MISCELLANY. 
161 
animal was half immersed in the water, and shivering with cold, yet still engaged 
in its affectionate office, holding the head of its late master above the stream, 
and all unconscious that its exertions were useless, for life had long departed 
from him to w T hom the animal was so much attached. So severe had been the 
Dog’s exertions to bring the body ashore, that the greater part of the collar of 
the coat, and much of the unfortunate man’s shirt, were tom to pieces in the 
attempt; and the affectionate creature had little but fragments to hold by, whilst 
for many hours supporting the head of its old protector .—Shrewsbury Chronicle. 
—[The fact of the Dog having in the first instance carefully kept its master’s 
head above water, proves the existence of reason in the animal; but the addi¬ 
tional circumstance of its failing to discover the subsequent death of the man, 
points out a small faculty of Causalty, and a want of Individuality.— Ed. NatJ\ 
Eagle destroyed by a Weasel. —As some millwrights were going from Crieff 
to Breadalbane, through Glenturit, a little above Qchter-tyre, they observed an 
Eagle make a sudden dart to the ground, and, having evidently picked something 
up, again ascend with a triumphant air. He had not, however, mounted far, 
when he made a second descent, and remained motionless. On the men coming 
up to him, they found him lying on the ground, with his wings expanded to their 
full extent; and on turning him over, a Weasel made its escape from the talons 
of the now lifeless Eagle, who lay with his throat cut by his intended prey.— 
Edinburgh Chronicle , June 29, 1839.—[Many instances are on record of the 
smaller birds of prey having been thus destroyed by Weasels, and other members 
of the Mustelidee. Thus it is that these much-despised creatures may prove of 
considerable service to Man, although thoughtlessly denounced as mere mis¬ 
chievous “ vermin.” —Ed. Nat.~\ 
Artificial Hatching of Eggs. —A company is forming, at the head of which 
are the names of several distinguished noblemen and scientific men, for the 
artificial rearing and breeding of domestic fowl, game, and other descriptions of 
birds. The operations are proposed to be conducted on a very extensive scale ; 
and, in addition to rearing birds for the market, and game for the preserves and 
parks of the nobility and gentry, will attempt the acclimating and naturalising 
foreign rare birds. It has been proved, by very successful experiments, that the 
climate of this country is no greater obstacle to artificial breeding on an exten¬ 
sive scale, than that of Egypt, where the art has been carried on from time 
immemorial. 
To procure prolific Ducks. —A cadger at Forth, Camwith, has a lively Duck 
that regularly lays two eggs at a time; and, what is of importance, the owner 
can breed such Ducks at pleasure. He says, to have the double-laying breed 
you have simply to hatch one bird out of two eggs. 
Domesticated Partridges.*— The following curious circumstances were com- 
VOL. V.—NO. XXXVI. 
X 
