and even wholly-from the obligation he may have contracted. This resignation of her rights is made in the presence of a mullah and four aged men, and takes place generally amidst entertainments prepared on purpose. On entering the chamber, the scarlet ambassador throws at the occupants a handful of barley and oats, and afterwards informs the mother of the proposition he is charged with. It often happens that disputes arise upon the claims of two parties; but when, at length, the bargain has been concluded by the intervention of mutual friends, the bridegroom dispatches at once the chariots which ought to bring him the portion of his betrothed. When the procession arrives at the house of the bridegroom, the effects of the bride are carried in and arranged in due order, while she is borne quickly into the apartments, and concealed behind a screen alone. During this time, the eldest relatives of both parties proceed to the mullah, to have the matrimonial conventions legalised in the usual manner. They afterwards visit the mosque, and if the bridegroom should by chance have drunk too freely, he is compelled to take the oath there to correct himself of the vice. After supper, various amusements are prepared for the entertainment of the guests. THE FOURTH DAY. As soon as the parents of the maiden re- The company proceed to the house of the ceive information that the negotiation rela- newly-married couple. The husband is tive to the obligation to be contracted by arrayed in his richest garments, and the the bridegroom has terminated, they arrange wife, by the assistance of her attendants, is everything for her departure, and these pre-scrupulously ornamented. Her cheeks are parations are almost always accompanied with tears and groans. The bride, covered with a red handkerchief in the form of a cowl, and thrown over her whole person, takes her station at the door between a file of women and girls. It is then the mother approaches to bid her farewell, and embracing her with tears, retires. The father next approaches, holding in his hand a Tartar waistband, which he folds three times round her body, and then walking round her, he leaves his daughter, after impressing a kiss on her shoulder. plaistered with black flies, made of paper, and which are fixed under the eyes; the eyebrows are dyed black; and her forehead is covered with pieces of gilt paper. After this toilette, two old women take her by the arms, and lead her from behind the curtain. Her mother-in-law approaches her, holding a ladle, and she raises the veil that covers the young wife, who falls on her knees at this moment, on a cushion prepared for that purpose. The matron then embraces her, weeps over and blesses her, and expresses, in a loud voice, her desire that the same kindness manifested towards herself, by her son, would regulate his conduct to his wife. After this ceremony, one of the nearest relatives, taking the ladle in one hand, with the other conducts the bride before each female present, raising her veil at each presentation, with the ladle, which also serves to receive the contributions liberally thrown into it. Adieus having been thus exchanged, one of the nearest relatives of the bride takes her in his arms and places her in the chariot, in which are seated those friends who are related to the bridegroom on the maternal side, and who have arrived expressly to accompany her. The name of Kouda is applied to these individuals. Sometimes permission to follow is accorded to some particular friends or distant connections, but At the moment when the guests are denever to a person closely allied by consan-parting, the relations of the bride distribute guinity. presents among them, consisting of embroidered handkerchiefs and shirts. In the same manner, when an invitation is sent, it is customary to accompany it with a sort of cake and embroidered muslin; and in return, the guests give presents of a greater or lesser value, and sometimes of silver. The chariots proceed to the sound of music, and escorted by a cavalcade of Tartars when the marriage ceremony is performed in a distant village. During the ride, the young men strive to obtain the embroidered handkerchief, which a female seated near the bride holds out to them. When any one is successful, he sets his horse into a full gallop, pursued by all his companions. During the preparations we have menSometimes one rider, better mounted than tioned, the mother-in-law, after having the other, succeeds in overtaking the victor, blessed the newly-married pair, begins and then possessing himself of the hand-dancing, to a grave measure, with an old kerchief, if he is able, wears it afterwards man, chosen for his relationship to the as a trophy. bride, and, at