Table Decoratiois. 49 



about 30 units ; and is not injurious, otherwise than by eating garden 

 fruits or grains, — items that I do not consider in the present discussion. 

 From the middle of September until November, its food loses much 

 of its fruit character, because of the failure of supply ; and it feeds at least 

 two-thirds on insects and other noxious animals : it is therefore bene- 

 firial 30 units, and is not injurious ; and, during November and December, 

 it i«i beneficial to about the same extent that it is in February and March, 

 or about 40 units. 



We have now but to condense the foregoing results, and we have, in the 

 aggrej ate, the sum total of the crow's merits and demerits. 



We find, that, during the whole year, it is beneficial to the amount of 229 

 units, and that it is injurious to the extent of 4,918 units. If, for the sake 

 of the greatest indulgence, we take but one-fourth of this enormous 

 disproportion as the actual fact, we still have an exhibit that proves at 

 once that these birds are not only worthless, but are ruinously destructive. 



In presenting this short article, I will say that I am not moved in the 

 least by prejudice or ill feeling for a much-disliked bird, but that I state the 

 facts as they are, and simply to throw a little light on a subject that has given 

 rise to much discussion and controversy. In conclusion, I will say that 

 the jays are equally injurious with the crows, and that they are not deserv- 

 ing of a moment's indulgence or protection at the hands of the ruralist. 



E. A. Savjuels. 



TABLE DECORATIONS. 



During the last few years, much attention has been attracted in Eng- 

 land to the decorations usually employed for the dinner-table ; and the result 

 has been the general disuse of the old style of clumsy, awkward epergnes, 

 composed of heavy-plated white metal and glass, and the introduction of a 

 neater, lighter, and more artistic form of ornament. These new styles 

 depend mostly for effect on the flowers and foliage with which they are 

 filled ; the material of the epcrgne filling, as is proper, a secondar}' place. 

 At the International Horticultural Exhibition in London, in May last, 

 liberal prizes were offered for the best designs for table-decoration ; and 

 the result was the production of many, which, for simplicity, neatness, and 

 elegance, can hardly be excelled. 



