COLUMBIA, D. T., July, 1885. DEAR ST. NICHOLAS: I have been reading some of the letters in ST. NICHOLAS, so I thought I would write one, too. I live in Dakota, on a farm, where I have wild strawberries every day. I have a dog and a bird and a horse, and take long rides over the prairie. I have eleven dolls, and do most everything for them. I have, too, a great many books, but like you best of all.

LOUISE HOUGHTON.

MONTCLAIR, N. J., 1885. DEAR ST. NICHOLAS: I have long wanted to write and thank you as a dear friend, to whom we are all indebted both old and young; and I am especially grateful at this time for your interesting and instructive article, "Among the Law-makers." I do hope all of the readers of ST. NICHOLAS will study it carefully.

I have saved up for you some anecdotes of little friends of mine, thinking they might amuse your little readers, and knowing how much children enjoy true stories.

One little three-year-old golden-hair always called his father Mr. Hay, and his mother Miss Hay. When he had been naughty, and his mother began to talk soberly to him, he would say in his most coaxing tones"Now, Miss Hay, don't be angry to me! be pleasant at me!"

I was a guest at his father's house, and upon my return after a few days' absence, he said to me, "Ah! Miss Mary, I was a naughty boy while you was gone away - I killed a fly and sent it to Heavon"!

He evidently shared with me my desire for letters, as he would climb upon the gate when he saw his father returning from the Post Office, and call out, "O say, Mr. Hay, has the mail-train came in yet?"

For some reason he always cried when he came to the table, and found the blessing had been asked. I remember upon one of these occasions his father said to him, "Now, Philip, if you will be a good boy and not cry, you may ask the blessing yourself." With that he climbed into his high chair, folded his hands, and reverently bowing his head, and closing his eyes, fervently ejaculated-"Oh, Lord, bless the ladies! Amen!"

M. B.

thought I would, too. Papa, Mamma, and I have been wandering about Europe five months. We have seen London, Chester, Leipzig, Dresden, and Nuremburg, very thoroughly. A good part of the time this spring we have been wandering about Saxony on foot. I think that it is very much nicer than the railroad. We are now in Pappenheim, a very pretty town that few Americans have heard of. It is in a very pretty valley, and has a high, rocky hill in the middle on which stands a lovely ruined castle, belonging to the Count of Pappenheim. The castle was made a ruin by the Swedes in the thirty years' war that began in 1633. Inside the castle walls is a tower ninetyfour feet high. It was built by the Romans in the second century! Four miles from here are the celebrated quarries of Solenhofen, from which lithographic stones are sent to all parts of the world. The old Romans used to work these quarries. A gentleman here, named Mr. Haeberlein, showed us a beautiful collection of fossils. Professor Agassiz bought one of his collections, and it is now at the University at Cambridge, Mass. I have found some petrified snails here, too. I am only ten years old, so not too old to be pleased if you will print my letter. Your devoted reader, H. L. D.

at all!

HOLLIDAYSBURG. DEAR ST. NICHOLAS: This is only the second year I have been taking you, so I have not written before; but I think you are splendid I tried to make a salt crystal glass, and it seemed to be getting along very nicely, but I had it on the window-sill, and one day when I went to open the shutters, I knocked it out, and the glass broke all to pieces. A little friend of mine tried it too, and she put indigo in to make it blue; but we were both surprised when it turned pinkish instead of blue, after growing a little while. Hoping there will be room to print this, I remain, your faithful reader,

LETTY L.

EC.W.

BROOKLYN, JULY 1885. DEAR ST. NICHOLAS:-I thought I would write and tell you that I made one of those tents mentioned in the May number of the ST. NICHOLAS, and instead of small sticks, I used clothes pins to fasten the string down, which is a good deal easier to procure. The morning glorys are growing nicely, and everyone thinks the tent is lovely. Mamma says she can never get anything out of me when I am reading ST. NICHOLAS. I remain, very sincerely, ANNA M. T.

IN connection with the base-ball story, "How Science Won the Game," printed in this number, we are glad to give to the readers of "The Letter-Box," the above base-ball jingle, written and illustrated by two friends of ST. NICHOLAS.

WASHINGTON, D. C. DEAR ST. NICHOLAS: I am a little girl, twelve years old. I live in Washington in the winter-time, and, in the summer, stay with my aunt on a farm about two miles above Georgetown.

We have a beautiful view of the city and of Washington monument from the front lawn. The house stands on a high hill and is surrounded with large oaks and beautiful evergreens.

