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THE NECKLACE.

Nay, bind not on that snowy neck
Rich pearls, and sparkling chains;
Its beauty needs no aid to deck,

Save its own azure veins.

I cannot bear those links should hide
A bosom fair as thine;
Nor veil beneath their jewell'd pride
Love's dear and fragrant shrine.
A ruby mark adorns thy breast

Whose tints some fairy wove,
Whose glow my lip has fondly prest,-
'Tis Nature's gem I love!
Remember how I've blest that spot,
And felt thy bosom thrill
Beneath my kiss ;-then hide it not,
Give me its beauty still!

'Twere shame to veil the smallest part
Of that transparent skin;
Take off, take off that jewelled heart,
There's one more rich within!

The worm may weave its web of gold
To hide it from the sun;
But bursting from its silken fold,
The butterfly needs none.

In Nature's plumes, the stately swan
Floats o'er the crystal lake!
Undeck'd by art, the graceful fawn
Springs lightly from the brake.
And who would tint the drifted snow,
Or gem the ocean's spray;
Or gild the morning's early glow !-
Yet thou art fair as they!
Then go, let glistening gauds be tried
By others,-not by thee;
Thou hast not one defect to hide,
The lily's not more free.

Yet, if thou wilt a necklace wear,
GIVE ME its links to twine;

Come to these arms, and find it here,
"Love's necklace" shall be thine !--
M. G. S.

From KIDD'S JOURNAL, May 30, 1840.

MAY-EVENING.

COME, and hear the lav'rock's vespers
Sounding sweetly through the dell;
Come, and hear the melting whispers
Lightly echo'd by the gale.
Phoebus gilds the hills in splendor;
Luna brings the ev'ning's close:
Twilight sues, with accents tender,

Wearied Nature to repose.

Come, the birds with love are burning,
Sweet they sing, in sportive glee;
While, to hives of joy returning,
Wings the laden merry bee.
Then, oh, leave all baneful pleasures;
Rove, with me, o'er hill and lea;
May unfolds her flowery treasures-
Come, then, come!-she waits for thee.
D. S. B.

ORIGINAL CORRESPONDENCE.

The Starling.-The starling has already been noticed in OUR JOURNAL, both in laudatory and disparaging terms. I must say he is a special favorite of mine. I like his free and confiding habits. I admire his glossy and glittering plumage. I love to see him marching, in double-quick time, over my lawn, in quest of worms and insects; I enjoy his soft and musical whistle, as he sits, in an autumnal morning, basking on the top of some tree that catches the first rays of the rising sun. I doubt not that the amount of good effected by starlings in the destruction of predatory insects, must far outweigh the little mischief they may do in an occasional visit to the cherry garden. In this agricultural district they are constantly to be seen on the backs of the sheep, relieving those animals of vermin; and the sheep seem well aware that their visitors are engaged in a very neighborly occupation. But my present object is to notice an accusation made against starlings, which I remember to have heard ever since I first took an interest in the feathered tribes; viz. that being given to intrude in pigeon-houses, they are in the habit of destroying both the eggs and young of the pigeons. Yarrell has alluded to the accusation. Without offering his own opinion on the subject he says, "Starlings frequently roost in pigeon houses, and are accused of destroying both eggs and young pigeons. This has been doubted; I can substantiate no charge on my own knowledge," &c. Now evil reports, although oftentimes altogether false, and generally exaggerated, have frequently at least some foundation. I had often sought for information on the point in question, from observers of nature: but, for a long time, could learn nothing that was satisfactory. However, I was at length enabled to satisfy myself as to what I consider the origin of the charge against, and the amount of capability in the starling. When I first resided amidst the hills of North Hants,some twenty years since, starlings were rare; now they abound. I wish I could add, that fitting places for nidification abounded also. But no; in these utilitarian days, if a sound tree happily escape the axe, a pollard, or a tree with a hole in it, has no chance of long adding to the picturesque of the neighborhood. The starlings consequently Occupy every available position-the eaves, the thatch, the chimney of the cottage, the barn, the church tower; and, as an especially comfortable retreat, they share with the pigeons the tenantry of the dovecote. Conversing with an observant neighbor about the inmates of his pigeon-house, he accidentally remarked the circumstance of his occasionally losing young pigeons from the intrusion of the starlings. The remark of course caught my attention; and, on following up the conversation, I learnt that the starling, being a bold and pugnacious bird, after taking possession of a hole for nidification in the vicinity of a pigeon similarly engaged, will frequently attack the latter. On such occasions the pigeon, from its timid and unwarlike habits, not only gives way, but is led sometimes to forsake its eggs, and even its young, in terror of the powerful and sharp beak of its neighbor. It appears to me, that the circumstances just narrated may be fairly regarded as explanatory of the origin of the accusation against the

