f turning the poisonous sting at the end of the tail over the back.

W. P. PYCRAFT, F.Z.S., A.L.S.

A TRIFLING OFFENCE.

Noucherivan, King of Persia, had a very violent temper. One day he
condemned a page to death for having by accident spilled a little sauce
over him while waiting at table. The page, knowing that he had no hope
of pardon, proceeded to pour the whole contents of the plate over his
master. Nouchirevan, almost forgetting his anger in his surprise, asked
the reason of this outrageous act.

'Prince,' explained the page, 'I am desirous that my death should not
injure your renown by being undeserved. All nations esteem you as the
most just of sovereigns, but you would lose that glorious title were it
to become known that you had condemned one of your slaves to die for so
trifling a fault as the one which I first committed.'

This answer made such an impression upon the king that, ashamed of his
passion, he pardoned the slave, and also tried by his bounty to atone
for his contemplated cruelty and injustice.

PUZZLERS FOR WISE HEADS.

12.--CURTAILMENTS.

1. Curtail stiff and strict, and leave a Swiss mountain.
2. Curtail a large country in Asia, and leave the point of the under jaw.
3. Curtail a scooping instrument, and leave to push.
4. Curtail acute and discerning, and leave a kind of mouse.
5. Curtail a raised floor or platform, and leave a horned animal.
6. Curtail an island on the Kentish coast, and leave a Saxon nobleman.

C. J. B.

13.--CONICAL PUZZLE.

The middle letters of each word read downwards give the name of a
well-known English poet.

1. A consonant.
2. A price fixed after all deductions have been made.
3. To gaze, to look with fixed eyes.
4. To disperse, to throw loosely about.
5. Kindnesses, good wishes, benefits, favours.

C. J. B.

[_Answers on page 290._]

* * * * *

ANSWERS TO PUZZLES ON PAGE 230.

10.--_Valparaiso._

1. V eneration.
2. A nimosity.
3. L inoleum.
4. P aragon.
5. A melia.
6. R azor.
7. A rch.
8. I ce.
9. S o.
10. O

11.--Tar-tar.

THE POTATO.

Amongst our English vegetables, the potato is the most abundant and
useful. It is liked by nearly all, and it is indeed a chief article of
food in some districts. Other vegetables are largely eaten--cabbages and
turnips, for instance--but the potato is in the greatest demand.

We have in the potato an illustration of a plant which be