cost you; besides this, who would like to destroy their own health, and the health of their children, by low fevers and other complaints, which such places always produce, in a greater or less degree? No mother or father would, we are sure, do so, if they knew it,and we now make it known to them, that they may avoid it. As a proof of the sickness caused by living in close, badly-paved, and badly-drained streets, out of one hundred and eighty-five persons received into the fever hospital at Manchester, in the year 1842, one hundred and thirty-five of them came from close, dirty, or unpaved streets.

It is also another ascertained fact, that if you take all the men, women, and children, who live in such courts and alleys, it is found that their average duration of life is only twenty-three years, while if you take the average duration of life of all the men, women, and children, living in such open and airy streets and places, it is about forty-two years; thus shewing that you may expect to suffer only one-fifth part of the sickness, but may also expect your children to live nearly twice as long as they would do, if you bring them up in courts and alleys.-From "Cheap Cookery."

SOUTH INDIAN BIRDS.

THE Curious nests of the "Bava," or Bottle bird, which inhabits the country of Tinnevelly, in South India, are well worthy of notice. "Though not peculiar to Tinnevelly, there are seen there in great numbers, hanging from the branches of the cocoa-nut tree; and at a distance might be mistaken for a pale brown fruit of unusual size and strange shape. At the proper season, the little builders may be seen perched on the cocoa-nut trees, and with their bills stripping the fibres of the leaves into long threads. Here they fasten to the under side of the feather-like foliage, and working downwards, are not long in preparing a habitation for their future family. So light, and yet so strong is the texture of these neatly woven nests, that while they appear so fragile that a breath of air would scatter them in every direction, they

are so firmly wrought that you may see them swinging to and fro in a gale of wind, without the slightest injury. They are sometimes as much as two feet in length, and bulging, so as to be in the shape of a bottle; the entrance is from below, and a snug and secure apartment is formed, by a partition that divides the lower half of the bulging projection from the rest. Here the eggs are deposited, and the young are reared, safe from the inroads of their enemies, particularly the snakes, who would make havoc if they could reach them. These birds have a curious custom of catching fire flies, and fastening them to the inside of their nest with a piece of clay. The natives say it is to give the young ones light, but perhaps it may be, that as they are excluded from the sight of external objects, the parent birds take this mode of teaching them to catch their future food. Here clay is to be seen in almost every nest, and now and then the fly has been found adhering to it. The "Tailor bird" is also very remarkable. It makes its nest in a very different way, and with very different materials. Choosing some tree whose leaves will be large and strong enough for the purpose, the little workman looks out for two leaves that lie near together, and in the same direction; and stealing a piece of cotton from some neighbouring plantation, pierces the edges of the leaves with its bill, and fastens them together by drawing the cotton through the holes. Both sides are thus sewed together about half way down; the inside is lined closely with the softest cotton, and the whole becomes a safe and unsuspected hiding-place."—From" South Indian Sketches."

THE CHOLERA.

THE accounts lately received from Russia unhappily inform us that this dreadful scourge has again visited Europe. Its progress has been from the same quarter, and in nearly the same direction as when it visited these parts of the world a few years ago. At that time it also visited England, and became very fatal in several of our crowded towns. So awful and sudden are the effects of

It was

this disease, that it should be already our humble prayer that the Lord will mercifully spare us from again suffering by its approach. The grief and terror which it is. capable of spreading around us, by removing, as in a moment, those we love, or cutting off our own days with so short a warning, will be quite enough to make us pray against it, should it ever arrive amongst us. But now, while it is still distant, let us lift up our supplications to the Father of mercies, that he may be pleased to grant us an escape. And while we thus endeavour, in the best manner, to ward off so great a scourge, let us remember that there are precautions of various kinds, which may be taken, and which prudence requires should be taken, to make us less susceptible of attack. found before, that intemperance of any kind was the worst thing to place the constitution in a dangerous state, and make it liable to be fatally assaulted. Those who lived too much on beer and spirits, were the most likely to sink under it with awful suddenness. Next to these, were persons who did not preserve cleanliness in their persons, their dress, and their houses. The want of this was exceedingly dangerous, both as preparing the body to be attacked, and as rendering it most difficult to be cured. Places where any kind of offal or decaying vegetables were lying, were always found to be dangerous; and the want of good drainage will make crowded streets and alleys extremely unsafe. Now, as all these things require time, it will be wise to look to them while time is afforded. They cannot be done if the disease is at the doors. Let every householder see that his house is cleanly and airy: that it is well drained, having a good and free passage for all that is poured away, to go far under ground, where it can do no harm. Let there be an iron grating to keep it clear at the top. See that the street or lane you live in, is kept as clean as it can be; and use plenty of water in your house, upon your person, and on your clothes. Another thing ought not to be forgotten. I have often seen great quantities of dirty worn-out clothes heaped together in drawers and boxes, and left there for months and years. From these there is often a very offensive smell; and wherever

