Literature.

have given to have been on foot noiv , ivith my rifle on a rest ! I felt certain of being able to put a ball between her eyes . But the sun was shining on the barrel , to move a finger to take up the rifle was to lose the chance . My shikaree Marykalee sat on my right . He could see her shoulder ; Nursoo was on the left of me , he could see her quarters and loins . It i-- 'as in order that I might not be induced to fire till she was close-to ine that I rested my rifles on the branch thafc formed the front bar of the meekarmThe unusual object in

. the tree could not escape her sight . A \ e were twelve feet from the ground , pretty safe ; though I have heard of a man being struck out of a tree afc twenty-tivo feet from the ground . The poor villager , who , when the tiger came near , had been unable to stand her gaze , had remained with his head between his knees , ancl his eyes shaded in his hands . This long suspense he could not brook ancl at length scratched his leg with his right hand . The movement

ivas sufficient . The tigress slipped into the ravine , and ascended and opposite bank at the same deliberate and stealthy pace . I felfc the chance was gome , sized my Wilkinson ' s rifle , and , as she cleared the heavy bushes , shot her , but too far back ancl low . The ball went through her belly , ancl fell beyond her . She gave one growl ancl bound , then moved on quite slowly . " At first it was uncertain whether or not her wound was

mortal , for she retreated into the jungle , but signs of confidence , and fearlessness , among the other animals , shoAved that the universal enemy had been disabled , and after a time her body Avas found : —

" The calf lay there , as he was the night before , untouched . I sat beneath the bank , watching till ten o ' clock . The large male of the lungoor monkoy came across the short space that divided the ravine and forest from the mountain , ivhere they also lived , afc the speed of racehorse . He sat himself up in a dried and withered tree , ivithin thirty yards of us , his eyes' incessantly turned towards the mountain . After sitting an hour or so , he turned his head ancl made a grimage , as a sign . All his wives and children came across

at speed , ancl up tho tree they ivent . All seemed to comprehend why I was there , ancl I kept my eye on the big fellow , Avith my back to the slaughtered calf . His look-out was better than that of any human eye . They took their water , and disappeared up the mountain to their abode . The spotted deer came and drank afc fifty yards from me . It ivas a Sunday ; and I never shoot anything but tigers on that day . Besides , no noise must be made . Having left two men on a hih leaftree within siht of the calfI

g y g , returned to the tents . These men were relieved at one o'clock . At four , p . m ., I again went , and sat till nightfall , but no tigress . That night the monkeys were wonderfully epiiet . AVe all considered that the man-eater was dead or disabled . Her footmark was not to be found at the water ; she had not bathed or drunk .

With , such encounters between Captain Shakespeare and various wild beasts , such as panthers , elephants , buffaloes , and bisons , there arc enough to excite any loi'er of daring sports . But beyond this our author points out , in the most methodical Avay , the habits ancl equipment of the Shikar , his arms , his mode of using the natives as his allies , the readiest Avay to kill , and the fatal spots of aim in each

variety of animal . Captain Shakespeare maintains that an Indian Shikar is a man who " docs good in his generation , " though he is not always repaid with gratitude . AVe cannot close our notice , without strongly recommending The Wild Sports of India , to every true sportsman , as well as to our intelligent youths , who ivill find in it the kind of reading they " admire , giving a distinct idea of its dangers and interest , and the powerful attraction it possesses for all men of active habits , strong nerve and clear intellect .

Arrangements In The British Museum.

ARRANGEMENTS IN THE BRITISH MUSEUM .

IT ought to be generally known to artists and other students ivho visit tho Reading-room of the British Museum , that right of admission to that department is not sufficient , Avithout further express permission , to allow persons to visit or sketch in other parts of the Museum collections on the closed days . There arefor instancethe Manuscript-roomthe

Print-, , , room , the Egyptian , Ornithological , Geological , Botanical , and several other departments , Avhich have each a head ; ancl according to the present regulations it is necessary , before free access can be had to the different galleries of the Museum , to obtain about a dozen permissions . This arrangement is unpleasant to some of those Avho have charge of

Arrangements In The British Museum.

departments , and the cause of inconvenience and loss of time to those AA'ho are engaged in collecting varied information . A chief reason for continuing the galleries of natural history ancl antiquities in immediate connection with the Beading-room is the advantage ivhich readers have in the ready means of examination ancl contrast of objects . But ,

if a person engaged in some historical inquiry wished to examine and sketch a medal or other object , in order to be certain that the description in books is correct , he ivould be told that according to the regulations ifc is necessary that application should be made to the head of the department . This might cause a delay of several days . It would be the ' same in connection with the Print-roomand elsewhere .

, The writer , on one occasion being suddenly called upon to make a tracing in the Manuscript-room of a matter required for immediate publication , found that , although as a reader he might be permitted to look at the MS ., he could not trace it without an introduction from one personally knoivn to the keeper of the manuscripts . It may be that a young man who is commencing his career , although able to obtain

sufficient introduction to the Beading-room , has not any friend who can give him a recommendation to the heads of departments . Or it may be thafc such friends are out of town , sothat a delay may take place in getting the means of obtaining matters ivhich may be of the greatest use for some purpose of the press , or other illustration . Several persons will remember the inconvenience of thisand that in the old

, time Sir Henry Ellis stepped out of the routine of his office , and gave facilities which persons might otherwise have hacl some difficulty in obtaining . Once the writer , in exjilanation of some printed matter , suddenly needed to leave the Reading-room for the purpose

Obituary.

Obituary .

BROTHER JOHN SOANE , AGED 09 . On the twelfth inst ., Bro . Soane , A . B . last surviving Son of thelafce Sir John Soane . Bro . Sonne was initiated in the Royal York Lodge , No . 7 , some thirty years back , and from the clay of his initiation until a few months since took no other step . Bro . Soane was ivell known in the literary world .