CATCHING RABBITS. Bacon says, “A company of scholars going to catch conies, carried one with them, which had not much wit, and gave in charge that if he saw any, he should be silent, for fear of scaring them; but he no sooner espied a company of rabbits than he cried aloud ‘_Ecce multi cuniculi_;’ which he had no sooner said, but the conies ran to their burrows; and he being checked by them for it, answered, ‘Who would have thought that the rabbits understood Latin?’” * * * * * DOWN to the reign of “Old Queen Bess,” the greater part of the houses in _fashionable_ London had no chimneys. The fire was kindled against the wall, and the smoke found its way out in the best manner that it could, at the windows, or at the door; but generally “reclined in blackness” in the room. MERRY’S MUSEUM. Vol. V. MARCH, 1843. No. 3. [Illustration] Amusements. It is the part of discretion to learn lessons of wisdom wherever we can find them. In many ways, by looking upon the processes of nature, we can discover hints or examples, worthy of imitation, even by rational beings. As we are now upon the subject of amusements, let us see how nature may instruct us in respect to this. We look around, and notice that the young of all animals devote a portion of every day to amusement. The calf, the lamb, the puppy, the kitten――all have their gambols. This proceeds from no instruction――no parental injunctions; it is instinct――the mandate of the God who made them. We find, in children, precisely the same instinct――the same mandate. The desire of active, lively, animating sport――the romp, the laugh, the shout, the chase――is as inherent in children, as much a craving of their nature, as the desire of food. These are as necessary, in order to the health, happiness, and proper development of children, as are fresh air, or pure water. Another thing we observe in young animals, is that their amusements are suitable to their several conditions. The wrestling of young dogs is fitting to creatures who have often to contend for mastery over other animals; the skipping of lambs, is calculated to qualify them to roam over hills, rocks and precipices; the nimble tricks of kittens train them for that dexterity which is needful in their pursuits as mousers. Thus far, then, we are instructed, by observing young animals, that amusements are necessary, and that these should be suited to circumstances. And we may safely apply these observations to children. They should all have amusements――cheerful――animating ones. They should have sports which take them into the open air――which draw them over hill and valley――which put to the stretch their feet, eyes, ears and hands. All their young faculties should be roused.