall at the slight hump behind his shoulders and weigh up to 1000 pounds—though some are considerably lighter.

There are two principal varieties of native elk. Almost all of them live in national parks or protected reservations. One is the Rocky Mountain elk, making its home in those high mountains, mainly at Yellowstone Park and close-by Jackson Hole in Wyoming. The other, living at lower levels and staying year-round in grassy meadows, is the Tule elk. Many of these are found in California, Idaho, Washington and Alaska. One difference between them is their feet—the Rocky Mountain variety has feet almost as wide as they are long, while the Tule's feet are nearly twice as long as they are wide. This difference is a provision of the Creator, giving the Rocky Mountain elk feet that help them in the deep snows, while the long and narrow feet of the others are more suited to the meadows and adjacent dry hills in which they live.

Considering their size, all elk have small heads with mule-like ears, but their antlers may spread more than five feet and have a total of about twelve points. They have a cow-like body and walk much like a camel. Their legs are slender, but strong. Coarse hair forms a shaggy mane, and they are covered with mostly reddish-brown fur. Their tan tail is just a stub, surrounded by a large yellowish patch of fur that helps identify them. In winter months a temporary warm undercoat and heavy outercoat change to grayish-brown, until they return to lighter fur in spring.

Elk are majestic animals, holding their heads high (except when grazing) with eyes and ears alert. All their grazing is done in the daytime with one or two of each herd maintaining a lookout while the others eat. If danger threatens they scatter in every direction.

Their manner of life in harsh surroundings impresses upon us how wisely the Lord God, their Creator, has provided instincts for all living things and that, as the Bible verse states, "For by Him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth... and He is before all things, and by Him all things consist [are preserved]." Col. 1:16,17.

The Magnificent Elk

"Wherefore, let them... commit the keeping of their souls to Him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator." 1 Peter 4:19.

Antlers, crowning elk's heads from May until the following March when they are shed, are important to the life of the stags (males). On a mature male they rise as much as four feet above the head and have a spread of about five feet. They are composed of two sections on which "spikes" grow out, adding beauty and majesty to their appearance.

When their antlers begin to form in early May, they are just short stubs growing on the top of the head. But they grow quickly, and when full size they are covered with an outer velvety skin which soon drops off in chunks. The elk help this shedding process by rubbing their antlers against tree trunks, stumps and rocks. When all the skin is finally removed and the bones polished by the rubbing, the antlers become hard and sharp.

The stag is well aware of his new rack of antlers when he is trying to attract the females (cows), but finds other stags with the same idea challenging him. Soon there is a great deal of fighting going on in a herd. The older, tough stags usually hold their own in pushing and wrestling matches, but sooner or later find themselves defeated by younger ones stronger than themselves. The herd then belongs to the victor.

Antlers are the principal weapons in these contests, although they use their sharp hooves as well. But there is sometimes deep tragedy, as their antlers lock together and they are unable to separate them. Eventually, too weak to stand up, they fall down with their antlers still locked, both of them destined to die for lack of water and food.

After the herd leadership has been established, those of the Rocky Mountain variety realize that winter is over, and it is time to migrate to the mountain meadows, rich in luscious grass. In these travels, stags group separately from the cows and their calves, but join again later. The trips may be relatively short, or as long as 30 or 40 miles. They travel slowly, eating their way to the higher elevations where they spend the summer. In fall they descend to lower meadows again, and in places where winters are severe and where they are officially protected, some of their food is often provided by friendly people.

Like all of God's creatures, elk, always under His watchful care, are not aware of it. But the care is very real, as it is for each of us but in a much greater degree. The care God gives us is blessed with the rich love of His heart which includes His supreme gift, the Lord Jesus Christ as a Savior to all who will put their trust in Him. Have you accepted this precious gift and thanked Him for it? "Thanks be to God for His unspeakable gift." 2 Cor. 9:15.

The Cute Cottontails

"Can any hide himself in secret places that I shall not see him? saith the Lord. Do not I fill heaven and earth?" Jer. 23:24.

Have you wondered why some animals are called hares and others rabbits when they look so much alike? Although they are closely related, there actually are differences. For instance, hares have nests above ground, and their babies are fully covered with fur and have wide-open eyes when they are born. Also, they can hop around within just a few minutes.

Rabbits, however, are born in underground nests, have no fur at all, and their eyes are closed. Unlike hares, baby rabbits don't venture outside for about three weeks. Both rabbits and hares are silent animals, but in serious danger they can let out loud screams.

There are some 80 species of rabbits, but today we will just consider a few of the cottontails. It is natural for us to consider all cottontails as likable as they are so inoffensive and quietly go about their business, eating inner bark of saplings and shrubs, as well as clover and various grasses, fruit and other foods. This is one of God's creatures that has no desire to harm any living thing and just takes care of its own needs. Incidentally, the cottony underpart of their tails, which is almost always showing, accounts for their name.

All cottontails are timid, with short bodies, small roundish faces, large ears (but nowhere as big as a jackrabbit's), placid eyes and most have soft tannish fur. But two kinds, both referred to as swamp marsh rabbits, don't have underground nests. These live above ground and at times build large nests among the low branches of bushy trees.

Among rabbits in general, many live on marshy land, but others prefer arid deserts. Two of these are the pygmy and the nuttall—both cottontails. The nuttall is considerably larger than the pygmy and not as shy. The pygmy is really tiny, weighing less than a pound and, going about its business mostly at night, it is seldom seen. A resident of the desert close to the mountains of California and Oregon, it is clever in caring for itself and raising its young where food and water are scarce, summers are very hot, and winters are extremely cold.

Perhaps because of the presence of these two varieties in those areas, a shrub which grows only in those areas has the name "rabbit brush," The pygmy particularly likes to make its home under this shrub, where it is not exposed to some enemies that are numerous in the more lush desert sagebrush.

These little animals are clever at hiding themselves, but are always under the watchful care of God, their Creator. As the beginning Bible verse tells us, we are never out of His watchful care either. Have you thanked Him for this love and accepted the invitation to become one of His own children by accepting His Son, the Lord Jesus, as your Savior? Have you thanked Him for His care of you today?

The Lively Tarsier

"Known unto God are all His works from the beginning of the world. " Acts 15:18.

The alert and lively tarsier lives in the East Indies and the Philippines. It is small, ranging from 10 to 15 inches long, including its rat-like tail. It uses this tail as an extra support when clinging to a branch and also to help keep its balance when leaping among the trees. Its fur is brownish-gray except around its mouth, chin, nose and between the eyes, where it is usually yellow or light orange.

Seen face-on, it is an amusing and lovable little creature—its eyes look like a big pair of goggles, its ears perk up, and the spread of its mouth is a pleasant grin. A button nose sits perkily above its small mouth and chin, and its rather large ears, opened toward the front, stand rigidly erect, presenting a very alert appearance.

This long-legged little fellow (about the size of a big squirrel) lives in trees. The second and third toes on each of its hind legs have sharp, bare, long claws, and both hands and feet are cushioned underneath with non-skid ridges. These help it get a good grip on tree trunks and branches as it leaps among them. Incidentally, its long legs help make it a champion jumper among animals its size; it can leap as high as four feet and as far as six feet in distance.

One of the outstanding things about the tarsier is its large eyes, close together, with pupils about three times as large as other animals its size. The big pupils are surrounded by dark rings, making it look as though it is wearing _ sunglasses. These eyes are in many ways its most valuable possession, for it is a night worker and the Creator has wisely provided it with most remarkable vision to aid in its search for insects, lizards, snakes, etc., which make up its food.

In addition to good eyesight, its head (like an owl's) can turn around so far that it can see behind itself without moving its body. Then too, it has been given very sensitive hearing; its large ears can twist individually in various directions one this way and the other that way—when trying to identify a sound. As for itself, it moves quietly through the darkness and, wherever possible, keeps well hidden among the trees' leaves.

The Bible tells us to be glad and rejoice in that which God has created. The more our attention is drawn to the wonders of His creation, including these little tarsiers, the more we are impressed with the truth of the Bible verse quoted above our opening paragraph.

It is good to think on such things as we see the various forms of life all around us, for each one represents a part of God's creation. How happy it is for us to know Him, not only as our Creator but more importantly, as our Savior too.

The Graceful Springbok

The Springbok is one of the most graceful members of the antelope family. Their home is on the prairies of Africa where they share the friendly company of zebras, giraffes, wildebeests and many others. But they are sometimes victims of hungry lions, which capture them by creeping up unseen and then making a sudden leap before there is opportunity to escape. Wild dogs, too, are among their enemies, but usually pick out the sick, old, or very young ones that have gotten away from the herd.

Springboks are well named, for one of the things that helps identify them is their practice of suddenly springing high in the air with their backs arched beautifully. They appear to do this often just for the fun of it. They seem to be one of the Creator's happy animals. It is a lovely sight to see them leaping this way on their long frail-looking but strong legs.

They are delicately colored animals, appearing to wear a tan cape over their entire backs and down the outside of their legs, but with the remainder of their bodies a pure white. Crowning all, a pair of horns, looking like many shiny black discs piled one on top of another, rises almost straight up for some eighteen inches from their heads and gently curves forward at the top. Their appealing white faces with stripes between the eyes and nose, as if skillfully sketched with soft crayons, large deer-like eyes and long, erect ears, all give them an alert appearance.

These animals, which do not search out shade while browsing, seem to prefer the open country with its extremely hot sunshine. Their usual food is the wild grasses of the prairie, but when these are hard to find, they will substitute leaves and tender parts of shrubs and will even eat roots dug out of the ground with their sharp horns.

In times of drought and when food runs low, thousands make long migrations together to greener pastures. We might ask, "How do they know where to go and how do they know when to return?" Those who have studied their ways cannot 'answer these questions, but to us who know of the Creator's care over all living things, it is not difficult to realize that He is the One who directs them to go and lets them sense when it is time to return to their native land.

A Bible portion expresses this care so well: "These wait all upon Thee; that Thou mayest give them their meat [food] in due season. That Thou givest them they gather: Thou openest Thine hand, they are filled with good." Psa. 104:27,28. Have you thanked Him that His same loving hand is stretched out for you too? He invites every boy and girl to trust in Him and know Him as their loving and personal Savior.

At Home in the Waters: Chapter 5

"O Lord...the earth is full of Thy riches. So is this great and wide sea, wherein are things creeping innumerable. both small and great beasts." Psa. 104:24,25

A Big Fish

"The Lord is good to all: and His tender mercies are over all His works." Psa. 145:9.

Large fish are fairly common in salty ocean waters, but not many are found in rivers, streams or lakes. So when a big pike or salmon, weighing from 30 to 80 pounds, is taken by a fresh-water fisherman it makes a good story in fishing circles.

Fishermen catch them in various ways—sometimes with a huge hook and line made out of strong rope, at other times using a net, or some prefer going after them with a bow and arrow or spearing them with a harpoon. After catching one and hauling it out of the water, a fish this size is, of course, too big to carry on mountain trails in one piece. So the natives cut them up into small pieces to take to their homes or to the markets.

