326 MISCELLANY. 



are of a pure white, the rest of the bird of a beautiful French black. It has been 

 presented to the Fifeshire Literary, Scientific, and Antiquarian Society. For 

 some years past it has been observed in the neighbourhood of Rossie, but all 

 attempts to get within shot of it proved abortive till the present severe storm 

 rendered it less cautious. — Fifeshire Journal, Feb. 15, 1838, communicated by Mr. 

 Henry Buist, Law Park, near St. Andreics. 



Manna. — This is believed to be an insect secretion, and collected from a 

 shrub called Gavan, two feet high, bearing a resemblance to the Broom. It is 

 collected in cloths spread beneath them at night, and it wears the form of large 

 crystal drops of dew, such as are seen on plants in England early in the morning. 

 It is found near Mount Sinai, and regarded with peculiar interest, in consequence 

 of its connection with one of the most striking events recorded in Scripture. It 

 falls during the. heat of the day, is collected early in the morning, and after 

 straining it through cloths, it is placed in skins and gourds : a considerable 

 quantity is consumed by themselves, a portion is sent to Cairo, and the monks of 

 Mount Sinai retail it to pilgrims, who receive it with much reverence as an incon- 

 testible proof of the event to which it refers. It is held as a luxury, and used 

 for all the purposes of honey, and when taken in any large quantity, proves a 

 mild laxative. — Wellstead's Travels in Arabia. 



Important Article of Food for Horses, Dogs, etc. — When the duty on. 

 Sago was two guineas per cwt., and the import price from two to six guineas in 

 addition, it was merely used as a delicacy, and as food for invalids. Of late the. 

 duty having been reduced to one shilling per cwt., and the import price from ten 

 to seventeen shillings, it costs only half the price of Carolina rice, goes twice as 

 far, and is very superior. As part substitute for milk in feeding calves, it is 

 found very valuable : the method of using it is to sprinkle one pint of pearl sago 

 into three quarts of boiling water on the fire, keep stirring, and in less than ten 

 minutes you have a strong jelly, which, mixed with the same quantity of milk, 

 is found to be a saving of half the milk, and the calves do better with it. 

 Several gentlemen are now feeding their greyhounds upon it, boiled as above, then 

 poured over biscuit or bread, instead of broth or jelly made from meat, and find 

 it very superior, saving three-fourths of both expense and trouble, at the same 

 time keeping their greyhounds in much better condition. — To those who keep 

 packs of hounds this will be found a most important discovery. One of the 

 largest Horse proprietors in the kingdom is using it as food for them with great 

 satisfaction. — Cheltenham Chronicle, April 19, 1838, communicated by Peter 

 Rylands, Esq., Bewsey House, Warrington. 



Death of a valuable black Tigress. — Wombwell's Menagerie left this 

 town on Friday last. Previous to its departure it sustained a serious loss by the 

 death of a black tigress, which died while giving birth to three still-born cubs. 