the same time, she sings a Cows and horses are the offerings to which they attach the greatest importance. melody, the burden of which is—"That the wedding has been grand, and has lasted four days. Forty sheep and oxen have been killed," &c., &c. Congratulations, as a matter of course, follow, and when the dance is ended, the guests take their leave. Whilst the music is sounding, they give the rein to their horses, and race for a considerable distance, very often over rocky and dangerous ground. Some weeks after the marriage, the parents of the bride send her an invitation, as well as to her husband and his family. On this occasion they give to their daughter horses or land, cattle, and whatever they have in store. The Tartars, and in general, most Mahometans, generally marry without requiring that the bride should have a portion. It is the husband who undertakes to defray all the expenses of the wedding, and even frequently engages to pay a sum agreed upon, by way of recompense to the parents. This is often very considerable; and if in the end, the woman does not agree to forego her claim, the husband runs the risk of being ruined. It must, however, be conceded that this practice is founded upon a principle of justice; for where, among us, is the father who would consent to give a portion to his daughter, when allying her to a man whose country permitted him to have three wives? The Tartars, like the Turks, have their love songs; but it is uncommon to hear them sung under the windows of the objects of their passion. These songs are called mané, an expression which greatly resembles maneros, applied in the East to an old chant, the origin of which is unknown. The music of the Tartars has a most disagreeable effect on those unaccustomed to it, but it seems that the words of their songs are full of imagination and beauty. All weddings in Tartary terminate with games of various kinds, dances, and repasts. A TORCH-LIGHT REVIEW IN CHINA. THE lights were attached to the horns of oxen. There were twenty-one divisions of the army, extending from east to west. Enormous lanterns were suspended in front of each division, which indicated the name by means of letters of rose-coloured paper. The soldiers passed backwards and forwards in confusion, each endeavouring to find his place. An immense tent, painted blue and placed on a hill, which commanded a view of the entire plain, and indicated the places allocated to the officers. The artillery, consisting of brass cannon, three feet in length, were placed in front of the tent. Each gun was mounted on a carriage with four wheels, by means of knotted ropes. Some of the guns were loaded, and some not, in consequence, perhaps, of the imperfect condition, indicated by the iron hoops with which they were held together. The morning dawned before the troops were formed in line. The lanterns were removed from the horns of the oxen, and shortly afterwards appeared the individuals commissioned by the Emperor to review the army. These singular personages descended from their palanquins and entered the large blue tent. A few minutes afterwards all the trumpets sounded and the cannon fit for service were fired. The manner in which the Chinese charge their guns is worthy of remark. They first load with a large quantity of day (powder composed of charcoal mixed with small portions of nitre and sulphur), they then fill the touch-hole with a fine powder, and, finally, they set fire to it with a match of twisted paper, the cannon advances and recedes, and some seconds elapse before the explosion takes place. One may judge by that of the precision of the fire and of the effect produced by the cannon balls-when they are balls, and not stones-which are projected from such machines. The firing of the infantry succeeded that of the artillery. The soldiers fired twenty at a time, commencing with the centre and ending with the flanks. Those who fired advanced a few steps in the midst of a confused noise of drums beating. This species of manoeuvre was repeated six times, and, immediately afterwards, the fire ceased along the entire line, the soldiers firing the last shots in the air, fearing, no doubt, to wound their comrades. It is necessary to observe that their muskets are far from being supplied with the ingenious mechanism of ours. What they call a gun is nothing more than a large iron cylinder, about ten inches long, fixed to a stock without either lock or ramrod. A small iron rod, to the end of which is applied a match steeped in saltpetre, serves as a lock, and sets fire to the powder placed in a cavity of the barrel and which is uncovered. After the infantry exercise came that of the cavalry, which was grouped round the large blue tent