Slugs do not offer a very inspiring subject about which to write, but I am constrained to do so owing to their being forced upon my notice by reason of the increasing numbers of these malluses I find in my garden. In comparison with what they are in some other countries in the Northern Hemisphere, slugs are far from -common in most parts* of China. During many years of exploration in North China I do not remember having come across a single specimen. Whereas in England there are at least half a dozen different forms of slug to be encountered in gardens, some of them being so numberous as to constitute an unmitigated pest, ere in Shanghai only two specimens are known to exist, and of these only one is at all plentiful. Even so it does little damage to foliage, fruit or bulbs compared with that done by slugs in an English garden, This common Shanghai slug may be called the striped slug and is khown to-science as Phtlomycus bilineatus (Benson), It is said to be fairly common throughout East China south of Shantung, in which province it certainly is not prevalent. It was originally described from the Chusan Islands, being found also in Japan, the Liuchiu Islands, Formosa, Borneo and the Hawaiian Islands. It is of a grayish-buff colour with a distinct brownish line down the middle of the somewhat keeled back and a fainter one on either side. Its chief distinguishing feature is the absence of the oval-shaped mantle or shield on the anterior part of the body, which is so noticeable in most slugs. The only other slug so far recorded from the Shanghai area is the common yellow slug, Lehmannia favus (Linnaeus), of Europe and especially of Great Britain, where it is a genuine nuisance. This species has been recorded recently for the first time as occurring in China by Mr. Teng-chien Yen, who reported that it is not uncommon in the Western District of Shanghai, being fairly plentiful in Jessfield Park and the Campus of St, John's University. Although my garden is located in the Western District, I have not yet found a specimen of this slug in it. This form may be recognized by its greater size than that of the striped slug, the absence of stripes and the presence of a mantle or shield on the anterior part of the body. Shanghai specimens are described by Mr. Yen as being of a grayish colour, although the European specimens are yellowish with a tendency to vary in colour. He suggests that the slug can have been but comparatively recently introduced into this area, since the famous naturalist Pere Heude who founded Those Happy Feet JENKINS was a stout man, with large, broad feet, and although several pairs of boots were shown to him he refused them. "I must have square toes," he explained to the assistant.
The young man sighed wearily. "But square toes are not stocked now, s he explained. "Pointed toes are fashionable this season."
Jenkins gave him an angry stare, "That may be." he retorted, "but I happen to have last season's feet."
Henpecked A veacue for the protection of h&npecked husbands was formed in a small Kansas town and at the first meeting a man named George was elected president. George had just taken his place and banged the table for order when a tall, stern-looking woman burst in, and, seizing George by the scruff of the neck, bawled, "You come home, You've no right in a place like this, you're not henpecked!'
Artist's Troubles Mr. Stanley Cursiter, speaking of his experitnees of painting in the open in Edinburgh recently, remarked that one of the best landscapes he had ever seen was never reproduced by him on paper, for a huge Highland bull peered over his shoulder and exhibited an undue interest in the painter.
On another occasion, Mr. Cursiter, engaged in painting a landscape, turned round to: find cow licking the paint on his canvas. "Whether the cow produced tartan milk. is not on record," added Mr. Cursiter, Says Mr. Peppercorn Underwood has a grandson, rising thirteen, whose one idea is sport and the greatest man living today, according to him, is Bradman.
They were discussing the Don and Mrs. U. asked if he was a Spaniard, when the young sportsman remarked to, his Grandsire, "Goshi How ignorant females are."
The old man explained to the boy that he mustn't talk of his: elders in that fashion, and, if there was any more of it he'd be for it, and a lot more, but as he said to me, afterwards, when it comes to women and sport there's a lot in what the boy said, Then I remembered when talking about, the Surrey v. Somerset match how Mary had knocked me off my perch by asking if they were playing at Lord's, Counsel's Advice He was a young lawyer, and the judge thought he would give him a chance. So he instructed:
"Mr. Smith, suppose you take the prisoner into my. private room, have a talk with him, hear his story and then, as man to man, give him the best advice that you can. Then come back and report to the Court."
The young lawyer disappeared and in half an hour he returned to the courtroom, but minus his client, the prisoner.
"Go ahead, Mr, Smith, tell the court the result of your talk," instructed the judge.
"Well, your honour, I heard his story," answered the young lawyer, "and I saw at once that he no chance at all. If ever a man is guilty, that man is, He acknowledged every point."
"Well, bring in the prisoner," said the judge.
"Bring in the prisoner?" echoed the young lawyer in surprise. "Why I can't, your honour I did as you instructed. I gave him the best advice I knew."
"Well. what was it?" asked the judge.
"Why," said the young lawyer, "I saw he had not the ghost of a chance and I told him if I were in his place I'd get out of your window, slide down the water pipe and beat it, And he did!"
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.