the ground, and threw him over his shoulders; but Lalla, fixing on the softest and lowest part of his back, bit him there till his teeth met. Manuel roared out with pain, and retaliated on the Mussaulchee's calfless limbs; both in agony rolled on the ground, keeping their holds like bull dogs, till Manuel's friends rushed in to part them, and Lalla's partizans attempted to prevent any interference; so a general row took place, blows resounded, stones flew about, and sticks rattled against the bones of the skirmishers, till, after much bloodshed and more bruises, both parties separated, each carrying off their champion as the conqueror, and each side, of course, claiming the victory.

REMARKS. In this fight, the first of the kind ever recorded in Indian annals, it was flesh and bandy-leg against bones and a pewter-eye; both men were more bit than beat, and we trust that the very respectable native amateurs of this science, who patronized this battle, will endeavour to make their fighters make, in future, more use of their knuckles and less of their grinders. Manuel went home and soon got beastly drunk with arrack, while Lalla, not satisfied with his beating, banged himself a la sortee.

66 Poona, Oct. 17, 1829."

ANECDOTES OF ANIMALS.

From an interesting volume, recently published, entitled, "Gleanings of Natural History," by E. Jessop, esq., the following pleasing extracts have been taken :—

Larks' Claws." The lark makes its nest generally in grass fields, where it is liable to be injured either by cattle grazing over it, or by the mower. In case of alarm, from either - these or other causes, the pent birds remove their eggs, by means of their long claws, to a place of greater security; and this transportation I have observed to be effected in a very short space of time. By placing a lark's egg, which is rather large in proportion to the size of the bird, in the foot, and then drawing the claws over it, you will perceive that they are of sufficient length to secure the egg firmly; and by this means the bird is enabled to convey its eggs to another place, where she can sit upon and hatch them."

Sagacity of an Elephant." I was one day feeding the poor elephant (who was so barbarously put to death at Exeter Change) with potatoes, which he took out of my hand. One of them, a round one, fell on the floor, just out of the reach of his proboscis. He leaned against his wooden bar, put out his trunk, and could just touch the potato, but could not pick it up. After several ineffectual efforts, he at last blew the potato against the opposite wall with sufficient force to make it rebound; and he then, without difficulty, secured it."

Bees." A large brown slug made its way into a glass hive, where the operations of the

bees could be distinctly seen. Having killed the slug, and finding that they were unable to get it out of the hive, they covered it over with the thick resinous substance called propolis, and thus prevented its becoming a nuisance to the colony. Into the same hive one of the common brown-shelled snails also gained admittance. Instead of embedding it in propolis, the bees contented themselves with fixing it to the bottom of the hive, by plastering the edge with that substance. I have now in my possession a regular fortification made of propolis, which one of my stocks of bees placed at the entrance of their hive, to enable them the better to protect themselves from the attacks of wasps. By means of this fortification, a few bees could effectually guard the entrance, by lessening the space of admission, which I had neglected to do for them."

Snail-shells." Having frequently observed some broken snail-shells near two projecting pebbles on a gravel-walk, which had a hollow between them, I endeavoured to discover the occasion of their being brought to that situation. At last I saw a thrush fly to the spot with a snail-shell in his mouth, which he placed between the two stones, and hammered at it with his beak till he had broken it, and was then able to feed on its contents. The bird must have discovered that he could not apply his beak with sufficient force to break the shell while it was rolling about, and he therefore found out and made use of a spot which would keep the shell in one position. I do not know whether Mr. M'Adam has ever observed the same circumstance, but his ingenious contrivance (if it is his) of confining stones in a sort of hoop while they are being broken is somewhat similar to that of the thrush."

Aquatic Hen.-"A hen, who had reared three broods of ducks in three successive years, became habituated to their taking to the water, and would fly to a large stone in the middle of the pond, and patiently and quietly watch her brood as they swam about it. The fourth year she hatched her own eggs; and, finding that her chickens did not take to the water as the ducklings had done, she flew to the stone in the pond, and called them to her with the utmost eagerness. This recollection of the habits of her former charge, though it had taken place a year before, is not a little curious."

A Swan's "First Love."-A pair of Swans had been inseparable companions for three years, during which time they had reared three broods of cygnets. Last autumn the male was killed, and since that time the female has separated herself from all society with her own species; and, though at the time I am writing (the end of March) the breeding season for swans is far advanced, she remains in the same state of seclusion, resisting the addresses of a male swan who has been making advances towards forming an acquaintance with her, either driving him away, or flying

from him whenever he comes near her. How long she will continue in her present state of widowhood I know not, but at present it is quite evident that she has not forgotten her former partner."

