an active officer; but it was said that he never could get a crew to sail with him the second time, and that more than once he had to secrete himself while his ship was in port, and join her only at the last moment, in order to avoid arrest at the complaint of seme of his misused men. But so far from this being against him, there were not a few old seadogs who really thought that it was in his favor; and even I, at that time, had no very clear idea of the distinction between a good officer and a hard one. In a few days, owing mainly to his activity and energy, the cargo was aboard and stowed, and the brig ready for sea. Our crew consisting, as I have said, of three men and a boy, came on board; and the wind shifting immediately to "free," we "sheeted home" everything, and stood out to sea. We had been out but a very few days when I became convinced that Mr. Clark's manner was, to the full, as rough as I had heard it represented. Hardly an order came from his lips unaccompanied by an oath, or some opprobrious epithet. And but little less liberal was he in the use of blows. Upon several occasions I remonstrated with him; but he pleaded so strongly in justification of the necessity of the case, that I was compelled to let him have his way. It is always a delicate thing for a captain to meddle with a mate's authority; discipline is the main point, and upon any disagreement in the cabin it is sure to suffer. Another reason for my indisposition to interfere with the exercise by Mr. Clark of his authority in his own way, was the fact that his displays of bad temper were not wholly unprovoked. Had I had Job himself for first officer, sure I am that his well-tried patience would hardly have enabled him to resist the temptation of flourishing a rope's end at least a dozen times a day. I was frequently provoked beyond all bounds by the conduct of the men. For a small crew, hardly a worse one could have been selected. One of three men was willing enough, but he was slow and stupid. The others were smart, active fellows, but real grumbling, growling rascals, who had made up their minds, from the first, never to lift a hand or stir a foot when they could help it. To these two men, whose names were the usual sailor-hailing handles, Jack and Bill, the mate had taken a supreme dislike, and they to him. At last things got to be so bad, that not an order of his did they pretend to obey, unless it was accompanied with a curse and a blow; and not unfrequently, in the night, during the mate's watch, when only three persons were on deck, have I been aroused by the sound of a rope's end on Bill's back, and his yells of rage and pain. Well, in this way, cursing and grumbling, and flogging, as thousands of vessels have done since, we made our course across the Atlantic. Had I known as much as I do now, things would have been different. I would have resolutely set my face against Mr. Clark's brutal and badgering ways on the one hand, and, on the other, I would have triced up Mr. Bill or Jack to the rigging upon the first sufficient provocation, given them three dozen with the cats, in regular man-o'-war style, called the accounts square, and treated them mildly until they had run up another score, to be wiped off in the same way. They would soon have understood how the land lay, and have come to the conclusion that it was time to luff up a bit, and leave off backing and filling round mutiny point. There never was a sailor who would not knock under to a due mixture of severity and kindness; but this constant hectoring only makes him feel bad, and disposes him to run his head against a marling-spike or a belaying-pin, whenever he sees his tormentor have it in hand. However, I was young then, and didn't know as much as I do now. We left Liverpool; and if it was bad before we got there, it was much worse after we left. Often and often I wished the voyage over, and that Clark and his two bass drums, as he used to call them, were paid off, and discharged. Generally I enjoy the sea, it is such a grand place for sentiment. I like to come on deck, and after giving an extra pull or two upon the halyards and braces, to walk up and down, and study the ceaseless play of light upon the curling, hissing hills of water. But this voyage was an exception-I could neither read, sleep nor think; and as for anything like a quiet communion with nature, it was out of the question in such a perfect marine pandemonium as the Moresco. In three weeks we reached Mayo, the island to which we were bound, and anchored in the roadstead. While getting in our cargo of salt, which took us about two weeks, things went on rather more quietly; but it was only a lull before the storm. Two days out from Mayo, our third man fell sick, and was compelled to keep his berth. This reduced the mate's watch to himself and Bill, while my watch was composed of Jack and the boy. It was in the mate's middle watch, on the fourth night after we