24 
THE CABINET OF NATURAL HISTORY. 
nastic sports. It is adapted for every age and every de- 
gree of strength; and the degree of exertion can always be 
proportioned, by increasing or diminishing the power of 
the bow employed. It is not necessarily laborious, as it 
may be relinquished as soon as it becomes irksome or 
fatiguing. 
It is recorded, that a king of Persia offered a reward to 
whoever could invent a new pleasure. Had such an induce- 
ment been held forth by the ladies of the present day, he who 
introduced Archery as a female amusement, might deserved- 
ly have claimed the prize. It is unfortunate that there are few 
diversions in the open air, in which women can join with 
satisfaction, or without overstepping those bounds which 
custom and innate delicacy have prescribed to the sex; and 
as their sedentary life renders exercise necessary to health, 
it is to be lamented that suitable amusements have been 
wanting, to invite them into the open air. Archery, how- 
ever, is admirably calculated to supply this deficiency, and 
in a manner the most desirable that could be wished. 
The bow is the most ancient and universal of all wea- 
pons, and has been found in use amongst the most barbar- 
ous and remote nations. In the days of David, the practice 
of this instrument of warfare appears to have been so gene- 
ral, that it is constantly made use of in the Bible as a figure 
of speech. Its earliest application, however, was for the 
purpose of procuring food ; and, notwithstanding the cele- 
brity of the English archers, it is a question among anti- 
quaries whether it was ever used by the Anglo-Saxons and 
Danes except for the chase, or as an amusement. All au- 
thorities agree, that it never was considered as a formidable 
weapon of offence in that country until after the Norman 
conquest, who introduced the general use of it and the cross- 
bow among their military retainers and serfs ; the differ- 
ence in the use of which is well exemplified in a simile 
made by the celebrated Bayle : “ Testimony,” says he, 
< ‘ is like the shot of a long bow, which owes its efficacy to 
the force of the shooter, whereas argument is like that of 
the cross-bow, equally forcible, whether discharged by a 
dwarf or a giant.” It is now wholly relinquished among 
civilised nations as a hostile weapon, but still retains a pro- 
minent rank as affording a healthy and rational amusement. 
This exercise, which is exceedingly common in Europe, 
and more particularly in Great Britain, is scarcely known 
in this country; the only association of Bowmen in the 
United States, as far as we can learn, being in this city. 
We trust, however, that this fashion may be universally 
cultivated and approved, and that we may see the time 
when, with Statius, it will be said 
“ Fudor est nescire sagittas.” 
Every information respecting the use of the Bow, can be 
readily obtained from the “Archer’s Manual,” a little 
work published by Mr. Hobson, of Philadelphia, under 
the superintendence of the “ United Bowmen.” Shooting 
apparatus can likewise be obtained without much difficulty, 
either in this city, or may be imported from Europe. 
We have been led into these remarks, from a wish to 
see this useful and agreeable amusement become general in 
our country, where there is such a dearth of invigorating 
exercises, with the exception of those of the chase. The 
association to which we have alluded, held their third 
annual prize meeting on the twenty-second of October, 
when the first prize, a silver bugle, was awarded to Mr. X. 
for the greatest value of hits, and the second, a silver 
grease box, for the hit nearest the centre of the target, to 
Mr. C. From the unfavourable state of the weather, the 
shooting was far from being equal to that on many of the 
ordinary practice meetings of the association. 
MISCELLANY. 
A pheasant was chased by a hawk, a few days 
since, from a swamp, and took refuge in the chimney of 
the dwelling house, on the farm of Mr. E. Seeley, in 
Cumberland county, N. J. and descended into the parlour, 
whence it was taken, and kept alive for several days. 
The same gentleman has a domestic fowl, which pro- 
duces regularly, eggs with double yolks, and about the 
size of those of a turkey. 
In the following anecdote, Hogg tells a monstrous 
story, with an honest simplicity, that makes one laugh: — 
It’s a good sign of a dog when his face grows like his 
master’s. It’s a proof he’s aye glowerin’ up in his mas- 
ter’s een, to discover what he’s thinking on; and then, 
without the word or wave o’ command, to be aff to execute 
the wull o’ his silent thocht, whether it be to wear sheep 
or run doon deer. Hector got sae like me, afore he dee’d, 
that I remember when I was owre lazy to gang to the kirk, 
I used to send him to take my place in the pew — and the 
minister never kent the difference. Indeed he ance asked 
me, next day, what I thocht o’ the sermon; for he saw me 
wonderfu’ attentive amang a rather sleepy congregation. 
Hector and me gied ane anither sic a look! and I was 
feared Mr. Paton wud hae observed it; but he was a sim- 
ple, primitive, unsuspectin’ auld man — a very Nathaniel, 
without guile, and he jealoused naething; tho’ both Hector 
and me was like to split; and the dog after laughing in his 
sleeve, for mair than a hundred yards, could stand’t nae 
longer, but was obliged to loup awa owre a hedge into a 
potato field, pretending to have scented partridges. 