Affection of Pigeons.-"A man, set to watch a field of peas which had been much preyed upon by pigeons, shot an old cock pigeon who had long been an inhabitant of the farm. His mate, around whom he had for many a year cooed, and nourished from his own crop, and assisted in rearing numerous young ones, immediately settled on the ground by his side, and showed her grief in the most expressive manner. The labourer took up the dead bird and tied it to a short stake, thinking that it would frighten away the other depredators. In this situation, however, his partner did not forsake him, but continued, day after day, walking slowly round the stick. The kind-hearted wife of the bailiff of the farm at last heard of the circumstance, and immediately went to afford what relief she could to the poor bird. She told me that, on arriving at the spot, she found the hen bird much exhausted, and that she had made a circular beaten track round the dead pigeon, making now and then a little spring towards him. On the removal of the dead bird, the hen returned to the dove-cot."

Sagacity of Dogs.-" He informed me that a friend of his, an officer in the 44th regiment, who had occasion, when in Paris, to pass one of the bridges across the Seine, had his boots, which had been previously well polished, dirtied by a poodle dog rubbing against them. He in consequence went to a man who was stationed on the bridge and had them cleaned. The same circumstance having occurred more than once, his curiosity was excited, and he watched the dog. He saw him roll himself in the mud of the river, and then watch for a person with well polished boots, against which he contrived to rub himself. Finding that the shoe-black was the owner of the dog, he taxed him with the artifice; and after a little hesitation he confessed that he had taught the dog the trick in order to procure customers for himself. The officer, being much struck with the dog's sagacity, purchaced him at a high price, and brought him to England. He kept him tied up in London some time, and then released him. The dog remained with him a a day or two, and then made his escape. A fortnight afterwards he was found with his former master pursuing his old trade on the bridge.

"A friend of mine had a poodle-dog possessed of more than ordinary sagacity, but he was, however, under little command. In order to keep him in better order, my friend purchased a small whip, with which he corrected the dog once or twice during a walk. On his return the whip was put on a table in the hall, and the next morning it was missing. It was soon afterwards found concealed in an

out-building, and again made use of in cor recting the dog. It was, however, again lost, but found hidden in another place. On watching the dog, who was suspected of being the culprit, he was seen to take the whip from the hall table, and run away with it, in order again to hide it. The late James Cumming, esq., was the owner of the dog, and related this anecdote to me.

"A gentleman, a good shot, lent a favorite old pointer to a friend, who had not much to accuse himself of in the slaughter of partridges, however much he might have frightened them. After ineffectually firing at some birds which the old pointer had found for him, the dog turned away in apparent disgust, went home, and never could be persuaded to accompany the same person afterwards."

Cockney Bee-hive." I hear of a hive of bees on the top of a house in the middle of Holborn, which is doing very well. The circumstance of bees finding their way home through the thick smoke, fogs, and vapours of the metropolis, seems to prove that their course is not directed by sight, but by some still unexplained instinct."

THE BUNCH OF FIVES instead of KNIVES!
Or, leave off when you like!

When wars assail a nation's peaceful soil-
Bella, horrida bella-dread turmoil-
The clang of arms-the soldier's temper'd steel,
Dimm'd with ensanguin'd freemen's strife-appeal
To the best feelings of the human breast-
Tho' Glory smiles upon the hero's crest,
Sorrow sits mournful at the fierce array,
And Pity, weeping, gazes at the fray.

Not so when fistic heroes cast the tile
Into the space Toм OL-, the clever file,
Has stak'd and rop'd, and made for boxer's fit,
Where war, most doubtful, is but hit for hit.

What tho' one peeper lose its twinkling light,
As sometimes 'twill!-the man may be "all right,”
If t'other do but twig, with leary stare,
The bastling movements of the fives a pair
That, right and left, essay to grass him flat,
Or floor him, like an all-work maid's door-mat.
What tho' a snifter, with a Roman curve,
Should feel how sensitive th' olfactory nerve,
And show'r, in crimson streams, the claret down,
Ne'er will it daunt one boxer of renown.

What tho' each tier of tombstones they allow
To totter on their graves (gums) from rattling blow,
And make their patt'rers mum-the fist can tell
A tale upon the outworks just as well
For glory, as if every grinder fast
In its mould was fix'd, by Nature cast.

The glory of our land, our boasted pride
is boldly to stand up, with watchful eye,
(Although the squeamish Frenchman may deride)
And, man to man oppos'd, contend for victory.
Then are the tears of SORROw all "my eye
And Betty" too-they flow when heroes die-
When blades unsheath'd the light of day let in,
Not when strife's deathless end-as they begin

DAFFY

Our voice shall prevail,

And the sons of the turf their favorites hail :
Whilst long for their sakes shall the sports of the day,
The high-mettled racer's fleet prowess display.