had started for home, that I was aroused by the usual sounds of Mr. Clark's voice, in tones of high passion. I heard him exclaim, with an oath, "I'll have your life, you villain! I'll murder you!" and then followed a torrent of imprecations To this some muttered reply was made, which, as I was almost half asleep at the moment, I could not understand; and then came a quick, heavy tread of feet on deck. Then I heard a noise of scuffling- a choking sound—a crashing blow, and the fall of a body on deck. At this moment I was sensible from the motion of the brig, that she was rapidly falling of from the wind: aud fearing that she would come round by the lee and be taken aback, I jumped from my berth, and while slipping on my clothes, I shouted to Mr. Clark to mind his helm ; but he made no answer. up. I stopped only for my trousers and pea-jacket, and hurried As I emerged from the companion-way, I heard a heavy splash in the water, over the starboard quarter, and I saw Mr. Clark leaning over the bulwark, and with one hand holding on by the maintopmast breast backstay. As I stepped towards him he turned, and a flash from the binnacle lamp lighted up his countenance; its expression was awful; a look of horror and fear was rapidly chasing from his features the grin of rage and the flush of physical exertion. "Lower away the boat!" he suddenly shouted, in accents of the wildest agony : "lower away the boat, quick, quick. Bill has jumped overboard; save him, for God's sake!" "Hold!" I exclaimed, "belay that," as Mr. Clark jumped to the taffrail, and began to cast off the boat-falls. "Into the boat! quick into the boat," shouted the mate, in a hoarse and convulsive tone. "Stop, Mr. Clark," said I, laying my hand upon his shoulder, and drawing him back from the taffrail. "What shall we man the boat for?" "Why, here on deck; and see, you can feel it on the quarterrail; and here is some hair mixed with it. Bill's hair, by Jove!" exclained Jack, holding a lock of bloody hair in the light of the galley lantern, which the old wooden-legged black cook now brought forward. "And see here, here is his knife, all covered with blood. I heard Clark ask him for it, not ten minutes since." "Mr. Clark," continued Jack, sidling up to the mate, with a most truculent and lowering visage and tone, "you'll swing for this, if there is any law in the land. I heard him cry murder, and I've heard you threaten to take his life more than once." "Man the boat! man the boat!" shrieked the mate, wringing his hands, and frantically grasping the boat-falls. At this moment it occurred to me that perhaps the sailor might have been merely wounded; and, although the chance of picking him up was so small, it was worth the attempt, if only for the mate's sake. So, directing the boy to hoist a lantern in the rigging, while the old cook was to mind the helm, and keep the brig aback, the boat was lowered, and, jumping into it with Jack and the mate, I pushed off. With such convulsive strength did Mr. Clark bend his oar, that I had to direct the whole force of the rudder against him, to keep him from pulling Jack round-and-round. Stoutly we rowed out in the blackness to leeward, till the light in the distant brig shone like a fixed star, so small the parallax, or change in the angle of vision, as it rose and fell upon the undulating sea. Frequently we stopped and listened; and frequently the mate's agonising voice went over the hissing waters, but no groan of the dying came back in reply. "There's not much use in this work," exclaimed Jack. I knew that he spoke the truth; and, after two hours' hard | the learned counsel to finish him; without that, he stood no pulling, I sternly silenced Mr. Clark's remonstrances, and or- more chance for his life than a flying-fish does among a school dered the boat back to the brig. As we mounted to the deck, of dolphins. The jury brought him in guilty, after about fifthe purplish light of dawn streamed across the water. The teen minutes' deliberation, and next day the judge sentenced murderer turned his ghastly face towards me, and, in a half-him to be hanged. inquiring tone, exclaimed, "He jumped overboard." I looked "And was he hanged?" demanded one of the group of listenhim steadily in the eye for a moment, and deliberately shookers, as the captain paused in his story. my head. His lips became of a blueish white, his breath seemed to fail him, and, staggering forward, he threw himself across the companion-hatch, and sobbed violently. The stern, hard man was all gone. 