However, in South America there is a fresh-water fish by the name of arapaima which can grow more than twice as long as a man, but the ones usually caught are no longer than ten feet and weigh around 250 pounds. But that still is a big fish, isn't it? This one makes its home in several South American lakes, but most are in sluggish streams or swamps that are part of the Amazon River system, where large quantities of small fish provide ample food for their huge appetites.

The arapaima's body (except for its head) is covered with olive-green scales on the front part, with the color turning to soft red toward the back and deep red before reaching the big tail. It has a long, two-foot fin atop its body from the tail forward, and another one underneath, the same size, from its tail to its stomach. A strange thing about this fish is that it frequently needs a supply of fresh air, as the water in which it lives does not have enough oxygen for the needs of its big body. So every 10 to 15 minutes it rises to the top, sticks its mouth, shaped like a big scoop shovel, through the surface and noisily inhales a big gulp of air.

This is a very popular food, considered by many as good as trout or salmon, and delicious steaks are frequently cut from them. But their tongues are too tough and rough for eating, so these are allowed to dry and harden and then used as files on the woodwork of the native homes.

This unusually large fish is just one more, among thousands of others throughout the world, that reminds us of the Creator's pleasure in making many varieties when they were brought forth on the fifth day of creation, as we are told in Gen. 1:21,22. As our opening verse expresses, He always keeps a watchful eye on them, providing for all their needs. But His thoughts toward every boy and girl are even greater. The Bible tells us, "The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; and He knoweth them that trust in Him." Nah. 1:7. Are you one who trusts in Him?

The Fish With an Unusual Eye

"Whatsoever the Lord pleased, that did He... in earth, in the seas, and all deep places." Psa. 135:6.

About the only thing many people know about a fish called a flounder is that it tastes good and that it can be purchased at almost all fish markets at any time of year. There are two unusual things about this fish: it can change its color to match the surroundings as it moves from place to place, and early in its life, one of its eyes changes location.

In the springtime a female lays about a million eggs which do not hatch until late summer. Of course, a good many of the eggs are eaten by various creatures, but those that survive to hatch, soon develop into small "fry." These, too, are choice food to other fish, so that out of a million eggs only a few hundred are likely ever to become full-sized fish.

At first a baby flounder looks quite ordinary as it swims around, but within a few days it begins twisting to one side. As it continues twisting an amazing thing takes place. While the right eye remains in place, the left eye begins to travel up and over the top of the head—a little bit each day—and finally comes to rest next to the right one. (In a few species the right eye does the traveling.)

Why do you suppose the Creator provides this unusual experience to these little fish? The reason is that the flounder is a member of the "flatfish" family and, being a rather inactive fish, will spend most of its life lying on its left side in the sand or rocks of the ocean floor, snatching whatever food comes by. So if the left eye remained in its original place on the left side, it would then be of no use and would only be harmed by the sand and dirt into which it would be rubbing. So the Creator provided this unusual way of putting both eyes where they are useful. We can see this as an example of the pleasure He had in making so many wonderful things throughout His creation, as stated in the opening Bible verse and again in Rev. 4:11: "For Thou Nast created all things, and for Thy pleasure they are and were created."

Another verse tells us to "stand still, and consider the wondrous works of God." Job 37:14. This is good counsel as is this verse: "Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth." Eccl. 12:1.

You are of much more value to God than a little flounder on the floor of the ocean, and He wants you to accept His love by confessing that you are a sinner and need a Savior who is His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. When this is done sincerely, He immediately accepts you as His own child and assures you of a place in heaven with Him when you leave this world behind. If you have not yet taken this important step, won't you come to the Lord Jesus today?

God Watches Over All Fish: Part 1

"For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is." Ex. 20:11.

There are more than 20,000 kinds of fish, all designed by the Creator to fit right into the particular part of the ocean, lake or stream where He has placed them. Like birds, animals and humans they must have oxygen, and this they get from water, which contains a certain amount of dissolved oxygen. Water enters the mouth, and as it passes over the gills, the oxygen is absorbed into the blood stream. Carbon dioxide is formed during the breathing process and released into the water.

There are two principal kinds of fish. Most have bony skeletons supporting their bodies, but others, such as sharks and porpoises, have no bones (except in their jaws). Instead, their bodies are supported by a covering of tough, gristly, elastic cartilage. Fish are slim and streamlined, but there are interesting exceptions that do not resemble fish as we think of them. These may look like seaweed, rocks, the muddy bottom of their homes, or many other things. Thus they are hidden from enemies and also able to surprise unwary sealife that becomes their food. These camouflages did not come by chance. They were designed by their wise Creator.

Tails and fins are for swimming and guiding through the water. Most tails are vertical (up and down), divided into two parts and represent their source of power. But in a few the tail is flat and solid. Combined with the work of the tail are the fins, some behind the gills, some underside or on, the back and some near the tail. Each species has its own arrangement—some with the "dorsal" fin running the full length of the back and others with very small dorsals.

Then there are the important scales, representing their armor. However, some, such as certain bullheads and most catfish, do not have scales and instead have smooth, slippery skins. Scales usually cover the fish from head to tail, much like shingles over the roof of a house, overlapping in rows. They are hard, made of bony tissue and provide good protection for the flesh underneath. A fish's age can be determined by counting the yearly rings on a scale, the same as is done with the rings of tree trunks.

To most of us everything beneath the surface of oceans and deep lakes is mysterious, but nothing is hidden from the One of whom the Bible verse says, "Neither is there any creature that is not manifest [visible] in His sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of Him with whom we have to do." Heb. 4:13. This reminds us that not only does the Lord God see every fish, small or great, but also sees each one of us at all times and knows all about us. What a happy thing it is to trust in Him as our personal Savior and know how real that watchful, loving care is!

God Watches Over All Fish: Part 2

"Thou, even Thou, art Lord alone; Thou hast made... the seas, and all that is therein, and Thou preservest them all." Neh. 9:6.

The study of fish is very interesting, and if space allowed, we could consider thousands of them, but we'll have to limit ourselves to just a few. One, the file fish, feeds on eelgrass which grows straight up from the ocean bottom. When the file fish is frightened it stands on its head among these grasses, waving with the current and is perfectly hidden.

Another salt-water fish, the porcupine, pumps itself up like a volleyball with dangerous-looking spikes (which actually only look sharp) all over its body, scaring off its enemy. A large fish of the Nile river, the birchir, is an odd one, with extra large scales and a big, single tail fanning out wider than its body. The strangest thing about it is its dorsal fins—twelve of them covering its entire back, making it look like an underwater sailboat.

The archer, a little fish of the East Indies, catches insects by firing well-aimed gobs of water at them, causing them to drop down and get devoured. Another, the angler, of both European and American waters, hides in deep, rocky places, putting out a fleshy "wand" on which a piece of its flesh looks like a good bite of food to others. When something comes to investigate, the angler grabs it in its big mouth and that's the end of that!

Grunions, each year from March through July, in the third or fourth night of a full moon only, swim up on sandy California beaches when tides are highest, scoop a hole in the sand and lay hundreds of eggs, then wriggle back through the sand to the water. No such high waves come again until the eggs are ready to hatch. When they do come, the soaked eggs pop open, and tiny, new grunions are carried out to sea to start their lives and repeat what their parents have done before them. Who do you think arranged this schedule?

The well-named toadfish is one of the ugliest fish with a large, thick head, teeth sticking out from its wide mouth, and vicious-looking, extra-large fins running the whole length of its back as well as under its stomach, plus other shield-like fins sticking out of its neck. One look at it is enough to frighten anyone.

Flying fish, when pursued, leap great distances through the air, as much as six feet above the surface and sometimes land on boat decks. These fish make nests in seaweed, and their eggs, looking like parts of these plants, are quite safe from predators.

But space has run out. Not one of these, nor any one of the millions of others, is forgotten by its Creator, as the above verse tells us and of whom the Bible also says: "Thy way is in the sea, and Thy path in the great waters." Psa. 77:19.

Wherever we look, we always see some wonder of God's creation.

The Scary Squid: Part 1

"The sea is His, and He made it: and His hands formed the dry land. O come, let us worship... our Maker." Psa. 95:5,6.

Millions of squid live in the world's oceans, many of them off the Atlantic coast of Newfoundland on south to the United States' waters, as well as the Pacific coast areas from the Aleutian Islands to South America. They are more abundant in the colder waters, but there are untold numbers elsewhere as well.

The longest on record was 57 feet from tip to tip, but larger ones undoubtedly live in deep places of the ocean where they are rarely seen by men. These are very vicious squid, able to kill small whales, porpoises, octopi, etc. and would not hesitate to kill and devour a person. But the Creator keeps them at depths where men do not venture, except in submarines.

There are nearly 400 species of squid, ranging from huge giants down to only six inches long. The smaller ones represent the greatest number and are harmless, living off tiny forms of marine life.

Regardless of size, all squid have bullet-shaped bodies, equipped with two large fins at the tail end and eight, long, snakey arms equipped with rows of tooth-like suckers rising up from the top of their heads. A 50-pound squid can spread these arms out about ten feet beyond its body and in addition has two, long, whip-like tentacles that reach even farther. The purpose of these arms and tentacles is to catch victims and pull them into a parrot-like beak in the center of the squid's head, where the captive is rapidly eaten.

Long before airplanes had jet engines, squid used a jet system provided by their Creator for swimming. It works by a loose mantle which fits over the squid's body below its ugly-looking eyes. This fills with water which squirts out through a "siphon" near its head to provide speeds up to 35 miles per hour. Usually a squid swims backwards, but the siphon is flexible and can be pointed up, down, ahead or sideways, to move the creature any direction.

Except for those seen in fish markets, it is unlikely any of us will ever come face to face with any of these creatures. However, they are really a wonderful example of God's handiwork, as the Bible states: "And God created great whales, and every living creature that moveth, which the waters brought forth abundantly, after their kind." Gen. 1:21.

But He is not only the God of creation, He is the God of love as well, as another Bible verse tells us: "In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him." 1 John 4:9. Have you experienced that love by accepting His Son, the Lord Jesus, as your Savior?

The Scary Squid: Part 2

"They that go down to the sea in ships... in great waters; these see the works of the Lord, and His wonders in the deep." Psa. 107:23,24.

While the squid is dreaded by fish and other marine life that are smaller, it also has many enemies that consider squid-food a very nice answer to their hunger. Fish larger than themselves—killer-whales, porpoises, octopi and other kinds of sea life—gobble up the small and medium-sized squid whenever they get a chance.

But squid are not without means of defense. In addition to being able to swim away faster than most anything else in water, the Creator has given them other means of self-protection. For one thing, its strong arms can often wind around an attacker, even if it is larger than itself, and kill it. But they have two other most-interesting defensive weapons that are frequently used. One is an ability to change color almost as fast as you can wink your eye, so that they blend in with their surroundings and are hidden from the enemy. Another is to shoot out a cloud of thick black ink, sometimes even making it in a shape and color that looks just like itself. Then it backs quickly away while the badly fooled enemy attacks the inky mass and, to his surprise, finds nothing there. Aren't these wonderful features the Creator has given them?

