The pelican is capable of domestication, and some degree of instruction. The natives in some parts of South America are said to turn their fishing powers to good account, as the Chinese do those of the cormorant. They train them to go out on the water and fill their pouches with fish; and, on their return, they are made to disgorge their contents for the benefit of their masters, receiving a part only for their share. There is one instance on record of a pelican which possessed a strong taste for music, evincing great pleasure in singing and in the sound of the trumpet. When thus excited, it stretched out its neck, and turned its ear to the musician, remaining perfectly attentive and motionless as long as the music lasted. We are told of one also which belonged to the ancient Roman emperor, Maximilian, which actually attended the army when on its march, and lived to the age of eighty years. The voice of the pelican is harsh and discordant, and is said to resemble that of a man in deep complaint. David speaks of it thus: “By reason of my groanings my bones cleave to my skin; I am like a pelican in the wilderness.”--Psa. cii. 6. * * * * * PEACH SEEDS.--A gentleman having given a quantity of peaches to some foreign laborers on a railroad, in the vicinity of one of our cities, one of them was asked how he liked them. He said the fruit was very good, but the seeds scratched his throat a little when he swallowed them. John Steady and Peter Sly. A DIALOGUE. _Peter._ Ho, John, don’t stumble over that log! I don’t think it a good plan to study my lessons as I go to school. _John._ Nor I; but I am in such a scrape! _Peter._ What’s the matter? _John._ Why, I believe I have got the wrong lesson. _Peter._ I guess not. Let me see; where did you begin? _John._ Here, at the top of the page; and I learned over three leaves, down to the end of the chapter. _Peter._ Well, that’s all right. _John._ Are you sure? _Peter._ Certain, as can be. _John._ Well, now! I am half glad and half sorry. Only think; there is poor George Gracie has been getting the wrong lesson. I came by his window, and there he was, fagging away; and, when we came to talk about it, we found we had been studying in different places. But he was so sure he was right that I thought I must be wrong. _Peter._ I know it; I know all about it. _John._ Why! did you tell him wrong? _Peter._ No, no; I never tell a lie, you know. But yesterday, when the master gave out the lesson, George was helping little Timothy Dummy to do a sum; so he only listened with one ear, and the consequence was, he misunderstood what the master said; and then he began groaning about such a hard lesson, as we were going home; I laughing to myself all the time! _John._ What! did you find out his blunder and not set him right? _Peter._ Set him right! Not I. I scolded about the hard lesson, too.