'Certainly," replied the captain; "they put a rope round his neck, and, knocking out the platform from beneath him, left him dancing the pirate's jig upon nothing. He kicked and struggled for a long time; but I suppose that made the sight more instructive-a greater moral lesson. Oh, yes! he was hanged by the neck till he was dead; for I saw the body after wards." "And it served him right," exclaimed another, "served him right; it was a clear case of murder." "Yes, it was a clear case; and yet, to my certain knowledge, there was no murder about it." All day he sat in the cabin upon the transom, with his head bowed upon his bands. I left him the cabin pretty much to himself; but I could not help, as I walked the deck, taking an occasional glance at him through the skylight. In the afternoon he roused himself a little, took a look out of the cabin windows, got out bis desk, and wrote steadily for an hour; and superscribing several letters, directed one of them in words that, in the distance, looked very much like my name. This was suspicious. I saw that he had made up his mind to something. What was it? What could it be but suicide. It was clearly my duty to prevent this, or, at any rate, to give him a longer time to think about it; so just at sunset I called Jack and the boy, and went down into the cabin. I at once addressed myself to the criminal. 66 I told him that I knew he intended to throw himself overboard, and that I was determined he should do no such thing, at least for the present. I had come to the resolution of putting him in irons. He started, appeared for a moment somewhat astonished, but readily submitted without saying a word. "Do you think that "How so," exclaimed a dozen voices. he did not mean to kill the sailor?” "I don't think at all; I know. I know not only that he did not mean to kill the man, but that no man was killed." An expression of increased interest now escaped the group, which gathered up closer around the narrator. Listen," he continued, "and I'll just reel off my yarn, and whip the fag-end of it in half a minute." "It was about five years afterwards that I took a cargo of tobacco to Gibraltar. Well, I was ashore one day, attending the sale of some goods at auction in Commercial Square, when, among the sailors who were loitering about, I saw one whose The next morning we were spoken by a man-of-war, five days face struck me as being very familiar, but whose name I could out from Porta Prayo, in the island of St. Jago. The first lieu- not recollect. He passed on; and I should have thought no tenant came aboard of us, and, after hearing my story, took me more about it, such things being common enough, had there not back with him to see his captain, who decided at once to trans-been something in that fellow's look that struck me as being fer Mr. Clark to his vessel, and carry him home for trial. At very peculiar, and induced me to pause and think where I had the same time he lent me three active fellows, to supply his seen him. place, without whom I could not have gone along at all, seeing that my third man was likely to be for some time confined to his berth. When all was arranged we filled away, and stood on in company, both being bound for the capes of the Chesapeake. The man-of-war, however, outsailed us, and it was not until a week after her arrival, that I got in with the Moresco. In the meantime Mr. Clark had been handed over to those who had jurisdiction on shore; and, as soon as we arrived, all hands were ordered up as witnesses, and preparations for his trial at once commenced. Somehow or another they were not so long about such kind of things then as now. The lawyers were not so expert in staving off cases and bamboozling judges; and juries had just as leave hang a man as look at him, if he had fairly thrust his head in the noose. There has been a change since then; whether for the better or worse I can't say-but I suppose for the better. The truth is, I've seen so many changes which, in the beginning, I have been a little dubious about, turn out so well in the end, that I'm determined never to say anything new is wrong again. It is not necessary to go into a long account of the trial. Suffice it to say, that my evidence, light as I could make it, was heavy against the prisoner. I was compelled to testify to the bad blood between him and the dead man--the words and sounds I heard that night-the splash in the water-the attitude of Clark over the bulwark--the blood and hair found on the deck and rail. But if my evidence was hard, Jack's was still harder. He swore that the mate had told him, two or three times, that he, the mate, "would have Bill's life." 