The shallow ocean shores of some California islands are one place -where great quantities of squid are caught. Every winter millions of them, six to eight inches long, come there to lay tremendous quantities of eggs, and fisherman (as well as sharks and other big fish) are always waiting for them -somehow knowing just when this will take place. They scoop up tons of them, but scarcely make a dent in their numbers. The same thing takes place in the Mediterranean Sea where they are caught in a similar manner. Millions of tons go to the world's fish markets from these and other places every year. Ocean workers, mentioned in the opening verse, as well as cruising tourists, tell of interesting encounters with squid; one common thrill is to see smaller ones jump from the water by means of their jet propulsion in leaps as high as 20 feet and 50 feet in distance. Sometimes they unintentionally land on board bigger boats and at other times jump over smaller ones.

Truly the works of the Lord are marvelous, and though we may not understand why He created some of these odd creatures, we know they serve His plan in ways known to Him. He also has a plan for every boy and girl, every man and woman. Have you thanked Him for His love for you and asked Him to show you what His plan is for you and how you can honor Him in your life?

The Spectacular Humpbacked Whale: Part 1

"And God created great whales, and every living creature... which the waters brought forth abundantly, after their kind." Gen. 1:21.

Some humpbacked whales are 50 feet long and weigh 40 tons. They are extremely strong, with big flippers and huge, flat tails controlling their motions. They can swim 25 miles per hour and at times dive nearly a mile below the surface. Although they seem gentle and playful they can be dangerous, too. Anyone closing in on a mother with her calf will find her quite ready to smash their small boat with a slap of her tail.

Looking down on one of these whales from above, its black back is not easy to distinguish from the dark water, and looking up from underneath, its white underparts blend with the sky. These safeguards represent provisions of the Creator, helping to protect them from their enemies—principally men above and sharks and killer whales below.

Of all mammals, whales are most perfectly at home in water, although they have to come up for air from time to time. Rising to the surface, they get rid of the stale air in their lungs through a "blowhole" on their backs. This makes what looks like a waterspout rising 12 feet or more into the air, but is actually just hot vapor condensing as their used air hits the cold atmosphere. Those who hunt whales (mostly just Eskimos now) watch for these "spouts" to locate their prey.

The greatest number of humpbacks are in the Pacific Ocean, many spending winters in the cold waters of Alaska and the Bering Sea where food is plentiful. Their thick coat of blubber keeps them warm in these cold waters. In springtime they migrate—some to Mexico and some to Hawaii (distances of about 6000 miles). Both places provide warm tropical waters where the females give birth to their babies (which are called calves) and shortly thereafter all return North. In the Atlantic similar migrations are made from northern Canadian waters to southern areas. These migrations are watched by people along those shores, just as they are watched on the West Coast.

We may wonder how these big creatures know when it is time to leave for the southern waters and how they find their way over such a great distance. You may have heard that recently one did get confused, left the ocean at San Francisco's Golden Gate and would have died if people hadn't managed to get it back to the ocean. But that was a rare exception of one that did not follow the God-given instincts that guide and instruct them.

How much more important it is for us to know the way to heaven, for we can never get there by our own efforts. The only way is by believing on the Lord Jesus Christ, who said: "I am the way, the truth, and the life." John 14:6. Are you trusting in that Way?

The Spectacular Humpbacked Whale: Part 2

"Behold, [God] spreadeth His light upon [the world], and covereth the bottom of the sea." Job 36:30.

On both the Atlantic and Pacific seacoasts great numbers of people gather each year to watch the migrations of humpbacked whales. They sometimes see whole schools throwing their big bodies into the air, as if competing with one another. At other times they are seen "lob-tailing" (standing on their heads with the rest of their bodies in the air), waving their big flukes and making huge splashes when they drop back to the surface.

Frequently they lift their tails above the water and bring them down, making tremendous waves. At other times they swim at great speed and "breach," leaping clear of the water and landing their entire bodies in one great splash. No wonder people gather by the thousands to see these performances!

As a porpoise will often do, some of these giants play tag with a large boat for an hour or so, coming up on one side, swimming under and popping up on the other, to the amusement of all on board. Playful by nature, they seem to enjoy showing off in all these ways.

The long migrations end in warm, shallow bays where calves are born under water. Some of these new calves are as long as 13 feet. Usually a female "nurse" is on hand and helps the mother push the newborn up to the surface for its first breath of fresh air. Isn't it amazing that the little one has been given an instinct by the Creator so that it doesn't breathe in water right after birth and drown? After experiencing fresh air for the first time, it drops back, and, again, a God-given instinct tells it to drink the warm rich milk of its mother. While doing this it must return to the surface for more air over and over again, until its hunger is satisfied.

The fathers (bulls) have a large number of mothers (cows) and calves for which they are responsible, but when danger comes they usually swim away, leaving the cows to take care of themselves and the little ones. That's not very brave of them, is it?

It is interesting that in the Bible where the ocean is spoken of it says: "There is that leviathan [whale], whom Thou hast made to play therein." Psa. 104:26. So we see that the Lord God, the Creator, intended whales to enjoy their playfulness, just as boys and girls do. And He is pleased for young people to be happy and playful, as long as they are also obedient, kind and thoughtful of others. True happiness is one of His great gifts and comes from faith in Him and His Word which tells us: "Whoso trusteth in the Lord, happy is he." Prov. 16:20. Is this true of you?

The Jellyfish: Part 1

"Their fish shall be according to their kinds, as the fish of the great sea, exceeding many." Ezek. 47:10.

Jellyfish, living near the surface of the sea, are related to the anemones, living at the bottom. Both have poisonous tentacles that sting invaders, either paralyzing or killing them. Then they devour them.

The jellyfish's transparent body, which looks like a colored umbrella, is 95% liquid, yet contains muscles, nerves and a digestive system. It floats on or near the surface of the water with its long tentacles dangling below. The "jelly" that forms the body has only one opening through which food, brought to it by the tentacles, is taken in and digested. The outer jelly's principal purpose is to keep it afloat.

The tentacles (20 or more of them, depending on the species) are almost all loaded with poisonous harpoons. Small fish are usually paralyzed when they approach too closely because these harpoons explode with corkscrew-like stingers that penetrate the victim's skin. The tentacles of other jellyfish, instead of shooting out stingers, immediately wrap themselves around any fish, crab or shrimp that bumps it. Either way, once a tentacle has hold of a captive, it curls its way up to the jellyfish's open mouth, drops in its meal and descends again to wait for another victim.

But not all fish that swim within range are caught. Some have been given an instinct by the Creator to swim safely between the tentacles when escaping from an enemy. Many of their pursuers are so intent on catching the smaller fish that they fail to see the tentacles and, bumping them, are themselves immediately captured. Of course, ii the little fish is careless and bumps one of these dangerous arms, that is the end of it, too.

Common jellyfish have little effect on swimmers who accidently bump them except for a prickly feeling that is similar to being stung by a nettle. However, some varieties with stronger poison can prove so painful that the swimmer cannot make it back to shore. So if you are swimming in the ocean and see a jellyfish, stay clear of it and be thankful it can't chase you.

Our opening Bible verse speaks of the great sea (ocean) having "exceeding many" kinds of fish. Here again we are reminded of the Creator's pleasure in the great variety of things He created. The people in Nehemiah's day included these thoughts as they praised the Lord, adding "and Thou preservest them all." Neh. 9:6. Later in the Bible we read, "He is before all things, and by Him all things consist [are preserved]." Col. 1:17.

How wonderful to know the Creator, not only as your preserver, but of more importance, as your personal Lord and Savior. Do you have a personal relationship with Him?

The Jellyfish: Part 2

"Happy is he... whose which made heaven, and earth, the sea, and all that therein is." Psa. 146:5,6.

On the preceding page we looked at the design and habits of jellyfish found in oceans all over the world. Following is a description of a few of them: The giant of them all is the Cyanea Arctica, measuring eight feet across its body and armed with tentacles 200 feet long. These live in cold northern waters and are seldom seen by men.

Perhaps the most talked of and feared is the Portuguese man-of-war, with 20 or more tentacles, also reaching down some 200 feet. It has a bright blue body and a gas-filled sail reaching above the surface for a means of travel with the wind. Its tentacles have enough poison to kill two dozen fish at a time and can prove fatal to a swimmer.

But there is another more to be feared than the man-of-war. That is the sea wasp found off the north coast of Australia. It has a transparent box-shaped and jet-propelled body and tentacles that also go deep into the ocean. It is perhaps the most deadly of all with an abundance of poison. This jellyfish kills more people each year than do sharks.

Another sky-blue variety is called "by-the-wind-sailor." Like a miniature man-of-war, it drifts with the wind and is sometimes stranded in great numbers on seashores. Its body is only two or three inches wide with short tentacles, which confine its catch to tiny fish or other sea life.

We only have space to mention one more, out of the vast number of these creatures. This one, the physalia, lives in the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian oceans. It is a beautiful blue, or sometimes pink, with tentacles from 40 to 100 feet long and, like some of the others, can kill a man. Strangely though, a small fish, named nemeus, makes its home among the physalia's deadly tentacles and even nibbles on them from time to time with no harm from the poison.

Little jellyfish are often carried by adults like a pile of saucers and eventually, one by one, break away to live their own lives.

Most jellyfish are quite pretty, and a person not knowing the danger might be tempted to pick one out of the water, but would soon regret doing so. This reminds us of Satan, the great deceiver, who likes to put hurtful temptations into our lives. How important to notice David's prayer: "By the word of Thy lips I have... [been kept from] the paths of the destroyer. Hold up my goings in Thy paths, that my footsteps slip not." Psa. 17:4,5. As our opening verse states, happiness is found only when we rely on the Lord God to preserve us from Satan's evil ways.

Beware the Puffer!

"Thou art the God that doest wonders: Thou hast declared Thy strength among the people." Psa. 77:14.

There are many strange things in the oceans. One of the most unusual is the puffer fish, of which there are some 100 species. It is given a variety of other names such as swellfish, sea porcupine, globefish, tiger puffer, etc. They are found in all the oceans, including several along the eastern and western shores of the United States.

Puffers are not pretty fish, except for a few of them such as the swellfish which is bright green above, and yellow on its sides and white underneath. The protruding eyes of most are unusual, sparkling green or blue and apparently able to see in just about every direction at once. But otherwise, these fish are not at all attractive, having bulging eyes, fat stomachs, rubbery fins and puckered mouths. Their skin is smooth and without scales.

The reason the title of this article says, "Beware the Puffer!" is because they are one of the most deadly fish in the seas—able to raise sharp spikes all over their bodies, able to bite with strong teeth, and, most importantly, able to kill with its deadly poison, which will be discussed in next week's issue.

