mark of a nation's attainment of the highest state of civilisation. Of all the organs of sense, the one whose nervous mechanism appears to be most easily deadened by excessive action is that of smelling. The most delightful odors can only be enjoyed occasionally, and for short intervals. The scent of the rose, or still more delicate odor of the magnolia, can be but fleeting pleasures, and are destined only for occasional enjoyment. He who lives in the garden cannot smell the rose, and the wood-cutter in the southern forests of America is insensible to the odor of the magnolia. Persons who indulge in artificial scents soon cease to be conscious of their presence, and can only stimulate their jaded organs by continually changing the objects of their enjoyment.-These observations are perfectly just, and are well worthy our notice.-JANE L. The Joys of Winter.-Awed by the progress of time, winter, ushered into existence by the howling of storms and the rushing of impetuous torrents, and contemplating with the satisfaction of a giant the ruins of the year, still affords ample food for enjoyments which the vulgar never dream of, if sympathy and association diffuse their attractive spells around us. In the bosom of retirement, how delightful is it to feel exempt from the mean intrigues, the endless difficulties and tumults which active life ensures; and which retirement enables us so well to contemplate through the telescope of recollection! When seated by the cheerful fire among friends, loving and beloved, our hopes, our wishes, and our pleasures are concentrated; the soul seems imparadised in an enchanted circle; and the world-vain, idle, and offensive as it is presents nothing to the judgment, and little to the imagination, that can induce the enlightened or good to regret that the knowledge they possess of it is chiefly from the report of others, or from the tumultuous murmur which, from a distance, invades the tranquillity of their retreat, and operates as a discord in a soft sonata. These are the moments which affect us more than all the harmony of Italy or all the melody of Scotland.-BUCKE. Spring Flowers in the North of China.-In the north of China there are a number of plants, says Mr. Fortune, which have their flower-buds very prominently developed in autumn; so much so, that they are ready to burst into bloom before the winter has quite passed by, or, at all events, on the first dawn of spring. Amongst these, Jasminum nudiflorum occupies a prominent position. Its yellow blossoms, which it produces in great abundance, may be seen not unfrequently peeping out from amongst the snow; and remind the stranger in these remote regions, of the beautiful Primroses and Cowslips which grow on the shaded banks of his own land. Nearly as early as this, the pretty daisy-like Spirea prunifolia, the yellow Forsythia viridissima, the lilac "Daphne Fortunei, and the pink Judas tree, become covered with blossoms, and make our northern Chinese gardens extremely gay. There are also some good Camellias which flower at this time, but they are generally grown in pots under such shelter as mat sheds and other buildings of a like kind can afford. The double-blossomed Peach, of which there are three very distinct varieties now in England, are perhaps the gayest of all things which flower in early spring. Fancy, if you can, trees fully as large as our Almond, literally loaded with rich-colored blossoms, nearly as large and double as Roses, and you will have some idea of the effect produced by these fine trees in this part of the world. On the south-west side of Shanghae, there are numerous Peach gardens studded over the country. These are well worth a visit in the month of April; as the trees are then in full bloom, and have a charming effect upon the landscape. It is in this part of the country that the celebrated Shanghae Peach is largely cultivated. On the graves, which are here scattered over all the fields and appear like huge mounds of earth, I observed many pretty Violets in flower, both white and purple; but all nearly scentless. A little later in the season, that is from the 20th April to the beginning of May, another race of flowering shrubs and herbaceous plants succeed those I have already named. The most conspicuous amongst them are Viburnum macrocephalum and dilatatum, with their large heads of snow-white flowers; Spiraa Reevesiana, and the double variety, which is more beautiful than the original species; Weigela rosea, now well known in Europe; Moutans of various hues of color; Azaleas, particularly the lovely little "Amoena;" Kerria japonica, the lilac and white Glycines, Roses, Dielytra spectabilis, and Primula cortusoides. It will easily be believed that with such a host of Flora's beauties these Chinese gardens must be gay indeed. But perhaps the most beautiful sight of all is the Glycine sinensis, climbing upon and hanging down from other trees. Magnificent are the effects produced by this climber when in such situations. I have again observed numerous examples this spring, and cannot help