al Society_," which is popular
and scientific, and so elegant as to be fit for any drawing-room in
the empire. It is published with the sanction of the council, and is
superintended by the learned secretary; the descriptions, anecdotes,
&c. being furnished by E.T. Bennett, Esq. the vice-secretary.

The present number contains Engravings and Descriptions of the
Chinchilla, (about which all our lady-friends will be very curious);
the Ratel; the Wanderoo Monkey; the Hare-Indian Dogs, the Barbary Mouse;
the Condor; the Crested Curassow; the Red and Blue Macaw; the Red and
Yellow Macaw: all these and the tailpieces or vignettes appended to the
descriptions, are beautifully engraved. The Quadrupeds are, perhaps,
the most successful--the group of Hare-Indian Dogs, for instance, is
exquisitely characteristic. Of the literary portion of the work we
intend to present our readers with a specimen in our next number.

* * * * *

CURIOUS ACCOUNT OF AN OYSTER CATCHING THREE MICE; AND A LOBSTER CATCHING
AN OYSTER.

(_For the Mirror._)

Borlase, in his _Natural History of Cornwall_, page 274, says, "The
oyster has the power of closing the two parts of its shell with
prodigious force, by means of a strong muscle at the hinge; and Mr.
Carew, in his _Survey of Cornwall_, 1602, with his wonted pleasantry,
tells us of one whose shell being opened as usual at the time of flood,
(when these fishes participate and enjoy the returning tide) three mice
eagerly attempted to seize it, and the oyster clasping fast its shell,
killed them all. It not only shuts its two valves with great strength,
but keeps them shut with equal force, and (as I have been informed by
a clergyman of great veracity, who had the account from a creditable
eye-witness to the fact) its enemies have a skill imparted to them to
counteract this great force. As he was fishing one day, a fisherman
observed a lobster attempt to get at an oyster several times, but as
soon as the lobster approached, the oyster shut his shell; at length
the lobster having awaited with great attention till the oyster opened
again, made a shift to throw a stone between the gaping shells, sprung
upon its prey, and devoured it."

P.T.W.

* * * * *

INSTINCT OF SPIDERS.

(_For the Mirror._)

The following fact is copied from a French work entitled _Archives sur
Anatomie_:--"A small spider had spread its net between two n