et, of sufficient size to admit a man
with ease. The pit is then covered over with sticks, and pieces of turf,
the latter not cut from the vicinity, eagles, like other cowards, being
extremely wary and suspicious. A small hole is formed at one end of this
pit, through which projects the muzzle of a gun, while at the other is
left an opening large enough to admit a featherless biped, who on
getting in pulls after him a bundle of heath of sufficient size to close
it. A carcass of a sheep or dog, or a fish or fowl, being previously
without at the distance of from twelve to twenty yards, the lyer-in-wait
watches patiently for the descent of the eagle, and, the moment it has
fairly settled upon the carrion, fires. In this manner, multitudes of
eagles are yearly destroyed in Scotland. The head, claws, and quills,
are kept by the shepherds, to be presented to the factor at Martinmas or
Whitsunday, for the premium of from half-a-crown to five shillings which
is usually awarded on-such occasions.--_Edinburgh Literary Gazette_.

* * * * *

THE PIED OYSTER CATCHER.

This separate and single genus of birds is seldom seen amongst the
numerous descriptions of wild fowl, which, in the winter seasons, wing
their flight to our marshes. The most striking part of the
Oyster-catcher is its bill, the colour of which is scarlet, measuring in
length nearly four inches, wide at the nostrils, and grooved beyond them
nearly half its length: thence to the tip it is vertically compressed on
the sides, and ends obtusely. With this instrument, which in its shape
and structure is peculiar to this bird, it easily disengages the limpets
from the rocks, and plucks out the oysters from their half-opened
shells, on which it feeds, as well as on other shell-fish, sea-worms,
and insects.

W.G.C.

* * * * *

BUTTERFLIES.

The splendid appearance of the plumage of tropical birds is not superior
to what the curious observer may discover in a variety of Lepidoptera;
and those many-coloured eyes, which deck so gorgeously the peacock's
tail, are imitated with success in Vanessa Io, one of our most common
butterflies. "See," exclaims the illustrious Linnaeus, "the large,
elegant, painted wings of the butterfly, four in number, covered with
small imbricated scales; with these it sustains itself in the air the
whole day, rivalling the flight of birds, and the brilliancy of the
peacock. Co