only a moiety of the amount returned to the daily 

 sheet by the returns of the provincial officers. 

 During the duty, the men were regaled with 

 roast beef and vegetables, according to annual 

 custom."— T. W. 



[Our correspondent has sent us the " dry facts." 

 What of the heaving bosoms, agonising smarts, 

 broken hearts, doubts, hopes, fears, misgivings, 

 may-bes, perhaps-es, and those hidden imaginings 

 that haunt the frenzied brain, &c, &c. ? Many 

 a daring act was braved on that auspicious morn ; 

 many were the arrows discharged from as many 

 fatal bows — the issue of which who shall dare to 

 contemplate ? Not we !] 



The Love for Birds. — It is worthy of remark 

 that many animals, birds in particular, hold a 

 very strong power over many a stout and manly 

 heart. There exists between them an indefinable 

 sympathy, broken only by death. An interesting 

 case in point, recurs to my memory. A few 

 years since, a vessel, laden with linseed, was 

 coming up our river to discharge her cargo at the 

 port. In her course, she ran ashore on some 

 brush-work in the river ; and as the tide 

 receded, it was evident to all on board that she 

 must capsize. Just as the order was given for 

 all to get into the boat, alongside, the captain 

 rushed frantically towards the cabin, where hung 

 his pet goldfinch (provincially called the red-cap). 

 Dashing his hand maniacally through the sky- 

 light, he reached the cage. He withdrew the 

 latter ; and with it, his bird ! Who shall paint 

 his horror ? The destruction of his vessel was 

 nothing. Where was his companion of many a 

 long voyage ? He was cold, stiff — lifeless ! The 

 water bursting into the vessel, had filled the cabin 

 with foul air. Goldy's lungs had imbibed the 

 poison. He was rescued — just too late! The 

 sorrows of that jolly Jack Tar may not be told, 

 but surely his heart was in the right place! — 

 C. P., Boston, Lincolnshire. 



[The attachments you speak of, are indeed 

 singular. We have known many such. No 

 person living can appreciate better than ourself, 

 the intensity of love inhabiting the hearts of 

 some of these little creatures. We have had 

 many pets — and lost them. The " parting scene" 

 was sad indeed !] 



Pieris Bapsrn. — This very morning, Tuesday, 

 Feb. 22, Pieris Bapsce was on the wing. Pray 

 insert this "curious fact," as I am inclined to 

 think it a remarkably early appearance for this 

 country. Only once have I noted it at an earlier 

 date, viz., when I was in Switzerland, Feb. 16, 

 1849.— Bombyx Atlas. 



Instinct and Beason exhibited in the Horse. — 

 Mr. Gustavus Murray, who rented the farm of 

 Rosskeen, of M'Leod of Callboll, Ross-shire, N.B., 

 had two very handsome black mares, which were 

 companions in harness. The one was called 

 " Peggy," and the other " Bell." In the spring 

 of 18 36 each of them produced a foal ; which like 

 themselves were handsome, black animals. Many 

 a gentleman, and many a farmer, paused to ad- 

 mire them while they were grazing in view of the 

 road. One day " Peggy" was observed not to 

 graze ; but to move languidly about. The fore- 



man was, in consequence, ordered to bring her and 

 her foal home. This having been done, and the 

 farrier having arrived, she was pronounced to be 

 dangerously ill. Despite all that could be done for 

 her, she died next day. The men were ordered to 

 give her a decent burial. While doing this, u Bell" 

 was observed to stand towards the park fence ; 

 silently and earnestly gazing at that distant and 

 melancholy operation. Did she know that 

 "Peggy" was sick? Did she dread that "Peggy" 

 was dead ? Let the sequel show. After " Peggy" 

 was duly interred, " Bell " set up a loud and 

 sonorous neigh ; which she repeated as long as the 

 men were in view. What could she mean by that 

 neighing ? At a consultation which was then 

 held, as to the disposal of the orphan foal ; one of 

 the servants suggested to try " Bell " with it. 

 A few doubts were at first expressed ; but the 

 trial was ordered to be made. " Bell " was sent 

 for. How unusually quiet she stood to be caught ! 

 she actually thrust her head into her bridle ! 

 With what a melancholy, yet stately step did she 

 walk home ! Her very gait told that she guessed 

 she was about to take some extraordinary respon- 

 sibility upon herself. With some caution she was 

 introduced to her companion's foal ; but she was 

 not to be guided by cold caution. Whoever has 

 seen an aunt press a sister's orphan child to her 

 bosom, can picture to himself the rapture with 

 which " Bell " kissed that foal ; stretched her- 

 self out, and invited him to his natural food. 

 He with some reluctance accepted the proffered 

 boon. Her own foal looked just as any child 

 would look, on seeing a stranger put to his 

 mother's breast — quite dumb - founded. But, 

 quick as thought, away he ran to her other 

 side ; and there stood ,: Bell " with a foal right 

 and left! Could you but have seen the look 

 which she at that time directed towards her 

 master ! In it you could easily read, that 

 she not only knew " Peggy " was dead ; but 

 that her foal needed a protectress; and that 

 protectress she determined she would herself be. 

 Was there not herein something higher than 

 instinct ? Yes, there was a reasoning power ex- 

 hibited, even superior to that evinced by some 

 human beings. What else but reason could 

 have told her that " Peggy's " sickness termi- 

 nated in death ? Or what else could have told her 

 that the animal which had that day been buried 

 was her friend and companion ? And what else 

 could have told her, that " Peggy " being dead, 

 her foal required a nurse ? Reasoning powers, 

 of a high order, could alone tell her all this, 

 and teach her to adopt that foal and rear it 

 with her own. Moreover, there must be some 

 means by which animals convey their ideas from 

 one to another. For, after the first reluctance 

 exhibited by the orphan foal was surmounted, 

 he showed signs of determination to follow " Bell" 

 as though she were his mother. In about an 

 hour after she was brought in, she was sent 

 out to the park attended by both foals. If the 

 two mares were noticed before ; the one mare, 

 nursing the two foals, was now doubly noticed. 

 Few passed the road without paying a tribute 

 of respect to "Bell." She was fully alive to 

 the importance of the charge which she under- 

 took ; and well did she discharge it ; for towards 

 the close of the season, none but the farm 



