( Cyprinus Phoxinus, L.), of which they are very fond.  At this time, they are angled for by spinning a minnow; but, in a general way, the sport is indifferent, and the persevering angler is well rewarded if he succeed in killing two brace a day.  A more successful mode of taking them is by fastening a long and heavily leaded line, and hook baited with a minnow, to the stern of a boat, which is slowly and silently rowed along:  in this way they are taken during the early summer months; but when the hot weather comes in, they are seldom seen.  They feed, probably, at night; and although they never leave the lake, except during the period of spawning, nothing is more uncommon than taking a char in July and August.  When in season, they are strong and vigorous fish, and afford the angler excellent sport.  They differ little in size, three fish generally weighing about 2lbs.:  occasionally, one is caught larger, but they seldom vary more than an ounce.  The char, as it is well known, is a singularly beautiful fish, and is accurately described by Pennant.  The fishermen about the lakes speak of two sorts, the case char and the gilt char; the latter being a fish that has not spawned in the preceding season, and on that account said to be of a more delicate flavour, but in other respects there is no difference.

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DUTCH RUSHES.

The Equisetum hyemale, is commonly sold under the name of Dutch rushes, for the purpose of polishing wood and ivory.  If the rush be burnt carefully, a residuum of unconsumable matter will be left, and this held up to the light will show a series of little points, arranged spirally and symmetrically, which are the portions of silex the fire had not dissipated; and it is this serrated edge which seems to render the plant so efficient in attrition.  Wheaten and oaten straw are also found by the experience of our good housewives to be good polishers of their brass milk vessels, without its being at all suspected by them that it is the flint deposited in the culms which makes it so useful.—­Magazine of Natural History, March.

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WOLF-DOG.

In Hutton’s Museum at Keswick, is a large stuffed dog (very much resembling a wolf, and having its propensities), which some years ago spread devastation amongst the flocks of sheep in this neighbourhood:  a reward was offered for its destruction, and, though hunted by men and dogs, its caution and swiftness eluded their pursuit, till it was found asleep under a hedge, and in that position shot.—­Corresp.  Mag.  Nat.  Hist.

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DUCKS.