MISCELLANEA. 
607 
The unnecessary restraint or disablement of any animal by 
any means by which more pain is inflicted on it than is 
requisite for the purpose. 
The baiting or worrying for sport of any animal. 
The wanton destruction of, or the wantonly maining, 
disabling, or causing pain or suffering to any animal. 
What the word animal stands for under the act, we are 
informed in the definition clause : 
“ The word c animal/ in these acts, shall include any 
animal, whether domesticated or not, whether of the kinds 
particularly enumerated in clause 29 of the said act of the 
twelfth and thirteenth of her Majesty, or not, and whether 
a quadruped or not.” 
The Raynham-protected animal may have any number of 
feet, and of course any number of teeth or stings, as there is 
no limitation at all in that direction. The act would protect 
scorpions, if we had those charming creatures in England. 
To destroy them wantonly would be a misdemeanour ; to 
deprive them even of their stings would be no less dangerous, 
as it would come under the indictment of maiming. Who 
would venture any more to instruct a pig in the alphabet, or 
teach a bullfinch to pipe ? Supposing the bill to become law, 
he would be a bold man who would open an oyster except 
under legal advice, or desert a kitten, or license his terrier to 
hunt so much as a rat. We really never met with so 
ludicrous a piece of legislation. Cruelty to beasts is not to 
be put down by such a letise ; but if there be any chance of 
this measure passing, we would suggest including the Jews 
in the clause against “ unnecessary restraint and disable- 
ment. 5 ’ The Lords would perhaps consent to their relief 
under Lord Raynham’s bill, for the sake of the contumely of 
emancipating them along with the pigs. — Examiner. 
ERGOT IN WHEAT. 
To detect ergotized grains in corn, M. Payen gives the 
following instructions : — The ears affected are distinguishable 
by many of the grains in it being replaced by a violet-brown 
substance, almost black, of larger volume and frequently 
twisted, brittle, having a gray mass inside. The ergot may 
be distinguished even when no larger than the healthy grain, 
or when broken into several pieces, not only by its external 
dark colour, but also by its lightness; it floats on water, 
whereas the healthy grains sink to the bottom. 