The lawn is even with the Goddess of Liberty on the dome of the Capitol. A very dear friend of mine gives me, for a birthday present, your very interesting magazine, and I take great pleasure in reading it. Yours truly, ELIZABETH S.

SAN FRANCISCO. DEAR ST. NICHOLAS: I have only been taking you this year, but I like you very much. The Pacific Ocean is six miles from our house. We walked out there last week, and had great fun collecting sea-weed. When I would be just about to pick up one that was in the shallow water, a large wave would come up, and I had to get out of its way, or else it would go right over my head. I found some very pretty sea-mosses, which I dried and put in a frame. I found a very large shell out there. Wild strawberries grow all over the beach in abundance. They are much sweeter than the cultivated ones. We gathered a lot of them, and took them home. I was very tired after I walked home, but I like to walk to places better than to ride in the cars. It is not very warm here now, although it is June. Last summer it was much warmer. I have only seen snow once, but it was only a few inches deep. I would like to live in a place where snow does fall, as we had great fun when it came here. Now, dear ST. NICHOLAS, please print this letter, From your new reader,

AGNES K. PINEY POINT, MD., 1885. DEAR ST. NICHOLAS: I have never written to you before, though we have been taking you quite a number of years, so I thought I would write to you to-day and tell you how much I enjoy reading you. There are no children of my own age in this neighborhood, so I have no one to play with but my sister Nellie, and she is fifteen years old.

My sister and myself do all the housework ourselves, but there is not much to do, as our family is very small.

For pets we have a cat, a little kitten, a dog, and a dear little colt three months old.

ST. LOUIS, Mo., JULY, 1884. DEAR ST. NICHOLAS:-I have lived in the country all my life until I came to St. Louis, about half a month ago. I think St. Louis is a splendid place.

I have visited Houston, Texas, twice (I 've a very dear Auntie Bess down there), and last time I was there I was presented with a little horned toad, just as cunning as he could be. I feed him on cornmeal, and he likes it ever so much. He also likes to have the top of his funny little head scratched.

Your faithful reader,

BESSIE C.

We heartily thank the young friends whose names are here given for their pleasant letters, which we have not room to print:

Jessie Holland, "Lady of the Lake," Elma Tuthill, Alex. Douglas, James M. Walsh, Mary and Reba, M. F. F., Jenny W., Emma and Nellie, Carl G., Bessie Bates, Lewis E. D., Alfred Wright, Edna Hayes, Lizzie E. Crowell, Mabel Cilley, Blanche Vars, H. L. B., F. V. E., Willie R., Fritzie Allen, S. C., Rose Mayberry, M. B. A., Emma R., Constance Lodge Ethel, Mabel T. D.

WE shall retain the floor this month only long enough to congratulate you on a happy summer, and a pleasant return to the duties of the school and of the Association, and wish for one and all a most prosperous and happy fall and winter.

A LETTER FROM ENGLAND.

I HAVE been giving my attention to the growth of several of the amphibia (Triton cristatus, Lisso triton punctatus, etc.), but chiefly the common frog. With regard to the frog, I should like to ask the members of the A. A. a question, which seems to be as yet unsettled. Do the hind-legs or the fore-legs appear first as the tadpole develops into the frog? My own opinion is that the fore-legs are formed first, but remain for some time closely tucked up to the body, and that in the meantime the hind-legs appear, and are almost at once visible to the naked eye.

I send you rules to make sensitive paper to use in taking impressions of leaves, ferns, etc. Take a sheet of unglazed letter-paper, and wash it over, in the dark, with a strong solution of potassium bi-chromate and let it dry carefully. The paper will then be ready for use, and can be kept for some time (in the dark) without spoiling. Lay whatever you wish to copy on the sensitive side of your paper, and on that a piece of clean plate-glass. Put a piece of board, of the same size as the glass, under your paper, and bind all together with two strong rubber bands. Now expose to strong sunlight for ten minutes or three-quarters of an hour in diffused daylight, and you will have a picture of your fern, white on a dark background. To fix it, wash it carefully in cold water for a minute. I shall be pleased to send specimens to any members who would like them. Believe me, yours very sincerely," WILLIAM L. TORRANCE, Oldfield Lodge, Altrincham, England.

REPORTS.

818, Newark, N. J. (D). Our number has increased to eleven active and seven honorary members. Our cabinet contains about thirty stuffed birds, a monkey, and two squirrels, besides minerals, eggs, shells, and pressed flowers. We hope to give a prize soon to the member who has made the best collection during the season. -Pennington Satterthwaite, Sec.

