The Sun. — 1839-10-12 (London, England)

DOMESTIC POULTRY.—Under the term domestic poultry in this country are understood ti ,e chicken or fowl, turkey, duck, goose, pea and guinea fowl, to which perhaps may be added the swan. l',-t; have no history so ancient as the domestication of she common cock and hen. The cock was supposed to be of Persian origin ; but the species has been since propagated and introduced into general use throughout the whole world, from east to west, from the burning climate of India to the frozen zone. Although fow!s used for the table are by nature granivorous, yet all the various species, the goose perhaps excepted, are carniverous likewise, and great devourers of fish. By propagation and crossing, gallinaceous fowls have ben distributed into almost endless variety ; but without including the more marked breeds, Dr. Bechstein distinguishes eight varieties of the common barn-door fowl, namely, the fowl with a small comb ; the crowned fowl ; the silver-coloured fowl ; the slate-blue fowl ; the chamois-coloured fowl ; the ermine-like fowl ; tie widow, which has white tear-like spots on a dock ' ground ; and the fire and stone-coloured fowls. It is, however, difficult in many cases to identify the distinctions mentioned by foreign writers with the fowls bred in this country.—The Poultry Yard. " The temperature at this place," says the Semaphore of Marseilles last Saturday, "is so mild, being at 20 degrees of Reaumur, or 77 Fahrenl.eit, that one's faith in the calendar is shaken, and we c In scarcely believe but that we are in Spring. We have almond and cherry-trees in full blossom, and in many gardens the lilacs are putting out their flowers as if it were April. A tremendous storm occured on Friday in the valley of Semur, at Marcigny, in the Saone et Loire, ,as the Courrier de Lyons states. The flood was so powerful that the soil, with its produce—trees, dwellings, and caririages, and other vehicles on the road—was carried impetuously down to Marcigny. The Countess de Busseuil and her daughter, who arrived at that time in the place, were saved only by the presence of mind of the master of the hotel where they had stopped. He took them in his arms from their carriage and carried them out of reach of the water. The ground floors of the houses in some parts of the town were filled up to the ceilings. An old couple were in imminent danger of being drowned, when the Mayor, in spite of the remonstrances of all around, determined to save them. Notwithstanding the house they were in was tottering under the force of the torrent, he ventt.red in twice, each time bringing away one of its terrified inhabitants. The scene on Saturday was highly interesting; crowds of people were engaged in claiming and identifying innumerable articles which had been carried away by the flood. ALLEGED DEATH PROM Vim.ExcE.—On Thursday an inquest, which lasted four hours, was held by; adjournment at the Queen's Lauding, Wapping-will, Lower Shadwell, before Mr. Baker, Coroner, on the body of Eleanor O'Brian, an elderly woman, who, it was alleged, came by her death in consequence of blows inflicted upon her head by her son, Dennis O'Brian, a coal-whipper. The Coroner, in summing up, said he was of opinion neither a verdict of murder nor manslaughter could be sustained. The evidence was conflicting, and it was probable that the deceased, who was a drunkard, had fallen down stairs and injured herself. The ruling passion for gin was in this case proved to be very strong, for the deceased called fir ber favourite liquor on her death bed. The Jury, after a long discussion, returned a verdict " That Eleanor O'Brian died from external injuries, but by whom inflicted there was no evidence before them."  FoxTUNE