starling, who may thus far be culpable and in this way may be charged with the occasional ruin of a pigeon's nest. I offer this explanation as likely to interest some of the readers of OUR JOURNAL; and as being useful to satisfy the doubts of others (as it has satisfied my own,) regarding this blemish in the character of the Starling.-H.H.W., Combe Vicarage, Hants.

unfruitful. The same pair formed another nest, and the hen has been sitting for a week on four eggs, all of which appear to be unfruitful. No. 1 in the same room, built a nest early in March, but the eggs were not laid till near the end of the month, and then in one corner of the space where the nest-box is placed, on the bare wood, and in such a situation that the hen could not possibly sit on them. I placed them in the nest; but she has not condescended to look at them since, and is now building a new nest. The eggs, three in

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egg was laid on the 4th instant. In No. 8, four eggs were laid on the 30th March, and the hen is now sitting. Two other pairs are making preparations for a beginning; and in a fortnight I expect we shall be in full operation. One of your correspondents states, that cakes made with butter are injurious to the young birds. I have used the broken cakes and scrapings of cakes procured from a confectioner's, to mix with boiled egg, for my birds; and I never found any ill effects to follow its use, though no doubt the crumbs and broken cakes contained a large proportion of butter. I have five larks, and they are all in full song. give them equal parts of CLIFFORD'S German paste, bruised hemp-seed, and bread crumbs, mixed. This food answers admirably for them. My bed-room has a southern aspect, and is devoted to my favorites, whose comfort and convenience I constantly endeavor to study. They are fed and watered every morning, with the addition of egg and cake twice a week. Every Thursday they are thoroughly cleaned, and an abundant supply of fresh sand given. Any further information likely to prove of interest to your readers, I shall be most happy to communicate from time to time.-ALPHA, Liverpool, April 8.

On Breeding Canaries, Proper Cages, &c., &c. -Since I wrote last, death has been at work in my family of songsters; and no less than one-number, I intend to place in No. 6, where the first fourth of the whole number have been struck down by his ruthless hand. All these deaths have taken place in cages of wire and tin-plate, without any wood being used in their construction. I thought these would be more easily cleaned, and kept in order, than those made of wood; and although told by an experienced fancier that such cages were dangerous, still I persisted in using them, and have paid dear for my obstinacy. do not yet know why these tin and wire cages are more dangerous than others; I only state the fact. That the few remarks I may forward to OUR JOURNAL, on the subject of Canary Breeding, may be more easily understood by your readers, I will, with your permission, give a list of my birds and cages; and their respective arrangement. The cages are numbered, from 1 upwards-No. 1 is a handsome and very complete cage, painted white inside; but not made entirely of mahogany. It was procured from Clifford, Great St. Andrew Street; and with the above exception, is made according to the instructions given in one of your own earlier articles on Song-Birds. Its occupants are a pair of London prize canaries (mealy cock and Jonque hen) not quite perfect, and one year old. No. 2 is a large cage made entirely of mahogany, 30 inches long, 20 high, and 12 deep. It is neither painted nor whitewashed inside; and is tenanted by a pair of perfect prize canaries (Jonque cock and mealy hen). No. 3 is the same as 2, only rather smaller; it is neither painted nor whitewashed. Its tenants are a mealy Belgian cock and Jonque hen,-both fine birds. No. 4 is the same as 3. No. 5 is a very old cage, about the same size as No. 2; but without a division to separate the young birds from the old ones, and with loose nest-boxes. Nos. 4 and 5 are without inhabitants at present. Nos. 6 and 7 form a double cage (new), of the usual construction, with loose boxes, and quite plain. Each compartment is 24 inches long, 20 high, and 12 deep. No. 6 contains a pair of common canaries, and No. 7 a mealy Belgian cock and Jonque hen. Nos. 8 and 9-a double cage, similar to the last (one year old)--size of each division, 19 inches long, 12 high, and 10 deep. It is occupied by two pairs of fine Norwich canaries,-Jonque cock and mealy hen. No. 10 is a very old and common cage containing a cock goldfinch and hen canary. No. 1 similar to the last, and contains a cock linnet and hen canary. The foregoing list comprises all my present stock; but, before six months have passed over, I hope to see it very largely increased. The first symptoms of breeding were shewn by No. 2, whose inmates were kept in a warm room, where a fire was constantly burning. Being supplied with materials, the nest was finished on February 23rd; but the first egg was not laid till March 3rd. Four eggs were laid, but turned out