drawing attention once more to the subject. The fine plant of this species upon the Chiswick garden wall, is much and justly admired; but if you will imagine a plant equally large, or in some instances much larger, attaching itself to a tree, or even a group of trees, entwining itself round the stems, running up every branch, and weighing down every branchlet; and; in the end of April, or beginning of May, covered with flowers-some faint idea may be formed of the fine effects produced by the Glycine in its native country. I believe it would not succeed if managed in this way near London, or anywhere in the north; but the experiment would be worth a trial in some parts of Europe, where the summers are warmer than they are in England. Many of our northern Chinese plants succeed admirably in America. China and America are both situated on the eastern side of large continents. They are equally liable to extremes of heat and cold; consequently, the shrubs and trees of one country are almost certain to succeed as well in the other, provided they are reared in the same latitudes, and grown in the same kind of soil.—LECTOR. English and Foreign Flowers.-Pick out the loveliest spots where the most gorgeous flowers of the tropics expand their glowing petals; and for every scene of this kind, we may find another at home of equal beauty, and with an equal amount of brilliant colors. Look at a field of buttercups and daisies a hill-side covered with gorse and broom-a mountain rich with purple heather--or a forest glade azure with a carpet of wild hyacinths. These, one and all, will bear comparison with any scene the tropics can produce. I have never seen anything more glorious than an old crab-tree in full blossom; and the horsechesnut, lilac, and laburnum,-all vie with the choicest tropical trees and shrubs. In the tropical waters are no more beautiful plants than our white and yellow water-lilies, our irises, and flowering rush.-I send you the above, copied from "Wallace's Travels." It is worthy a place in "OUR OWN," which takes such infinite delight in the flowers of this dearest of all dear countries. -LILY OF THE VALLEY. The Blessing of a Good Temper.-The following, my dear sir, penned by Dr. Alcott, hits very hard, right and left. His remarks, though cutting, deserve general attention. People who marry, says he, should look out above all things for a good temper. This is a very difficult thing to ascertain beforehand. Smiles are cheap; they are easily put on for the occasion; and, besides, the frowns are, according to the lover's whim, interpreted into the contrary. By "good temper,' I do not mean an easy temper, a serenity which nothing disturbs; for that is a mark of laziness. Sullenness, if you be not too blind to perceive it, is a temper to be avoided by all means. A sullen man is bad enough. What then must be a sullen woman; and that woman a wife-a constant inmate, a companion day and night! Only think of the delight of sitting at the same table, and occupying the same chamber, for a week, without exchanging a word all the while! Very bad to be scolding for such a length of time; but this is far better than "the sulks."-Oh, my dear Sir, I hate "the sulks." Do not you? It does show such a bad heart to bear malice !-NANNETTE. [Quite right, Nannette. A sulky person, male or female, deserves to be banished from all respectable society. This, without any "notice."] What is Friendship?-I put this question in OUR JOURNAL, considering that to be the proper channel through which to obtain a correct answer. Friendship," according to Dr. Johnson, "is the state of minds united by mutual benevolence;" and a friend, according to the same great authority, is "one joined to another in mutual benevolence and intimacy." Now what is a friend, in the times in which we live? The answer, alas! is plain. It is one who is joined to you in times of prosperity, but who is never to be found in adversity, one who is ever ready to be a guest at your table when your purse is well lined, and your cellar well filled; one who is ever ready to partake of your haunch of venison and turtle soup, and who never forgets to extol the quality of your iced punch and sparkling champagne. He is a jovial companion over a bottle of old port and Madeira, and will not refuse to join with you in a cigar and a glass of cold negus. One who will be ever studying to amuse you-and himself also, by introducing to your acquaintance some few of his amiable companions, who will be as assiduous and fawning as himself. One who will be ever ready to take a seat in your carriage, or occupy a place in your box at the opera. One who will be the most obsequious slave your wife can have; who will play with her "dear little pet dog," whistle to her "pretty canary," find everything she does -or does not, "perfectly charming." He is a thorough “brick; for he will kiss the "darling baby," and actually dance the eldest girl about the drawing-room to pass away (so sweetly!) the ten minutes before dinner. He makes a point of never keeping the dinner waiting--especially