to “the cry of WOLF.”  Let that he understood.  Now, in the way of Books, what is there for Christmas fare?  There is friend BLACKIE, who doesn’t keep himself dark, but comes out with Henty in Plenty, whose Dash for Khartoum will be appreciated even by those who don’t ordinarily care a dash for anything.  Ask for HENTY, and see that you get him.  Mr. MANVILLE FENN ought long ago to have changed his name to BOYVILLE FENN, as he is so associated with Books for Boys, and his Brownsmith’s Boy is more boyant than ever.  “A capital book” says the Baron’s chief adviser.  Find out The Rover’s Secret, by HARRY COLLINGWOOD; it is worth knowing, and make friends with ANNIE ARMSTRONG’S Three Bright Girls.

[Illustration:  Blackie and Son introducing themselves to the Baron de Book-Worms.]

Angling Sketches, by ANDREW LANG—­Andrew L’Angler—­are delightful reading.  The Baron pictures to himself the thoughtful and Balfour-like ANDREW on a bank by the river, rod stuck into ground, pencil and note-book in his hand.  “What is he doing, my boy?” inquires the Baron, of the hook-baiting boy.  “He’s ketching sumthink,” whispers the urchin.  Is it Historical Notes on the Diet of Wurms?  Is it necessary to show that the fish have no consciousness of Pain?  Or, is he composing Lines to my Rod?  Or is it a disquisition on “ingratitude,” showing how the stream goes on murmuring?  And does he classically remind it how silent it ought to be,—­Dumb defluit annis?  Or does the stream murmur because our ANDREW the Fisherman has been “whipping” it?  Should he betake himself to fly-fishing, let his motto be “Strike and spare not!” and if he would be wise above his fellows in the gentle art of catching fish, let him consult The Incomplete Angler, says, disinterestedly,

THE BARON DE BOOK-WORMS.

* * * * *

MEMS FROM MONKEY-LAND.

(Being a Report made to the “Royal Simian Society” by Professor Hairy Myas, F.R.S.S., with compliments to Professor Garnier, who continues his articles on “a Simian Language” in “The New Review” for this month.)

I have for some time past paid considerable attention to the sounds uttered by the Human Beings who are permitted to observe our movements, in the wire house which the Proprietor of these gardens has so obligingly placed at our disposal, rent free.  My object has been to discover whether the Human Species, though belonging to a rather low form of animal life, can be said to have anything corresponding to the language which is the recognised means of communicating between Apes.

I have been much assisted in my investigations by the kind help afforded me by the great Anubis Baboon, who has frequently abandoned the consumption of nuts to come and make experiments on our human visitors; the elder members of the Chimpanzee Family have also been most useful, and have often restrained the young of their household from interrupting my inquiries by ill-timed pleasantries.  Only once in the whole course of these scientific labours have I had seriously to complain of my tail being made use of as a swing.