and was charged with the guard of the principal colours. When the signal was given by bugles, the cavalry marched forward in the greatest disorder, and advanced as fast as their horses were able. This race, for it deserved no other name, concluded the review. ORIGINAL POETRY. THE APPROACH OF SUMMER. THE sun sends forth his glorious rays To warm and cheer the earth; And the warblers sing their songs of praise, With what a light and gladsome heart In the fair meadows, which impart The notes of the song-thrush again are heard, Falls charmingly on the ear. The wild-rose is blushing, like a fair bride, The warbling birds-the sun's bright ray I gaze on the heavens above, and there DROOP NOT. W. H. HUDD. SWEETER is the warrior's furlough Sunbeams bursting through the storm-clouds So the suffering, wayworn pilgrim, And, sore-pressed through dreary ravines, Coming on a fertile sunland, Doubly joyful shouts "all hail!" Luscious fruit remains for many SAMUEL E. STANZAS. ALL life's sweetest pleasures Blooming, withering, dying flowers, In the grave they're laid. When the sun shines brightest, Sorrow may be nigh; While the heart thus mourneth Though the world be sad and dreary, SONNET. MYLES SANDYS. UP, FELLOW LABOURERS! The summer hours are come; Up, fellow labourers, up, List the busy bee's sweet hum. See now within yon furrowed field Cast care aside, roll up your sleeves, Up, fellow labourers, up, Don't be a drone from day to day, MUNGO THE MINSTREL. NOTES AND QUERIES FOR NATURALISTS. NOTES. THE CROSS-BILL (Loxia curvirostra). That was no little boast of the geologist who once said, "Show me the foot of an animal I never saw, and I will give you a description of an animal I never heard of before;" and this boast is shared by all naturalists, for throughout nature there exists a beautiful coincidence between the habits of animated creatures, and the formation of the creatures themselves. Show to any practical ornithologist the foot and the bill of a bird, and he will instantly draw a picture, which, with almost unerring certainty, shall describe the form of the bird, its habits, its food, the kind of country it inhabits, and a variety of facts connected with its history, till you can almost fancy you see the living bird starting from its covert amidst the forest or the swamp. Take the case of the common snipe by way of example. Suppose the bill only of this bird to be placed in our hands, and that we had never either seen or heard of the habits of the bird itself. The comparative slenderness of the bill in proportion to its length would at once enable us to determine that the bird which owned it was not a large animal. The structure of the bill, with its sentient tip, would furnish us in a moment with a correct notion of its habits: such a bill could not be used to break the kernels of fruits, or to crush berries, because it is not strong enough, nor at all adapted for that purpose; neither could it be thrust into hard ground like the bill of the blackbird or plover; it is not adapted for tearing flesh like that of the eagle, nor for gathering up grain like that of the phersant; there is, in fact, but one purpose for which such a bill could have been formed, and that is, to probe in soft, miry spots for worms and aquatic insects. To enable the bird to stand in such spots, and to feed with ease, it must have long stilt-like legs, not web-footed, nor adapted for climbing or perching, but simply for rapid motion. Arguing from analogy, such a bird must be of shy and retiring habits; and from the nature of its bill, utterly defenceless. Now these hypotheses, which every naturalist would at once conceive in beholding the bill of this bird, constitute the real history of the living bird, and furnish us with a delightful proof of the beautiful adaptation of all the works of nature for the end they are designed to answer in the great scheme of creation. These remarks will apply with equal force to the bird now before us, the singular construction of whose mandibles at once arrests attention. The cross-bill is one of the most common of those rare birds which occasionally visit this country, and the recurrence of which has attracted considerable attention, even in remote ages, partly because of its singular organ, and more particularly, because of the havoc it commits in the apple orchard, by dividing the fruit, in order to get at the kernels within. Mr. Yarrall, who is a most indefatigable naturalist, tells us, that notices of it occur so early as the year 1254, and again in 1593. They usually arrive in this country in November, but continue with us for some time; in some cases, in fact, till the August of the following year. Their favourite haunts are plantations of firs and pines, and