if he smells turbot and lobster sauce. One who is so foud of you, that he will kindly sit down to shortwhist, or piquet; and remain as long as he can conveniently continue escamotéing the bright sovereigns from your pocket into his own-whilst all the time he will be dexterously praising you for the wonderfully good-humored way in which you see the trick performed. He will even condescend to occupy your spare room, rather than leave you too early. This friend will stick to you as long as prosperity does; but not one moment longer. Let but one cloud of adversity appear on the horizon; let some of those unfortunate accidents occur which, in spite of all prudence and foresight, will sometimes happen to the best regulated families; let it be discovered that your cellar is empty, and your purse equally so; that you are really necessitated to leave the mansion and occupy a more humble abode; that you are obliged to have recourse to your two legs to carry your person about; that you must content yourself with boiled leg of mutton and turnips, with plain sherry and port-then mark the marvellous change! Your noble-minded friend is now puffing his cigar outside the omnibus, or on the coachbox of the carriage of some new patron; and as the equipage rolls by you, and perhaps splashes you all over with mud, he is looking at a crow in the opposite field; or so intent upon reading the Morning Post, that he never perceives you-nay, not even though your wife were by your side; or, if he should unfortunately turn round, and suddenly meet your eye, he instantly pulls a large red silk handkerchief out of his pocket, and covers his face, so that you may not see his wounded pride and mortification. You are no longer a "brick." You are no longer a trump. You are no longer a fine fellow. You are a poor d―l, and not fit to be noticed. But as after a storm comes a calm, so it does sometimes happen that, after a trial of adversity, a tide of prosperity returns. You again inhabit a comfortable abode; once more your purse feels heavy with more gold than you require. A neat clarence and pair are once more at your command. Behold now the miraculous metamorphosis ! Your friend reappears, and absolutely has the insolence to take off his hat to your wife; and, with still bolder effrontery, affects the greatest astonishment at seeing you again. 'Why, my dear friend, where have you been this long while? I had quite lost sight of you. Have you been to India or California? I am charmed to see you look so well. How are your dearest children? Bless me, how they have grown! really, I hardly knew them. Where do you live now? What a nice pair of horses you've got! How well they match! Fine action, by Jove! I shall do myself the pleasure of paying my respects to-morrow. Did not know, upon my word, you were returned from your travels. to keep a fire in the grate; whilst their poor bodies Canaries Living in the Open Air.-Several of our subscribers having expressed themselves anxious to know how Mr. WOLLASTON'S canaries have withstood the intense cold of January, we despatched a letter, requesting particulars. Mr. Wollaston, it appears, has been most successful. Out of twenty birds that have been roaming at large throughout the entire winter, he tells us not one has been lost! This proves how hardy the canary is, if properly tended; and favors our view that their introduction into shrubberies is a matter of easy accomplishment. Mr. Wollaston is anxious to see us, and we are as anxious to see him. "The first fine day in March" will soon be here; and shortly afterwards Mr. W. may expect to see us there. Through his kind indulgence, we hope to escort a few of our fair friends to his rural retreat during the coming season of Spring.— Welling, Kent, is a lovely spot.-W. K. Have you seen Tom? He'll be quite overjoyed to see you. I'll call and let him know the pleasure I've had." It is to be hoped, however, that adversity will have taught you to value the world and the world's friends at their proper rate; and that you will have the good sense, when your friend and his companions come, to treat them as they deserve, and to let your door be closed for ever upon such a set of treacherous hypocrites. Let us now consider a friend as described by Dr. Johnson. It must be confessed that the terms friend and friendship, are so misapplied that, as far as the original meaning is conveyed, they are almost obsolete. A friend! What simple, noble, holy associations are connected with that word! One who is always ready to share your pleasures and joys-when prosperity smiles, and your purse is full. One who is ever ready to share your griefs and annoyances,-when adversity frowns. One who makes his heart and purse your own. Who never refuses to be of use, if it be possible for him to be Who is ever endeavoring by kind words and actions to soothe your sorrows. One whose beam ing eye and cordially-proffered hand are ever ready to greet you with affection in the saddest day of afliction. One who shares your simple fare with The Starling-I have been more than