, 1874-05-03


stead, TINT the successful commander of the latt
Ashantee campaign shall receive money-gran1
| Of S125, 900.
SPARKS OF SCIENCE.
In \ paper recently communicated to the
Liunnan Society Of London, it ia stated thai
l6o species OF Towering plants inhabit the Island
OF Bermuda. Not more than 100 OF these are
without doubt native to the island. Seventy
ono Of the species are common to the Old World
while two-an erythraea and spiranthes-are
plants which have hitherto been known only in
Single localities in tho United States.
An article In Hard1ickes Science Gossip, On
1.-The Antenn@ Of Insects" states that tho males
Of certain species OF moths have either won-
derfully acute faculty Of smell, or possess SONIC
sense not ret determined by physio1ogists. In
proof cases are cited where tho captured females,
placed in boxes, and carried in baskets leather
bags, or in the pocket have attracted males from
a long distance. In several instances the male
has settled on the person Of the eptomologiss
when the box containing the female w2s no
longer in the pocket. 1t il supposed some subtle
6cent exhaled by the female still adhered to the
garment.
On sunny afternoons, when the wind blows
briskly landward, there is beautiful scene pre-
Hented along our lake-shore. As the heavy waves
come rushing in upon the wooden wall reared to
oppose their progress, they dash headlong
against it, and are slivored into atoms By the
shock. Then, as they fall back in rent and jag
ged clouds OF spray, for an instant, across their
broken surface, there play the lovely colors of
Iris. It is merry time with the aprightly Water-
nymph, and one can almost fancy he hcars Ter
gurglng laugh as ahe darta up and down, snatch
Ing at the ragged edgea OF the mist. and taugling
he frif7 cf kar trsfl ar1 RI Al
ono fingers, delighted with the ffolic, the ex-
quisite vision OF undine ID suggested; and it is
elo, and not Iris, who ia sporting with the bill
lows and, II one had eyes to discern spi1its her
golden bair, md fair, pa1e face, would CLEAN ont
through each vapory veil tho waves gracefully
fold about her.
The season has been so unremittinsly cold
that vegetation is uncommonly backward. The
buds on the trees have swollen somewhat under
the influence Of the spring sunAhine, but they
dare not yet throw OF their covers and unfold
their tender blades. The earliest wild flower
have, in some sheltered hooks, peeped above the
mold; but their wan, delicate blossoms tremble
and shiver in the Arctic winds. Despite these
dlscouraging conditions, 80 long ago as the 14th
Of February, the skunk's Cabbage (gynnplo-
cdypus Ftrtidus) was in protuse bloom In South
ern Michigan. It il a coarse, homoly plant, with
q barbnrous name and hor1id odor;
ret anything must command our TO-
spect that has such wonderful push in it.
Think OF herb pIesumlng to venture out OF
the ground IN the midst OF = winter month,
when iclcles and fuIB arc en- regla But it barely
thrusts its purple nose above the sod in the
most favornblo time. 1t is sharp eye that
will discover it nestled close under the hooded
Spathe. The leaves have nothing like the enter
prise Of the flowers, aud do not wake out OF
their winters sleep until the rest Of the yege-
tao!o world ia stirring. The 6kunk's Cabbage
belongs to the family entitled AraceR, which
includes the Indian Turnlp, or Jack-in-the-Pul-
pit,-a consplcuouB plant IN our woods IN May
the Sweet Flag, and the Egyptian Gala Tho
family numbers nearly 800 species, most OF
which lnhabit tropical countries. An acrid
principle pervades the order, md in eoma species
ia developed into q dangerous poison Most
notable OF these last iB the Dumb Cane, 4 natve
OF tho West Indies and North America, growing
to the height Of S or feet. It's juice causes the
tongue to swell, and dest1oye the power OF
speech. Simply inserting the teeth Into leaf
or stem has been known to produce this effect.
The plant would not flourish III this climate, and
afflicted husbands need not strive TO domeAticate
it in their gardens.
TIE BLuE-BIRD.
The 1itt1e bird sits 1T his door In tue FUN.
Atilt like blossom among the leaves,
And lets his illuminated being oerruu
With the deluga OF summer 1t receives;
Ills mate feels tho egge beneath her w'ings,
And the heast in tsr dumb breast dutterz and slngst
In tha nice Of Nature which song is the beat7
-.la7nes RuxseH LoIrfL
It is bleak, cloudy day, with alternate squalls
Of rain and snow. THE Blue-Rird sits on naked
twig near by his door, al in hump with the
cold, perfect picture OF chilly misery. His
neck Is contracted into his shoulders, and be has
drawn himself up into q little round bunch, in
the vain effort to take himself all in out Of the
rough. bitter blasts that toss and pull apart his
feathers maiciously, bent upon reaching his very
marrow. Every now aud then his discomfort
finds vent in low solloquy, muttered through
Ma t1ght-Bhut bill. It needs no great knowledge
Of bird-lore to interpret those pensive UNDER
tones. They are plainly detected comments on
the outlook OF things. The moet patient OF
kings will occasionally turn when Fats grinds too
hard and utter meek protest; and this unto
ward spring, dragging an interminable succes-
sion OF biting, snarling days ut ito heels, Ia
enough to break down the spirit Of the most be-
roo bird. It is no wonder they have no heart to
sing. The prospects are too dreary. Each one.
In his turn, announced his arrival with few
gay flourishes on his flute but tho frosty winds
soon nipped his notas Short and they i'll have
been silent, for the most part, since.
But the Blue-Drd has the advantage over It's
fellows. While he sits shivering and tnurmuring
ont in the cold, DO has the warm thought At his
heart, that his dear little wife is sitting safe and
secure in their snug, sheltered homa- Their neas
was built two or three weeks ngo, in the cosy
box loving hand provided for them; and now
the mother is brooding her five pa1a-blue eggs,
and carefully nursing them through their mystic
zious metarnorphoses It was delight to watch
their happiness while fitting up their cottage.
They came back to us tho 7th OF March, and
knew just where to go. There is no doub. but |
they had occupied the same box before; for 1t
hangs On it's nail in tho old oak tree just In front
Of the window, year after year, and il never With
out tenants in the nesting seaaon.
The Dlue-Bir is ONO OF tho first harbingers OF |
spring. When the winter ia finally breaking up, !
re confidently look for it; Often it's welcome
notes are heard toward the last OF February.
tinid, nervous, questioning, ae il its faint little
heart half-doubted the propriety Of go early
return. For month or 80, the birds are apt to
have tough time Of it, struggling With the last
clustering spasms of old Boreas. They will
sometimes disappear for days during such dis
agreeable spells, hiding IN coverta out OF tho
9av Of tho Haather. Where have xll the Blue-'E