Puffers, lacking a skeleton or ribs, can't swim like other fish because their tails and fins are not able to propel them very well. 'Instead, they often just drift in the ocean with their fins not doing much good and their tails merely acting as rudders. Because of this, they do not like deep waters, but stay near shores where they find their food—clams, oysters, marine worms and even crabs and shrimp. The amazingly strong jaws and hard, sharp teeth the Creator has given them, easily crunch the toughest shellfish to get at the inner parts.

The name puffer describes them very well when they defend themselves. At the threat of danger, great amounts of water or air are gulped into their stomachs. Their tough, elastic skin stretches with each gulp until they are as round as a ball and two or three times their normal size. At such times, on most of them sharp spikes rise straight out of their bodies, and it is a rare thing for even a shark to tackle one. When the threat is over they return to normal size.

Do you think the Lord God, who created them, gives any thought to such strange fish? The Bible assures us that He does, telling us, "The Lord is good to all; and His tender mercies are over all His works." Psa. 145:9. We may not understand why such unusual creatures were included in His creation, but we can be sure He had a purpose in creating them and now watches over them as He watches over each of us.

When we think of this we should remember another scripture, "The eyes of the Lord are in every place, beholding the evil and the good." Prov. 15:3.

Beware the Puffer

"Thou, even Thou, art Lord alone; Thou hast made... the earth, and all things that are therein, the seas, and all that is therein." Neh. 9:6.

On the preceding page it was mentioned that puffer fish are loaded with deadly poison. Let's consider this and its special hazard to those who eat it. One known as the tiger puffer, found along the shores of Japan, provides a good illustration.

In spite of its deadly threat, many people consider a puffer' dinner an outstanding treat. This is particularly true of some natives of Japan, where restaurants specializing in "fugu" (as they call it) make very elaborate dinners. High prices are charged, because the preparation can be done only by specially trained chefs who know how to remove the poison. They are also extremely clever in arranging paper-thin slices of the fish on platters so that they look like a sculptured bird, a tree, a flower, or many other designs.

Yet, when the Japanese order these meals, they are aware of the real danger, for no matter how careful the chef may be, it would take only the smallest speck of poison in one's stomach to bring a rapid and horrifying death, or at the least a terribly painful experience. Why then do they do this at such great expense and danger? Whatever the answer, great amounts of puffer are eaten even though deaths sometimes do result.

Without in any way criticizing our Japanese friends who have their own reasons for this practice, the danger involved reminds us of Satan's ways in tempting every boy and girl, as well as every grownup, with things in our lives—the things of this world—that are not for our good, but which he makes look appealing. His purpose is to turn us from the goodness and love of God and feed us his "poison," represented by the world and its attractions. The Apostle John, guided by the Holy Spirit, wrote, "Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world." 1 John 2:15,16.

How important it is for us to pay attention to these warnings! The Bible also tells us something better, "The fear [reverence] of the Lord is clean, enduring forever: the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold.... Moreover by them is Thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward." Psa. 19:9-11. The Lord is able to guide and protect each one of us and keep us from Satan's poison.

The Bluefin Tuna

"Let the heaven and earth praise Him, the seas, and everything that moveth therein." Psa. 69:34.

There are few places in the world where you would find people who have not tasted and enjoyed tuna fish. There are many varieties of them, and it is estimated that about two million tons are caught each year for the fish markets or by sportsmen.

The largest is the bluefin that in mature size matches a shark or porpoise; a big one reaches 13 feet in length and weighs half a ton. But most that are caught are around three feet long, which is big enough to give a sports fisherman a real battle.

Although found in every ocean, many live in the Atlantic Ocean, with Nova Scotia and Norway being two of the places where great numbers feed. Big ones, ten feet or longer, are often taken in these places. Most are packed in ice and shipped to cities throughout Canada, the United States and Europe, as well as many being flown to other countries.

The bluefin shares with all tuna a very distinctive shape. From its large mouth to the very narrow connection at its crescent-shaped vertical tail, it is as streamlined as a dolphin, enabling it to glide through the water as easily as a bird sails through the air. It is a pretty fish, deep-blue along its well-muscled body in which the Creator has provided an extra-strong heart, so that many live to be 30 to 35 years old. It is swift and active all its life—on occasion speeding up to 50 miles per hour!

The Atlantic tuna migrate each year from the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico and the Mediterranean Sea in schools estimated to contain as many as 10,000. These migrations, as far north as the Arctic Circle and back, set a long-distance record in the fish world.

Females lay tremendous quantities of eggs which float near the surface. These hatch and grow rapidly, but many become the victims of hungry sea creatures. Those that survive weigh about nine pounds in a year's time and become mature in three or four years, but keep on growing no matter how old they become.

Tuna, as well as all other creatures, are always under God's care and live their lives through instincts He has given them. In the Bible we also find that "His eyes are upon the ways of man, and He seeth all his goings." Job 34:21. We should thank Him for this, but even more for the message, "In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live [have eternal life] through Him." 1 John 4:9. Have you thanked Him for that love and made the Lord Jesus Christ your own Savior?

Tasty Shrimp

"Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear." Heb. 11:3.

Most everyone likes shrimp, but not everyone knows that the tasty shrimp in salads and casseroles is just the underpart of their broad tails.

There are over 2000 varieties throughout the world, including tiny brine shrimp in Utah's Great Salt Lake, an 18-inch, three-pound one m the Philippine islands, and skinny ghost shrimp found in the sand of some seashores. It is easy to confuse them with prawns. Although there are some large shrimp, the prawn is more than twice the size of the common kind and has a long saw-toothed beak compared with the sharp, short and smooth one of the shrimp.

The shrimp that finds its way to our tables inhabits America's shores by the billions, mostly in the Gulf of Mexico, but similar numbers are also under the Arctic ice. More than 10,000 boats constantly engage in taking thousands of tons monthly from the Gulf of Mexico. It might be thought that this would soon wipe them all out, but not so. The Creator has given them an interesting life pattern, providing a sure place in their salt water homes.

Although they prefer shallow shore waters, three times a year, on a night when a full moon is shining, the adult shrimp leave the shore areas and ride on an outgoing tide into deep water. There, before returning to their base, each female releases about half a million eggs so tiny it takes a microscope to see one. The eggs not devoured by fish, hatch out in 24 hours and after a few weeks reach a visible size and allow incoming tides to carry them to shore waters where, in six months, they reach full size. Soon they do exactly as their parents did before them—swim out to deep waters on moonlit nights, lay untold millions of eggs, and the cycle starts all over again.

So many billions of these hatch out that it would seem the water would be saturated with them, as it indeed would be if most were not eaten by fish and birds, or taken by trawler boats. Similar quantities hatching out in Arctic waters form a supply of rich food for fish, whales, penguins, seals, etc.

This is another example of the way the Creator provides for His creatures, as the Bible verse says, "These wait all upon Thee; that Thou mayest give them their meat in due season. That Thou givest them they gather." Psa. 104:27,28. And it is not only fish, birds and animals that He provides for. Another Bible verse, speaking of the Lord Jesus, says of Him, "Nevertheless He left not Himself without witness, in that He did good, and gave us rain from heaven, and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness." Acts 14:17.

Have you ever thanked Him for His care over you? Do you really know this wonderful Provider as your very own Lord and Savior?

Turtles and Tortoises

"The Almighty, we cannot find Him out: He is excellent in power, and in judgment." Job 37:23.

There is so little difference between turtles and tortoises that they should probably all have the same name. But in general, those living along ocean beaches or close to other water are called turtles, and those with homes in deserts or on land elsewhere are known as tortoises. None have teeth but very effectively use their sharp-hooked beaks and sharp edges of their mouths as good substitutes.

All lay eggs in nests dug in sand or soft earth by females using their hind feet. They lay from a handful to 100 eggs or more, covering them carefully and leaving them to incubate in the warmth of the sun. Hatching, the babies dig their little bodies out of the nest and are "on their own," for the mother has forgotten all about them. Those that survive such enemies as skunks, raccoons, snakes, large birds, etc., may live for 50 years or longer.

One called the wood turtle should perhaps be called a tortoise, for it wanders far into forest lands during summer but hibernates under water in winter. This is one of the larger turtles and carries a large olive-green shell with spiderweb-like patterns all over it.

Another, known as the spotted turtle, likes to stay near wet areas in searching for food and making its home. It got its name from the bright yellow spots that appear all over its coal-black shell.

One from Mexico, protected from hunting by the government, is the Bolson tortoise, weighing up to 30 pounds. It has an unusually heavy, wrinkly looking, yellow shell and armor-like plates on its forelegs. It digs a 20-foot-long burrow with the spade-like feet and sharp claws of its front legs, going right through hard soil without difficulty. The long burrow is a nice retreat from both the heat and cold of Mexico's climate. It gets along fine in its waterless surroundings, never needing a drink, for the Creator has arranged for it to get all the moisture it needs from the plants and vegetation it eats.

The more we study God's creation, the more our attention is drawn to the great variety in His handiwork.

Different species of bees, ants, bears, deer, turtles and many others tell us of His pleasure in creating them—alike, but different! Let us always remember that no creature ever appeared by chance -all were created in the Lord God's infinite wisdom and for His pleasure. "Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power: for Thou hast created all things, and for Thy pleasure they are and were created." Rev. 4:11.

Turtles and Tortoises

"O give thanks to the Lord.... To Him who alone doeth great wonders: for His mercy endureth forever." Psa. 136:3,4.

In the rivers of the Mississippi Valley, the alligator snapping turtle makes its home. Measuring about four feet from its snout to the end of its tail and weighing about 150 pounds, it is considered the ugliest and most dangerous of all turtles. Three rows of rough bony ridges run from front to back on its yellowish top shell. In the water it makes its meals of frogs, fish, worms and even small turtles and is swift as a rattlesnake in capturing them. It does not attack humans unless annoyed, but its immense jaws could bite a man's arm or foot off.

It has an interesting way of catching fish. Lying in a quiet spot at the bottom of a stream or pond, its wide-open mouth exposes a tongue on which a piece of pink flesh, looking like an angle-worm, wriggles back and forth. This makes an effective bait, attracting small fish which hope to make a meal of the "worm." So right into the turtle's mouth one swims, and you guessed it—instead of getting a meal, it becomes a meal.

Another interesting one is the gopher tortoise, named for the extra-long tunnel it digs with a roomy den at the end. It sometimes shares this den with a gopher, frog, an owl, snake or raccoon, getting along very peacefully with them while in the den. This tortoise's black shell gives the appearance of lumps of coal glued together.

One unusual turtle is the Matamata of South America. Its rather flat shell has hard spikes over the top to discourage predators. It has a long neck and pointed head Turtles and Tortoises and paralyzes its prey by dousing it with a mouthful of poisonous spray.

A book could be written about these strange animals, but we have space for just one more, the eastern box turtle. Its high brown shell is decorated with tan figures, some of which look like letters of the alphabet. This shell provides an unusual amount of security, for the turtle can completely draw its head, tail and legs under it, with further protection from a flexible seal all around where the top shell meets the under shell. The underside hinges in the middle so it can box itself in tightly.