the dexterity with which they split the cores of these plants in order to extract the seed furnishes us at once with a beautiful illustration of the use of an organ, which at first sight we are apt to consider distorted, and all but useless. When passing from one plantation to another, they are particularly noisy. When engaged in this work, they make use of their bills and feet in climbing from branch to branch, the former being well adapted for scansorial or climbing habits. The instances of their nests being found in this country are but few, though this probably arises from their breeding in sequestered situations. They are artless birds, and apparently devoid of any sense of danger; and, indeed, the kindred species in America alight in winter before the door of the hunter and around the house. The general colour of the male is a dingy crimson, but they are liable to considerable variations of colour, arising from difference of season, from age, sex, and other causes. The other British species are the parrot cross-bill (L. Pittyopsittacus), and the white-winged cross-bill (L. Leucoptera). These, however, are very rare visitants to our shores. OBSERVATIONS ON GULLS. Of these sea-fowl there are many species which frequent the coast of Britain, and prey upon the marine creatures quite near the tide-marks, or far out in the bosom of the ocean. The common gull (Larus Canus) breeds on the rock Bass-once a Scotch state-prison-amid various sea-fowls, where it exhibits its peculiar characteristics to the naturalist at many seasons of the year; swimming over and diving in the surrounding billows, but retiring often therefrom to wing its way toward the fields, where it expects to get, as food, worms or larvæ of different sorts. This bird is common by the Thames' mouth, where it is seen diving for small fish, which it contrives easily to secure by its sharp beak, aided by its webbed feet, fitted well as helps in such a pursuit. The length of the bird is 16 inches, and its weight usually about a pound. Larus Cataractes, or Skua-gull, is brown in its hue, and very fierce, even sometimes attacking successfully the eagle. It has much power of bill, and sometimes weighs three pounds. Larus Marinus is five pounds in weight; it is found in Britain, breeding there, in the north, in various quarters; is a very strong bird, not easily daunted, feeding mostly on fish.Capt. J. R., Edinburgh. COMMON CURLEW (Scolopax Aquaticus). This distinguished wader is well known at the Firth of Forth, where, after quitting the heathcovered valleys, he comes to feed, as a change of diet, on many animals found on the shores of the ocean-washed islands of Southern Scotia, at different times of the year, when gulls are numerous there. Its incumbent bill is well suited to scoop out marine creatures from their sand-covered abodes. It is especially busy in the mornings, which are well employed in its peculiar method of procuring sea-provided food when the tide has receded far enough. Its feet are partly webbed, this structure being peculiarly serviceable to a creature often wading into salt or fresh water, where it finds its multifarious nutriment. The bird appears to possess a beak rather slight for defence, though it is well adapted for the attainment of food; it can, however, when requisite, use it as a weapon against birds of pugnacious nature, when such become outrageous in their conduct towards it, as has often been seen by those who have watched it at the ocean-side, as I have been accustomed to do.-Capt. J. R. CROW'S NEST ON THE TOP OF THE EXCHANGE, NEWCASTLE-ON-TYNE. CONSTRUCTIVE ABILITIES OF CROWS. To watch the constructive ability of many insects, birds, and animals, is, both young and old an endless source of interest and instruction. The busy bee, the marvellous workers of the coral reefs, and innumerable other creatures, with varied forms and wondrous instincts, strikingly exhibit the power and benevolenec of the Almighty architect. Amongst the stories which are related of the constructive skill and instinct of the feathered race, as being authentic and not generally known, the following instance is well worthy of mention: -On the top of the old Guildhall of Newcastleupon-Tyne, there was a weather-cock of peculiar construction, on which, in March, 1783, a pair of crows built their nest. During the progress of this work the crows experienced many interruptions from the same kind of birds belonging to the neighbourhood; sometimes, when the nest was nearly constructed, it would be destroyed by other crows in their absence, seemingly with the most obstinate animosity; to prevent which one remained as sentinel of the building, while the other was abroad in search of forage or materials |