Notes on the Robin, Swallow, Cuckoo, &c.We are now, my dear Sir, in all our glory. The weather is seasonable; the glorious sun shows us his bright and lovely face; and the trees are clad in a vesture of the most refreshing green. The very flowers, on every hand, seem anxious to gladden us as we pass. All nature is serene and happy; and as you say, why should not we, her children, be happy too? Is not happiness "contentment ?" [Most assuredly!] Our robins are at nest. The mamma in expectancy has been "sitting" some time; and her doating spouse has, meanwhile, paid her the most attentive consideration. There is no mauvaise honte about him! More than once has the ele gant little brogue taken from my very hand a mealworm, and flown with it direct to his betterhalf. No selfishness have we here, Mr. Editor. Well may you remark, that we mortals ought to improve upon the many hints thrown out to us by the lower world! I note something suggestive every day; and often ponder on your words-not, I hope, without profit. The swallows have been over some days [they visited Hammersmith on the 14th of April]; but we have not yet heard the Cuckoo. [He was heard at Acton, Middlesex, 13 miles from Hammersmith, on the 17th of April.] He cannot, however, be far off, as his avant-courier, the wry-neck, is heard early every morning. I should tell you, that we are not, like the generality of people, averse to swallows

building under the eaves of our house. We love their tribe dearly, and always encourage them. The consequence is, that they share our hospitality regularly, year after year. One pair always build in a shed at the rear of the house; and last year, we had a nest constructed at a very slight elevation from the ground. The little heads of the inmates did look so pretty, as they were raised up to receive the food brought in by their parents! A few days since, I removed the old nest; so that all now is ready for their reception. It is the practice of most young birds, I believe, not to return to the nest after they have once quitted it. [You are quite right, Mdlle.] Last year, however, our young swallows, after having been in flight all day, carefully ensconced themselves at night in the family cradle. They were packed in as neatly as ever; and nobody would have supposed they had ever been abroad. How beautiful they looked! and how happy! This continued for some days. I could furnish you with endless anecdotes of our little families, with whom we live in perfect happiness; but this will suffice for the present. Every day is adding to our company. Our summer visitors are dropping in with all the familiarity of old friends. It is refreshing to see that they come to us with all the confidence of a grateful heart. They are not like the cold-hearted world, unmindful of a kindness rendered; but bear in mind, from year to year, the friends who have made them welcome at their table, and protected them lovingly during their visit to a foreign land.-HEARTSEASE, Hants, April 18.

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[The pair of robins we alluded to last month, as being so remarkably tame, have been "sitting' on seven eggs. These eggs have recently realised seven very pretty little infant robins. We have been permitted to view them, although not to touch them. Indeed, this last would have been a breach of trust perfectly indefensible. The "happy family" are thriving wonderfully. Very funny do they look, packed in so closely! And as for their powers of digestion, they are fully equal to those of a London alderman. To see what is lugged in by the parents daily, and swallowed by their children-as a matter of course, puzzles us exceedingly. Just as these remarks meet the public eye, the nest, we expect, will be empty. It is now (April 25) full, almost to an overflow. We should add, that the parents before taking in the worms, &c., tap at the window with their bills every now and then, with a view to direct attention to their movements. Saucy, happy, innocent, confiding rogues are they !]

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Life Assurance.-I am anxious, Mr. Editor, to assure my life" before I leave this country. I purpose being absent two years. I am in my thirtieth year, and should like to assure for £1,000. Can you tell me what this would cost; and if the "Policy " will permit my leaving Eng. land?-E. W., Chard.