pleased, more genuine friendship than can be conveyed by exceedingly delighted, by a perusal of the many words. One whose heart and looks indite every notes that have appeared in OUR JOURNAL, from word his mouth pronounces. One whose every time to time, upon the habits and playfulness of the word and action, whether in adversity, or pros- amiable starling,-a bird who only requires to be perity, prove that he is your friend indeed. Such known to be thoroughly and heartily welcomed. a character is rarely indeed to be met with; but, Unfortunately the race against whom you are God be praised, not totally unknown-and would (very properly) for ever waging war, slaughter be still more known, if people would take more these joyous little rogues directly they enter a enlarged views of their duty to God and man; neighborhood to find themselves a dwelling-place, relinquishing a little of their selfishness and pride, Hence their comparative scarcity near towns and and learning to live among, and conduct them-cities. However, I am a favored being, as you selves towards their fellow-creatures with frankness, kindness, and a proper deference. I hope, my dear sir, that you and I may yet live to see a more wholesome state of society than we too frequently meet with in the present day.-BOMBYX ATLAS. 80. " shall hear. I reside in the neighborhood of The Operatives,-" Master and Man."-We penned an article last month on Mechanics' Institutions," and similar laudable societies. In it, we glanced at the late "strikes" by operatives, and condemned the principle of their trying to obtain their ends by force; recklessly destroying the property of their employers, and ill-using the industrious hands who were willing to work to support their families, preferring that to a life of dissolute idleness. These remarks of ours, so wholesome, have been unfairly dealt with; and a contemporary affirms we are taking part with the men's oppressors! So far is this from the truth, that we regard the masters who pay such infamously low wages in the light of brutes,-hardhearted, callous, purse-proud wretches,-in whose heart pity dwells not, and who are quite lost to all sense of justice and common honesty. From our very soul do we sympathise with the many suffering honest families now bemoaning their unfortunate position; and right glad shall we be to see them restored to their former occupations, better paid, better fed, and treated, by their employers as if they were really men,-human [The savage brutality of man, alone prevents beings, entitled to be fairly remunerated for their these noble little fellows (whose society we dearly services. Their pay of late has been insufficient | love) more frequently domesticating themselves amongst us dwellers near London. Our garden frequently gets the honor of a temporary visit; but out comes a neighbor's gun the very moment the gay visitors are seen. A report is heard, the birds take the hint; and away they fly, to scek more hospitable treatment elsewhere.] 46 Oh! my like a stone to the bottom of the sea. The Mind of Woman.-A writer in the New Quarterly Review says, naively,--A woman's mind is rarely creative. Much sweetness of imitation she may possess; much tenderness, much melody. But originality is not her forte. We have no feminine epics-and we want none. Such, however, is the originality of most of the "original" male, not masculine poets of the present day, that, compared with them, this may be a merit.-W. K. Mackerel on the Devonshire Coast.-The excitement on the Devonshire coast, when the shoals of mackerel conie, is very great; on their periodical arrivals on the coast, which is their custom in multitudes, for the purpose of feeding on a small fry very similar to a whitebait, a practised eye will readily observe their manoeuvres some distance from the shore, inasmuch as the moment they discover the food they love so well, their numbers and greedy propensities cause them to rush on their prey; which, endeavoring to escape from death, disturb the water in large circles like a shower of hailstones dropping therein; indeed we know of nothing more similar to compare it to. The moment one of these disturbed spots appears on the water, men are placed on the "Salt, the Curse of Old England."-No doubt you remember reviewing a book bearing the above title, some two years since, and a very bitter pill your remarks must have been for the writer, Dr. Howard! You charitably inferred he was mad." It would seem so. He has recently committed suicide-impelled perhaps to the act by the neglect of using salt! I send you the recorded particulars of the event: Dr. Howard, the author of a very silly and ignorant work, tracing many prevalent diseases to the use of salt, and of other eccentric publications, died by his own hand at his residence, 6, Upper Gloucester Street, Dorset Square, on the 27th of January. The evidence at the inquest showed that he was found lying upon his back in bed, quite dead; his hands and arms being crossed upon his breast, and the bed-clothes neatly arranged and tucked up all