that smell is, there is great danger that it will breed disease. What is the use of keeping such old clothes? Why not sell them directly to the ragman, who will turn them into good paper, and rid you of an injurious and useless possession? But, perhaps the readers of this book will not be the sort of persons to do such foolish things. Yet they may be able to advise those who do, their neighbours and friends, who read no books and get no information. Let every one stir himself to do something, and let no-body think anything below them. The best preparation by which to meet any scourge of divine providence, is repentance towards God, and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. Let that be the first and the principal thing with all. And let other things have their proper place-not carelessly neglected, but prudently performed; for the "prudent man foreseeth the evil and hideth himself." E.

FRIENDLY SOCIETIES.

THE bill to amend the act of the 4th and 5th years of his late Majesty William IV., relating to friendly societies, as amended by the Committee, and on recommitment, was lately printed. It now contains 19 clauses. On the third reading it is to be entitled "An Act to amend the Laws relating to Friendly Societies." Among the new provisions is one to the effect that the rules of every friendly society established after the passing of this act shall provide that a book or books be kept, in which all monies received or paid on account of any particular fund or benefit for which the rules provide, shall be entered in a separate account, distinct from the monies received and paid on account of any other benefit or provision. By another provision for securing the solvency of friendly societies, it is declared, that the registrar, in England, Scotland, or Ireland, shall not certify the rules of a society established for the purpose of securing any benefit depending on the laws of sickness or mortality, unless such society shall adopt a table which shall be certified to be a table which may safely and fairly be adopted for such purpose, under the hand of the actuary

to the Commissioners of the National Debt, or of some other of at least five years' standing, whose name shall be set forth in the rules. Daily Paper.

REGIMENTAL SAVINGS' BANKS.

RECENTLY the annual accounts of the Regimental Savings' Banks, under the act 5 and 6 Victoria, cap. 71, were issued. In the first year of the formation of the banks, namely, on the 31st of March, 1844, the sum due for deposits was 14,8497. 1s. 11d. In the year following the deposits made were 25,9271. 6s. 10d., which, with the interest of 9471. 2s. 9d. due on the two sums, made 41,7237. 11s. 6d. The amount of deposits withdrawn was 68531. 8s., which, with 1867. 11s. 6d. transferred to other regiments, left a balance due by the public on the 31st of March last of 34,6831. 12s. The number of depositors on that day was 3414. Of the money due to the soldiers who have made deposits, 14,8497. 1s. Ild. had been placed to the account of the Commissioners for the Reduction of the National Debt, and 19,834/. 10s. 1d., now to be paid, made the sum already stated of 34,6831. 128. Daily Paper.

EXTRACTS FROM NEWSPAPERS.

MAIZE. Amongst the advantageous uses to which Maize may be put, is that of feeding poultry. The poultry of Toulouse is remarkable for its delicacy of flavour and its texture of flesh and fat; it is fattened on maize. A person accustomed to fowls so fed can immediately distinguish them in the market from any that may have been fattened on other kinds of corn. So also maize is esteemed in the south of France the best food for fattening pigs; insomuch that in parts where maize is dearer than barley, still maize is purchased to finish the fattening of a pig.-Globe.

VALUABLE HINT TO COTTAGE GARDENERS.-Parsnips are particularly valuable for cottagers, being nourishing and profitable. Six pennyworth of seed, well sown and trodden in, will produce more food than four sacks of potatoes and what is material to those whose gardens are small, will not take more ground than would be required to grow half a sack of potatoes.-Mrs. Copley's Cottage Comforts.

NOTICE TO CORRESPONDENTS.

We have received the communications of C.; a Layman; P.S. L.; O. W.D.;

and E. A.

We are much obliged to a Suffolk Correspondent for his letter.