Obsequy. Ill 



never heard except on remarkably hot and still days, and always on open 

 places. The sound is exactly as if a swarm of bees were in your immediate 

 neighbourhood, though not one may be visible. Perhaps some of your 

 readers can throw light on this subject. — O. Sept. 5. 1831. 



Luminous Ap2^eai'ance on the Ears of a Horse. — Sir, Some years ago I 

 met with the following adventure ; the rationale of which I have never 

 satisfactorily discovered. I will describe it simply as it occurred, leaving 

 you or your readers to elucidate it as best you can. I was returning on 

 horseback one autumnal evening from a journey of about twelve miles, 

 when a heavy rain came on, and continued nearly all the way. Of course 

 I did not take it very leisurely, but came on at a brisk trot ; and what 

 with the rain and the exercise, my horse waxed pretty warm. When 

 about half wa}^, on his throwing up his head (an action usual with some 

 horses, when a little distressed for breath), I thought I saw a luminous 

 spot or two on his forehead. I examined more closely : it increased in 

 size, and by degrees extended itself up the ears, till the tips and edges 

 were distinctly marked out by a line of fire resembling phosphorus in 

 colour. Thus it continued for perhaps a mile, until it gradually disap- 

 peared ; leaving me in no small wonderment at the cause of so singular 

 and fairy-Hke a visitation. If you or any of your correspondents can 

 throw any light on the cause of this appearance, I think it may be interest- 

 ing to many, and I am sure will be gratifying to, Sir, yours, &c. — S. T, 

 Stoke- Ferrt/y Norfolk, Oct. 3. 1831. 



Art. V. Obsequy. By John F. M. Dovaston, Esq. A.M., of 

 Westfelton, near Shrewsbury. 



" Mine be a breezy hill, that skirts the down ; 

 Where a green grassy turf is all I crave, 

 With here and there a violet bestrown, 



Fast by a brook, or fountain's murmuring wave; 

 And many an evening sun shine sweetly on my grave." 



Dr. Beattie, 



Sir, As this Magazine is very seldom the vehicle of verses, from the 

 affecting impression made on my heart by the " Wish " of poor Wilson, 

 the great ornithologist, recorded in the Obituary concluding your last 

 Volume (p. 558.), I offer you (though I had on the anvil metal more attrac- 

 tive) a few, written some years ago, in consequence of my having raised a 

 mound of earth in a grove near my residence, for the purpose of my own 

 grave ; whenever it shall please the Almighty to call me from this state, 

 where He has so very largely blessed me with happiness, to an eternal 

 existence, which I rationally believe will be perfectly and inconceivably 

 blessed. They are addressed to a near and dear kinsman, with an earnest 

 injunction to him, and my other friends, to see my body there deposited : 

 for, like the above great, good, and lamented naturalist, I had ever a 

 " wish to be buried in some rural spot, sacred to peace and solitude, 

 whither the charms of nature might invite the steps of the votary of the 

 muses, the lover of science, and where the birds might sing over my graved'* — 

 John F. M. Dovaston. Westfelton^ near Shrewsbury y November 10. 1831. 



OBSEQUY. 



Lay me not in the charnel ground 



Where flesh and bones are mangled ,• 

 Nor let the sullen death-bell sound, 



Nor silly chime be jangled. 



