The wolf and the jackal tribes are by no means without their use in the economy of nature, though from their predatory habits they are justly regarded as pests in the countries they infest: that they will disturb the dead and rifle the graves is true, but they also clear away offal, and with vultures, are the scavengers of hot countries; they follow on the track of herds, and put a speedy end to the weak, the wounded, and the dying; they are the most useful, though most disgusting of camp followers, and after a battle, when thousands of corpses of men and horses are collected within a limited space, they are of essential service-- I stood in a swampy-field of battle, With bones and skulls I made a rattle To frighten the wolf and carrion crow And the homeless dog--but they would not go; So off I flew--for how could I bear To see them gorge their dainty fare. COLERIDGE. Revolting and heart-sickening though such scenes may be, the evil is less than would result from the undisturbed decay of the dead: were that to take place, the air would hang heavy with pestilence, and the winds of heaven laden with noisome exhalations would carry death and desolation far and near, rendering still more terrible the horrors and calamities of war. FOOTNOTES: [1] Fauna Boreali Americana, p. 62. [2] Holland's Plinie's Naturall Historie, ed. 1635 [3] Edit, Edin. 1541, quoted from Magazine of Natural History. [4] Private Journal of Captain G. F. Lyon, 1824. [5] Private Journal of Captain G. F. Lyon, 1824. A SPECIMEN OF RUSSIAN JUSTICE. Among the French prisoners taken at the battle of Vitebsk, during Napoleon's disastrous retreat in Prussia, was a French general, who was accompanied by: his wife and daughter. Being badly wounded, he was removed to the military hospital, but the ladies were received into the private house of Madame Strognof, whose husband held, at that time, a subordinate appointment under the Russian Government.