The Creator has given each turtle and tortoise just the right equipment for the conditions under which it lives, and the opening Bible verse expresses that this wisdom and power, beyond our ability to fully understand, comes from Him. Each of us should often thank Him for His love and goodness to us in so many ways. But we should particularly thank Him for the death of His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, on Calvary's cross that has provided salvation to all who put their trust in Him and know Him as their Lord and Savior.

More About the Crocodile

"Whatsoever the Lord pleased, that did He in heaven, and in earth, in the seas, and all deep places." Psa. 135:6.

Some time ago we briefly considered the crocodile, the largest of all "reptiles," including South America's huge snakes. Now let's look at it a little more closely. There are some 25 species throughout Africa, Asia, Australia and some Pacific islands, as well as in South and Central America and the Everglades of Florida.

Crocodiles are related to alligators, but grow bigger, have longer, more slender, heads and when their jaws are closed, one large tooth shows on each side (making an ugly grin). The alligator's mouth doesn't show these teeth unless it is open.

Perhaps you have seen crocodiles in a zoo and thought they were rather clumsy, but in the wild they are surprisingly fast on land, and in water their big tails and webbed hind feet move them along even more swiftly. They are expert at swimming silently below the surface, snatching unsuspecting birds and small animals that are on the surface. The Creator has adapted them to a watery life, providing a feature that closes nostrils, ears and throats when submerged, as well as keen eyesight—even after dark—with big bulging eyes. Their bodies are covered with tough, leather-like armor; their jaws have sharp, vicious teeth, and long tails serve as a fearful weapon. When their loud roars bellow out and these weapons are in action, it is no wonder that they are one of the most feared of all animals!

A female crocodile lays about three dozen eggs in a sun-warmed trench which she has dug out with her tail. She covers the eggs with sand or dirt and guards them, with time-out only to search for food. Disaster awaits any intruder that threatens to dig them up! At the end of a month-long incubation, as the little ones begin to hatch, her keen ears hear their sounds through the soil. Uncovering them with her sharp claws, she picks up a dozen or more at a time in her mouth without harming them and carries them to the water where she leaves them on their own. The six-inch youngsters are quite capable of finding their own food, but many become victims of raccoons, storks, cranes and even adult crocodiles until they increase in size, so that out of three dozen only six or so may survive.

The crocodile has its place in God's creation and is included just as every person is—in the Bible verse: "Known unto God are all His works from the beginning of the world." Acts 15:18. But the crocodile's life is just for this world, whereas the life of each of us is for eternity. Can you say that "your life is hid with Christ in God" (Col. 3:3) through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ?

A Look at the Unusual: Chapter 6

"The Lord is good to all: and His tender mercies are over all His works." Psa. 145:9

Odd Creatures of the Sea

"Sing unto the Lord a new song, and His praise from the end of the earth, ye that go down to the sea." Isa. 42:10.

There are over 20,000 species of fish in the world, and all have been designed by the Creator for the particular part of the ocean, or other bodies of water, where they live. Let's look at a few that make their home in the Red Sea.

One of them, a foot-long fish called the stargazer, hides itself completely in the ocean's sandy bottom, with only its strange mouth showing with teeth that look like broken pieces of spaghetti. Small fish, curious about this exhibit, are immediately snapped up by the stargazer's vicious mouth.

Garden eels anchor their tails in burrows at the sea bottom; the rest of their yard-long bodies are held straight up toward the surface, swaying in the current and looking like stalks of seaweed. They never leave that position (except when frightened), but sway toward one another—sometimes in a friendly way—sometimes to fight. If a diver or another object frightens them they sink into their burrows, completely hidden, and remain there until the danger is past. Small bits of marine life drifting by provide food for them.

The jet-black razor fish is very timid and when frightened drops to the bottom and lies there like a piece of black rubber or a greasy rag until the intruder, apparently fooled, leaves the area. Like the stargazer, sometimes it will bury itself in the sand.

Still another Red Sea native is a six-inch-wide, bright-red sea urchin, related to and looking a little like a starfish. This one has hundreds of black prickly spines all over its body, just like a porcupine, to protect it.

Another odd one is the dark-brown sea moth, with a long, narrow snout and heavy, armor-like coat just the color of the sandy ocean floor. As it glides slowly along with almost transparent "wings" spread out, it is almost invisible. But when pursued it can put on a burst of speed to escape all but the swiftest fish. The armor becomes too tight for the sea moth as it grows, and drops off from time to time, but is soon replaced by new armor.

A snapping shrimp and a little fish called the goby, are real chummy companions and make their home together in a burrow in the sea bottom. This shows how well they get along; the shrimp uses its claws to keep the burrow entrance open and while doing this, it makes sure one of its tentacles is always touching its companion. If the goby senses danger it wiggles its body in warning, and the shrimp immediately scoots down the burrow—followed promptly by the goby.

These are just a few of the millions of fish watched over by the Creator. His eyes never leave them, just as He watches over every person in the world, for we are told, "The eyes of the Lord are in every place, beholding the evil and the good." Prov. 15:3. What do His eyes see as He looks at you?

A Ferocious Caterpillar

"And God made... everything that creepeth upon the earth after his kind: and God saw that it was good." Gen. 1:25.

Caterpillars are usually considered a pest in gardens, but otherwise they are just ugly, harmless creatures. But on the island of Hawaii there are several species of one known as a fighter caterpillar. It comes equipped with sharp claws and strong jaws, making its meals out of insects flying or crawling within its reach. These caterpillars are only about an inch long and are camouflaged to look like a colored leaf or a twig, from which they reach out to catch their prey.

Examined closely, they resemble a miniature spike-covered golden fist with six fingers, each of which is equipped with a needle-like spear. With these they reach out so fast that if a person is not watching closely he will miss the action and wonder how that insect ever got into the caterpillar's claw.

These well-armored creatures are the larvae of an unusual Hawaiian butterfly which lays eggs, two or three at a time, on leaves, where they hatch out looking like little worms. These larvae go through some molting stages, finally spinning cocoons around their bodies and later emerging as pretty butterflies. It is before the cocoon is formed that this vicious way of life takes place.

While in the larval stage they are sometimes referred to as "earth measurers," because of their looping way of moving about, like some American caterpillars do. To do this, with their hind legs they first firmly grasp the surface on which they lie, then stretch out full length before changing the grip from b ack to front. The back then moves forward in a horseshoe-like loop, gets another grip on the surface, and the process is repeated over and over. If an insect gets in the way it is either devoured or knocked out of the way with the "looper's" tough head.

At times, instead of going forward, one will move down to a lower spot by anchoring a spider-like thread, which it extrudes at the starting point, then dropping away, it extrudes as much more thread as is needed to reach the desired spot. Then it resumes business in a normal way.

We might wonder why the Creator made such awkward bits of life, but they have a definite place as part of His creation. Caterpillars are always mentioned in the Bible in connection with God's judgment against evil. This is a solemn reminder that in a future day those who have not accepted the Lord Jesus as their Savior will be brought into terrible judgment.

But those who know the Lord Jesus Christ as their Savior will never face that judgment, because they have trusted the only One who could, and did, bear that judgment for them. His promise to these is eternal life in the splendors of heaven.

Which group are you in?

Hidden Insects: Part 1

"Can any hide himself in secret places that I shall not see him? saith the Lord." Jer. 23:24.

In numerous forms of animal, fish and bird life the Creator has provided protective camouflage to their surroundings, but in none of them is this as remarkable as with insects, which represent a principal part of the food of birds, fish, snakes, etc. When insects follow the way the Creator has marked out for them, they are hidden from their enemies, even though they are actually exposed to full view.

Most frequently this camouflage is by means of coloring or the imitation of the surface on which they are resting or feeding, and the fact that most of them can remain perfectly still for long periods of time adds to their safety. There are literally thousands of insects so protected in very interesting ways, and it would take much more space than available here to consider them all. But we will give a few examples.

Some, for instance, known as stick insects, with odd-shaped legs and bodies, perfectly match the dead leaves on which they rest and look exactly like a part of the leaf as they lie openly without moving throughout daylight hours, waiting until it is dark to eat the leaves. Birds often alight on nearby branches, never suspecting they are missing out on a tasty morsel.

The green wings and bodies of other insects are spotted in such a way as to give the appearance of leaves that have been partially eaten or damaged. Others, the exact color of a given flower, sit on its petals and appear to be part of it. An outstanding example of these are known as African planthoppers and come in two colors—green and yellow. When feeding on a bush of their favorite food, the green ones go above where they look like the green buds which they are devouring, while the yellow ones go below to feast on the yellow flowers which they match perfectly.

Some caterpillars that are able to remain motionless for hours are thin and covered with rough spots, so that they look exactly like twigs jutting out from plants or bushes. At times they hold to a bare branch with their hind feet only, the front part of their bodies sticking out stiffly in the air. These are so perfectly disguised that a photographer, who once happened to spot one and took its picture, wasn't able later to tell it from other parts of the branch when his finished photograph was right before him!

These insects can "hide" themselves from their enemies, but as the opening Bible verse tells us, they cannot hide from their Creator whose eyes are always on every creature, including every human being. What does He see when He is looking at you?

The following page will "take a look" at a few more of these hidden insects.

Hidden Insects: Part 2

"For by Him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible." Col. 1:16.

The adjoining page told of a few insects that have a God-given ability to conceal themselves from their enemies by various disguises, even though they are actually in plain view. Let's look at a few more of them.

Some insects are protected, not because they are concealed, but because they look like others that are left alone because they are poisonous or have a terrible taste, and the predator can't tell one from the other. One of these is the yellow and black tiger moth of Arizona that looks like a very distasteful beetle and so is avoided by the hungriest bird or snake.

Another, the larva of swallowtail butterflies, has the appearance of a vicious small snake, with what look like huge eyes and a big mouth, but which are really only marks on a swelling on its body a short distance behind a real but harmless mouth. These don't need to hide themselves. Attackers are scared away just by their deceptive looks.

Treehoppers, which suck juice from plants, look like thorns along the stems they feed on and fool birds, even when such plants may have no real thorns naturally. And the American katydid looks precisely like a spotted green leaf, while a grasshopper on one of Africa's deserts can instantly change its color to match pebbles on the ground wherever it alights.

Sphinx moths' wings have a pattern looking so much like the bark of trees to which they cling in the daylight that even if one is seen alighting it seems to disappear if the eyes of the searcher are turned away for a moment or two.

The walking-leaf beetle of the Philippines lays eggs that look like seeds. When they hatch, the babies are the same color as the buds on which they feed. When fully grown, their bodies look like the leaves on which they then feed. In addition, their legs have yellow edges which appear to be leaves which have been nibbled. On a windy day they hang from a branch and move with the wind just as the leaves next to them do. How wonderfully the Creator has provided these safety features for those we have considered and many, many more of them!

The opening Bible verse assures us that nothing is invisible to Him who has created it. This includes every human being, and God has provided wonderful protection from Satan's power for all who are in the shelter of the Lord's love.

