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linopolis, Heracleopolis, and the island of Elephantine; and the same aversion was common to all places where the evil being was typified by the crocodile.

Amongst many modes of hunting this monster, we mention one, practised at the present day. They fasten a dog upon a log of wood, to the middle of which is tied a rope of sufficient length, protected by iron wire, to prevent its being bitten through; and having put this into the stream, on a sandbank at the edge of the water, they lie concealed near the spot, and await the arrival of the crocodile. As soon as it has swallowed the dog, they pull the rope, which brings the stick across the animal's throat. It endeavours to plunge into deep water, but is soon fatigued by its exertions, and is drawn ashore; when receiving several blows on the head with long poles and hatchets, it is easily killed.

The ichneumon is an inveterate enemy to the crocodile, and overcomes its terrific antagonist by a wonderful stratagem. Having enveloped itself in mud, it watches its opportunity, while the crocodile sleeps, with his mouth open on the shore, and then adroitly glides through his mouth into his stomach, and eating its way out, escapes unhurt, at the same time that it kills its enemy.-Wilkinson's Manners and Customs of the Ancient Egyptians.

CATS.

THERE are four distinct races of cats; namely, the tabby, which includes the black cats, and which is nearly allied to the wild kinds; the tortoiseshell cat, which came originally from Spain, and the males of which are buff, with stripes of a darker hue; the white and light-coloured cats, which have reddish eyes and a greyish tint in their fur, and are descended from the Chartreuse breed; and the Angora cats, which are quite distinct from all others, and are known by their long fur. The tailless cats of Cornwall and the Isle of Man belong to the Chartreuse breed, and they are the ugliest of their kind, as the Angora cats are the handsomest. Cats are seldom ill, except from cold, which generally gets well without any particular care being taken of it: but when they have any serious disease, it generally proves fatal.-Mrs. Loudon.

TRANSFORMATION OF THE

LOCUST.

In the summer evenings it is common to see upon the trunks of trees, reeds, or any upright object, a heavy-looking, lump-backed brown beetle, an inch and a half long, with a scaly coat, clawed lobster-like legs, and a somewhat dirty aspect; which latter is easily accounted for by the little hole visible in the

turf at the foot of the tree, whence he has lately crept. I have sometimes carried them home, and watched with great interest the poor locust" shuffle off his mortal," or rather earthly, "coil," and emerge into a new world. The first symptom is the opening of a small slit which appears in the back of his coat, between the shoulders, through which, as it slowly gapes wider, a pale, silky-looking texture is seen, throbbing and heaving backwards and forwards. Presently a fine square head, with two light red eyes, has disengaged itself, and in process of time (for the transformation goes on almost imperceptibly) this is followed by the liberation of a portly body and a conclusion; after which the brown leggings are pulled off like boots, and a pale, cream-coloured, weak, soft creature very tenderly walks away from its former self, which remains standing entire, like a coat-ofmail of a warrior of old, the shelly plates of the eyes that are gone looking after their lost contents with a sad lack of "speculation" in them. On the back of the new-born creature lie two small bits of membrane, doubled and crumpled up in a thousand puckers, like a Limerick glove in a walnut-shell: these now begin to unfold themselves, and gradually spread smoothly out in two large beautiful opal-coloured wings, which by the following morning have become clearly transparent, while the body has acquired its proper hard consistency and dark colour: and when placed on a tree the happy thing soon begins its whirring, creaking, chirruping song, which continues with little intermission as long as its harmless, happy life.-Meredith's New South Wales.

CAPTURE OF A VULTURE.

A LETTER from Get, a little village on the borders of the valley d'Aure, (Upper Pyrenees,) contains the following interesting details:-Two mountaineers, while out sporting at the back of the Peak of Tremassaignes, perceived flying over their heads a vulture of enormous size. Taking advantage of the moment when this leviathan of the air was within shot, one of the sportsmen discharged his gun loaded with five small bullets. The vulture, wounded in the wing, fell with considerable force to the bottom of a ravine. Thither the two men hastened to secure their capture. The one who had fired, proud of his exploit, seeing the monster of a bird extended on a rock, had the imprudence to attempt to secure it whilst living; but the bird furiously attacked him with its immense claws, and severely wounded the man in his neck with its beak, and it is supposed he must have been killed, had it not been for the presence of mind and cool intrepidity of his companion, who with the muzzle of his gun almost touching the vulture, discharged its contents into the head of this terrible bird.

THE WILD GOAT, OR CHAMOIS.

THE body of the chamois is of a dusky red colour; but the front, top of the head, gullet, and inside of the ears are white, and the upper lip is a little divided. It inhabits the Alps of Switzerland, Italy, the Pyrenees, Greece, and Crete; does not dwell so high in the hills as the ibex, and is found in greater numbers. Its vivacity is delightful, and its agility truly admirable. These animals are very social; they go in flocks of from three to twenty; sometimes sixty or a hundred of them are seen dispersed along the declivity of the same mountain. Their voice is a very low and almost imperceptible kind of bleating, resembling that of a hoarse domestic goat. By this bleating they collect together; but when alarmed, or when they perceive an enemy, they advertise one another by a whistling noise.

