MISCELLANEOUS.

Oamaru Mail, Volume I, Issue 275, 10 March 1877, Page 4

MISCELLANEOUS.

A TRSAK. OF KATtttlß. Ad occasional crrrespondeut writes to the Dunedin Iteming Star as follows: "Now and then it happens that Nattirc r through some freak or other,, perpetrates curious malformations in one tr other of her numerous subjects. What may certainly be designated a freak of Nature, or lapatts naturvr, happened last month within the precincts of the Dunedin gaol. That establishment is neither so dreary nor st» wretched a place to dwell in as outsiders ▼ery naturally think it is, bat certainty it is bad enough, and very few would, from motives of choice, care to be incarcerated therein. Be that as it may, while there are inmates there must be others to took alter them, and no one can blame those ao situated from indulging in anything tendingto enliven the monotony of existence. To this end, no doubt, Miss Heard, the worthy matron of the gaol, cherishes some choice pet canaries, and lately, wishing to add to her stock, allowed the hen bird to sit. When the young birds were hatched, strange to say, two of them were found totally devoid of legs—without feet —but perfect in all other respects, and quite healthy. Had the btr* s been hatched without wings also, ore might presume, if they possessed reasoning powers, that it was intended as a reflection on the establishment in which they were brought forth as deprived of liberty, they did not require those appendages; but we leave it to* those who are of an ornithological mind to consider the matter farther, and account, if they can, for such a curious coincidence." A NOVUM. lI>RA. The Melbourne correspondent of the Ballarat Sfon- says:—" An idea has been broached of a very common-sense character with respect to any future contest that may be fought with the All England cricketers. It simply is that the principle of handicapping adopted in billiards and other masculine amusements should be applied to cricket, and that instead of potting a larger number of men into the held, which necessarily cramps the efforts of the batsmen, ear men should play eleven only, and receive a certain number of points,, or runs, as an equivalent for the men excepted from the team. By this simple plan, the cricketing public would have an opportunity of seeing what our witors can do when only opposed by the ordinary number of heldsmen, and their play would then be rendered more entertaining and instructive."