'Suddenly, a recollection of the Moresco business came over me like a blaze of sheet lightning in a dark night. "That's either Bill, Bill's twin-brother, or his ghost,' said I, as I jumped from a tobacco hogshead; and, fairly running over two Moors, three Jews and a jackass, took after the sailor, who was still in sight. As I came up with him, he turned, and I could see at once that he recognized me. He touched his tarpaulin, took my proffered hand, and called me by name; there could be no doubt that he was the identical Bill. "I suppose, captain,' said he, ‘that you thought I had gone to Davy Jones's long ago; but you see I'm alive and flapping. How have you been this long time! How is my old friend, Mr. Clark?' "Mr. Clark,' said I; Mr. Clark was hanged!' "Hanged! why that's worse luck than I ever wished him. I only expected that his watch would pitch him overboard some night. But what was he hanged for?' "For murdering you.' "For murdering me!' exclaimed Bill, in astonishment; and I had to repeat the assertion, with an account of the whole affair, to convince him of the truth. And now,' said I, 'how is it that I see you alive?' We walked out upon the bastion, and took a seat upon the banquette, when Bill began his story, which it would be tiresome to tell in his words. The purport of it was, that he had frequently threatened Mr. Clark that he would jump overboard, and that he had nearly made up his mind several times to do so; that he came on deck that night, feeling sore from a recent flogging, and somewhat excited by drink, which he and Jack had bribed the old cook to steal from the cabin; that for some time Mr. Clark had the helm, and that, after asking for his knife, and returning it again, Mr. Clark ordered him to take the wheel, to which he, Bill, replied that it was not his turn yet, and that he, the mate, might lash it or leave it. He swore that, not more than ten minutes before the row, he heard Mr. Clark ask Bill for his sheath-knife; that shortly after he heard the mate say, "D-n you, I'll murder you;" that there was scuffling, and the sound of two or three blows, and a cry of murder, to which he should have paid no attention, had it not been for the low and peculiar tone in which it was uttered; that upon this, he sprang upon the deck, and saw the mate in the very act of lifting the body over the quar-that, in falling, his knife came out of the sheath, and, getting ter-bulwark. The evidence of the sick man, boy and cook, was all, as far as it went, to the same effect; and, by the time it was all in, it was all up with Mr. Clark-he didn't need a long speech from Upon this the row commenced. Mr. Clark jumped at him, struck him a blow in the face, and knocked him down; and under him, inflicted a wound in his side; that, as soon as he could get upon his feet, maddened by rage, pain and drink, and reckless of life, but anxious to spite Mr. Clark, he had jumped upon the bulwark, resolved to throw himself into the sea; that Mr. Clark seized him, and endeavored to drag him on | bidders. Again the entrance-hall was crowded, and I discovered board; and that it was Mr. Clark's voice that cried for help. With a sudden effort Bill tore from the mate's grasp, and sank into the water. In falling, he struck his head on the main chains, and for a long time was insensible. Upon coming to himself the love of life returned, and induced him to exert his powers as a swimmer to sustain himself upon the surface. He kept up until just at daylight, when, his strength being quite spent, he saw a large ship bearing down upon him. She came so close as to hear his feeble hail; and, lowering a boat, picked him up and took him on board, where rest and kind nursing soon restored him to strength. The wound in his side was slight, and healed up completely before the ship reached Liverpool. Since that time Bill had been knocking about the world from various ports, until at last his luck had brought him to Gibraltar; and there he stood before me, a living proof of the fallibility of human testimony, and the danger of relying upon circumstantial evidence. A SALE AT NEWSTEAD ABBEY. A SALE at Newstead Abbey! A few dozen of Byron's wine and some articles of vertu, to be knocked down to the highest bidder! It was with some pain that I read the announcement in the newspaper. Was I never to wander about the old abbey again-never lunch under the oak the poet himself planted, and for which Barnum offered such a fabulous price? I was determined that one other day's real enjoyment was to be had, as the grounds were thrown open to the public (so said the Daily News) the day prior to the sale, so that parties might not, as the Scotch say, buy a pig in a poke. After a pleasant drive 'rom Mansfield, I arrived at the "Hut," the well-known inn which faces the entrance to the grounds and occupies the site of an ancient "Hostelrie." At the gates a fine old oak flourishes luxuriantly, spared from the ruthless grasp of the "wicked lord" by the inhabitants of Mansfield, who would not see it condemned to the woodman's axe. After driving for about a mile I reached the grand old pile, where I was informed, to my extreme disgust, that only the articles on sale would be seen. Disappointed at hearing I could not take a last look at the gardens, &c., I turned to the professed object of my visit-the viewing of the articles which on the morrow were to be brought to the hammer; and these were most incongruous. Think of visiting Newstead Abbey, and finding, on the spot consecrated by the footsteps of genius, articles for sale that would be a discredit to a marine store or pawnbroker! Old carpets lay