MAV  27 
MOORE’S  RURAL  WEW-YORKER. 
iflx  ®arlrcii, 
GROWING  SEEDLING  STRAWBERRIES. 
Eds.  Ruhad. — 'When  strawborrios  aivi  fully 
ripe,  take  a  quart  of  borrios  atul  mash  them  in 
enoiiKh  dry  sand  to  suparatf!  the  Hooda,  ho  that 
they  can  be  ao^vn.  This  quantity  of  berries  will 
produce  all  the  plants  that  most  people  can  give 
apace  for  them  to  frnlt ;  and  a  bed  three  or  four 
feet  aquare  is  largo  enough  to  how  the  seed  on. 
It  should  bo  inadu  of  rich,  light  earth,  and  be  in 
a  shady  place,  (jr  artiliclal  shade  should  bo  mtulo 
for  it.  Sow  tlio  seed,  aand  and  all,  aa  wion  aa  it 
has  been  mixed  with  aand,  ui>on  the  surface  of 
the  bod.  Then  hike  a  coarse  wire  aieve,  if  you 
have  one,  and  aift  on  just  dirt  enough  to  cover 
the  seed  about  an  eighth  of  an  inch  deep.  Now 
pack  the  soil  over  the  aotnl  a  little  with  tlio  hack 
of  a  Biiatlo,  then  waUtr  the  bod  lightly  from  a  wa¬ 
tering-pot,  and  keep  the  bed  moist  constantly 
before,  and  after  the  plants  come  up. 
In  the  full  you  may  have  a  thousand  jilanta  on 
Huch  a  bed,  which  should  bo  j)r(»to<!U!d  in  winter 
by  laying  down  aomo  small  brush,  to  Ijo  eovorod 
with  hay  or  straw,  kept  about  two  itiohos  above 
the  jilauts  by  the  brush.  In  tho  following  May 
the  plants  should  bo  set  where  each  will  have 
ample  room  to  fruit,  two  feet  apart  ia  not  too 
much  apace,  as  when  you  discover  a  prnmising 
variety,  you  need  a  little  apa*3e  immodiaUdy 
around  it  to  increase  it  by  its  runners  tho  saTue 
season.  Tho  next  soason  your  valuable  varieties, 
if  you  happen  to  have  any,  should  be  removfHl  to 
ample  gromuls,  and  tho  worthless  ones  alumld  be 
thrown  away. 
Tho  question,  “what  are  tho  chances  for  ob¬ 
taining  a  Buporlor  variety  ?"  comes  up  natiiriilly 
in  tho  mind  of  every  person  inclined  to  experi¬ 
ment  in  8eo<lling  struwbomos.  Homo  persons 
have  grown  many  thousands  without  obtaining 
a  single  valuable  variety;  ami  some,  by  mere 
chance,  have  obtained  splendid  varieties  in  grow¬ 
ing  a  few  humh-eds.  Tho  seed  of  the  largest  and 
best  berries  dot-s  not  produce  any  liner  sorts  than 
the  seed  of  inferior  kinds.  This  is  a  law  of  na¬ 
ture,  when  applied  to  growing  any  sefslling  vinos 
or  fimit  trooa.  If  wo  take  a  very  llnuaiiplo,  pear, 
or  ixiach,  and  plant  their  seeds,  we  got  no  better 
fruit  from  anch  seedlings,  as  a  gemeral  rule,  than 
from  HcedUngs  from  seed  of  iuferim-  fniit.  The 
only  possible  w.ay  to  bo  benelUed  by  planting 
the  seeds  of  choice  vai  ieties,  is  by  lirst  liylirid- 
iziug  a  valuable  variety,  and  planting  its  seeds. 
But  as  no  otje  in  this  coiintiy  has  over  obUuuo<l 
any  good  results  from  this  method,  except  in  a 
few  cases  of  Jiybridhsing  grapes,  it  is  doubtful  if 
wo  over  discover  a  surti  method  of  hyhridudtxg 
fruits  generally.  Even  In  hybridizing  gi'apes 
hut  one  or  two  {wraons,  duiiug  tho  last  fifty 
years,  have  produced  new  varieties  that  carry  in 
their  general  character  any  proof  of  being  hy¬ 
brids. 
