OCTOBER. 
817 
and what is commonly called the fruit, (but is botanically a 
seed^) is so divided by the internal cells of the shell, as to be 
much less in bulk than the walnut, and difficult to extract. 
It is best cracked by holding it perpendicularly on a stone, 
and striking the base with a hammer, when the shell gene- 
rally flies in pieces without crushing the seed. 
C. — Here is a little strange-looking mouse, lying dead. 
F. — It is not a mouse ; it does not even belong to the 
same order ; this is a Shrew ( Sorex Brevicatidis ?J belong- 
ing to the order Ferce, whereas the mouse is placed in Glires. 
I believe this genus is the smallest of the Carnwora, to 
which its teeth claim affinity ; its usual food is, however^ 
insects, worms, &c. It is not commonly seen here. This 
has probably been killed, and rejected by one of the house 
cats. Have you ever examined any of that large 
patch of bulrushes f Typha Latifolia ) which grow in the 
bottom of this field ? it is difficult to get at them, as it is a 
complete bog all around, but they are so curious that they 
repay the trouble of obtaining them. The thick cylindrical 
head appears like a fine, but very closely set brush, radiating 
from the axis or stalky, which it covers for about six inches. 
On picking out a lump of what we may call the bristles of 
this brush, we are surprised to see that we have a handful 
of the softest down, that which before was not bigger than 
one's thumb, now^ on being freed from the stalk, filling one's 
hand ; and the hiatus made by the loss is filled up by the 
expansion of the remainder, so completely as scarcely to be 
perceivable. In short, the whole head is composed of this 
very expansive down ; and I am told that poor persons 
sometimes collect quantities of it to make beds, which are 
said to be soft and elastic. 
C. — Yonder goes a flock of Wild Geese {Anas Cana- 
