ting cruelty.

Fresh-water Springs in the Sea.

There is a hot region on the Persian Gulf where little or no rain
falls. At Babrin, though the dry shore has no fresh water, the people
obtain a supply from springs which burst forth copiously from the
bottom of the sea. The fresh water is got by diving. The diver winds
a large goatskin bag round his left arm, his hand grasping the bag's
mouth. He next takes a heavy stone to which a stout line is fastened,
and then plunges in. As soon as he reaches the bottom, he opens the
bag over the strong jet of fresh water, ascends with the upward
current, shutting the bag the while, and is helped on board. The
stone having been pulled up and the driver refreshed, he plunges in
again. These submarine springs are believed to take their source in
the hills of Osman, some 500 or 600 miles distant.

Feathered Thieves.

It is very well known that jackdaws are accomplished thieves, and
their evil fame in this respect has been humorously pictured in the
story of "The Jackdaw of Rheims," in the "Ingoldsby Legends." It
seems, however, that other birds besides jackdaws may be occasional
robbers, and may cause much mischief. Not long ago, a gentleman on
going to his letter-box discovered that a letter containing a cheque
for 10 pounds had been tampered with, and that the cheque was missing. He
immediately came to the conclusion that human thieves had been at
work, and gave information to the police at the nearest station. On
his return home, however, he examined his letter-box more closely,
and then found several tomtits in it; and on further search, he
discovered the missing cheque lying twenty-six yards away on the
turnpike road, whither it was evident it had been carried by a
tomtit, since it bore abundant marks of the bird's beak.

Carlyle's Birthplace.

The house in Ecclefechan, in Dumfriesshire, where Carlyle was born,
and which was purchased by a niece, has been restored and has had
some interesting relics placed in it. It will no doubt be the scene
of many pilgrimages. In carrying out the alterations, the old doors
and the like have been scrupulously preserved. The room where the
young Carlyle lived contains the philosopher's easy-chair, a mahogany
table well stained with ink, an old-fashioned bookcase consisting of
a series of shelves supported by pillars at the side and hung upon
the wall, besides appropriate photographs and other articles.

Memory in Dogs.

Several