round. The features presented the appearance of a slight convulsive spasm. A small phial, with the stopper out, and label'el Hydrocyanic acid," was lying on the table, and near it was a minim measure and a wineglass. There was no indication of the slightest struggle having taken place. The candlestick, with about two inches of unburnt candle, was also by the bed. The servant of deceased de-highest cliffs to look out, while the boats with their posed that his habits were odd and peculiar, but that she was never afraid of him. Mr. Obré, surgeon, deposed that prussic acid was the cause of death. Mr. Keed Howard, of Alfred Street, Bedford Square, stated that the deceased gentleman was his brother. He had lived about 12 years in Gloucester Street, and witness seldom saw him oftener than once in 12 months. He was in independent circumstances, and had published his peculiar opinions in various ways through the press. Witness could not account for his committing suicide, unless under a state of mental derangement. He rarely saw any of his friends. The jury, after a short consultation, returned a verdict that deceased had destroyed himself by hydrocyanic acid.-JAMES R. [This poor man was no doubt confirmedly mad. His friends were greatly to blame not to have had him confined.] A Tahitan Love-Letter.-I send you a specimen of a "missive," penned under the direction of Cupid, at Tahiti. It is short, but sweet; original, but expressive:-O my well-beloved, my heart is troubled, it cannot rest! It is like the fresh and deep water which never sleeps, and which seeks agitation to find rest. I am like a branch which has been broken by the wind; it has fallen to earth and can never again attach itself to the trunk from which it has been separated. Thou hast left me, no more to return. Thy face is hid from me, and I shall see it no more. Thou art like the beautiful shrub that grew before my door, whose roots struck deep into the earth. My body would unite itself to thine; but in vain it seeks to transplant itself. It falls crews and nets prepared are launched and ready for action. The mackerel are sometimes seen at least a mile from shore; but the moment they attack the small bait, the latter fly nearer and nearer to the beach, till at times they approach within a hundred yards or nearer; and then while the look-out man, who discovers them more readily from an eminence, shouts at the extent of his lungs, the boats are rapidly rowed around the feasting fish in a circle, and then being hauled towards the shore by men on land, some thousands of mackerel are enclosed in a large bag at the extremity of the net; indeed, I once witnessed the taking of several thousand, and the sight was of no common interest to those who had not previously witnessed it. Neither was the eating of these fish, stiff and fresh from the water, without interest; they are as different, be assured, from a London mackerel, as a crimped Severn from an Irish salmon.-BYNG HALL. Artificial Pearls in China.-It was stated in a paper recently read before the members of the Royal Asiatic Society, that the artificial production of pearls from the mussel fish is carried on to a great extent at Hoochow, China. The fish_are collected in April and May; and are opened by children, who place a small bit of bamboo in the orifice to keep the shells apart. A piece of brass or bone, a small pebble, or a pellet of mud, is then introduced, a dose of three to five spoonfuls of fish-scales pounded and mixed with water is poured in, and the stick removed. The fish arě then placed a few inches apart in ponds, the water in which is from three to five feet deep, and which are well manured with night-soil four or five times every year. In these ponds the fish are allowed to remain from ten months to three years. Upon taking them out, the shell is cut through with a fine saw, the pearl is separated from the shell, and the pellet, or other substance within it, extracted. It is then filled with white wax, and a piece of the shell carefully attached, to conceal the aperture. Several millions of pearls are thus produced annually, worth from about a penny to eightpence a pair.-E. J. Locality-Particular places become dear to the heart of man; more generally by the associations attached to them than by their beauty, convenience, or fertility. Nor is this the case only as affecting individuals; for attachment, founded on memories or traditions, binds tribes and nations likewise to certain spots. And this is carried so far, occasionally, that the mere name of a distant country will excite in the bosom feelings of affection and devotion, joy, pride, and hope.