Another verse assures us of this. "He that dwelleth in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty." Psa. 91:1. When your trust is in the Lord Jesus, you are sure of His loving shelter. Are you sheltered by Him?

The Goldenrod and the Gallfly

"The Lord is good to all: and His tender mercies are over all His works." Psa. 145:9.

While most plants flower in the spring or early summer, the goldenrod doesn't make its pretty display along America's country roads, at the edge of farmer's fields, in meadows or on hillsides until fall. Those who are fond of its yellow flowers are sorry that it has a bad name with many, because of hay fever problems experienced when the goldenrod is blooming. Some plant experts insist it is not so much the goldenrod that causes this discomfort, but rather the natural result of the change in weather which takes place at that time.

Actually, its technical name of solidago means "to heal or make well." Perhaps it was given this name before present-day medicines were available and when bandages for cuts and injuries were frequently made by pressing its leaves against painful wounds. When early settlers couldn't secure tea or coffee, it was handy to learn that goldenrod leaves made a pretty good substitute. As a further item of interest, both Kentucky and Nebraska have made it their state flower.

A principal benefit of this plant, as designed by the Creator, is to help many insects at a time when other flowers are no longer avail-. able. To some it is an important source of pollen, while to others the seeds and petals provide valuable food. Bees, butterflies, moths, etc. come to it, some even crawling into its flowers at nighttime to keep warm. Some lay their eggs in the blossoms.

One of the insects that finds a very special use for goldenrods is the gallfly. Females, ready to lay their eggs, repeatedly puncture some of its main stems, placing an egg in each hole, along with a fluid that causes a "gall" (a lump about the size of a cherry) to form. The egg inside this gall soon hatches into a larva and through the winter develops further into a pupa (chrysalis). In the spring this odd-appearing pupa sheds its cocoon, and, very hungry, chews on the nourishing gall. As its body developer, it gains enough strength to butt against the tough outer skin of its prison until it breaks through and flies away in mature form.

How interesting to see how the Creator has provided in such an unusual way for this little fly to start its life. It seems natural for us to be impressed with things of great splendor, but often the Lord speaks to us through little things such as this, as well.

As the Bible verse at the top of our page reminds us, the Lord is good to all His creatures, but His care goes out to mankind with a special love. This includes you and me, whether we are small or great. It is only through this care and love that "we live, and move, and have our being," as we are told in Acts 17:28. Let us thank Him every day of our lives for this wonderful love and care.

The Quarrelsome Stickleback

"Thou, even Thou, art Lord alone; Thou hast made... the seas, and all that is therein, and Thou preservest them all." Neh. 9:6.

Sticklebacks are a common fish found in both fresh and salt waters across the United States. They get their name from the sharp spines standing up on top of their bodies. The most common is the threespined variety, a very lively little fellow about two inches long. There is also a 4-spined, a 10-spined and a 15-spined, which, at four inches long, is the largest of all.

The one we will look at is the three-spined, rather pretty in its grayish-golden color that takes on added patches of red in the springtime. In spite of its small size it is a tough fighter, especially in nesting season.

Two of them in combat will dart and snap at each other. If one gets his teeth in, he will hang on like a bulldog, whirling around and around until the other admits defeat and escapes. When this happens the winner's shining green sides, golden and scarlet head and silvery-white stomach become brighter, but the loser's colors fade in defeat. However, if he wins a battle later, the bright colors come out again.

Sometimes after the winner has chased the loser away, the loser gets bold and chases the winner back home. Then they go at it again, never actually fighting, but chasing back and forth until they get tired of the game.

Fights are usually in defense of a nest composed of all kinds of fibers found in the water and fastened together with a sticky material given off by the male. In defending his nest, this little fellow's fierceness is great enough to scare away fish much larger than itself.

The nest builder (male) convinces several females to use it as a place to lay their eggs. Strangely, a female will often turn right around and eat the eggs she has just laid if the male fighter doesn't chase her away. The eggs incubate in ten days and then the nest he has worked so hard on is destroyed. Most of his time is then spent guarding the young ones until they are able to take care of themselves.

It surely seems strange that, contrary to the usual pattern of parents, the mother fish has no interest in her young ones, and if the father didn't care for them they would not survive. But it is another example of the Creator's interest in making a wide variety of creatures, and we know from the verse at the beginning of this article that He cares for even such tiny beings as these. We, too, need God's care and protection, and He tells us to "Seek the Lord and His strength, seek His face continually. Remember His marvelous works that He hath done, His wonders, and the judgments of His mouth." 1 Chron. 16:11,12. Have you thanked Him for such loving care?

Leaf-Cutting (Parasol) Ants: Part 1

"And God made the beast of the earth after his kind... and everything that creepeth upon the earth after his kind." Gen. 1:25.

There are over 12,000 kinds of ants throughout the world, all extremely interesting. The one we will now consider is particularly so in many ways. Some of the leaf-cutting ant colonies in Central and South America contain a million ants or more, and tons of soil are often dug by them while making such big nests with their many rooms.

This ant is not interested in seeds, fruit, or any kind of food except that which is made in its own home from pieces of green leaves, farmed and tended by them very carefully. Just getting these leaf pieces to the nest is a big project.

First, scouts are given the duty of finding a tree with the right kind of leaves and then marking out a trail to it with special odors. In ways provided by their Creator, they pass the word when this is done. Then workers, having sharp mandibles like the teeth of a saw, go to the tree, each selecting a suitable leaf and cutting out sections much larger than themselves. These they pass, one by one, to another worker which lifts it up over her head like a parasol, except that it stands upright. With this accomplished she joins hundreds of others walking in a single line back to the nest over the marked trail which may be 400 or 500 feet long (which would be like a person walking 20 miles with a heavy load). Usually they do this several times a night!

Under certain conditions pesky flies, that want to lay eggs in the carrier's body while it is occupied with its load, light on the piece of leaf, waiting for an opportunity to attack. But the ants prepare for this by sending along a tiny sister ant who hops aboard the leaf after it has been hoisted up, scurrying over it, front and back and top to bottom, all the way to the nest and chases away any flies that show up. On arrival, it hops down and returns to the tree to make a similar trip with another carrier ant.

We might ask, who taught these ants such amazing tricks? Or, for that matter, how did they learn to cut leaf sections and store them away for food? As the Bible verse above tells us the Lord God created the ants, just as He did all living things, and He gave them instincts distinguishing one kind from another that often amaze us. David, the psalmist, in thinking on these wonderful provisions, wrote: "The works of the Lord are great, sought out of all them that have pleasure therein. His work is honorable and glorious.... He hath made His wonderful works to be remembered." Psa. 111:2-4.

When we look on all the wondrous things about us, let us always remember who it is that has made them.

Leaf-Cutting (Parasol) Ants: Part 2

"And all men shall fear [respect], and shall declare the work of God; for they shall wisely consider of His doing." Psa. 64:9,

We have just considered how these amazing leaf-cutting ants gather green leaves for a food supply in their nests. What kinds of leaves do they gather? They are chosen with care and always with a preference for orange, lemon, lime or grapefruit leaves. This presents a real problem for fruit growers who discover all the leaves from a single tree removed during one night's time.

What do the ants do with these leaves? Here again we see an amazing procedure in the wonders of God's creation. Awaiting delivery of them by the carriers (mentioned in last week's paper) are great numbers of workers who accept them and chew them up into a pulp (but do not swallow them). This pulp is turned over to yet other workers who coat it with an acid-like moisture before taking it to a storage area inside the nest.

While waiting many days for this to ferment and produce a coating 01 fungus, all deposits are carefully guarded by still other workers. Soon the fungus appears all over the surface of the pulpy pile, and this becomes the main food of the colony.

As this busy program goes on day and night, a certain amount of food spoils. There is also a problem of foreign insects coming in and being killed, as well as the death of some workers. Being very clean creatures, it is the duty of some to dispose of such things by carrying them promptly to an outside "garbage dump."

The methodical ants have a highly developed method of distributing the fungus food, which is the responsibility of another group of workers. They deal it out as follows: tiny workers who just tend the garden and feed the babies get the least amount; leaf-cutters and carriers get portions sufficient to keep up their strength; and the biggest amount goes to soldiers who fiercely defend the nest when necessary and to the queen and "princesses" (who will soon be starting colonies of their own). These latter ones really get the "cream of the crop."

If human beings tried such a program, long training would be. required, and even then there would be many who wouldn't work out too well. But the ants need no training. Each one just goes into its act as it is able and stays on the job for its lifetime. This is another example of the Creator showing His care for all His creation and reminds us of His word in the Bible: "Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise: which having no guide, overseer, or ruler, provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest." Prov. 6:6-8. Let us each prepare for a future eternity by trusting in the Lord Jesus Christ as our Savior today.

Four Unusual Frogs

"There is a time... for every purpose and for every work." Eccl. 3:17.

One of the first signs of spring throughout North America is a nighttime sound like tinkling bells from ponds and marshes announcing that the little peeper frogs are coming out of their winter mud-baths. Peepers don't care which day is the first day of spring according to our calendars. 'or them it is the first day temperatures rise to about 50° F. The males then appear, soon followed by the females which have been attracted by their pretty chorus. Tiny tadpoles soon hatch from sticky eggs laid in great numbers in shallow water, and it takes these tadpoles most of the summer to change into mature frogs. Peepers are all of one family, though some may be tan-colored while others are orange or reddish-brown.

The Coqui frog of Puerto Rico is also small—less than two inches long, and three together weigh less than a pound. Only the males "sing," but their croaks sound about as loud as a noisy motorboat. These noisy little creatures usually sleep in the daytime and come out only at night, but after a heavy shower they all come out and join in a chorus, making a terrible racket -whether day or night.

Equador is the home of the pouched frog, so named because the female has a pouch on her back where her male companion tucks the dozen or more eggs she has laid. When the eggs are ready to hatch out as miniature frogs, the mother goes to a nearby pool under the trees and releases them out of her pouch by using a long toe on one of her hind feet to pull open a slit on her back. The tiny froglets, happy to leave their crowded home, hop into the pool and start life on their own. Soon they climb to the high tops of tropical trees where their bright-green bodies are well hidden among the leaves. Some of the leaves hold little pools of rainwater, providing the moisture all frogs must have.

Another South American species is called the poison dart because natives use a poison found in them to make their arrows and other weapons more effective. The eggs of these frogs are laid on watery ground, and when these little frogs hatch out they are carried piggyback by the parents to plants growing high among the treetops. Here they find necessary water, just as their cousins, the pouched frogs, do.

Frogs are not liked by everyone, except perhaps young boys and animal-lovers, but they are God's creatures and serve His purpose in our interesting world and are under His watchful care. We may not understand His purposes for all creatures, but we can understand a wonderful purpose He has for all boys and girls and men and women who love Him, as expressed in Rom. 8:28: "All things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose." Does this verse apply to you? If you know the Lord Jesus as your Savior it surely does.

The Hard-to-Reach Goeduck

"But be ye glad and rejoice forever in that which I create." Isa. 65:18.

