examination, found their crops full of worms. During the period when the parents are feeding the young brood, the number of worms that a crow will carry to a nest at a time is almost incredible. Though crows are classed by naturalists as "omnivora," that is, that they eat everything-rooks prefer animal substances, insects and worms, to corn or wild berries. Rooks generally desert their breeding-places previous to autumn, looking in at their former homes now and then, and betake themselves to roosting-places in some convenient wood. In the morning they may be seen leaving for the distant moor, in long lines, extending as far as the eye can reach, from one extremity of the horizon to the other. We have watched the flight of a stream of crows for more than an hour at a time, without observing the slightest diminution in the number of the long line. The author we have already quoted says, "Everybody knows the rook; the dark, the noisy, and the sometimes nest-plundering, rook; but still, notwithstanding, the cheerful, the orderly, the industrious, the useful rook." This is its true character, and we trust the agriculturists of Galloway will study its habits more closely ere they resolve on its extermination. Like magpies, starlings, and other birds of the same class, the rook does occasionally eat corn; but the small contribution levied in the course of a season is really insignificant compared with the advantages derived from the important services rendered in the destruction of thousands of grubs and other injurious insects. We happen to be intimate with an extensive and intelligent farmer in Fifeshire, whose farmyard is close to a considerable rookery. He is, however, rather partial to his black friends, being satisfied that they more than repay all they destroy of corn or potatoes, by services rendered which no human hand could perform. During winter the rooks were wont to injure the tops of his stacks. Accident, however, supplied him with a complete protection. Having formed the top of one or two of thrashed straw, or thatch, he was surprised to find that the rooks did not touch stacks so finished. He thereafter completed all his stacks in the same way, and not one of them has since been disturbed. The crow, when he visits a stack, begins at the top, and pulls out a head of corn, and again and again does the same. This is generally in winter; but it would appear that if he finds no grain at the top of the stack, he ceases to try further down. And thus for years the rookery has flourished alongside the barnyard, without the farmer being conscious of injury to any sensible extent by the rooks either in his fields or barnyard.— Edinburgh Observer. BEES-SPRING FEEDING. Ir is well in a little time to examine the remaining stock of food, for a good deal will be required for the increasing numbers. If needed, some may be given, though less quantity than in autumn; three or four ounces of honey (made fluid and stirred with a little warm water) twice in a week is sufficient. In the absence of honey in the spring a substitute may be found in a pint of good sound ale with a pound of sugar, boiled together for a few minutes and well skimmed. Some add to this a little wine or spirits and a small portion of salt, which at any rate is not displeasing to bees. At this season it is well to give the food on a dry day and a little warmed. Many persons recommend feeding even the strong stocks, for it is certain that the bees are stimulated, by the increased temperature to which it gives rise in the hive, and there can be no doubt of the importance of early breeding. But no feeding unless from absolute necessity should be resorted to till all chance of frost or snow is past, otherwise they are prematurely put in motion, and numbers perish unable to reach home. It has before been recommended to cover the pan on using; this especially is requisite in a cold spring, for then all means should be used to prevent the escape of warmth from the brood. As respects the bees, they may be more safely fed at the top of the hive than when compelled to descend below for this purpose, where they are subjected to the effects of a chilling temperature. The entrance of the hive should be gradually opened as the season advances, and room is required, contracting it if any attack by robbers takes place, for this sometimes occurs.-Bee-keeper's Manual. LUCIFER MATCHES. (From the Times.) SIR, I was standing at my own door, a few days since, when I was accosted by a little boy carrying a basket of matches, who asked me "if I would like to buy a box of silent matches, very good ones, and only one halfpenny a box." It reminded me of the complaints I am continually hearing of the dangerous cheapness of lucifer matches, and of the instances of fire which have arisen from them, and come within my own knowledge; I am therefore induced to address you on the subject, wishing to draw the attention of the public to the consequences of their too common use, and to suggest a remedy. Farmers especially are interested in this matter, on account of their property being of a combustible nature, but so also are housekeepers generally, as fire may arise from their careless use by domestic servants; and I remember a barrister observing, that the number of cases proceeding from this cause that had come under his knowledge when on circuit were remarkable. A young lady of my acquaintance, one day in coming down stairs, trod on a lucifer match; it kindled, and had her dress been of a light material it would probably have caught fire; this was at an hotel. Being within the means of any purchaser (a dozen boxes to be had for less than a dozen halfpence), they are hawked about by many a tramper and unsafe character; now offered at the door of the farmer for sale-in his strawyard; now purchased by children to amuse themselves by lighting a fire, from which latter cause three separate cases have occurred in my own neighbourhood, within the last six months; one was a cottage-the occupier and his wife were absent in the harvest field, leaving their children at home, and within reach of some matches, a barn, and a wheat-stack. The last case was owing to a little fellow of seven years old having obtained some lucifers, with which he lighted a fire to roast some potatoes; he is now in the county gaol awaiting his trial for the accident or offence 1. 1 Since this letter was written the boy's trial has taken place; he was acquitted on account of his tender years; and it appeared on evidence that he had fired the stack in order to make a bonfire, and not as stated above, accidentally, from having made a fire to roast potatoes. The most singular instance, as well as the most serious in its probable consequences, I have yet to mention :-A lucifer-match had accidentally been bound up in a sheaf of corn, and brought to the barn from the harvest field; when the corn came to be thrashed, the thrasher was surprised to see smoke, and then a flame, issuing from the straw he was thrashing; he threw himself down upon it, or stamped it out, and discovered his flail had struck on the match, and ignited it. It was supposed to have been dropped in the field by some hired reapers, after an unsuccessful attempt to light a pipe with it. Had the thrasher been less prompt, the whole premises of a large farm and adjacent stacks must have been consumed; and what credit would the poor fellow have got for his account of the affair? He might have been imprisoned in a gaol for some time, or met a worse fate. If there was a penalty for selling a box or quantity of lucifers without a stamp, which stamp should not be less than sixpence, I am inclined to think much danger would be prevented. Dec. 21. I am, Sir, your obedient servant, X. Y. Z. PRAYERS. To Thee, my God, I make this morning prayer ;— Each moment may I usefully employ, And every pleasure prudently enjoy! Work, while 'tis day, with faithful heart and true; Evening. The day is ended!-How has it been spent? No work can now be done! Night's meant for sleep! And may I never, morn or noon, forget, |