[We are fortunately in possession of the Tables of the "National Assurance Investment Association," 7, St. Martin's Place, Charing Cross. In this we find chapter and verse given on the subject of your inquiry; and it is plain that you may quit the country of England. In table No. 7, we observe the following:-"A

person aged 30 (next birth-day) may secure £1,000 at his death by the annual payment of £34 16s. 8d. during the whole period of life, with liberty to proceed to all parts of the world, without invalidating the Policy, or being required to pay any additional premium.' Of course you must be careful to keep up your annual payment. We recommend your applying to the Managing Director, Mr. Peter Morrison, for a prospectus. It will now come "free" by post.]

Black Fowls with Red Feathers.-It is not uncommon for Spanish, Polands, or any other black fowl, to throw a few red feathers. I have seen it so often, I dare not say it is a sign of impuritynor do I think it is hereditary. These deviations are equally common in other breeds, but as an entire color is not so essential, they are not noticed. Last year I had a Spanish hen moulted quite white; this year a cock of the same breed moulted with an accurately-defined red stripe, down each wing. I should be very sorry to destroy a bird for a few red feathers. I believe there are no Polands with pure white tops.-J. BAILY, Mount Street.

The Swallow in Switzerland.-In the last number but one of OUR JOURNAL, your amiable correspondent-"Forestiera," has given a delightful anecdote of swallows and their singular domicile in the East, singularly but faithfully illustrating their affectionate confidence in mankind. I cannot refrain from bringing under your notice very Similar facts regarding the swallow, which occurred to myself every year in Switzerland; and which I think shews the same confidence in mankind which "Forestiera" has so charmingly described. In the house that I occupied at Cour, near Lausanne, was a very long gallery with seven windows, which shut by open-worked shutters, or, as the French call them, jalousies. The windows themselves are moveable, and fixed up in the winter; but removed in the spring and summer. Here, in the spring, I used to keep my caterpillars; and the feeding and arranging these would occupy nearly two hours every morning, generally from five till seven. Here there were five swallows' nests, and all the time I was feeding my caterpil lars, the swallows would come in and out as freely as if nobody was there. Some were building or repairing their nests; some bringing food to a nest full of little, twittering, gaping bills; some bringing insects to their faithful mate, who was sitting on her complement of pretty eggs. Now although I was moving about, and often the old gardener, and six or seven young ones were scrambling about the gallery-aye, and even old " FINO too, the swallows cared not for us, unless it was occasionally to perch for a minute on our shoulder. Then would they dart through the window after more food; twittering away after their peculiar manner, as happy as birds could be. The swallows seemed to welcome me as much as I did them.-BOMBYX ATLAS.

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How to color Oil, Red, or Reddish Brown.Referring to "Violet's" inquiry (ante p. 180), Oil may be colored a very deep red by alkanet-root cut small, immersed in the oil, and the whole placed in the sun's heat. A reddish brown, by the aid of Spanish arnatto. This requires a stronger heat.

I am not aware of any vegetable substance which will color oil black, or I would with much pleasure inform the fair "Violet" of it.-ZIG-ZAG.

but as soon as he discovered that it was his duty
to do so, and that it obliged me, I can never forget
with what anxiety and eagerness he learned his
different evolutions, and when once I made him
understand a direction, he never forgot or mistook
it."-" One night" (says Mr. Youatt) "a large
flock of lambs, that were under the Ettrick Shep-
herd's care, frightened by something, scampered
away in three different directions across the hills,
in spite of all that he could do to keep them toge-
ther." "Sirrah" said the shepherd" they're a'
awa!" It was too dark for the dog and his mas-
ter to see each other at any considerable distance;
but "Sirrah" understood him, and set off after the
fugitives. The night passed on, and Hogg and
his assistant traversed every neighboring hill in
anxious but fruitless search for the lambs, but he
could hear nothing of them nor of the dog, and
he was returning to his master with the doleful
intelligence that he had lost all his lambs. “On
our way home, however," says he,
we disco-
vered a lot of lambs at the bottom of a deep
ravine, called the Flesh Cleuch, and the indefa-
tigable 'Sirrah' standing in front of them, look-