The geoduck is not a bird, as the name would suggest. It is a large clam found deep in the sand off the ocean shorelines of Washington, Oregon and northern California. Its name comes from an Indian word meaning "dig deep," but has been changed to the comical name gooey-duck. It is one of the largest clams, except for some deep-ocean giant clams that reach 500 pounds and may be up to four feet long.

Something odd is that its five-pound body bulges out all around the two halves of its seven-inch shell, which seems not large enough to give it full protection. But the Creator has not made a mistake in this design; He has well adapted it to its home beyond the shoreline. Only twice a year is this creature slightly exposed to danger. Here is how that comes about.

The geoduck's body is always completely buried under about three feet of sand, but has a siphon (tube) extending above the sand into the water through which it secures food from water washing over it. Fish may see the top of the siphon, but leave it alone since they don't know what's at the other end, nor could they dig through the sand to reach it if they wanted to.

But there are two-day periods twice a year (in spring and fall) when extra-low tides take place, and only then can clam-diggers reach them. However, they aren't easy to find, because the moment digging starts the gooey-duck quickly pulls its siphon all the way down, and the hunter, digging through three feet of sand with a shovel and bare hands, often cannot locate the clam.

Because these large clams are now so scarce, people are not allowed to catch more than one a day during these two periods each year. But most clam-diggers consider them well worth the effort because of the wonderful flavor of more than four pounds of clean, boneless clam meat when made into chowder or cut into strips and fried with a cracker-crumb coating. However they are eaten, one clam supplies enough meat to make two good meals for most families.

As we have noticed in some of our other articles, there are many odd creatures in the oceans. But they all are a part of God's creation, and when He brought them forth He proclaimed, "Be fruitful, and multiply, and fill the waters in the seas." Gen. 1:22. They have done this "after their kind" ever since, never changing into something else, as we sometimes read or hear. The Lord God declared that everything He made "was good," and nothing has needed a long period to evolve to its present state.

His instruction to young people is, "Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth" (Eccl. 12:1), and also, "Stand still, and consider the wondrous works of God." Job 37:14. It is well worthwhile to do this. These instructions carry much wisdom.

Hidden Outdoor Life

"Yea, the darkness hideth not from Thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to Thee." Psa. 139:12.

Most of us give little thought to the living creatures God has formed to fill important, but hidden places in the world around us.

The very soil and grassy lawns we walk on are good examples. Just a teaspoonful of dirt may contain countless tiny forms of plant and animal life which can only be seen with a microscope. The most important of these are bacteria which help keep the soil clean and replace nutrients when they decompose dead insects and vegetation. Of course we all know there are angleworms and a variety of bugs, as well as moles and other creatures beneath the surface, but we can't

grasp how many there actually are. All are a part of the Creator's great plan and are important in enriching the soil in which much of our food is grown.

Rocks on a hillside are often covered with moss or other growth, and many living things hide beneath these soft covers, including tiny mites, beetles, ants, centipedes, even mice, toads, moths, snails and innumerable other things. Rainwater trapped in a crevice of a rock is often the home of larvae wriggling their way into becoming mosquitoes. A rotting log is also sure to contain untold numbers of hidden life, including microbes, more bacteria, several kinds of ants, termites, slugs, lizards and others.

Enjoying a salt-water beach, few people are even aware that living things are hidden in the sand. Tiny crabs, shellfish, various worms, fleas and numerous other insects are there, and a great amount of unseen life is out in the ocean waters beyond them.

Underwater creatures also hide in streams under rocks or in the shelter of an overhanging tree. You would be amazed at all the nymphs, larvae, crawlers, worms and even spiders down there, along with others which become an important source of food for the fish.

But there is One from whom nothing can hide—the Creator Himself—of whom the Bible tells us: "For there is nothing hid, which shall not be manifested [made known]." Mark 4:22.

If any reader is trying to hide from God, it is impossible, "For His eyes are upon the ways of man, and He seeth all his goings." Job 34:21. Just stop and consider that He knows all about you, and realize how important it is to ask, as the Psalmist did: "Show Thy marvelous loving-kindness, O Thou that savest by Thy right hand them which put their trust in Thee.... Hide me under the shadow of Thy wings." Psa. 17:7,8. Have you put your trust in this loving Savior?

Lizards Are Almost Everywhere

"Many, O Lord my God, are Thy wonderful works which Thou host done, and Thy thoughts which are to us-ward." Psa. 40:5.

In Australia and New Guinea the frilled lizard—30 inches long, including a 10-inch tail—makes its home. When threatened, it opens its mouth wide and fans out flaps of skin around its throat, making it appear much larger than it actually is. At the same time it hisses fiercely, rearing up on its hind legs and thrashing its tail, all of which is scary enough to frighten off almost anything.

Another, the Moloch lizard, lives in dry, hot deserts. It is strange looking—brown and tan, with an upturned snout and horny crest on its head. Its body almost looks as though it's made of grape-size chunks of flesh, poorly glued together. Sharp points, like oversized thorns of a rose bush, extend all along its back to the tip of its long tail. It is one of the many lizards able to change colors to match its surroundings. In the same way as the barking gecko in our preceding article, it collects moisture on its skin, changing fog into water that runs to its mouth in tiny canals to take care of its thirst.

Male agamas, African residents, are unusually colorful, having so many variations of brilliant red, blue, green and yellow that they almost look hand-painted. The female is not so spectacular in her olive-green color, but she does have bright red spots on her sides. These lizards come boldly into houses, dashing on their long legs after insects or squatting on a piece of furniture, heads bobbing up and down as though agreeing with everything being said.

Why are there so many lizards and why did the Creator make them? Well, we find a partial answer in the Bible, telling us that in His wonderful creation it was not His purpose merely to have a beautiful globe spinning through space, but that all kinds of living things should make their homes on it. We read this in Isa. 45:18: "God Himself that formed the earth... created it not in vain, He formed it to be inhabited." Also in Rev. 4:11 it says, "For Thy pleasure they are and were created."

In His kind thoughts toward people, who would be the roost important part of His creation, we are told of "the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy." 1 Tim. 6:17. Not only did He have pleasure in His creation, but He wants us to share that pleasure with Him.

Another kind of creation is also mentioned in the Bible: "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature [creation]: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." 2 Cor. 5:17. This means that those who accept Christ as their Savior receive a new life which is pleasing to God. When we walk in His ways, this brings happiness to us as well. Have you become part of that new creation by accepting Christ as your Savior?

Iguanas Love the Heat

"But ask now the beasts, and they shall teach thee.... Who knoweth not in all these that the hand of the Lord hath wrought this? In whose hand is the soul [life] of every living thing." Job 12:7-10.

In almost every place in the world (except in the Arctic and Antarctic) there are many varieties of lizards, iguanas, chameleons, geckos and others of their kind. In a previous article we considered the lizards and how the Creator cares for them. Now let's take a look at a few more closely-related ones, including the iguana, which makes its home where sunshine is abundant, particularly in desert areas.

While lizards are rather drab and plain looking, iguanas are often quite pretty. One is the Fijian crested, a resident of the Fiji islands. It is large, being three feet long with its tail representing more than half of that length. It is colored in shades of green, usually banded, having white stripes around its body and tail, with amber eyes and a yellow snout blending nicely. It has long, spidery "fingers" on the ends of each limb; the two center ones are about twice as long as the other three, but all are equipped with sharp claws to help in climbing the trees in which it makes its home. Like many other iguanas, this one eats mostly leaves and flowers, but it is also fond of crickets and other insects.

Another, the desert iguana, is much smaller and is a native of the American deserts. It can stand hotter temperatures than most others, partly because it is a night worker and is seldom outside during the day. It nests under fallen branches of Joshua trees and yucca plants. Desert country is, of course, usually barren except for the Joshuas, yuccas, cacti, sagebrush, and creosote bushes. It is from the creosote bush that this little fellow gets most of his food, climbing into the bush to eat its flowers and foliage. Along with a quantity of insects, this represents its food supply, and the Creator has given it a digestive system that takes the moisture from this food to satisfy its thirst in a land where no water may be found.

As we see how these obscure animals are provided for, we recall how the Psalmist was impressed with God's care over all His creatures, writing, "These wait all upon Thee; that Thou mayest give them their meat [food] in due season." Psa. 104:27. And also, "He giveth to the beast his food." Psa. 147:9.

Iguanas and lizards have no way of knowing their Creator is watching over them, but in the Bible we learn how much He loves and cares for every boy and girl. One such verse says, "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights." James 1:17. Have you ever thanked Him for His many gifts and especially the gift of His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, to be your Savior?

Iguanas Love the Heat

"The mighty God, even the Lord, bath spoken, and called the earth from the rising of the sun unto the going down thereof." Psa. 50:1.

We have already mentioned the contrasting beauty of iguanas compared with lizards, to which they are related. But while many of them are quite pretty, there are some that look like miniature dragons and scare people who do not know they are harmless.

One, the twenty-pound sea iguana, is frightening in appearance. A good swimmer, it lives near ocean water, and its food is almost entirely limited to seaweed. Another that prefers the dry desert country of Costa Rica is just as fierce looking, carrying a spiked crest of flesh all along the top of its back and neck. It lacks the pretty coloring of so many others and has just a plain, speckled-gray, armor-like skin.

Then there is the horned iguana of Haiti, with three horn-like scales erect on its head and a row of comb-like, high bristles along its back and part of its tail. A bag of loose skin hanging below its neck, together with the other strange features, gives it a frightening appearance. Yet it would never harm you.

The best-known iguana has the awkward name of tuberculate and makes its home in South and Central America and the West Indies. This one looks like a fierce dragon, growing to five or six feet long. Greenish with black speckles over most of its body, it carries a saw-like crest over its neck and back. But it also is harmless and lives entirely on plants, buds and flowers.

Others, somewhat similar, live in trees, near rivers and lakes. Their usual diet consists of leaves, fruit and flowers, but some include insects and small birds as well. It would take many pages to describe all varieties, so we can only consider these few.

We may wonder what part these odd creatures have in God's creation, but we know He has placed them in each region to fill out His purposes. Among other things, we can see that in eating flowers and fruit, they carry seeds to spots where they eventually develop into additional plants to replace those that die out. Then, too, in eating insects they help control the damage the insects do to plant and animal life in those areas.

Though we may not understand, we know the Creator has adapted each to live comfortably in its surroundings, and they are part of His marvelous creation in which He takes pleasure. A Bible verse tells us, "Thou, even Thou, art Lord alone; Thou hast made... the earth, and all things that are therein... and Thou preservest them all." Neh. 9:6.

Those who know the Lord Jesus as their Savior can enjoy the Bible verses that tell us, "0 taste and see that the Lord is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in Him. O fear [reverence] the Lord, ye His saints: for there is no want to them that fear Him." Psa. 34:8,9. Are you one of those who trusts in Him?

The Changeable Chameleon

"Know ye that the Lord He is God: it is He that bath made us, and not we ourselves; we are His people.... Be thankful unto Him." Psa. 100:3,4.

