Saint Mary's beacon., 1888-04-19

curious and unexpected way, as was
instanced lately by the discovery Of a
richly jewelled ring in the back of a
herring caught at Dunbar. The finder
was still luckier than a servant in
Port Glasgow, who. in cutting up some
whiting, found silver coin in one Of
them.
Two curious finds connected with
nautical affairs should have an nter-
est for Englishmen. Some old canvass
that had long been slowed away as
lumber, on being unexpectedly
brought TO light, was found to be the
main sail of Nelson's ship, the Vic
tory. The sail was riddled with shot
during the battle OF Trafalgar. When
some men were saving portion OF an
old ships mainmast formerly belong
ing to a man-of-war at Chatham, a
thirty-two pound iron shot was OBJ
served embedded in the mast, the
aperture having been plugged up.
This was one Of the largest Of shot
used in those times
In lake in Berkshire large, miss
hapen and unwie!dly club was found,
so strange in appearance ard insight
ly in its movements, that the most
apt zoologist could not account for its
liueal descent or say if it was piscatory
or amphibious. The creature was
found in a kind Of cage formed by the
washed roots OF an elm tree by this
lake. When young and much smaller,
this fish must have got into its strange
prison. Limited to mere turn, the
wonder is that as it must have forced
its way in it did not force its way out;
out here it was after years must have
elapsed, taking quite the form Of the
gnarled and struggling roots. With
no room to develop, the tail had al
most disappeared, the dorsal fin was
altogether obliterated, the body had
become very hard, and the scales like
so much incrustation of mud divided
into layers. The nose was so pushed
in and the gills so enlarged that, when
looked at full in the face, it had the
appearance Of negro whose face had
been despoiled OF its shining and oily
surface. Indeed, its existence was a
matter of marvel, as the water sub
sided and increased at times, so that
in dry weather it had only the most
muddy home and semi-huid for its
subsistence. When removed. it seemed
a puzzle to know whether to class this
strange discovery as a reptile, fish or
anything else.
As some workmen were telling
timber near Herne Bay, they dis
covered in the centre Of one OF the
trees cavity in which were the re-
mains Of cat. The skeleton was en-.
tire, and some hair Of a sandy color
yet remained on the skin. 1t is con-
jectured that ne animal having
entered a hollow part OF the tree, was
unable TO eXtricate itself, and the
wood in process of years baa grown
around it.
Curious finds have not iafrcquently
been made in trees. Some wood
cutters in the forest OF Drcmmhng
made strange discovery. They be
gan to fell a venerable oak which
they soon found to be quite hollow.
Being half decayed, it speedily ,me
to the ground with a crash, disclosing
a skeleton IN excellent preservation:
even the boots. which came above the
knees, were perfect. By lis side were
a powder-horn, porcelain pipebowl
and silver watch. The teeth were
perfect. Il would seem 10 be the
skeleton OF man between thirty and
forty years OF age. 1t was conjectured
that, while engaged in hunting, he
climbed the tree for some purpose and
slipped in the hollow trunk. from
which there was no release, and he
probably died Of starvation. Another
mystery was found in the heart OF an
oak. From tree of this kind, a large
block, about eighteen inches in diam.
eter, that had been kicking about in
various yards and wooi,sheds, was
split up lately, and in it was found
an augeE hole abont hree-fourtLg Of
an inch in size, containing a bunch of
human hair done up in a piece of
printed paper. The hair was near the
centre Of the block, and fastened with
a pine plug. 1t was apparently put
N when the tree was quite snail, as