Skeleton Leaves.-There are various modes of procuring skeleton leaves, but the following plan I have hitherto found attended with the least disappointment. July is the best month to select leaves for the purpose. Care must be taken that they are not bruised, or otherwise injured. A small piece of the stalk of the tree should be attached to each leaf. They should then be placed in an earthenware vessel, and covered with soft water, and exposed to the air and the heat of the sun; and as the water evaporates more must be supplied. From one month to two months is the time usually required for the leaves to become in such a state as to allow the membranes to be removed. This must be done by placing them on a plate with clean water, enough to cover them. Then, with a fine needle, commence with the leafstalk, and proceed till all the outer membrane is removed from each side of the leaf. Great care must be used when separating the membrane from the middle rib. The green substance can then being round for some relief, but still true to his gently cleared away by using a camel-hair brush. Sometimes it is necessary to leave them in water for a few days, before all the green can be removed; and in this case the water should be clean, and fresh every morning. I have generally found it desirable to well wash each skeleton with yellow soap and a little soda, to make them white. This seldom fails; but whenever, it does, a little chloride of lime added to fresh water, will effect the purpose. Time and patience are required to get perfect skeletons, but the great beauty of each specimen amply rewards any who may be disposed to prepare them for themselves.-Puss.

Proper Food for the Tortoise.-Your Correspondent, J. J., who inquires at page 183 what food Tortoises like best, is informed that the following are regarded by them as luxuries :--leaves of the Dandelion, Sowthistle, and Lettuce. There was one domesticated in our family, who ate with much gusto petals of the Rose and Gum-cistus; also heads of Clover, Daisies, and Dandelion. They require a little water in very dry weather; and some of the tribe show an affection for bread and milk. Their appetites slumber till June. They then make up for lost time.-BLUE-BELL.

The Highland Colley.-Mr. James Hogg, the Ettrick Shepherd, thus writes in a letter to the Editor of "Blackwood's Magazine:"-" My Dog 'Sirrah' was beyond all comparison the best dog I ever saw. He had a somewhat surly and unsocial temper, disdaining all flattery and refusing to be caressed,-but his attention to my commands and interest will never again be equalled by any of the canine race. When I first saw him, a drover was leading him by a rope. He was both lean and hungry, and far from being a beautiful animal, for he was almost black; and had a grim face, striped with dark brown. I thought I perceived a sort of sullen intelligence in his countenance, notwithstanding his dejected and forlorn appearance, and I bought him. He was scarcely a year old, and knew so little of herding that he had never turned a sheep in his life;

charge; and we concluded that it was one of the divisions which 'Sirrah' had been unable to manage, till he came to that commanding situa tion. But what was our astonishment, when we discovered that not one lamb of the flock was missing! How he had got all the divisions collected in the dark is beyond my comprehension. The charge was left entirely to himself from midnight until the rising sun; and if all the shepherds in the forest had been there to have assisted him, they could not have effected it with greater promptitude All I can say is, that I never felt so grateful to any creature under the sun, as I did to my honest Sirrah' that morning."-ZIG-ZAG.

The Nightingale.-Can you tell me what places in England the nightingale does not visit; and also give me some particulars of his song, and general habits? I have heard the question of his exclusiveness much debated, and wish to know what are the facts of the case.-JANE T., Richmond, Surrey.

[The Nightingale does not visit our northern counties-Yorkshire alone excepted. It is supposed that the soil of that country suits his fancy. He is, we believe, never heard in Devonshire and Cornwall, nor in North Wales. Ireland and Scotland, too, he holds in supreme contempt. In Middlesex, and the Isle of Wight, he holds his court both by day and night. As we have written so very much about this king of birds in our FIRST and SECOND Volumes,-to them we must refer you for further particulars.]

Longevity of the Hive-Bee.-It may interest some of your Apiarian readers to learn, that three Essays have been forwarded to the Entomological Society for competition for the prize of five guineas, offered by the society last year for the best Essay on the longevity of the three kinds of individuals of the hive-bee, with especial reference to the practical results of the question on the relative advantages of retaining stocks or swarms. These Essays have been referred to a committee, who have unani

mously considered the essay by Mr. Desborough, of Stamford, as most worthy of the prize, which has accordingly been awarded to him. The Essay is now in course of being printed in the Society's Transactions," but it is understood that a limited number of separate copies will be printed for sale.-Q.

