Part 4

From amongst all the spectacles, that of the curtains of seven colours (the scenes) is exceedingly wonderful, for every instant a new painting is exhibited. Then people, disguised like angels and fairies, the one moment come upon the stage and dance, and the next vanish from the sight. There is also a man with a black face, who is a kind of devil, and called harlequin; at one time he appears, and at another time hides himself, and sometimes attaches himself to the others, and taking the hands of the dancing girls, he dances with them; he then scampers off, and taking a leap, he jumps through a window. At seeing this sport I laughed very heartily. In a word, the (whole) entertainment is excellent and wonderful.

Talking is not permitted in the theatre, although the crowd is great, yet there is neither noise nor clamour. When a pleasing storey or adventure is heard or witnessed, and they wish to express their approbation, instead of saying _shabash!_ [excellent] or _wah! wah!_ [bravo! bravo!] they beat the floor with their feet, or they clap their hands, by which they signify their approval.--_Travels of Mirza Itesa Modeen in Great Britain and France._

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MISCELLANIES.

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LANDING IN INDIA.

Nothing can be more ludicrous than a young Englishman's first landing in Calcutta. The shore is thronged with the swarthy natives, eagerly awaiting his arrival. Innumerable palanquins are brought down to the boat, and the bearers, like the Paddington stagecoach men, are all violently struggling to procure a passenger. The bewildered stranger is puzzled which to choose; and when he has made up his mind, he finds it no easy matter to jostle through the countless rival conveyances which completely surround him. He is also sure to make some laughable mistake in entering the palanquin. It requires a certain tact to steady the vehicle as you throw yourself into it, or it is apt to turn over, like a tailor's swinging cot. Another ridiculous error which a stranger is liable to, is his endeavouring to seat himself on the little drawer inside, supposing it to be intended for that purpose. But he soon finds, after having doubled himself up, like people passing on a coach top under a low gateway, that it would be utterly impossible to remain long in that position, unless the human back were as pliable as a piece of whalebone. After all, perhaps, the bearers are compelled to rest the palanquin on the ground, and the abashed stranger, creeping hastily in, is glad to escape from the ill suppressed smiles of the surrounding multitude.

_London Weekly Review._

INCUBATION AND AGE OF BIRDS.

The full period of incubation by the hen in this country, is well known to be twenty-one days. In warmer climates it is said to be a day or two less. The periods of incubation vary much in different species of birds. We introduce the following table, which has been compiled from different authors by Count Morozzo, in a letter from him to Lacepepe, to show the periods of incubation compared with those of the life of certain birds.

Names of | Periods | Duration | Birds. | of Incu- | of | Authority | bation | Life. | ------------+----------+-------------+-------------------------- | Days. | Years. | ------------+----------+-------------+-------------------------- Swan | 42 | About 200 | Aldrovande Parrot | 40 | About 100 | Wulmaer Goose | 30 | 80 or more | Willoughby Eagle | 30 } | Period of | Bustard | 30 } | life not | Duck | 30 } | known. | Turkey | 30 } | | Peacock | 26 to 27 | 25 to 28 | Aristot. & Pliny Pheasant | 20 to 25 | 18 to 20 | A Treatise on Pheasants Crow | 20 | 100 or more | Hesiod Nightingale | 19 to 20 | 17 to 18 | Buffon Hen | 18 to 19 | 16 to 18 | Buffon Pigeon | 17 or 18 | 16 to 17 | Several observations Linnet | 14 | 13 to 14 | Willoughby Canary | 13 to 14 | 13 to 14 | A Treatise on these birds Goldfinch | 13 to 14 | 18 to 20 | Buffon

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THE GATHERER

"I am but a _Gatherer_ and disposer of other men's stuff."--_Wotton._

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One of the band of Covent-Garden, who played the French horn, was telling some anecdote of Garrick's generosity. Macklin, who heard him at the lower end of the table, and who always fired at the praises of Garrick, called out, "Sir, I believe you are a _trumpeter._"--"Well, sir," said the poor man, quite confounded, "and if I am, what then?"--"Nothing more, sir, than being a trumpeter, you are a dealer in _puffs_ by profession."

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An Irish dignitary of the church (not remarkable for veracity) complaining that a tradesman of his parish had called him a _liar_, Macklin asked him what reply he made him. "I told him," says he, "that a lie was amongst the things I _dared_ not commit."--"And why, doctor," replied Macklin, "did you give the rascal _so mean an opinion of your courage?_"

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In the neighbourhood of Yeovil are now living, in the same house, and at the same board, a man and his wife, two sons, three daughters, two grandsons, one grand-daughter, one grandfather, two fathers, two mothers, one father-in-law, one son-in-law, three brothers, three sisters, two brothers-in-law, two sisters-in-law, two uncles, two aunts, two nephews, three nieces, three first cousins, one great uncle, two great nephews, and one great niece; the whole consisting of seven individuals only.

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_Printed and Published by J. LIMBIRD, 143, Strand, (near Somerset-House,) and sold by all Newsmen and Booksellers._