by the beautiful Gothic door; moth-eaten bedsteads, teakettles, fryingpans and other culinary articles were scattered about and ticketed for auction. Curiosity tempted me to attend on the following day, in the hope of becoming one of the fortunate possessors. What a crowd met my gaze on that wet drizzling morning (July 4th)! The archeologist was there, hopeful of seizing some prize; "the collector" from London, more bent on profit than poetry; and the trades folk of the neighborhood exhibiting their tastes for bargains. But there was some attraction for every class, as my catalogue informed me, containing as it did a list of silver-plated dinner sets, rare old Dresden china, rich ivory and other tankards-one especially very beautiful, by Cellini; pipes of great beauty and workmanship in meerschaum and ivory; musical instruments; port and hock; guns, pistols, stands of arms; two lofty pier glasses and a splendid octagonal carved and gilt lantern. Among the first articles put up with supposed Byronic interest were two tea and coffee urns; but as there was no evidence of actual possession beyond the crest, the public would not believe that Byron drank "the cup which cheers, but not inebriates," from their capacious depths, so that they were actually knocked down (crest and all) for their real worth. Chairs met with a similar fate, although it was proved they occupied a corner in the abbey (perhaps, however, in the kitchen department) during the poet's life. This day's sale was, in fact a very poor one. A Canadian bark canoe and paddles sold for twenty-one shillings, a price archæologically inadequate. Baron Rothschild's deputy bidding most extravagant prices, which rather overthrew my hopes-at any rate, of making a bargain. Having disposed of the remnants of the previous day, the crystal was the first on the catalogue; and the prices given were beyond belief, two cut sugar-basins having gone for £6 10s. ; and I am not aware that they possessed any charm or historic interest beyond being the property of the late lamented and amiable Colonel Wildman. Two preserved Indian frogs sold for 3s. 6d. They looked in very prime condition, which elicited the remarks from our auctioneer that if French frogs looked as temptingly large, the national taste for a stew could he easily accounted for. An ancient leather stirrup cup, of the date of 1599, brought the large sum of £13 15s. A small article it was, not much bigger than a child's boot; but as many a "stirrup cup" at parting had been quaffed from it three hundred years ago, it was perhaps worth, to many (certainly not to myself), this exaggerated price. Four papier mâché decanter-stands, formerly Lord Byron's (which, had they not such a noted possessor, might have brought a penny each), realised 15s. His first copy of printed early poems, with autograph, fetched £6-it was generally thought a very small price, and perhaps the happy individual to whom it fell may now be showing it as a great bargain (I am not the possessor); and the brass candlesticks used by his lordship at college went at £3 10s, while busts of Charles I. and William III. sold for £15 a piece. THE MYSTERY OF ST. JAGO. SOME years since, a ship was one morning discovered ashore on one of the many sand-keys near the south side of Cuba. The weather was fine, so that it was impossible for her to have been driven ashore by the storm; and her sudden appearance there created such a feeling among the superstitious wreckers, that it was some hours before a boat's crew could be mastered to board the mysterious craft, to ascertain whence she came. After much hesitation, she was boarded. Not a living being was seen upon her decks. The cabin was then visited by one of the wreckers, who went down the companion-way with a cautious and wary step. His head had no sooner disappeared than his companions heard a piercing shriek, which seemed to issue from some confined place, such as a state-room or small cabin, and immediately the man rushed upon deck, his countenance livid, and his hair nearly erect, having evidently been so acted upon by fear that he was unable to utter a word for some minutes. After having somewhat recovered from the perturbation into which he had been thrown, he related to his com panions the cause of his sudden retreat from the cabin. He said the cabin was quite dark, and as he descended the stairs the odor of a tomb saluted his nostrils, and hę was about turning to ascend when the shriek which those on deck heard was uttered close to his ear. This was admitted by all to be sufficient to cause the stoutest heart to quail. A consultation was held, which resulted in a resolution to go in a body to the companion-way, and ask who was below. Accordingly, they went to the door; and one of them, in a loud voice, asked, Halloo! who's below there ?" Innumerable groans were the reply, which caused the face of the bravest to blanch with fear, and an irresistible terror