at a little expense. Mr. Reed said that he could not get stone wall laid at anything near the price mentioned by Mr. Buckminster.

Mr. Buckminster stated that he had had ninety rods of wall buil, three feet and a half high, at twenty cents a rod.

The

Mr. Gorham Brooks of Medford, thought a great portion of the wall built by farmers, was too much slighted. foundations are not generally deep enough. He had never known wall to be laid for less than a dollar, and then it was not laid well. He thought the best mode of building a wall was to lay the small stones in a trench, and the larger on top of them. It would be more durable. In building rail fence, he thought it a bad plan to sharpen the posts. A hole should. be dug, and the posts put in without sharpening. Charred posts will last the longest-in some cases, probably, they last seventy-five years. All kinds of fences should be durably made.

Mr. Buckminster stated that the wall which he referred to in his remarks, was a cheap kind of wall-made without trenching. There was some wall of this kind on his farm, which had been built eighty years.

Mr. John Brooks of Princeton, thought a balance wall the best,-say three and a half feet wide at the bottom, and four and a half feet high, which he calculated would cost about seventy-five cents per rod. He had formerly dug a trench 3 feet wide and two and a half feet deep, into which he carted small stones for a foundation, but he had found that this would not do. The stones should be laid in the trench as carefully as in the wall itself. There is one great advantage in trenching, that is, no briers can grow in the wall.

Mr. French of Braintree, expressed the opinion that Mr. Buckminster's wall, three and a half feet high, was short of the lawful height. He was in the habit of digging a trench three or four feet in width, and of sufficient depth to reach the pan. On the sides of this trench, he placed large stones, and filled in with small stones. This makes a good foundation. The earth taken from the trench would serve to fill up the cavities created by the removal of the large stones from the field. In springy lands, the field will be drained by the trenches. Stone wall, he thought, should be four

and a half, or five feet high, as it would settle about six inches. He could not build wall of the kind mentioned for any where near seventy-five cents per rod.

For a hedge fence, the Washington thorn makes a secure fence. The buckthorn makes a beautiful hedge, but both. are expensive. The barberry he had understood, made good hedges. He had seen a fine hedge of arbor vitæ. For a rail fence he thought it was a good plan to char the posts, and set them to the depth of two feet and a half in the ground. Mr. French thought it a bad plan to divide the fields into small lotsthe fewer enclosures, the better. In answer to an enquiry from Mr. Reed, Mr. French stated that the hedge of Mr. Quincy, which is now more than twentyfive years old, is not perfectly secure.

Mr. Leonard of Marshfield, estimated $1 per rod as the proper price for building stone wall, which kind of fencing he thought the most valuable when materials are plenty.-He stated that a wall running East and West, would not stand so long as one running North and South, for the reason that the former is more likely to be affected by the frost, which would leave the ground on the South side first, thereby causing the wall to fall on that side.

Mr. Denny, of Westhoro, said that a very good wall could be built of small stones, when large ones could not be obtained, by trenching, &c. After building the wall, the top could be covered with sods inverted, which would sometimes prevent boys from climbing over it, through fear of soiling their clothes. A little clover seed might be sown on these sods, which in a wet season, would flourish, and giye the wall a beautiful appearance. He thought that rails were not proper for the entrance to a cow-yard, as cattle would be apt to learn to jump in getting over the rails. Gates are the best. For a division wall, Mr. Denny thought three and a half, or four feet sufficiently high but for a road wall, farmmers must conform to the statute law. If practicable it is best for the farmer to have but one enclosure.

Mr. Buckminster inquired how high a wall was required for the road, by the revised statutes. Under the old statutes four feet was the lawful height.

The President stated that he was aware of no alteration in the statute. [SEL.

My 13, 2, 9, 21, 12, was a famous robber. My 17, 15, 11, 5, was one of the Gods of the Egyptians.

My 1, 18, 16, 17, was one of the Muses. My 7, 8. 11, 9, 22, was a son of Jupiter. My 15, 2, 6, 10, 7, was a town of Thessaly. My 9, 2, 20, 21, 12, 3, 11, 5, was a Grecian Historian.

My 2, 15, 19, 21, 12, was a river of Etruria.

THE AMERICAN MAGAZINE. AND FAMILY NEWSPAPER. With numerous Engravings.

