_Leeches_.

In the _Medical Repository_, a case is quoted, where some leeches, which
had been employed first on a syphylitic patient and afterwards on an
infant, communicated the disease to the latter.

_Stinging Flies_.

There is a fly which exteriorly much resembles the house-fly, and which
is often very troublesome about this time; this is called the stinging
fly, one of the greatest plagues to cattle, as well as to persons
wearing thin stockings.

_Mont Blanc_.

The height of Mont Blanc and of the Lake of Geneva has lately been
carefully ascertained by M. Roger, an officer of engineers in the
service of the Swiss Confederation. The summit of the mountain appears
to be 4,435 metres, or 14,542 English feet above the Lake of Geneva, and
the surface of the Lake 367 metres, or 1,233 English feet above the sea.
The mountain is, therefore, 15,775 feet above the level of the sea.

_Bird Catching_.

The golden-crested wren may be taken by striking the bough upon which it
is sitting, sharply, with a stone or stick. The timid bird immediately
drops to the ground, and generally dead. As their skins are tender,
those who want them for stuffing will find this preferable to using the
gun.--_Mag. Nat. Hist._