823, Farmdale, Ky. (A). We have a good hall, containing a great many books, specimens, etc. Every Saturday night, at least one member is required to read an original essay on a subject selected by himself. After the essays, we have discussions. At the meetings each one reports what he has done during the week.Sam'l F. Owen, Sec.

470, Nicollet, Wis. (B). We have a busy working Chapter of twenty-five. The interest all the time since our organization in 1882 has been very good, and the attendance large. Our plan of work is varied. For a time, subjects were chosen on which essays were read, followed by a talk. At another time, we took three topics at a time: birds, flowers, and rocks. Again, each member selected a subject and gave a little talk about it. Now we are doing more in the way of direct observation of the nest-building of birds, the growth of birds, and the miracle of the butterfly. We have a room fitted up in the high school, and have about 450 specimens.-Sara Ritchie, Sec. 757, Akron, Ohio, (A). The subject of our last meeting was the Diamond. It proved the most interesting yet chosen. Father has just returned from Europe, and has brought us some very valuable specimens and a miscroscope, which we value greatly.- Pauline E Lane, Sec.

692, Sægertown, Pa. (A). We have bought Dana's Manual of Mineralogy and Geology, and an eighty-five Queen's microscope, and have a balance of $13.52 in the treasury. We have 201 mounted

objects now, and intend to mount more soon.

One of our members can mount specimens very nicely, and as we have the use of a steam printing-press, we print the labels for the slides. We now have 685 specimens in our herbarium, 784 minerals, 557 shells, and 471 geological examples, besides miscellaneous curiosities, which we keep in a separate case. We have 204 volumes in our library. I received the student's collection of minerals from Denver, Col., and I must say they are real beauties. One of our members comes six miles to our meetings. - Miss Lizzie Apple, Sec.

97, St. Croix Falls, Wis. (A.) We are progressing admirably. All our members are very much interested in the work, and much knowledge has been gained by the constant notes taken. We have a beautiful cabinet nearly filled with fine minerals. We have made very strict laws to prevent robbing birds' nests. No member shail take more than one egg from a nest, and he must make a mark on the tree or near the nest, so that no other person may take another.— Ray S. Baker, Sec.

746, Helena, Montana (A). At our meetings we have had chemical and electrical experiments, discourses on bees, ants, foxes, birds, and raccoons; and reports on various objects found. S. H. Hepner, Sec.

[We insert the following letter to show the delightful manner in which applications for membership in the A. A. come to us, as it gradually extends itself over the land.

RIVERDALE RANCH, MONTANA.

WE wish to form a new Chapter, and join the rest who are at work under the competent instruction of the A. A. We are living on a stock ranch, over fifteen miles from town.

It is one of nature's most beautiful spots. A rushing musical river winding in graceful curves shows the course of the valley, and the mountains are magnificent, and present views of which we never tire. With no society beyond our own two families, with a river of life, a valley of botany, and mountains of geology, is it any wonder we wish to study?- Mrs. F. A. Reynolds (now Sec. Ch. 852).

807, Burlington, Iowa (A). We have about five hundred mineralogical specimens. We have not yet taken a regular course of study, but we intend to do so during the coming winter.- Carrie Carper, Box 571, Sec.

561, Cincinnati, O. (B.) Our membership has increased to twenty. We have had two microscopical exhibitions, and at each of the other meetings interesting papers have been read. -David P. Schorr, Sec. 851, Cambria Station, Pa. (B.) With your approval, my little school desires to form a Chapter of the A. A. *** Last week we organized, and, already noting the zeal with which the children take hold of the work mapped out for next meeting, I am surprised at myself for having been so slow to commence the work. Miss Fanny M. Stiteler.

687, Adrian, Mich. In reading one of the late numbers of the ST. NICHOLAS, I noticed in the Agassiz report a question as to whether there exists such a thing as a hoop-snake. Enclosed is a clipping from a New Orleans paper, I thought might be of interest, insomuch as it declares that there is such a snake.-F. B., Pres.

(The following is a copy of the newspaper item.)