to take possession of them. They looked from one to the other, in the hope that some one might offer an explanation; but no one seemed able to throw any light on the mystery. The vessel bore evidence of having been long exposed to the action of the elements, as she was much decayed, and her rigging was stranded in many places. They examined carefully all things around the deck; the hatches were battened down, water casks were lashed on each side, but empty, the beds, or chocks of a long-boat were in the usual place, but no boat was there, the appearances indiçating that she had been launched many months previous, for the rail which had been cut away to make room was rotten, so as easily to be picked to pieces with the fingers. As they came to the forecastle door, one of them repeated the question which had before been asked in the cabin; but no answer was returned. Emboldened by the silence, they all The second morning of the sale found me among the excited agreed to descend into the forecastle and examine it, hoping to find something to explain this strange affair. They descended, in winter, when the power of regaining a proper degree of heat one by one, into the dark forecastle, and it was some time be- is necessarily less. fore their eyes became sufficiently accustomed to the darkness to distinguish objects; but what a horrible sight met their gaze -nine ghastly faces, with eyes fixed and glassy, hair unkempt, beards long and matted, and garments covered with mildew! A sickening stench pervaded the place, which was almost unendurable. They were horror-stricken, and speedily ascended to the deck, where they resolved to again enter the cabin, and attempt to unravel the mystery. They went to the cabin door, and asked "Who's below?" and not receiving answer, as before, they ventured below, keeping close together, as though their very lives depended upon it. Cautiously they descended, step by step, and gradually accustomed their eyes to the darkness, until they arrived at the foot of the steps, when, seeing nothing strange, they became bold, and ventured further aft, towards the state-rooms. Not a sound was heard, save the dashing of the surf against the vessel's side. The very stillness impressed them with a fear they were not wont to feel; and what they had seen in the forward part of the vessel convinced them that some dark and terrible tale was connected with her. They peered into the darkness with a distrustful eye, and each step was a short but lingering one. Gradually they moved along, stopping often to look behind to ascertain if the way was clear to the deck, and keeping close together for the purpose of mutual protection. The same strong smell of decayed matter was discernible here, but no such sight as they had seen forward met their eyes in the cabin. They could now see plainly the various articles of furniture which the cabin contained; and as these appeared nothing strange, their courage increased, and they commenced breaking open one of the state-rooms which had been fastened upon the inside. A capstan-bar was procured, and a panel of the door was stove in, when they were petrified with horror by hearing the most piercing screams and unearthly groans issue from the apartment. Fear deprived them of strength; but in a moment their courage and strength returned in a measure, by hearing a gentle female voice inquire: "Who are you?'' "Those who will do you no harm," rejoined one of the party. "Who are you? How came you fastened in there? Are you 'alone?" These questions followed each other in rapid succession, without any reply being made. Several more were put, but with the same result, when they again commenced battering down the door, which was soon completely demolished. The entrance was at last clear; but no one had the courage to enter, so dark and gloomy did the room seem. Numerous were the invitations for the owner of the voice to come out, but the invitation was not accepted. They all had plainly heard a voice speak to them from that very state-room, and yet there seemed to be no one within. For a few minutes they stood in silence, and then as silently ascended to the deck, though each one endeavored not to be the last to leave the cabin. They rowed to the shore, and told their story, which induced many to visit the strange vessel. No name was on her, and nothing was found to tell where she came from, or how she came in that condition. The body of a female, in an advanced state of decomposition, was found in the state-room which had been broken open, and a number of bodies in the forecastle; but nothing to show by what means they had met their untimely death. The bodies were interred by the local authorities; but the wreckers ever after gave that sand-key a wide berth, for they could never explain the mystery of those strange sounds. HINTS ON BATHING. An excellent writer of undoubted authority observes: "It ought never to be forgotten that everything