-MIMOSA. myself to plead for the caterpillar of Cossus Ligniperda, and for every sort of larva. I am ready to allow that these creatures are not probably endowed with such exquisite sensations of pain and suffering as are some other animals; but surely this is a positive record of torture; which cannot be justified by any gratification of curiosity whatsoever. An accident befel this larva. It was seen by T. P. Fernie, of Kimbolton, to be fatal; and yet he continued to let this poor caterpillar drag out to the veriest extreme its length of torture! This is the ne plus ultra of cruelty, for it was merely to gratify his own curiosity that this shocking cruelty was inflicted. He knew, immediately, the wound must be fatal. Let T. P. Fernie (should this ever reach his eye) consider kindly the advice of an old entomologist, and be certain that it is unwise as unnecessary to put any creature to torture, for the simple gratification of our own curiosity. We were all created by the same Almighty Being; and man can have no right to torture any of his creatures. If we cannot discover the peculiarities of any particular insect without inflicting pain or torture, depend upon it we had better remain in ignorance. Butterflies of the Valley of the Amazon.-I send you herewith an extract from No. 135 (page 4179) of the "Zoologist,"-having reference to the position of repose in the species of moth, Catocala; a subject on which Mr. Westwood and Mr. Curtis differ: "Proceedings of the Entomological Society.-Butterflies of the Valley of the Amazon. The Umbrella Bird.-This singular bird is about the size of a raven, and is of a similar color; but its feathers have a more scaly appearance, from being margined with a different shade of glossy-BOMBYX ATLAS. blue. It is also allied to the crows in its structure, being very similar to them in its feet and bill. On its head it bears a crest, different from that of any other bird. It is formed of feathers more than two inches long, very thickly set, and with hairy plumes curving over at the end. These can be laid back so as to be hardly visible, or can be erected and spread out on every side, forming a hemispherical, or rather a hemiellipsoidal dome completely covering the head, and even reaching beyond the point of the beak; the individual feathers standing out something like the downbearing seeds of the dandelion. Besides this, there is another ornamental appendage on the breast, formed by a fleshy tubercle, as thick as a quill, and an inch and a-half long, which hangs down from the neck, and is thickly covered with glossy feathers, forming a large pendent plume or tassel. This also the bird can either press to its breast, so as to be scarcely visible, or can swell out, so as almost to conceal the fore part of the body. In the female the crest and the neck-plume are less developed, and she is altogether a smaller and much less handsome bird. It inhabits the flooded islands of the Rio Negro and the Solimoes, never appearing on the mainland. It feeds on fruits, and utters a loud hoarse cry, like some deep musical instrument; whence its Indian name, Ueramimbe," trumpet bird."-WALLACE. Mr. Westwood, in reference to a remark in Mr. Wallace's paper, that a certain species of Hesperia, with a very beautiful under surface, sat with its wings erect, observed that Nature generally provided that adornments of this kind should be exhibited. It was particularly the case with the Catocalida, which, having very beautiful under wings, rested with the upper wings open, so that the under wings were exposed. Mr. Curtis differed from Mr. Westwood. He thought that in the genus Catocala (especially in C. Nupta), this was not the case. - T. W. D." Now, my dear sir, is it not wonderful, that two gentlemen so eminent in the entomological world should differ upon such a very simple subject? I do not presume to give an opinion, but I will state a matter of fact. I have caught hundreds of Catocalidæ, and seen hundreds more in a state of repose; yet never did I see one vain enough to exhibit the beautiful under wings, however proud he might be of them. No, Mr. Editor; they are all a modest family (at least in a state of repose), The Goat Moth.-I see, in the last number and conceal the richness of their under dress of the "Naturalist," page 45, the following note beneath an upper garment of sober ash-color (in on the caterpillar of the goat-moth (Cossus Lig. some, more or less tinged with fulvous). This niperda). "I met with a singular instance of holds good whether we talk of the blue, the red, tenacity of life in the caterpillar of the goat-moth. or the yellow under-wing. There is one of this It had escaped from the box containing it, and species, however, I am bound to confess, which is when upon the floor was fortunately trodden rather coquettish. I mean Electa. The others upon. A tea-spoonful of thick, cream-like matter of the species are mostly found with their heads was squeezed out, and speedy death seemed upwards, and their abdomen downwards, or a little certain. It lived, however, under these painful inclined to the right or the left. Electa, forsooth, circumstances, more than a week. It laid upon must invariably have his head downwards, and its back, apparently lifeless; but moved when his abdomen raised. Why he does not behave touched.-T. P., Fernie, Kimbolton, December | like others of his family, is more than I can dis22nd, 1853." Now, I really must take upon cover. I merely mention the case for the amuse |