Public Park and Botanic Garden at Southamp ton.-I am very happy to tell you, Mr. Editor, that the important port of Southampton is about to enjoy the advantages of a public park and botanic garden. A large piece of waste ground in the centre of the town, which has long been lying idle, is to be devoted to this purpose.HEARTSEASE, Hants.

Wishes.-Every man has a right to "wish," Mr. Editor. You wish-he wishes-we wish. As for me, had I my wish,

A little airy sprite I'd be,
A being of mirth and jollity,
A laughing little merry fay,
I'd revel all my time away.
Clad in sunbeams' luscious light,
Glittering in radiance bright,
Endowed with a magician's might,
I would I were an airy sprite!
With joyous heart and open hand,
Pure goodness for my magic wand,
O'er the strand,
'Cross the sand,

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Trout introduced into New Zealand.-I regret that I cannot give "T. G." (see p. 179) any detailed account of the transit of the spawn from England to New Zealand. I have merely heard from the brother of the gentleman who took them out, that the fish, or many of them, had arrived; and so far, the plan pursued had proved successful. Last season, however, some trout spawn obtained from me was sent, together with some salmon spawn, in a vessel bound for Australia. It was placed in gravel in large iron tanks; a supply of water from the Wandle being also provided for the necessary change. The ova came to maturity some days before the usual time, on the arrival of the vessel under the tropics. The result of my own experience is, that about 42 days is the time required from the spawning, but this varies according to season, temperature, and other causes, for which I cannot account; as for instance, this year I had some

ova sent me from Derbyshire, which was spawned on Christmas-day; most of them I put into my boxes, but some I kept in the house in a small tin vessel, into which water supplied from a tank on the house-top, and consequently at a low temperature, was kept constantly dripping. I have observed that this spawn has been very irregular in the time of its hatching; some of it coming to maturity in about 70 days, and one egg not till the 80th day, and that at the moment I was examining it with a microscope, under which the little creature is a splendid object exhibiting to perfection the circulation of the blood in a marvellous manner. With regard to the wish expressed in the conclusion of "T. G.'s" letter, that a hybrid between the salmon and trout should be attempted in the Wandle, I am afraid that as the above-named river is merely a succession of mill-dams, having no unbroken communication with either the sea or a large river, a hybrid possessing any of the distinguishing marks of the salmon could not be expected to thrive in it.-S. G., Carshalton.

More "Causes" of Insanity.-The total number of brewers in the United Kingdom is 2,678; of victuallers, 89,963; of persons licensed to sell beer to be drunk on the premises, 39,378; not to be drunk on the premises, 3,348; 26,564 victuallers, also 13,813 persons licensed to sell beer (to be drunk on the premises), and 1,014 (not to be drunk on the premises) brew their own beer. The total quantity of malt consumed in the United Kingdom by brewers, was 21,540,058 bushels; by victuallers, 7, 720,128 bushels; and by persons licensed to sell beer (to be drunk on the premises), 3,378,165 bushels; not to be drunk on the premises, 391,457 bushels.-E. W.

[When we reflect how much poison, in the form of drugs, vitriol, etc., is to be added to this beer when made, we can only express the wish-not hope, that the drinkers' constitutions may prove an antidote to the poison imbibed. We hate the name of beer, and the smell of beer.]

The Trees of Oregon.-A fir-tree, standing on the farm of Judge Strong, at Cathlamette, twentyfive miles above Astoria, on the Columbia river, is of the following dimensions: diameter, five feet above the ground, where it is round and sizeable, 10 feet; height to the first limb, 112 feet; height of the tree, 242 feet, "The trunk," says a writer in the Philadelphia Horticulturist, "is perfectly straight, diminishes very gradually, and the whole tree is beautiful; yet in this respect not singular, for our forests are composed of trees lofty, straight, and beautiful. A spruce tree, standing on the bottom lands of Lewis and Clark's river, twelve miles from Astoria, measured accurately with the tape five feet above the ground, is 39 feet in circumference. The place of measuring is above the swell of the roots. The trunk is round, and with a regular and slight diminution runs up straight and lofty. We did not ascertain its height. Nor is it "alone in its glory," but in a forest of spruce, cedar, and fir, some of the trees of nearly and perhaps quite equal size. General John Adair, of Astoria, informs me that about three years ago he bought a hundred thousand shingles, all made from one cedar tree, for which

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