depends upon the general power of the individual, the state of the system, especially of the skin, at the moment of immersion, and the season of the year. As to the immersion of infants and young children, it is clear that water of a higher temperature than what feels cool to the hand of the nurse should be used, particularly or, "The attempt to harden children by exposure to too great a degree of cold is of the most injurious nature; it either produces acute disease of the lungs, which are then very sensible to external impressions, or disease of the digestive organs, leading to disease of the mesenteric glands, scrofula, water in the brain, if they survive a few years, to early consumption. Delicate and feeble persons of all ages require a higher temperature of the bath and a shorter stay in it than others. If the reaction does not speedily take place, means should be employed to insure its so doing, or the use of the cold bath must be abandoned. Though in most cases moderate exercise is advantageous before bathing, unless the person has an opportunity of springing out of bed into the bath, still he should never think of undressing and going into the water when fatigued or when the skin is covered with perspiration. It is a good rule to wet the head before taking a plunge. For a person in good health, early in the morning is the best time to bathe; for one more delicate, from two to three hours after breakfast is preferable; but no one should bathe immediately after a full meal, particularly if there be an apopletic tendency." THE SABLE ANTELOPE (AIGOCERUS NIGER). THE Zoological Society of London have just added to their unique collection a fine specimen of the sable antelope. This animal, which is very rare, is supposed to have its home in the mountains lying to the north and east of Southern Africa, and the present one is the only living example that has ever been seen alive in Europe. The existence of this species of antelope was first discovered by Sir Cornwallis Harris in 1836, who while pursuing an elephant he had wounded, unexpectedly came upon a small herd of nine does and two bucks near the Cashan range. Convinced that the animals before him were unknown to science, he determined upon obtaining a specimen, and after a teilsome pursuit of three days succeeded in killing one of the bucks, which was eventually placed in the collection of the British Museum. The appearance of this animal in its adult stage is very remarkable. From between the horns there rises a busby black mane which extends to the middle of the back; the greater portion of the coat is of a glossy jet-black hue, forming a most vivid and remarkable contrast with the snowy whiteness of the lower parts; the tail is tasselled and fringed, resembling that of no other known antelope; and the horns, upwards of three feet in length, are perfectly flat, sweeping gracefully over the back in the form of a crescent. THE STORMY PETREL.-This bird possesses a singular amount of oil, and has the power of throwing it from the mouth when terrified. It is said that this oil, which is very pure, is collected largely in St. Kilda by catching the bird on its eggs, where it sits very closely, and making it disgorge the oil into a vessel. The bird is then released and another taken. The inhabitants of the Faroe Islands make a curious use of this bird when young and very fat, by simply drawing a wick through the body, and lighting at the end which projects through the beak. This unique lamp will burn for a considerable period. EDUCATION.-Education is a companion that no misfortune can depress, no clime destroy, no enemy alienate, no despotism enslave; at home a friend, abroad an introduction; in society an ornament, in solitude a solace. It chastens vice, guides virtue, and gives at once grace and government to genius. Without it what is man? a splendid slave, a reasoning savage, vacillating between the dignity of an intelligence derived from God and the degradation of passions participated by brutes.-S. T. Coleridge. To vex another is to teach him to vex us again; injuries awaken revenge, and even an ant can sting and a fly trouble our patience. LEARN in childhood, if you can, that happiness is not outside but inside. A good heart and a clear conscience bring happiness, which no riches and no circumstances alone ever do. WANTED.