Although the stakes were but ten sovereigns each, it was anticipated that some of the most celebrated hunters in the south would be entered, and this anticipation was not disappointed, for no less than twenty of the "right sort" were booked by Tuesday night, foremost in favor among which was Moonraker, the property of Mr. Elmore, which had before won two sweepstakes on similar hazardous enterprises, in the same neighbourhood, and which, notwithstanding fired legs, age, and hard work, still had the call against his younger, but, perhaps, not so well experienced competitors. The distance, it was agreed by the articles, should be four miles-no horse to carry less than 11st. 71b. The last horse to pay the second horse's stake, and the winner to be sold for 400 sovereigns, if demanded within three hours after the race.

The whole of the horses entered were in stables either at Mr. Coleman's (the Turf Hotel), to whom the getting up of this spirited affair, so highly beneficial to the town, may be ascribed or in the immediate neighbourhoodand the riders and their friends mustered in strong force on Wednesday night, when the usual speculations were entered into on the probable result of the forthcoming sport. Mr. Osbaldeston was chosen umpire, and Mr. Coleman clerk of the race; and to these gen. tlemen was left the choice of the line of country which was to be taken-it being distinctly understood that their determination should be kept a secret till immediately before the start.

At an early hour on Thursday morning, the concourse of persons entering St. Albans from all quarters was immense-every house overflowed, and the postmasters, and other persons who profited by the attraction, had ample reason to feel grateful for such "a slice of iuck."

The Turf Hotel was head quarters, and here nineteen of the subscribers were duly weighed; the twentieth, Mr. Smith, having drawn his brown horse, Mameluke, in the course of the morning. All were now anxious for a hint of the "line of march," but the secret was well kept and with the exception of the fact that Mr. Coleman's paddock, immediately at the back of his premises, and

fronting towards London. was to be the winning point, nothing was known.

Among other judicious, as well as gratifying arrangements which were made, was a stipulation that all the riders should saddle and mount in the Turf Hotel-yard, where sufficient space existed, and from thence accompany the umpire and Mr. Coleman to the place of starting. By this means all had an equal chance; and the spectators, who were extremely nu merous, had the pleasure of seeing the whole of the gallant steeds paraded before them. as in the case previous to the race for the great St. Leger, at Doncaster.

The pecuniary speculations during the morning were any thing but extensive; as far as we could collect, however, we considered Moonraker, and Mr. Evans's Grimaldi first favorites, Mr. Thornhill's Creeper next, and Mr. Lelly's brown mare (Bounce) third. These four were backed against the field-and the odds against the first two were three to one, and against the second and third six to one. Mr. Evans offered to back Grimaldi against any other to any amount.

At one o'clock the bugle was blown as a signal for saddling and mounting, and the horses were soon seen congregating from all directions-the riders attired in their partycoloured jackets and hunting caps. The whole having mounted, the articles were read -the principal instruction for guiding the race in which was, that the course would be marked by flags, to the left of which the riders were to keep throughout, or forfeit the race. At a quarter to two, all being in readiness, Mr. Osbaldeston led the way out of the yard, followed by the horses, of which the follow ing is a correct list together with their riders, Mr. Elmore's b. g.-Moonraker,-rode by M Seffert.

Mr. Thomas's b. m. Corinthian Kate-Captain
Beecher.

Mr. Evans's g. h. Grimaldi-M. Mostyn, Esq.
Col. Charitie's Napoleon-Mr. Crommelin.
Sir Wm. Geary's b. m. Arab-Owner.
Mr. Cox's ch. g. Rough Robin-Mr. Osbal
deston's whipper-in.

Mr. Johnson's Leporella-Stubbs.
Mr. Tuppin's b. h. Peacock--Weston.
H. Forbes, Esq. b. h. Zanga-Owner.
Mr. Cluff's g. g. Redstart-J. B. Hall, Esq.
Mr. Orbell's b. h. Bloomfield-C. B. Codring
ton, Esq.

Capt. Horne's c. st. Lucifer-Owner.
Mr. Thornhill's b. h. Creeper-Mr. Patrick,
Mr. Carey's g. h. The Monk-Owner.
Mr. Adams's b. m. Lilly-Mr. Wesley.
Mr. Comyn's b. h. Talisman-Owner.
Mr. Solloway's m. Countess-Owner.
Mr. Lelly's b. m. Bounce-Mr. Parker.
C. Neville, Esq.'s ch. g. Hotspur-W. Bean.

