mispronounced words and aggressive vulgarity are the beginning and the end of it.

MR. PUNCH'S COCKNEY HUMOUR

Mother Wit.—First Coster. I say, Bill, wot's the meanin' o' Congress?

Second Coster. A shee heel. Female of conger.

A Londoner's Rural Reflection.—The Hayfield is better than the Haymarket.

'ARRY'S LAMENT

"A public meeting was held at Hampstead last night to protest against the tampering with the Heath by tube railway promoters."—Daily Paper.

THE WILD WILD EAST

First Coster. "Say, Bill, 'ow d'yer like my new kickseys? Good fit, eh?"

Second Coster. "Fit! They ain't no fit. They're a haper-plictick stroke!"

NOTE BY A COCKNEY NATURALIST

The common blackbeetles (Scarabæus niger) which so abundantly infest the culinary regions of Cockaigne are alleged to be agreeable, although profuse, in flavour, provided they be delicately larded before crimping, and then fricasseed or simply fried. Care should specially be taken not to injure their antennæ, which, when crisp with egg and breadcrumbs, exquisitely tickle the palate of the gourmet, and provoke him to the liveliest of gastronomic feats. There lurks in vulgar minds a savage prejudice against these interesting insects, by reason, very likely, of the popular impression that at times they have been manufactured into Soy. But this may be assumed to be mere idle superstition, and Soyer, the great chef, wisely set his face against it, remarking, as he did so, "Honi Soy qui mal y pense."

Among the warblers which abound in the vicinity of the metropolis, one of the most