There are more than 80 species of chameleons, a lizard relative, ranging from three to twenty inches long. They live among the trees of Madagascar, Africa, India and southern Spain, as well as in desert areas. A Latin name meaning ground lion is sometimes given to them and seems appropriate as the males look ferocious, many of them having from one to four horns protruding forward from their large heads, as well as crests or loose flaps of skin over their short necks. However, they only look fierce and are entirely harmless.

With the exception of one called stump-tailed and a few others, all have long tails, curling at the end to grab a branch, just as many monkeys do. This is particularly important for the Madagascar giant which lives in treetops. Along with strong, sharp claws, this tail enables it to move quickly and safely from branch to branch as it hunts its food. How wisely the Lord God has provided for all their individual needs!

Unlike their cousins the geckos which have no eyelids at all, the chameleon's protruding eyes are almost completely covered by eyelids, leaving only a narrow opening. But their eyes, which turn independently of each other, can look forward and backward at the same time—a great help in finding food and escaping from enemies. Incidently, if an enemy grabs one by its tail, it just lets its tail drop loose and scoots away. After a while a new tail grows!

For the most part they are slow moving, but their long tongue, which is in many segments, unfolds out of a yellow mouth too quickly for flies, beetles and other insects to escape.

All chameleons can change their color instantly when frightened or wishing to conceal themselves. No one can really explain just how this is done, but it is a further provision of the Creator in His care over them. Color changes are usually in shades of green, yellow, brown, blue or may be mixed.

The many species of this little creature speak of God's pleasure in making varieties different in appearance from one another and yet all remaining true chameleons. As the Bible verse says, "For Thy pleasure they are and were created." Rev. 4:11. Lacking strength to either attack their enemies or defend themselves, we can also see how the Creator has wisely provided for their every need in securing food, as well as protecting themselves by wonderful disguises.

As our opening verse tells us, the Lord God has also created every one of us and wants us to be His special people in ways no animal could ever know. This can be done only when we admit to Him that we are sinners in need of a Savior and accept by faith in our hearts the One who died on Calvary to take care of those sins. How about you? Do you know the Lord Jesus Christ as your Savior?

The Gecko Family

"Who is like unto the Lord our God, who dwelleth on high, who humbleth Himself to behold the things... in the earth!" Psa. 113:5,6.

We do not want to overlook geckos in this series, for they are the most interesting part of the lizard family.

In American deserts the pretty banded gecko is plentiful. It has soft, pliable skin, large eyes, a long tongue for snatching insects and makes its home in the rocks. Another, across the world from America, is the odd fat-tailed gecko of Pakistan, with leopard-like coloring on top and on its extra-fat tail, but a plain grayish color underneath.

One of the more interesting is found in an African desert. It is beautifully colored and has paddle-like, fleshy feet provided by the Creator to help it travel over sand and probe for insects. This contrasts with the feet of most others and is covered with millions of tiny bristles surrounding little suction cups, enabling them to travel on smooth walls and upside down on ceilings. Their grip is so tight they need to pull each foot loose before taking the next step.

Because they devour so many insects, in many countries geckos become real friends in people's homes, even eating scraps at the table, as they wag their tails like a puppy in appreciation.

The chuckwalla is really a lizard that is over a foot long, similar to an iguana and, like them, is fond of the buds, flowers and foliage of creosote plants. At night all often share a creosote bush together. Their homes are in lava beds and in the rocks of American deserts.

The most interesting thing about them is the way they escape from their enemies. They crawl into a narrow rock crevice and then blow themselves up so tightly that they can't be pulled out. Where do you think they learned to do this? They didn't learn by themselves, but received this life-saving instinct from the Creator.

Covered with loose, sandpaper-like skin, chuckwallas look rather fierce, but really aren't. Although they are night workers, they can often be spotted in daylight sunning themselves on a rock—just one more of God's creatures quite satisfied with its life-style.

As we consider all these creatures, let us always remember the One of whom it is said, "For by Him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth... and He is before all things, and by Him all things consist." Col. 1:16,17. Let us always turn away from the foolish and false teaching of evolution which is so dishonoring to God. The Bible, God's account, is the only true one!

Weaver Ants Are Fantastic

"Go to the ant; thou sluggard, consider her ways, and be wise." Proverbs 6:6.

Ants of all kinds (there are thousands of species) are among the most remarkable insects in the world in their organized way of life and cooperation with one another. Solomon, who wrote the above Bible verse, could not have used a better example of wisdom in action.

Scientists tell us their tiny brains contain half-a-million nerve endings that send messages to all parts of their bodies, instructing them what they are to do. When they are together they do not, of course, speak to one another as we do, but through body actions and by means of chemical odors, they seem to understand one another perfectly. God-given instincts enable them to perform in ways that seem to us almost impossible. Not one of them is selfishly inclined, but will even give its life for the good of the others.

Weaver ants live in Africa, Australia and Asia, and make leafy nests in tree tops. When selecting a new location, they in some way agree on the leaves best suited for this purpose, and often these are quite difficult to reach. To solve this problem, they form living ropes. One ant acts as an anchor on an overhead branch; then others, one by one, grab the one at the bottom around the waist with its legs and, hanging on, make the rope a little longer. This continues as far as necessary, until the chosen leaves are reached. The long chain of ants remains in place, perhaps for a whole day, while yet others use it to reach the new spot and work as a group, pulling the chosen leaves together and lifting the sides to form a tent, all of which require teamwork.

But how do they make two or three leaves stay together? You would hardly believe the method they use—a number of them, after helping pull the leaves into shape, return up the living chain to the home nest while the remaining ones stay on the job. At the home nest, each ant picks up a larva (an ant not yet fully formed) and carries it down the chain to the new location. In some way only the Creator could arrange, each larva is then told to produce a continuous, sticky, silk thread. While producing this thread, each larva is passed by the ants along the joined leaf edges and woven through them, until the whole new nest is sewed and glued together. Then each larva is taken back to the home nest while work on the new home continues. Isn't that amazing?

The activities of these little creatures should turn our thoughts to the One who has made them and taught them their ways. A Bible verse says: "[God] doeth great things and unsearchable; marvelous things without number." Job 5:9.

More of this amazing ant's ways are outlined on the following page.

Weaver Ants Are Fantastic

"The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer." Prov. 30:25.

Brown-colored weaver ants are less than half-an-inch long, equipped with strong legs and two long antennae protruding below their black eyes. Connected behind the front section of their bodies by a small segment is their main and largest feature—the gaster. It contains their stomach and three glands, each of which, on command, puts out a special odor. One odor is a general alarm for all ants to come quickly, another odor calls for help from nearby workers, and the third odor is used to make a trail-marking smell.

Another ant, smelling either of the first two odors, immediately acts on it. If it's a general alarm, it hurries back to the soldier ants that guard the colony and then on to others with the message. Meanwhile it has left its own trail-marking scent so that while it spreads the message, these can all hurry to the rescue without waiting to be shown the way. If the call is just for nearby help, then it stops telling others when enough are contacted. None ever refuse to go.

The weaver queen lays thousands of eggs throughout the year. She is many times larger than the others and requires lots of food, but never leaves the nest. Certain workers are assigned to feed and care for her, including a continual licking of her body to keep her clean and cool. Other inside workers feed and care for the eggs and the larvae that come from them. Still others are selected for outside work, including the soldiers men tioned above.

Some of the outside workers maintain "dairies" of aphids and other insects which, when gently licked, give off a sweet moisture. When the "milkers" stomachs are full of this tasty food, they pass it through their mouths to waiting workers who, in turn, take it back to the nest for the queen and workers there.

The food of the weaver ants is mostly insects and seeds, and certain members are given the job of finding it and storing some away, just as our opening verse indicates. Sometimes a worker will capture an insect too large to carry, so it passes the word along by one of its special odors, asking for help, which promptly comes. If the prize is still living, they spray it with acid until it no longer resists, then between them, they carry it to the nest. Aren't these provisions of the wise Creator wonderful to think about? We must conclude that only the Lord God could make such creatures and keep them from the first day of their creation, which turns our thoughts to the Bible verse, "Who is like unto the Lord our God, who dwelleth on high, who humbleth Himself to behold the things that are in heaven, and in the earth!" Psa. 113:5,6. That statement includes you. Have you given Him the right place in your life?

Courtesy of BibleTruthPublishers.com. Most likely this text has not been proofread. Any suggestions for spelling or punctuation corrections would be warmly received. Please email them to: BTPmail@bibletruthpublishers.com.

Wonders of God's Creation: Volume 3

The Wonders of God's Creation [Paperback]

Table of Contents

Preface

This Earth on Which We Live: Chapter 1

The Bible or the Textbook?

The Earth Still Turns

What's Under Our Feet? Part 1

What's Under Our Feet? Part 2

A Few Facts About the Oceans

Treasures of the Snow

The Wonders of God's Creation

The Miracle of Soil

Nature's Janitors: Part 1

Nature's Janitors: Part 2

Trees of the Desert

The Pretty Almond Tree

The Desert's Joshua Trees

Palm Trees - Another of God's Gifts

A Visit in the Riparian Area

The Amazing Human Body: Chapter 2

More Than You Can Do: Part 1

More Than You Can Do: Part 2

About Your Skull

Your Body's Kind Boss

What Your Nose Knows

Your Faithful Soldiers

Those Feet of Yours: Part 1

Those Feet of Yours: Part 2

Breathing and Eating

The Mouth Does More Than Talk

The Throat's Part in Our Lives

Birds - a Part of Earth's Beauty: Chapter 3

The Fantastic Flamingo: Part 1

The Fantastic Flamingo: Part 2

The Happy Warblers

The Ungainly Ostrich

The Busy Phalaropes: Part 1

The Busy Phalaropes: Part 2

Cheerful Ovenbirds

The Pond-Loving Jacana (Lily-Trotter)

Birds of Paradise: Part 1

Birds of Paradise: Part 2

The Noisy Puffbirds

Mallards by the Million

The Beautiful Grebes

Multi-Colored Kingfishers

The Tough Frigate Bird

Birds on the Move: Part 1

Birds on the Move: Part 2

Birds on the Move: Part 3

The Philippine Eagle

The Lovely Fairy Tern

The Handsome Goldfinch

The Lovely Pintails

A Scarlet Beauty

Florida's Scrub Jay

The Mallee-Fowl

The Scheming Antbird

The Marvel of Birds' Eggs

Common Tern's Nest on a Beach

The Open-Billed Stork

Animals - Small and Great: Chapter 4

The Seldom-Seen Lynx

Gorillas Can Be Gentle

The Always-Hungry Shrew

Another Unusual Anteater

Likeable Alpacas

The Capybara

The Tasmanian Devil

The Hardy Musk Ox

North America's Flying Squirrels

Gazelles and Gerenuks

The Charming Ocelot

The Wallaby From "Down Under"

The American Black Bear

Elephants at School

African Wild Dogs (Or Cape Hunting Dogs)

The Possum That Isn't a Possum

Is It a Mule, or Ass or a Donkey?