burnt alive, as a warning to all cocks not to lay eggs,
from which it is well known would have been hatched a cockatrice or
basilisk.

In 1481, cockchafers committed great ravages in the Grisons. The Bishop
of Coire condemned them all to transportation, and a barren valley was
assigned to them as their future residence. Whether the cockchafers
obeyed his Lordship's orders, is not handed down to posterity.

Some years afterwards the river Aar was infested with leeches, who
spoilt all the salmon. The Bishop of Lausanne excommunicated the whole
tribe of leeches in a solemn procession to the river; and it is dreadful
to reflect, that this excommunication remains upon their heads even unto
this day. Also next door, in France, in 1386, a sow was arraigned for
having eaten a young child, and condemned to be hanged; to add to the
disgrace of her punishment, she was dressed _in man's clothes_.

About the same period rats were extremely mischievous, and in
consequence were summoned to appear before my Lord the Bishop. But the
rats had a good lawyer, who first asserted that the rats, being
dispersed in all the neighbouring villages, had not had time to collect
together, and make their appearance; and that a second and a third
summons would be but an act of justice. They were, therefore, again
summoned after the performance of mass on Sunday in each parish.
Notwithstanding the three summonses, the rats did not appear in court,
and then their defender asserted, that in consequence of the affair
having been made so public by the three summonses, all the cats were on
the look-out, and therefore his clients dare not make their appearance
without all the cats were destroyed. The consequence of this difficulty
was, that the rats were not punished for contempt of court.

I have often thought that it is a great pity that agricultural
associations in England do not send over a committee to examine into the
principle upon which they build and load carts and waggons on the
Continent.

It is a point on which we are very unenlightened in England. The waste
of wood in the building, and the wear and tear of horses, is enormous.
We have yet many things to learn in England, and must not be ashamed to
profit from our neighbours. One horse will do more work on the
Continent, especially in France and Switzerland, from the scientific
principles upon which their vehicles are built, and the loads are put
on, than three horses will accomplis