Edited by Theodore Dwight.

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We have here portraits of the two first Camelopards, or Giraffes, ever seen in the Western Continent. They were those brought here in the year 1836 by two enterprising men, who, at great expense, risk and labor, procured them in Africa, and succeeded in landing them, in safety and health, at this port, where they were exhibited, to the gratification of thousands, and whence they were afterwards removed to several other of our principal cities.

We have before published some particulars of their history, and of the singular genus of animals to which they belong, for which they must refer the readers to Vol. II. p. 620. But, as we have by no means exhausted the subject, and have now at hand several appropriate and pleasing prints for illustration, we will once more invite attention to the

Camelopard, his nature and habits, the country to which he belongs, the opinions entertained of him at different periods, the manner in which the doubts were removed, which were long indulged res pecting his existence, the means employed for his capture, and the treatment resorted to for his preservation and transportation, by land and water.

In consequence of an early perusal of Le Vaillant's pleasing description of his encounter with the first of these animals discovered by an European in modern times, we imbibed an interest on the subject, which accident, some years afterwards, revived. In a visit to the noble Museum of Natural History in the Garden of Plants in Paris in our youth, a tall figure like the preceding reared its lofty head to the ceiling of the hall, and on it was inscribed the name of Le Vaillant.

Aristotle, it has been remarked, makes no mention of the Camelopard, and for a good reason-the country which it inhabits having been unknown to the Greeks till after his time. Appian describes it thus, in his book, "De venatione," (on hunting), "The Camelopardalis somewhat resembles the camel. Its skin is spotted, like that of the panther, and its neck long, like that of the camel. Its head and ears are small, its feet large, its legs long, but of very unequal length: the fore ones being much higher than the hinder, which are very short, and seem to draw the cruprer down to the ground."

This is a gross error, as Le Vaillant remarks, though natural one for a careless observer, owing to the disproportionate elevation of the shoulders above the hips.

Strabo says: "There is a great beast in Ethiopia, called the Camelopardalis, though it has no resemblance to the pard, for its skin is not marked in the same manner. The hinder parts are much lower than the fore," &c. &c. Pliny also speaks of it, and Heliodorus says that ambassadors from Ethiopia brought with them one of these animals, so tame that it was led by a small cord. They are spoken of by certain Roman writers, as brought to Rome among the numerous animals procured for exhibition at the public games and shows.

Among the paintings found in the ancient temples and tombs of Egypt, this animal is distinctly and correctly represented; and yet, until a few years ago, the descriptions were regarded, like those of the unicorn, kraken, dodo and several other animals as fictitious. The following extracts from Le Vaillant's Travels show, in a pleasing manner, the means by which the authenticity of those ancient accounts and drawings was substantiated, by that enthusiastic friend of science.

Having embarked for the Cape of Good Hope, with the ardent desire of investigating the natural history of Southern Africa, he proceeded to Port Natal, and penetrated into the interior with a company of natives, till he reached the extensive deserts, inhabited by the elephant, the lion, and the various antelopes and other species of animals, abounding in those prolific regions, amidst numerous botanical and mineral treasures. Being a native of Dutch Guiana, and accustom

ed to a forest life in his early days, he was fitted by habits and taste for an enterprise in his time so extraordinary, as well as by subsequent scientific studies in France, for an intelligent investigation of every object offered to his attention. He thus commences his description of his adventures among the Giraffes.

I had reached the River of Lions, where I found a torrent with so little water in it, that we chose its bed for our road. The loose sand, with which it was covered, fatigued us indeed very much; but we were well recompensed by the shelter which the thick trees on its banks afforded us against the heat of the sun. At the approach of night we stopped under a large mimosa,' and lighting a fire, sat down in a circle round it.

The next morning, as I was preparing to resume my march, one of the Namaquois Hottentots, my guides, came eagerly to give me a piece of intelligence, which must as he judged, prove agreeable to me.

This man had seen me, when among his horde, delighted at the sight of a camelopard's skin; and he came running to tell me that he had just seen one of these animals alive, under a neighboring 'mimosa,' on the leaves of which it was browsing.