The sight of the chamois is very penetrating, and his sense of smelling is acute. When he sees a man distinctly, he stops for some time, and flies off when he makes a nearer approach. When the wind blows in the direction of a man, he will perceive the

scent at the distance of more than half a league. Hence when he smells or hears any thing which alarms him, he whistles with such force that the rocks and forests re-echo the sound. This whistling is performed through the nostrils, and consists of a strong blowing, similar to the sound which a man may make by fixing his tongue to the palate with his teeth nearly shut, his lips open and somewhat extended, and blowing long and with great force.

The head of the chamois is adorned with two small horns, from half a foot to nine inches in length. Their colour is a fine black, and they are placed on the front, nearly between the eyes. They are used for the heads of canes. The mode in which these animals climb and descend inaccessible rocks is admirable. When descending, particularly, they throw themselves down across a rock which is nearly perpendicular, and of twenty or thirty feet in height, without having a single prop to support them. In doing this they strike their feet three or four times against the rock, till they arrive at a proper restingplace below. The spring of their tendons is

so great, that when leaping about among the precipices one would imagine they had wings instead of limbs. The legs are long; those behind are somewhat longer, and always crooked, which favours their springing to a great distance; and when they throw themselves from a height, the hind-legs receive the shock, and perform the office of two springs in breaking the fall. During winter they inhabit the lower forests, and live upon pine-leaves, the buds of trees, bushes, and such green or dry herbs as they can find by scratching off the snow with their feet. The forests that delight them most, are those that are full of rocks and precipices. The hunting of the chamois is on this account exceedingly difficult and laborious.

MODE OF MANAGING THE HONEYBEE IN THE NORTH OF CHINA.

I OBSERVE in the "Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette," (for your paper finds its way even to the Yang-tse-Kiang and Yellow Sea,) that your correspondents are much interested in the success of this little insect. Let me tell them something about the Chinese mode of management. During my travels in the northern provinces, I have frequently come upon the Chinese hives; and although there is perhaps nothing in their management to improve the English mode, yet the Chinese seem to have paid some little attention to the habits of these insects. Their hive is sometimes a rough-made barrel, with bad-fitting ends, intended for the bees to go out and in to the hive; at other times I have observed rough square boxes, placed one above another, evidently used in the same way as our small hives and glasses are at home. In both instances, however, the Chinese place their hives up under the eaves of the house, and thus comply with the natural habits of the insect. I was always fond of managing bees, and have often followed a swarm for miles, when, discontented with its quarters, it took the liberty of flying to some other place, doubtless more congenial to its taste. These places were generally the walls of some ruined tower, or the eaves of some old house, through which they passed under the

roof; and this is doubtless the reason why the Chinese keep their hives in the situation just noticed. There is abundance of honey in the northern Chinese towns, where it sells at the rate of two hundred cash (nine pence) for our quart bottle full. It is not considered very fine, but the Chinese spoil it themselves by the addition of sugar and flour to thicken it. The Chinese honey-bee is a little smaller than ours, but seemingly only a variety of our species.-R. Fortune, Chusan, in the "Gardeners' Chronicle."

A TOAD FOUND IN THE SOLID COAL.

A MR. J. MURRAY, writing to the Editor of the "Mining Journal and Railway Gazette," some time since, says: "I have just witnessed a very striking and extraordinary phenomenon,-a toad occupying a cavity in a block of solid coal. It was found in a coal-seam in the vicinity of Leeds, at a depth of twenty-one yards: the thickness of the seam of coal in which it was found is one

yard three inches. The block was broken by a blow, and discovered a toad in a shrivelled condition, in fact, in a mummified state. The block is most entirely solid; not a flaw or crevice to the amount of a hair'sbreadth was connected in any way with the cavity. I have most minutely examined it in every way, and I am sure no art could form the cavity in that coal. The cavity is somewhat egg-shaped, and the unoccupied space around the toad is more than that occupied by its body; to turn itself, however, in the cavity, was impossible. The interior looks as if it had once been plastic, and bears slight impressions of parts of the body of the toad, as of the feet, &c. No doubt, the cavity has been moulded in some measure by its strange tenant. The interior surface appears as if somewhat polished. The eyes and mouth seem completely seared. I have gazed for an hour at this strange mummy, in its yet stranger coffin. You will understand that it was discovered in this state, and was not alive when found. A better authenticated fact I have never met with."

EXTRACT OF A LETTER FROM
SOUTH AUSTRALIA.
May 22d, 1845.