"Mr. W. H. Inloes, of Asheville, N. C., writes to the Baltimore Sun to correct a statement from Mr. Rheim, of the Smithsonian Institute, to the effect that there is no such thing as a hoop-snake. Mr. Inloes says: Two years ago I was staying at the Black Rock Springs, Augusta County, Va., when a young man named Eagle shot a snake and brought it to springs, where it was examined by at least fifty of us. The mountaineers said it was a "horn " or " hoop-snake." It was four and one-half feet long, white, with black rings and had two horns at the end of its tail. Mr. Eagle took a stick and pressed the end of the tail, when two horns came out and emitted what seemed to be a poisonous matter. It is said that the snake assumes the shape of a hoop in making its attack, and that the only safety from it is to get behind a tree.

712, Brooklyn (I). Our list of members has increased to six. The state of our finances is good, but above all, we feel the benefit we have derived from the many pleasant hours we have spent in one another's company.-Edw. J. Sheridan, 181 Raymond St., Sec.

413, Denver, Col. Essays have been read on the white crowned sparrow and house-finch, sets of eggs being brought to the meeting, and skins of the sparrow. Also, essays on shore and meadow larks, crow, ptarmigan, magpie, snowbird, cowbunting, and red-shafted flicker. Skins of these were brought to the meeting. Then we had an extemporaneous debate. "Resolved, that warblers are of more benefit to vegetation than fly-catchers." One meeting was almost wholly devoted to the dissection of specimens.- Horace G. Smith, Jr., Sec.

865, Peru, Fla. (4.) Our Chapter has been off on a holiday excursion, and we were gone more than a week. We visited a mound composed entirely of shells. It was about thirty feet high, and a quarter of a mile long. It is on the shore of Tampa Bay. It has several trees on it, and is covered with Salvia, which, at our old home in Carolina, was prized as a hot-house flower. Two of our party found a boat adrift, and felt quite proud when they succeeded in securing it. We killed a small alligator, and one of the boys caught a drumfish that weighed about forty pounds.- A. J. Mays, Sec.

674, Washington, D. C. (I.) Our prospects are very favorable. We have about $4.00 in the treasury, and are going to give an enter. tainment so as to add to this sum. We have about 50 specimens, all labeled and catalogued.-Spencer A. Searle, Sec.

609, Brooklyn (H). We have added three new members to our Chapter. We have a cabinet, and are getting specimens for it. We have been studying the three great kingdoms of Nature, and the sub-kingdoms of the animal division from our specimens: First, we studied the zoophytes, from the sponge and different kinds of coral; then the radiates, from the echinus and asterias; then mollusks, from an oyster and a hard and soft clam; and now we have taken up articulates, viz., the crab and lobster.- Philip Van Ingen, Sec. 698, Middleport, N. Y. (A.) We have increased our membership to 46, and we enjoy the A. A. very much. We are to hold a picnic tomorrow in Mr. Freeman's grove, about two miles south, and we are all going. We have been obliged to give up our drama, and we had it all learned but the fifth act, as one of the boys backed out at the last minute, and said he would not play his part, and he had four of the acts already learned, and we have all the boys that belong to the Society take part, so there are none left to take his place. I think he served us a very mean trick. At our last meeting we debated this question, "Is the Common Crow a Detriment to the Country?" and after some good debating, it was decided that the crow was a detriment. As it is time to go to bed, to get a good night's rest, to be prepared for our picnic, I must close.-J. W. Hinchey, Sec.

767, Chicago (X). We are getting along finely. Our meetings are growing longer, and a great deal more interesting as we grow We have a room, and hope to secure a cabinet soon.- - John

older.

Cook, Sec.

448, Washington (G). We have been very happy since I last wrote, spending our money. Our new cabinet cost only the price of the materials, as it was built after school hours by our librarian. It has been a great pleasure to select our new books, guided by the invaluable Hand-book. Many presents have been given us lately; specimen boxes, and labeled bottles, pamphlets, and fine official note

paper.

think we deserve our good fortune, for we are really a devoted little Chapter. The children as interested, and their reports as interesting as ever.- Miss Isabelle McFarland, Sec.

482, Buckingham, Pa. (A.) We have noticed that the 17-year locust makes its song, by means of two little accordion-like organs under the wings.- Mary J. Atkinson, Sec.

[Is not the insect probably a cicada? And does not a "song" require to be made by the voice?]

709, Phila. (Z.) We have appointed a business committee of five, to which are referred all matters of a business nature; thus, at our meetings, our whole attention is given to science.

This has proved a successful plan, and we commend it to other Chapters. Josiah H. Penniman, Sec.

678, Taunton, Mass. All our 7 members take great interest in their work. Our cabinet is 41⁄2 feet high, and has four shelves and four drawers for birds' eggs, insects, etc., and one large drawer for botanical specimens. Are members of the A. A. allowed to collect bird's eggs?

[This question is frequently asked us, and we will say that the members of the A. A. are not entitled, as members, to any peculiar license in this or any other matter. The laws of the different States vary, and you should consult a lawyer, or the authorities of your own town.]

743, Detroit, Mich. (F.) Our meetings are held every week in the High School. We have the use of microscopes, and the help of some of our honorary members. We have started a library. Our courses of study are planned by the Executive Committee, composed of the officers. Essays and extracts from the note-books which we all keep, are read at our meetings. Our excursions out of the city are also very interesting and instructive.

We now have 20 active and 8 honorary members. Henry G. Field, Sec. 472, Hazleton, Pa. (4.) Have purchased a compound microscope and have prepared some slides for it. Have just returned from a camping expedition laden with specimens, and have welcomed one new member.-Thos. McNair, Sec. 758, Binghamton, N. Y. (A.) We have all been greatly benefited thus far, and pleased by our progress.

Most of us are studying by ourselves since we stopped our meetings for the vacation. Ch. F. Hotchkin, Sec.

699, Odin, Pa. (A). We have been keeping pond snails and freshwater clams in aquaria made by setting tin pans in the edge of a spring. Have also caged various species of land-snails in boxes and Would be very glad to pens, where we have watched their habits. correspond with any Chapter that has studied snails. - Victor L. Beebe, Sec.

[In all such cases, the secretary should report not merely the fact that certain observations have been made, but particularly what has been learned by the observations.]

409, Sag Harbor, N. Y. During the summer, our President has appointed committees to collect specimens. They have had special field-days, and at the next meeting have brought in the specimens collected and told what they had found out about them. We have subscribed for an excellent scientific paper, and shall hereafter keep a catalogue of all books and papers.-Cornelius R. Sleight, Sec. 839, Bolton, England. We are taking botany as our chief subject. We keep a list of the various flowers we find, the time of flowering, the place where found, and the natural order to which they belong.-R. Ainsworth, Sec.

804, Richmond, Ind. Our room is now the workshop of a taxidermist, the father of one of us. He has 200 or 300 kinds of birds constantly on hand, and is always sending them away and receiving new ones. We have the rare privilege of examining these birds, and also have access to his ornithological library, which is quite extensive. Richmond is quite noted for its fossils, and we wish to exchange with a few good Chapters. Each of us is required to keep a note-book of the things he has seen.-R. H. Webb, Sec. EXCHANGES.

Canadian Lepidoptera.-E. C. Trenholme, Cote St. Antoine, Montreal, Canada.

Lepidoptera and Coleoptera.-G. M. Edwards, Cote St. Antoine, Montreal, Canada.

4.

1. Is carbon, Avis, taken from the earth? 2. Suppose we, for fun, dye the horse blue. 3. I have seen Booth, I am sure, in Hamlet. You can stamp a piece of canvas for a tidy. 5. When gold is at par I am going to make a fortune. 6. You may put in the pan a mass of flour, and I will add milk and eggs. 7. I must take a nap lest I fall asleep on the journey. 8. Let us play one game more. 9. A glove nicely cut always fits well. 10. Well done, gallant soldiers! 11. Can you see Ben gallop toward us on his pony? 12. Apollo belongs to Greek mythology. HEXAGONS.

FRANK.

NUMERICAL

ENIGMA.

I. ACROSS 1. In clothe. 2. The juice of plants. 3. Steam. 4. Occupying the axis of anything. 5. Famous. 6. A slight bow. 7. In clothe. DOWNWARD: 1. The front of an army. 2. A native of Saxony. 3. The edifice occupied by the Congress of the United States. 4. Impelled by poles. 5. A color. ACROSS : 1. In clothe. 2. A familiar game. 3. Blunders or contradictions. 4. A simpleton. 5. Stylish. 6. To regret. 7. In clothe. DOWNWARD: 1. A place to store grain. 2. A surname of a line of English kings. 3. A large fish. 4. A spherical body. 5. A pen.

11.

H. H. D.

CROSS-WORD ENIGMA.

My first is in bad, but not in good;
My second in turban, but not in hood;
My third is in town, but not in village;
My fourth is in thief, but not in pillage:
My fifth is in earl, but not in count;
My sixth is in stream, but not in fount;
My seventh in cat, but not in dog;
My eighth is in cloud, but not in fog:
My ninth is in loop, but not in ring;
My whole is a flower that comes in spring.