Baboons, in their native countries, are sometimes hunted with dogs, but their chase is often fatal to the assailants. Mr. Burchell tells us that several of his dogs were wounded by the bites of baboons, and two or three dogs were thus bitten asunder. A species of baboon common in Ceylon, often attains the height of man. It is very fearless; and Bishop Heber relates that an acquaintance of his having on one occasion shot a young baboon, the mother came boldly up and wrested the gun out of his hand without doing him any injury. * * * * * By way of pendent, we add the present state of THE ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY, from the report just completed. Gross amount of the income of last year £17,633[3] Being an increase over the preceding year of 1,857 Receipts of four months of the past year 3,330 Receipts of corresponding months of the present year 3,755 _Receipts of the Society since its formation_ In 1827 £ 4,079 1828 11,515 1829 13,991 1830 15,806 1831 17,662[3] ------- Total since its formation £63,053 _Visiters to the Gardens_. In 1830--224,745 paying 9,773£ 1831--258,936 11,425£ _Visiters to the Museum_. In 1831--11,636 paying 333£ Number of Fellows 2,074 [3] These items, which are not quite correct, are from the _Morning Chronicle_ report. The Society have obtained a grant of nine acres and a half of land, in the Regent's Park, contiguous to their gardens; and they intend to devote 1,000_l_. annually to the improvement of the Museum. * * * * * THE CURFEW BELL. (_To the Editor_.) Observing in your No. 543, some remarks relating to the ancient custom of ringing the Curfew Bell, and that _Reginald_, your correspondent, had withheld the name of the village where he heard the Curfew rang, I am led to suppose that it may not be uninteresting to your readers to be informed, that at Saint Helen's Church, Abingdon, this custom is still continued; the bell is rung at eight o'clock every night, and four o'clock every morning, during the winter months; why it is rung in the morning I do not know; perhaps some of your readers can inform me. There are eight bells in Saint Helen's tower, but the fifth or sixth is generally used as the Curfew, to distinguish it from the death-bell, for which purpose the tenor is used, and is rung at the same time at night if a death has happened in the course of the day, and for that night supersedes the necessity of ringing the Curfew. The Curfew Bell is rung, and not tolled, as _Reginald_ states: therefore, what he heard, I suppose to have been the death bell. M.D.