description; we recommend ocular demonstration, at least once during the assemblage of a winter evening's party, if an uninitiated couple can be persuaded to undergo the ordeal. WHO TOUCHED YOU? THE successful result of this experiment on the sagacity of the party to be asked the above question depends principally on the quickness of hand displayed by the one who proposes it. Selecting one who has a neighbour seated on each side, the querist stands in front of him, and shutting both hands, with the exception of the forefinger of each, points them straight to the eyes of the one whom he addresses, saying, "You see my two fingers ?" "Yes," is of course the reply. "Now shut your eyes." As he complies, the operator lays the forefinger and the middle finger of his left hand on his closed eyelids, and with the right hand hits him a smart rap on the shoulder, instantly resuming the original position of his fingers, and exclaiming, "Who touched you?" The person addressed suddenly opens his eyes, and observing the fingers still steadily pointed at him, generally, and naturally enough, imagines that they have not moved during the short interval of his having had his eyes shut, and therefore that his left-hand neighbour, or some one standing by, gave him the sharp stroke which so surprised him. Even when a person has seen this trick performed, if they will themselves submit to it, they will find it difficult to believe by whom they have been touched. THE ROYAL MENAGERIE. THIS forms a most capital variety to the amuse ments of a juvenile party, wherein the majority, if not the whole, are almost sure to be ignorant of the game, and most desirous to see the wonders proposed for their inspection. One of the party offers to enact the part of a showman, and to exhibit his "Royal Menagerie" for the benefit of all present. Of course his proposal is eagerly accepted. If he wishes to make it more effective, he passes out of the room, and assumes some sort of impromptu costume in keeping with his assumed character, and then returns, followed by an assistant bearing a box, &c., partially covered by a shawl or other drapery. If there is a bow-window in the room, before which a curtain depends, he and his assistant pass behind it, only M requesting a small table to be allowed them, on which to place, as they say, "the wonderful box containing their unrivalled collection of animals and birds." If there is no convenient retiring place within the room, the "show box" must be placed in an adjoining one, to view which, one at a time, the party are then invited. "Ladies and gentlemen," proclaims the showman, "I shall be proud to introduce you to my Royal Menagerie. Small although it appears to your eyes, I can confidently assure you that there is not one single animal, bird, or reptile, which you may express a desire to see, but what shall be immediately placed before your view. Walk in, then, my young friends say what you wish to see, and depend upon finding that object in my Royal Menagerie." One junior soon steps forward, and perhaps prefers the wish to see "a monkey." "Walk in, my little dear," repeats the obliging showman, "you shall be gratified; but you must have your eyes blinded for a moment until you have entered the Menagerie." This preliminary consented to, the youthful admirer of natural history is escorted within the cur tains or into the next room by the polite attendant and confederate of the "Royal Showman." "You desired to see a monkey," he says to the muffled juvenile; "behold him here!" and whipping off the handkerchief from his eyes he finds himself, to his surprise and slight chagrin, opposite to a large looking-glass! Of course on his exit from the "Royal Menagerie," he takes good care not to enlighten his companions as to its nature or extent; so that the showman continues to receive applications to exhibit "peacocks," "lions," "bears," &c., until somebody, or that make-mischief Nobody, discloses the secret and dispels the charm. CATCH GAMES AND CATCH WORDS. THE MOLE IN THE FARMER'S FIELD. To play this game without being subject to a forfeit, requires merely a little attention to both the words and movements of the person who asks the questions. He begins with, "Have you seen the mole in the farmer's field?" One in the secret first replies, "Yes, I have seen the mole in the farmer's field.” "Do you know what the mole does ?" The initiated echoes his words again, adding the affirmative, at the same time shutting his eyes every time he answers; these being the two secrets of the game, failing in which a forfeit is demanded. I'VE BEEN TO MARKET. A CIRCLE having been formed, one of the players informs his neighbour on the left, "I've been to market." The other inquires, "What have you bought?" "A dress, a handkerchief, a book, a boot," in fact |