THIS favourite bird, which is universally admired for the melody of its voice, it being one of the sweetest of our warblers, is in length, from the point of the bill to the end of the tail, five inches and a half; the bill is a bluish gray, the eyes are hazel, the upper parts of the head, neck, and back, are of a dark reddish brown, the edges of the feathers pale; the under parts are of a dirty reddish white; the breast is deeper than the rest, and in spring becomes a very beautiful crimson, except in the female, whose breast is marked with only stripes of brown; the sides are spotted with brown likewise; the tail is brown, with white edges, except the two middle feathers, which have reddish margins, and is somewhat forked; the legs are brown.

The Linnet is so much esteemed for the sweetness of his singing, that, by many persons, he is thought to excel all small birds. He has certainly a curious fine note of his own, little inferior to the most celebrated birds, and may be taught likewise to pipe or whistle the song of any other bird; but as his own is so

good, that trouble is unnecessary. He is, however, very apt in learning, and if brought up from the nest, will take the woodlark's or canary bird's song to perfection.

These birds commonly build in a thick bush, or hedge, and sometimes among furze bushes, making a small, pretty nest; the outside, of bents, dried weeds, and straw, and the bottom all matted together; the inside, of fine soft wool, mixed with down stuff, gathered from dried plants, with a few horsehairs, made exceedingly neat and warm: on which she lays four, and sometimes five white eggs, with fine red specks, especially at the blunt end; and has young ones by the middle of April or beginning of May. They are particularly fond of linseed, from which it is supposed, they derive their name.

A DEPARTED CHILD TO ITS PARENTS.

KIND parents! why those tears?

And why those bursting sighs?

No weeping here bedims

Your little loved one's eyes.

The shades of eve, you know,
Were hastening along,
When my freed spirit left,

To soar the stars among.

Yet long before the night

Had drawn her veil around

The home I left below,

A better had I found.

So rapidly the soul

Unbodied takes its flight,

That scarce earth's scenery failed,
When heaven's broke ou my sight.

A DEPARTED CHILD TO ITS PARENTS.

Did not you, mother, see

That bright celestial band That smiled and beckoned me, And held the inviting hand?

They let me stay awhile,

To hear my mother pray, And see her close my eyes,

And kiss the unconscious clay.

And then to heaven we flew-
The cherubs led the way;
But my rapt spirit smiled

As joyously as they.

Father! I never knew

'Twas such a place as thisThat heaven you told me of Was quite so full of bliss.

Oh there is music here!

The softest, sweetest strains

Float constantly along

O'er these ethereal plains.

List! mother-father, list!
A harp to me is given,
And when I touch the strings,
'Tis heard all over heaven.

And shall I tell you who
Stood ready to embrace
Your little darling one,

In this most glorious place?

Grandfather-honoured name!
No more with age opprest,
Or toil-for in this world
Are youth and endless rest.

Those hoary hairs no more
Stray o'er his furrowed brow,
But locks of brightest hue
Adorn his temples now.

His trembling voice is changed;
The trace of earthly cares
Is banished from his cheek,
And God has wiped his tears.

And Mary! sister's here;
She has a cherub's wing-
Can reach their loftiest flights-
Their noblest anthems sing.

Dear parents! weep no more
For those you loved so well,
For glories here are ours,

And joys we may not tell.

Oh! live and serve the Lord,
The dear Redeemer love;

Then when you've done with earth,
We'll welcome you above.

THE PUZZLE ADJUSTED.

(See Page 288.)

[We have received answers from H. M.-R. H. N. -W. S. L.-M. T. C.-and P. D. D., which are of course, all alike, and all correct.

A copy therefore of one of them will do for all. This was not very difficult. We must try to find one that will afford our young friends a little more exercise.]

O may those hearts by love united,

And mingled into one,

Still keep the vows so fondly plighted,

And dream of them alone;

May our love shine on for ever,

And like hope's undying ray,

Which grief or dark misfortune never,
Hath power to chase away.

OF FIVE HUNDRED MILES IN THREE DAYS.

THE Queen of England left her marine residence Osborne-house, on the Isle of Wight, August the 1st, 1849, and after visiting Ireland, passed on to her new residence in the highlands of Scotland; where she and the Prince and their children remained several weeks, enjoying the healthful breezes of the mountains. Her Majesty returned in safety to Osborne house, on Saturday evening, September the 29th, after an absence of two months. You have already heard how joyously Her Majesty was received by the Irish on her first landing on their shores at Cork. She then visited the city of Dublin-the metropolis of Ireland-where thousands upon thousands waited her arrival, and amidst the most rapturous applause, gave her a right hearty welcome. Her Majesty was also received with the same joyous and hearty greeting at Belfast in Ireland, and at Glasgow in Scotland, on her way to her highland home, at Balmoral.

We are pleased that the Queen has visited Ireland. The visit will do good, for Ireland has been too long neglected by the sovereigns of England, and by the