-A life-boat that will float on a sea of troubles." " AMUSEMENT FOR YOUNG PEOPLE. CHARADES. I. My first is equal; second, grave; My third, most sinners wish to have. II. Too much for one, enough for two, and nothing for three. ENIGMAS. I. WE are little airy creatures, Each have different forms and features; A third, less bright, is set in tin; The fourth, a shining box within ; II. Before a circle let appear Twice twenty-five, and five in rear ; III. Although to human form I bear, Three coats (1) I'm destin'd yet to wear; A heavy unattractive gear. My second is of different hue (3), And yield you light (4), and perfume (5) too. Bedeck'd with costliest gems (6), I ween; A friendly succor (7) can bestow. My other vestments (8) too oft cast A shelter from the storm and blast; (9) A screen from midday's piercing heat, And stores from the industrious housewife (10) meet. The virtues of my frame (11) are great; A mighty list I here might state. If fever in your veins should rage. My limbs an epicure might tempt (12), My namesake's a flower that perhaps you know, 1. The bird that invites you to slay, 2. And that helps to make clothes for men ; 3. The bird from which mice flee away, And the bird that oft writes with a pen; 4. 5. The bird who is ever a king, And sometimes a tyrant is named; 6. The bird with soft, plastic wing, 7. And a clown for his merriment famed ; 8. The bird who must be in the fleet, 9. And that raises a ponderous load; 10. The bird who supplies us with meat, 11. And the name of an iron road; 12. The bird that must help you to dine, 13. And something Queen Bess used to wear; 14. The bird made of paper and twine, 15. And the bird that is always in fear; 16. The bird that is stamp'd and coin'd, A welcome guest to the poor; 17. The bird that would put you in mind Of William, when peevish and sour; 18. The bird full of mischievous fun, ANSWERS TO FAMILY PASTIME.-PAGE 542, DECEMBER No. Geographical Paradoxes-1. Horizontal dials within the tropics cast no shadows at noon twice every year, because the sun is vertical; and no universal ring-dial will show the hour when the sun is in either equinox. 2. The first meridian (from whence longitude is reckoned east and west) passes midway between the ship and the island, and therefore regard is had to the east and west longitude, and not to the points of the compass. 3. Directly under the poles, where all the points of the compass meet. 4. The earth is surrounded by a body of air, called the atmosphere, through which the rays of light come to the eye from all the heavenly bodies; and since these rays are admitted through a vacuum, or at least through a very rare medium (a medium is a fluid, or substance, through which a ray of light can penetrate), and fall obliquely upon the atmosphere, which is a dense medium, they will, by the laws of optics, be ref acted in lines, approaching nearer to a perpendicular from the place of the observer (or nearer the zenith) than they would be were the medium to be removed. Hence, all the heavenly bodies appear higher than they really are, and the nearer they are to the horizon, the more obliquely the ray falls, and consequently the greater is the refraction, or difference between their apparent and true altitudes. The above may be elucidated by the following simple experiment. Put a piece of silver at the bottom of an empty vessel, and then stand at such a distance from it as to cause the silver to be just out of sight. Then, by filling the glass with water, which is a denser medium than air, and standing at the same distance from it as before, the silver may be plainly seen. Transpositions-1. Fair, air. 2. Mean, mane, amen. 3. Peels, sleep. 4. Ten, net. 5. Now, won, own. Riddles-1. Bar-ley. 2. Test-y. Geometrical Puzzles-1. On a plane surface the solution of the problem would be impracticable, but on a curved surface it may be easily done. Fold a sheet of paper round a cylinder, and with a pair of compasses describe a circle upon it, assuming any point as a centre; then, when the paper is unfolded, and extended on a plane surface, an oval will be presented-the oval must not be confounded with the ellipse; the latter has no part of the curve of a circle in its composition; but, being described on two points, called its foci, it is continually varying-the shortest diameter of which will be in the direction corresponding with the axis of the cylinder. 2. A right line perpendicular to the plane of the two given lines, at the point of their concourse, will be perpendicular to them both. Arithmetical Questions-1. On the first view of the question, there does not appear to be any loss; for, if it be supposed that, in selling five apples for 2d., she gave three of the latter sort (viz. those at three a-penny) and two of the former (viz. those at two a-penny), she would receive just the same money as she bought them for; but this will not hold throughout the whole, for (admitting that she sells them as above) it must be evident that the latter stock would be exhausted first, and consequently she must sell as many of the former as remained overplus at five for 2d., which she bought at the rate of two a-penny, or four for 2d., and would therefore lose. It will be readily found, that when she had sold all the latter sort (in the above manner), she would have sold only eighty of the former, for there are as many threes in one hundred and twenty, as twos in eighty; then the remaining forty must be sold at five for 2d., which were bought at the rate of four for 2d.-i. e., |