Attempts  have  been  ma<lo  to  hybriilizo  straw- 
berries,  but  tho  results  (have  not  yet  been  very 
favorable  j  and  to-day  not  a  single  variety  exists  ' 
that  has  been  conclusively  shown  bj  bo  a  hybrid. 
If  wo  plant  two  varieties  of  siiuaslies  in  tho  same  ) 
garden  they  will  cross,  or  become  hybrids,  as  ' 
shown  in  their  products  tho  same  season ;  hut  ' 
Htrawberrics  cannot  be  affected  in  their  fiuit  by  < 
growing  near  otlior  varieties ;  but  if  It  be  ijossi-  I 
bio  to  fertilize  one  variety  by  tho  isdleuof  an-  i 
other,  BO  as  to  ho  suro  that  no  other  chance  I 
fertilkatioii  has  also  been  jiroduced,  then  wo 
may  probably  effect  results  in  strawberry  seed-  t 
lings  that  cannot  ho  obtained  by  ehaneo.  i 
hlndon,  N.  J.  T.  ll.  Mi.nek.  . 
product  of  tho  hi'st  season,  and  two  or  throe 
cucumbers,  of  au  iudoscribablo  sliapo,  neither 
“  twenty  inches  long  nor  npwar-d,"  the  crop  of 
tho  second.  However  well  these  odd  novelties 
may  snccocd  in  framoa,  they  are  not  to  bo 
recommended  for  ont-door  cultivation. 
-We  have  tried  anveral  of  tho 
newest  and  most  highly  praised  tomatooa  extant 
without  changing  out  conviction  that  the  'I’rophy 
is  yet  tho  Is^st.  T'lio  jVrhngton  is  firm,  solid  and 
of  good  sliaito,  ripening  with  tlie  Trophy  or  a 
little  earlier.  'J'lio  Conquerors  and  Victors— 
Itoth  excellent  early  sorts— riijoned  tlio  one  witli 
tho  other.  A  very  few  ripe  tomat<H;a  were  gath- 
erwl  upon  the  Victors  lirat,  but  Lhoro  was  no 
difference  in  tho  average  ripening.  Uathaway’s 
Excelsior  is  a  hoautiful  variety  of  medinin  size, 
I'oniKl  and  solid.  It  is  prized  in  Eurejie  and 
osteoiniKl  here  by  many  wlio  have  given  it  a  fan- 
trial. 
iSweet  Corn, — Among  tho  varielioa  of  sweet 
corn  wo  have  a  ivord  to  H|H.iak  in  favor  of  the 
Black  Mexican.  It  is  as  sweet  as  the  Evergreen, 
and  it  is  more.  There  is  an  oily  rielmesH  peculi¬ 
arly  its  own  that  makes  us  partial  t<f  it,  tho  sjune 
UH  many  prefer  tho  old  Peachidow  potato  for  its 
IHicnliar  flavor  that  is  not  oxocllod  or,  perhaps, 
equalled  by  any  of  tiie  jsipnlar  solf-seedliugs 
and  “  hybrids  ”  in  which  tliere  is  such  a  lively 
interest  at  present  displayiHl.  Though  the  color 
of  tho  Mexican  Black— which  is  a  hlackish- 
piu-plo-and  tho  size  of  the  oar  which  Is  rather 
small— are  unfavorable  to  its  general  use,  yet  it 
should  ho  ijaton  before  tho  kisrnels  change  color, 
though  goo<l  afterwards,— while  tho  size  Is  just 
tho  handiest  for  table  use. 
Wlwat.  Bran  for  Vahba-jr.  IVonns.  It  has 
been  frequently  stated  that  wheat  bran  scattered 
over  cabbages  would  offoctiially  prevent  tho 
ravages  of  the  cabbage  wonu,  hut  the  ellicaey  of 
this  iirevontivo  has  also  been  denied.  Will 
Honui  of  om-  readers  who  may  have  this  post  in 
their  gardens  give  tho  bran  remedy  a  trial  and 
report  tho  results. 
GARDEN  NOTES. 
Polatoea — livelUis. — Judging  from  tho  writer’s 
neighljorhood,  fewer  iKitabma  will  be  planted 
than  unual  this  spruig  in  antieiiiatiou  of  beetle 
depredations.  Last  summor  in  a  foni-ocro 
field,  planted  with  iiotatoes  except  a  patch  of 
muskinolons,  not  one  green  loaf  or  vino  was  to 
be  soon  by  the  time  the  melons  began  to  rijnsu. 
Ihe  beetles  coUectod  in  surprising  muiibors 
(siurprising  to  us)  over  tho  entire  field  amt  were 
feeding  upon  tho  small  potatoes  loft  ujion  tho 
surface.  The  melons  were  also  attackeil  and  we 
counted  a  dozen  beetles  njsjii  one  of  them  no 
huger  than  the  palm  of  the  hand.  A  field  thus 
given  over  to  tliese  disgusting  things,  proseuts  a 
saildcning  -a  desolate  sight. 
In  our  own  grounds,  having  no  ixjtatoes,  our 
tomatoes  were  chosen  by  these  Nightshade 
Blights— and  even  in  Petunia  btsls  hnndrMlR 
were  found.  Those,  therefore,  wlio  plant  fewer 
potatoes  on  acommt  of  the  beetle,  may  extend 
their  phUosophy  to  tho  tomato  as  woll-and, 
indeed,  it  wiU  be  found  that  any  attempt  to 
starve  them  out  will  prove  futile, 
Gen.  GratU  Cwumher.— Tempted  by  the  flue 
specimens  twenty  inches  long  and  upwards  dis¬ 
played  in  the  show  cases  of  seedsmen,  wo  tried 
the  Gen,  Grant  cucumber  summer  before  last, 
and  again  last  summer,  planting  half  a  dozen 
8  with  extra  care.  Blossoms  were  tho  onl 
GAPES  IN  CHICKENS. 
Ed.  RDKAn  Naw-YuKfn’.u  :  Will  you  bo  so  kind 
"’‘^1,  remedy  known  ti>  your- 
‘  ”  Kapea"  in  young  chickens.  L.  E. 
U  utuunalnirff,  V'n.  ’ 
Although  having  kept  fowls  almost  constantly 
ihiringtho  past  qiiarttw  of  a  centui'y,  and  of  va¬ 
rious  breeds,  such  as  Cochins,  Brahmas,  Leg- 
hm  ns,  Dorking  and  cross-breeds  of  tlie  same,  we 
hav<.i  yet  to  siie  tho  fh’st  case  of  gapes  among  our 
chielioiiH.  Under  the  eireumstanees  it  must  not 
Im  oxpoctod  that  wo  can  speak  from  exiforienco 
in  giving  a  cure  for  gapes  or  other  diseases  of 
fowls,  Bucli  as  cholera,  loss  of  feathers,  or  for 
lice  and  other  vermin  wliich  soinetiraos  infest 
them,  as  none  of  those  have  over  appeared  in 
oiu-  poultry  yard. 
If  you  ask  why  this  exemption  from  diHoases 
and  vermin,  the  reply  must  bo  equally  as  iudell- 
iiite,  unless  there  is  something  in  the  siiiTound- 
ings  and  care  given,  which  prevents  them.  It  is 
onr  honest  belief,  however,  that  the  exemption 
from  loss  tlirougii  any  of  tho  maladies  named, 
may  bo  attributed  entirely  to  cleauJuiess  ami 
proper  food  and  pure  water. 
Gf  course  tho  fowls  are  given  a  good  range 
through  tho  garden  and  field,  and  not  confined 
in  close  yards  ;  neither  are  they  crowded  into  a 
close,  filthy  place  to  sleep  at  night,  nor  fed  m- 
roguJai'ly.  or  when  sonio  negligent  servant  haj)- 
pens  to  remember  that  they  may  require  atten¬ 
tion. 
Iho  system  winch  wo  practice  may  bo  stated 
in  a  very  few  words.  The  food  is  placed  where 
the  fowls  can  help  themsolves,  no  scattering  it 
about  in  mud  or  hhow  at  stated  hours  of  the  day. 
(lorn  is  tho  main  reliance,  hut  oats,  wheat,  huek- 
wlieat  and  similar  cooi-se  seed  are  sometimes 
thrown  in  to  give  variety.  In  winter,  vegetables 
and  meat  of  some  liind  are  given  at  least  once 
or  twice  a  week,  and  a  trougli  of  water  is  kept 
handy  and  refilled  twice  a  day. 
Dry  du-t  under  an  open  shed  is  always  at  iiand 
for  a  dust  bath  whenever  tho  fowls  may  choose 
to  use  it ;  henhouse  and  roosts  cleaned  spring 
and  fall— wliitewaslied  and  thoroughly  dusto<l 
with  sulphur.  Every  hen,  when  commencing  to 
set,  has  her  nest  also  well  sprinkled  with  sul¬ 
phur,  and  the  heat  from  her  body  will  cause  just 
fumes  enough  to  arise  to  prevent  any  vermin 
from  attacking  mother  or  young  chicks. 
As  soon  as  tho  chicks  are  strong  enough  to 
remove  from  the  nest  they  are  taken  out,  a'ld, 
with  the  motlior,  placed  in  a  cooj)  on  tho  gi-ass,  if  i 
in  waim  weather,  otherwise  under  a  shed.  Tho  : 
hen  is  kept  in  a  coofi  for  about  a  week,  tho  cliieks  I 
ninning  out  if  tlioy  choose.  After  this  the  hen  i 
is  allowed  to  go  out  as  soon  as  the  dew  is  off  in  1 
the  morning,  and  again  shut  in  at  night. 
Tho  feed  of  tho  young  clucks  is  plain  com  i 
meal,  no  scalding  or  addition  of  any  stimulants  r 
0  whatever.  Gapes  is  usually  attiibutoil  to  filthy 
r  coops,  unwholesome,  sour  food  and  putrid  wa- 
f  ter,  but  if  this  be  tnie  it  would  go  to  prove  that 
8  tho  gape-wonu  is  tho  result  and  not  the  cause  of 
e  tho  disease.  In  other  words,  tho  worm  only  finds 
lodgment  in  tho  windpipe  of  tho  chick,  and  foods 
3  u|K)n  the  mucous  secretions  which  are  the  result 
t  of  (lisease. 
f  Tills  would  aiipoar  to  bo  in  aceordaiico  with 
I  what  wo  know  of  tlie  majority  of  other  anuual 
i  parasites,  siieh  as  chiokon-lice,  iiitestiiial-worms, 
-  ole. 
I  One  of  our  must  oxiwieiiced  ami  observing 
-  poultry  breeders,  Mr.  IIknky  Hai,k.s  of  Now  Jer- 
(  Hey,  informs  us  that  he  call  tell  al most  to  a  day 
1  when  the  ga|>e-worin  will  he  found  atnuug  his 
,  chickens  iu  sprhig,  if  the  weather  sjieuld  bo  lui- 
1  favorable  to  healthy  growUi. 
The  fact  tliat  this  gapo-wonn  Is  not  found 
among  cliickeus  at  all  seasons,  oven  if  they  |.io- 
^  come  weakened  by  disease,  is  another  proof  that 
,  it  is  j)ieko<l  up  from  the  earth,  and  seeks  a  |)osi- 
tioii  where  its  favorite  fond  can  be  found,  just 
as  the  Gordina,  or  liair  snake,  seeks  a  IrHlginent 
in  tho  Intostiiios  of  crickets,  gnvsslioppers  and 
oilier  largo  iuseeta  wliioli  intrude  upon  its  nat¬ 
ural  habitats. 
It  is,  at  least,  ex  oediugly  doiibtl'iil  if  ahealtliy 
chicken  is  ever  injured  by  gapes,  because  it  has 
tho  vitality  to  resist  its  attiicUs,  and  the  worm 
rinds  uo  safe  ludgmoni:  except  in  Iho  pctMiliar 
mucous  seeretioiiM  of  the  iiJiheallliy  oue’s'wiiid- 
pipe. 
But  after  the  worm  lias  located  itself  there,  it 
hecomoH  necessary  to  remove  it.  This  may  he 
done  with  a  small  feather,  striiiisng  off  tho  vane 
to  within  a  h.air  inoli  of  the  end.  Dip  this  iu 
Mi»uits  of  turjientlno  and  then  tliriist  it  down  tlie 
windiiipe.  give  it  a  turn  and  draw  out  (piickly, 
bringing  out  tlie  worm  or  killing  it. 
Anotlicr  remedy  is  to  blow  toliaiss)  smoko  into 
the  cLleks  month,  a  portion  .will  pass  down  the 
windpipe  as  it  breathes,  thorohy  rouehing  the 
worms  and  killing  them. 
AN  EGG  WITHIN  AN  EGG. 
Eds.  Rdiiai, :  I  will  tell  you  of  a  curiosity  that 
has  hi  the  last  few  days  oonie  under  niy  notice. 
A  lady  hi  Ibis  place  had  oitcasiun  to  nmi  some 
duck  eggs  for  culmary  purposes,  and  in  breaking 
oriCj  which  was  luiusually  large,  disenveicd.  in 
addition  U>  yolk  and  wlnte,  a  perfectly  fornHxl 
egg  ineidf,  alsiut  the  size  of  a  walnut-  It  is  the 
first  •*  freak  ”  of  the  kind  J  have  over  known,  and 
J  am  sure  mnst  he  qiiito  iiimsual.  Ilow  can  it  he 
accounted  for.-’  J.  K.  WiiiiKucii. 
'I'lils  is  one  of  tlio  freaks  of  nature  wliicli  we 
never  attempted  to  account  fur.  Instances  of 
doiildo  hens’  eggs  are  not  iiifrequeiil,  but  siuili 
freaks  are  us  notliing  iu  comparison  witli  the 
finding  of  hard,  foreign  substances  within  eggs, 
such,  for  instance,  as  a  fiill-grdwn  marrowfat 
pea,  as  noticed  recently  iu  one  of  our  Englisti 
exchanges,  which,  by  tlio  way,  caused  a  great 
deal  of  ridicule  to  lie  lieaped  on  Uie  jonimal  first 
publishing  the  story. 
But  wo  have  in  our  possession  the  head  of  au 
iron  liolt,  one  fourtli  of  au  incli  in  diameter, 
wiiieli  was  foumt  inside  of  a  Iksi’h  egg  as  laid. 
Of  eourso  wo  know  that,  according  to  all  scientific 
and  natural  laws  as  understood  by  us.  no  such 
loreigu  material  (smld  possibly  find  its  way  from 
the  crop  of  the  hen  into  one  of  her  eggs,  still  the 
passage  Jias  hepu  made  in  nioii.t  Ukih  one  in¬ 
stance. 
'®j)c  |l;itiiralist, 
TRADITIONS  RELATING  TO  BIRDS  AND 
ANIMALS. 
A  WRiTEii  iu  the  Farmer’s  Journal  for  May 
gives  some  of  Uio  interesting  traditious  relating 
to  birds  and  animals  which  are  assuring  and  in¬ 
structive  us  they  show  how  lgiy.)niiice  and  super¬ 
stition  give  away  before  tlio  advancement  of  sci¬ 
ence  and  general  intelligence  among  tlie  inasses. 
Gertain  Iraihtious  relating  to  birds  and  tioasts 
are  only  explicable  on  the  supposition  that  Uiey 
were  once  objects  of  divination  or  worship.  'J’hc 
old  Gormans,  we  knriw  from  Tacitus,  used  white 
horses,  as  the  Romans  nsetl  chickens,  for  pur¬ 
poses  of  augury,  and  divimal  future  events  from 
different  intouatioiift  of  neighhigs.  Ilonco  it 
probably  is  Uiat  Urn  discovery  of  a  horsoshoo  is 
BO  universally  thought  lucky,  some  of  tho  feel¬ 
ings  that  once  attached  to  the  animal  itself  still 
surviving  around  the  iron  of  its  hoof.  For 
horses,  like  dogs  or  birds  wore  invariably  aeermlit- 
ed  with  a  greater  insight  into  futurity  than  man 
himself ;  and  tho  many  superstitions  eoiiuectod 
witli  the  night  or  voice  of  binU  resolve  tlumi- 
selvoB  Into  tJio  fancy,  not  iiieoncoivable  among 
men  surroundod  on  all  sides  by  unintolUgibJo 
tongues,  that  buds  wore  the  boiu'crsof  messages 
and  warnings  to  men,  wlileh  skill  and  observa¬ 
tion  might  hope  to  interjiret. 
Why  is  Uio  rohui’s  life  and  nest  socred,  and 
why  does  an  injury  to  either  bring  about  bloody 
milk,  lightning  or  rain  ?  The  Christian  legend 
ly  says  that  it  extracted  a  thorn  from  tho  crown  of 
a-  Chj'i.st,  or  that  it  daily  bears  to  hell  a  drop  of 
it  water  to  put  out  tho  llaiuos,  and  accounts  in 
jf  either  way  for  the  red  ilyo  on  its  breast.  But 
Is  this  is  ovidoiiMy  a  mcdiaival  gloss  to  some  liealhcu 
Is  belief,  like  the  uiilnekiness  of  the  magpie,  that  it 
It  woiikl  net  outer  the  ark,  but  sat  Jabbering  out- 
si;!o  over  the  drowisnl  worbl ;  or  like  tho  idea 
h  of  tho  aspen  still  trembling  at  the  part  it  jilayed 
ll  in  the  erueifixion.  It  has  been  suggested  that 
1,  tlio  rebiti,  on  accuniit  of  its  color,  was  oneo 
saered  to ’riier,  tho  God  of  lightning;  yet  Is  it 
g  not  possible  that  its  ie<l  breast  singkKl  it  out  for 
•-  worsliip  from  among  birds,  just  as  its  red  berries 
y  dill  the  rowan  from  among  trees,  long  before  its 
s  worshipers  had  arrived  at  any  ideas  of  absti-act 
L-  divinities  ? 
All  over  the  world  there  is  a  regard  for  tilings 
J  rod.  I II  the  highlands  women  tie  Home  red 
I-  thread  around  Iho  cows’  tails  beforo  tiu-ning 
t  thoni  out  to  grass  in  the  siu'ing,  and  Ue  red  silk 
-  around  their  own  liiigors  to  keep  off  tlio  witohos  • 
t  and  just  as  in  Eslhonia  mothers  lint  sumo  rod 
t  thread  in  their  hahies  cradles,  so  in  China  they 
1  tie  some  around  tlieir  eJiildrens’  wrists,  and  teach 
-  them  to  regard  red  as  the  best  known  safeguard 
against  evil  spirits.  Indeed,  one  of  tlio  cliiof 
y  lessons  of  comparative  folU-loro  is  a  caution 
M  against  tho  theory  which  dedneos  popular  t.rai.li- 
1  tions  from  .\rs'!ui  or  otlior  mythology.  Wo  have 
r  ah'eud,v  alluded  to  the  fact  tlnil  in  parts  of  China, 
.  Uie  same  feelings  prevail  about  tho  swallows  as 
ill  I'higlaiul  or  Germany,  lint  there  are  yet 
k  other  analogies  lietwceii  the  east  and  tho  west. 
(  A  erowiug  hen  is  an  object  of  uiiivorsal  disliko 
1  ill  England  and  Brittany,  and  few  liiimlics  in 
I  China  will  kooii  a  orowing  hen.  Tho  owl’s  voice 
!  is  oiiiiniiiiM  of  death  or  otlior  calamity  in  Eiig- 
,  land  and  ( lermany,  as  it  was  in  Greece  (exoetit 
at  Athens);  but  in  tho  Celestial  Einpiro  also  it 
,  iirosages  death,  and  is  regarded  as  tho  likd 
)  which  calls  for  the  soul. 
,  And  the  crow,  also  is  in  Chia.a  a  bird  of  il) 
omen.  Is  U  not,  therefore,  likely  that  all  popu¬ 
lar  fancies  ahoiit  birds  and  animals  have  bogiin 
in  thn  same  wa.v,  among  the  same  different  races 
of  the  glolm,  and  were  snimeqintiitly  ado|itod, 
but  never  origiimted  by  iii.vtliology?  May  It  not 
bo  that  certuhi  birds  or  animals  became  proiiii- 
;  nent  in  mythology  beeanso  tJiey  had  already 
been  prominent  iu  tradition,  ratlier  than  that 
they  liocaiiie  promiiioiit  in  tradition  liixiause  they 
previously  h.ad  been  promiiieut  in  m.ythology? 
I'oi  instance,  instead  of  triicing  a  dog’s  bowling 
as  a  death  omen  to  an  Aryan  belief  that  the  dog 
guided  the  soul  from  its  earthly  tenement  to  its 
abode  in  lieaven,  may  wo  not  suiipose  that  the 
myth  arose  from  an  already  existing  omen,  and 
that  the  latter  arose,  us  omens  will  do,  from  a 
coiiicidenee  wliieli  suggested  a  eonneetion  siih-- 
sixiiiently  sustained  by  sui.erlleial  observation  ? 
Iho  Ht.  Hwithiii  lallacy  wliieii  arose  w'ithin 
historical  memory  and  still  lioiiLs  it«  ground  in 
an  ago  of  soientifie  observation,  well  illustrates 
how  one  striking  ooineidonco  may  grow  into  a 
belief  wbioli  no  amount  of  later  cvideiico  can 
weaken  onlestroj. 
Just  So,  if  it  liaijponod  that  a  dog  howled 
shoilly  hefore  some  calamity  ocoured  to  our 
-iVryaii  forefathers,  thonsands  and  thousands  of 
years  ago,  long  beforo  they  had  attained  to  any 
thoughts  of  soul  or  heaven,  we  oan  well  imagino 
that  tho  dog,  which  already  hotokoned  death, 
should,  when  they  came  to  frame  tho  myth,  bo 
conceived  as  the  guide  wliieh  was  waiting  for  the 
soul  to  tako  It  to  heaven,  and  that  tho  holiof 
thus  perpetuated  by  tho  myth  might  survive  to 
latest  ages.  It,  at  all  events,  militates  against 
the  exclusively  Aryan  nature  of  the  b.ilicf,  and 
exemplifies  tho  extraordinary  coincidenoe  of 
ideas  among  different  people,  that  tint  Esqiii- 
maiix  lay  a  dog’s  head  by  tho  grave  of  a  clilkl 
for  “  the  soul  of  a  dog  can  find  its  way  every¬ 
where,  and  will  show  the  ignorant  babe  the  wav 
to  tho  land  of  souls  !'*  ^ 
—  ♦♦♦ - — 
THE  SAGACITY  OF  ELEPHANTS. 
The  services  rendered  by  eloiihants  to  tho  Eng¬ 
lish  army  during  the  Abyssinian  expedition  have 
suggChUid  on  article  in  tlie  dm  f>wr, 
Moudm,"  by  M.  Guidoz  on  the  use  of  these  ani¬ 
mals  in  warfare.  Hnch  an  eloiiliant  as  that 
dosBrilsid  by  Major  Hkimier,  wJiose  narrative  is 
quoted  by  .M.Giiido/.,  would  Ini  a  valuable  aux¬ 
iliary  at  any  time.  Acoonling  to  this  acismnt 
tJio  major  was  riding  in  a  forest  imar  liaudy’ 
when  he  hrard  a  muffled  Kouiid  of  ourmph 
onniiph,  tlie  jMsculiur  cry  of  tlie  elepheiit,  and 
soon  came  upon  a  tamo  anirual  of  Uiis  species 
who,  being  left  to  himself,  had  uudcrluken  to 
carry  away  a  largo  beam,  which  he  carried  across 
his  tusks,  progressing,  however,  but  slowly 
olving  to  the  narrow  limits  of*4hcj  path  whiol’i 
forced  him  to  turn  his  heail  first  on  one  side, 
then  on  tlie  otlier,  uttering  oiirmjihsof  vexation. 
Seeing  tho  major  anproach,  ho  threw  down  his 
load,  and  stood  aHiilo  to  let  tho  man  ami  horse 
pass.  Tho  major’s  stood  tronihlod  in  evervlimb, 
when  tho  sagacious  beast,  noticing  his  terror, 
backed  still  farther  into  the  Jungle,  nttoring  his  ’ 
ourmph  in  a  gcntlo  and  encouraging  tone ;  and 
as  soon  as  the  liurso  had  smiimoned  up  ooiirago 
to  proceed,  ho  ro-aiipcarcd,  took  up  tho  beam 
once  more,  aud  resumed  Ins  arduous  undertaking. 
It  seoms  aUnost  siicrilege  to  ooiitemplato  em¬ 
ploying  animal.s  so  isiiLsiilirrato  and  reasonable  in 
tho  questionable  operations  of  man  against 