They proceeded up the town, passed the Town Hall, and, turning to the right, were conducted by the nearest route to a place called Ellen-brook-green, on the borders of Colney-heath, and within about a mile and a

half of Hatfield. A considerable time was occupied in gaining the proposed startingpost, and the cursory view which was thus afforded of the country showed that it was intersected with difficult fences, and was here and there very heavy. There was nothing, however, dangerous in the aspect, and all seemed content with their task, and in the highest spirits.

While the horses were on their route, we took a bird's-eye view of the ground which was to constitute the scene of final struggle. This was admirably seen from a meadow gradually descending from the entrance to Mr. Coleman's paddock—which entrance was only obtained by mounting a steep bank from which the fence had been removed; and, to render this last point of struggle more distinct, the horsemen had to dash between two high trees. At the bottom of the first meadow was a quickset hedge and drain-then came a second meadow, and second quickset hedge and drain, when the ground rose gradually to a considerable elevation. Here the first flag was displayed from the summit of a high tree, to the left of which the riders were to keep. To this tree the view was uninterrupted from a path running in a line with the front of the last house on the London-road, and along this path an immense multitude of pedestrians was collected. The intermediate space was, however, enlivened by groups of horsemen, some in the scarlet livery of the chase. On the hill in the distance, a vast crowd was also assembled of horse and foot, and some few charioteers. These persons had a more extended view over a close country "up and down," with many heavy leaps, and some ploughed land, to a more distant hill, close to a farm-house, where the second flag was visible. Here the route turned short to the left, and could only again be taken in view by obtaining a new position. From this angle the direction to Ellen-brook green was nearly straight, with the exception of such deviations as the safe progress of the riders rendered indispensable. From this sketch of the locality of the scene, it will be seen that there were abundant opportunities for the gratification of the spectators, which was considerably enhanced by the very favorable state of the weather-the sun shining brilliantly throughout the race.

We must now return to the horses, which, having reached the appointed ground, were marshalled in the best order their impatient spirits would permit. Mr. Anderson, of Piccadilly, was permitted to enter a grey hunter at the last moment, on payment of his stakes, so that twenty actually started. By half-past three they went off in gallant style. It would be difficult at such a moment to say which had the advantage. Lucifer, however, led the way, and the rest followed at a round pace. The first two or three fences were well taken; but in the third field, Captain Beecher, on Corinthian Kate, had a fall, and his mare ran half across the neadow Lefore he could catch

her and regain his seat, his bridle being then all on one side. He had previously got the lead, Rough Robin close behind. The others were all well up, but Moonraker and Grimaldi seemed waiting on each other in the rear. We cannot presume to give the position of each horse in the animated struggle which followed. Many of the leaps were admirably taken, and all seemed influenced by the same desire of emulation. All the nags were not, however, without question; some got clumsy falls, unhorsing their riders, and others declared off the grand contest, seeing they had not a chance. The most interesting point was the struggle for turning the angle at the farmhouse from which a view of the distant goal could be obtained. Here Moonraker asserted his supremacy, and came gallantly round the corner, close followed by Corinthian Kate, Grimaldi, Bloomfield, Napoleon, and some others well in their wake. The burst down the hill was beautiful, and the general cry was-" Moonraker is winning easy!" Three or four leaps were well taken, when Moonraker, in surmounting the hill, came to the third fence from home, nearly abreast with Corinthian Kate; they both cleared well; but Moonraker, swerving a little to the left, so as to clear the flag-tree, Corinthian Kate came close to him on the right, and in the next fence had rather the advantage in making her leap. The call was now rather for Kate, but, in a few strides, Moonraker regained his superiority, und, darting with unabating vigour at the last fence, cleared nearly seven yards at the spring, and shook his rider most fearfully. Kate now fell off, but Grimaldi, who had been waiting for the last struggle home, and who had taken his leaps beautifully from the first, rushed out and challenged Moonraker. The struggle up the hill to the paddock was desperate-nothing could be finer; both sprang to the bank at the same moment, but Moonraker had the advantage by half a neck, and was pronounced the winner. It was thought, had Grimaldi made play sooner, the issue would have been different. struggle with those left immediately behind was between Corinthian Kate, Napoleon, and Bloomfield. The former two came in third and fourth. An accident prevented Bloomfield from getting a better place-he and his rider having fallen into a chalk-pit which unfortunately lay in the way, and was unperceived, till too late, by Mr. Codrington. Much credit is due to Captain Beecher, for the manner in which he rode Corinthian Kate, and, making allowance for his early mishap, it will be seen that his chances of victory were of no common character. Grimaldi was also admirably ridden by Mr. Mostyn, who complained of his path being crossed by some horsemen, at a most important point. Of Mr. Seffert's management of Moonraker we cannot speak in terms of too much praise. Mr. Codrington also rode admirably. The remaining competitors came galloping in at intervals:

The