Transported with joy, I instantly sprang on my horse, and followed by my dogs, flew towards the 'mimosa.' The camelopard was no longer there; but we saw it crossing the plain to the west, and spurred on to come up with it. It put itself on a very swift trot, without however hurrying its pace. We followed on the gallop, firing at it from time to time; but it insensibly gained so much on us, that after a pursuit of three hours, our horses being out of breath, we were forced to stop, and lost sight out of it.

I augured ill from this beginning; my people had promised me nothing but pleasure in the chace of the camelopard. By their account it would be mere play to me; yet I began to see very considerable difficulties: but this was not the most unpleasant idea that at this moment engaged me.

Our chace had led us to a great distance from one another, and from the camp. According to my calculation, I was at least five leagues from it; and, what was still more distressing, I no longer knew the way back. [To be Continued.

Japan.

The United States Squadron under the command of Commodore Biddle, consisting of the Columbus, seventy-four, and the corvette Vincennes, have been on a visit to the Island of Japan. The Sandwich Island Polynesian gives the following account of their reception :

"The ship anchored some distance below the city (Jeddo) for want of proper charts, and the indisposition of the authorities to allow her to come nearer. The letter from the United States Government was forwarded to the Emperor, explaining the objects of the visit, to which he replied that he had heard of the United States, that they were a flourishing and great nation, and that he hoped they would continue to be prosperous, but declined any closer relations with them. The only foreign trade that would be allowed, was with the Dutch and Chinese. He begged the ship would supply herself with what she wanted speedily, up anchor, be off, and never return.

Landing was disallowed, but the ship was supplied with such as the country afforded, wood, water, poultry, eggs, and vegetable, for which neither pay nor presents were received in return. Nothing like trade was allowed with the numerous visitors that came on board. Even presents of coin, &c., given to some of the shore people, were afterwards returned. The only productions of the country obtained, were a parcel of presents sent by the Emperor to the Commodore, which were declined by him. The Japanese officer having them in charge, dared not return without delivering them, and as it was at the dusk of evening, he threw his packet into one of the quarter boats, and pulled off for the shore as fast as possible. There being no way to return to it, the contents were divided among the officers, but they contained nothing of much value or skill in workmanship.

The Japanese had heard of the intended visit of the Columbus, but seemed much surprised at her dimensions. She was visited by many of the inhabitants, evidently with the Emperor's permission, but there were no females among them. Armed boats were kept about her, as in th case of the Mahattan, but they were not of force to resist a man-of-war. The men are represeented as a fine, athletic race, inquisitive, and intelligent. The

shore off which the Columbus lay, was rocky, but wooded, fertile, and apparently well cultivated. Hogs and bullocks were not to be had, though other supplies were plentiful. The Columbus lay there ten days. The Vincennes was subject to similar treatment.

The uniform of the officers that boarded the Columbus, was of a singular description, resembling somewhat female attire, according to American ideas, rather than a military, or even male costume. So fair and youthful were some of these gentlemen, that were it not for the two swords they each wore, they would have readily been mistaken for women. The military wore metalic armor, protecting the body and limbs. It was richly japanned and very flexible. On the back of each individual were the armorial bearings of the chief or clan to which he belonged. These were all painted in circles, and exhibited much intricacy of design and heraldic knowledge.

In one of the drawings of these, which through the politeness of Dr. Guillion, we were permitted to examine, on board of the Columbus, we noticed as the centre symbol, a perfect Roman cross. This is the more singular as the cross has been for centuries, in Japan, an object of contempt. The Japanese officers exhibited the greatest sensitiveness in allowing the Americans to look at their swords, the blades of which were of exceeding keenness and delicacy, rivalling in appearance and quality, the best Damascene. There is a saying among them that a Japanese arms and valor are inseparably united, and they cannot part with any of the former without a diminution of the latter.

It was with evident reluctance, therefore, that they allowed the blades of their arms to be seen at all, and no inducement could have procured one. They all carried two, one a large two-handed weapon, the other smaller, and intended for closer quarters. In politeness, the Japanese gentlemen were not to be excelled. They generally, while on board, eat of their own food, but were gratified with wines or liquors. On the first night of arrival, the visitors manifested a strong desire to sleep on board; but being given to understand that such a liberty was contrary to the rules of the ship, they good-naturedly left. These are all the particulars we have as yet gathered of this visit."