THE colony is doing very well at the present time; and there is nothing now to prevent its prosperity, humanly speaking. At its first commencement, property had

risen so much beyond its real value, that persons were speculation-mad; labour was so extravagantly high, that capital was consumed in paying labourers' wages; bills were given, and, as a consequence, when property depreciated in value, those bills could not be met, and ruin stared numbers in the face who were rolling in imaginary wealth. It

has been discovered, almost too late, if, instead of commerce, agriculture had been attended to, there would not have been the misery there was.

The internal wealth of the colony is great. There are four lead and two copper mines at work; besides many others that have been recently discovered, and not yet worked. The other day a coal-mine was discovered. In addition, we have silver, stone, flag, slate, and other minerals in rich abundance. Gum and black have been largely exported from our shores. We are supplied with our own oil from the Encounter Bay fishery. The soil is capable of producing not only the necessaries of life, but also luxuries, in great abundance. Grapes, this last season, were sixpence a pound. There is also wine made in the colony. Potatoes are worth three shillings and sixpence the hundred pounds. Wheat varies from two shillings and twopence to two shillings and ninepence per bushel. Eggs sixpence per dozen: and in the winter, butter is from five-pence to sevenpence per pound. In fact, we have everything cheaper than in England. The daily

labourer is much better off here than at home; the lowest receiving ten shillings per week, and food.

In the immediate vicinity of Adelaide, religious privileges may be enjoyed as in England; but in proportion as the settler retires further into the country the means of grace are not enjoyed.

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In different parts union chapels have been erected, in which all denominations officiate; but these, for the most part, are irregularly supplied. There are large numbers of professing Christians, and a great deal of cooperation among different sects: but still there is a great deal among professors generally which calls for much humiliation; there has been so much internal strife and division in the church. Two years ago a great number seceded from the Wesleyans, and formed a new sect, under the name of "Australian Methodists:" it existed for twelve months, when part joined the New-Connexion Methodists, and three months after it ceased to exist; the remainder returning to the old body. There has been a disunion in the Independent society. At the present time an effort is being made to form a new sect, by drawing members from other societies, by a few individuals, with a Mr. Playford at their head. This is to take the simplicity of Scripture for its basis, and to be designated, "The Church of Christ." The first and second verses of the sixth chapter of Hebrews contains its fundamental doctrines: baptism by immersion is the favourite form of administration. Mr. P. has been giving a series of lectures on the millennium: of their merits or demerits I cannot speak, not having had an opportunity of hearing them; though much has been said respecting them.

When passion nerves the warrior's arm For deeds of hate and wrong, Though heeded not the fearful sound,

The knell is deep and strong.

When eyes to eyes are gazing soft,
And tender words are spoken,
Then fast and wild it rattles on,

As if with love 'twere broken.

Such is the clock that measures life,
Of flesh and spirit blended;
And thus 'twill run within the breast,
Till that strange life is ended.

WHEN IS THE TIME TO DIE? I ASK'D the glad and happy child,

Whose hands were fill'd with flowers, Whose silvery laugh rang free and wild Among the vine-wreath'd bowers; I cross'd her sunny path, and cried, "When is the time to die?" "Not yet! not yet!" the child replied, And swiftly bounded by.

I ask'd a maiden: back she threw

The tresses of her hair;
Grief's traces o'er her cheeks I knew,
Like pearls they glisten'd there!
A flush pass'd o'er her lily brow,
I heard her spirit sigh;

"Not now," she cried, "O no! not now; Youth is no time to die."

I ask'd a mother, as she press'd
Her first-born in her arms,
As gently on her tender breast

She hush'd her babe's alarms:
In quivering tones her accents came,
Her eyes were dim with tears,
"My boy his mother's life must claim,
For many, many years."

I question'd one in manhood's prime,
Of proud and fearless air:
His brow was furrow'd not by time,
Or dimm'd by woe or care.
In angry accents he replied,
And flash'd with scorn his eye;
"Talk not to me of death," he cried,
"For only age should die."

I question'd age: for him the tomb
Had long been all prepared;
But death, who withers youth and bloom,
This man of years had spared.
Once more his nature's dying fire
Flash'd high, and thus he cried,
Life, only life, is my desire!"
He gasp'd, and groan'd, and died.

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CORNISH MINER.

Two men were working together in a mine, and having prepared to blast the rock, and laid the train, the latter became by accident ignited. In a few moments a tremendous explosion they knew was inevitable, and the rock must be rent in a thousand pieces. On perceiving their danger, they both leaped into the bucket, and called to the man on the surface to draw them up. He endeavoured to do so, but his arm was found too feeble to raise the bucket while both the men were in it. What was to be done? The burning fusee, which could not be extinguished, was

now within a few feet of the powder; a moment or two, and the explosion must take place. At this awful crisis, one of the men, addressing the other, said, "You shall live, and I will die; for you are an impenitent sinner, and if you now die, your soul will be lost; but if I die, I know that, by the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, I shall be taken to himself." And so saying, without waiting for a reply, he leaped out of the bucket, and prayerfully waited the result. On the other reaching the surface, he bent over the shaft to ascertain the fate of his companion. At that moment a terrific explosion was heard: