amilies being emblazoned in their proper
colours according to the rules of heraldry, and prepared for
Decalcomanie. Armorial bearings, thus embellished, serve admirably to
ornament and identify the books of a library and pictures of a
gallery, to decorate menus for dinner, the invitations to a soiree,
&c. By their brilliant colours they give an elegant effect to the
table decorations.

2568. Croquet.

This out-door pastime is of comparatively modern creation, and until
quite lately was very much in vogue. It nay be played by persons of
all ages and of either sex; but it is especially adapted for ladies
and young persons, as it demands but slight personal exertion, while
it affords delightful and health-giving sport.

2569. The Ground.

The ground is preferably a grass plot of an oblong form; but an
ordinary lawn or expanse of even turf will answer the purpose, so long
as it is of sufficient extent for the operations of the game.

2570. Implements.

The implements are balls, mallets, starting and turning pegs, croquet
clips or markers, hoops or arches.

2571. Arrangement of the Hoops.

As much of the interest of this game depends upon the arrangement of
the hoops, it is essential that they should be fixed in the ground on
definite principles. In the first place, the starting peg is driven
in at one end of the ground, and the turning peg is driven in at the
other extremity. From each of these pegs a space of twelve feet
intervenes; here a hoop is fixed; another space of ten feet
intervenes, when a second hoop is fixed; a space of eight feet then
succeeds, and at this point is formed what may be termed the base, on
each side of which, at a distance of twenty feet, and succeeding each
other at intervals of ten feet, three hoops are driven in. By this
arrangement, a square is formed, the starting peg leading into its
centre, and the turning peg leading from it. Where the ground is
small, the distances may be contracted proportionally. Other
arrangements of the hoops may he made at the discretion of the
players, but the first-named plan will be found best worthy of
adoption, as it affords the most excellent opportunities for the
display of address and skill.

2572. The Game.

The game consists in striking the balls from the starting peg through
the hoops to the peg at the opposite extremity. The balls are then
driven back again to