MARY V.—1. We do not recommend the use of jewellers’ rouge for cleaning silver plate. It consists of a fine oxide of iron, and is better suited to goldsmiths’ work. It may be used without harm; but finely levigated or precipitated chalk is the best for your purpose. The mercurial plate powder is decidedly objectionable, as it corrodes the surface of the silver.—2. The “prairie dog” is in no sense a dog; it is misnamed; it is a species of marmot. They are about sixteen inches long, and sit up like a hare or rabbit, are very lively and playful, and live in burrows, and like to sit on a little earth mound in front of them, which they form in excavating their burrows. They are very timid. COWRIES.—There is no way but boiling them to get the shells clean and freed from their contents.