Show HEAVY fu FUN ORDER 11 amono among I 1 the committee of tile the ci cincinnati S sanitary ani fair was one on autographs whose business it was to hunt bunt down celebrities all over the country and e aiom them something in their own handwriting that would satisfy the public craving of this species of curiosity of dr wendell holmes of boston they requited that lie he should be funny over his own signature for this aliis special occasion ile he responded in tile following epistle BOSTON dec 14 1863 drar SIR sin you ask me for a list of questions in natural history with answers subjoined sub joined for the use of the instructor I 1 submit a few I 1 which I 1 think will serve your for tile the proposed examination of the scientific class 1 what animal produces one of its own parents answer the rhe beaver which is well known to construct its own dam 2 Is the dodo extinct answer it is not ay as shown by tile the following bill in my possession mr to X dr one mongrel goose 0 3 00 one do do 3 00 6 00 3 chatis Wh atis the largest aped A answer i i s I 1 rile z t of adrin I 1 4 what is the lightest quadruped answer the Ilic lynx the lynx b lis ae less ss than an all ounce 5 when does a alibi hoi so be stand on oil six acs b answer when lie stands on isaore is fore legs and liis his two hind legs also 6 eliat other insect is the bee afraid afi aid of answer alio beetle escarc a bee us 1 7 Is the otter of roses obtained bioni I 1 that animal when fed on oil other oilier vegetables cabbages for instance answer probably Pio pi bably alic musk deer furnishes his perfume w when lien fed on oil waler 8 what instance can you give of alic cu cunning of bel answer mic simple secrete their venom kllc wl i cl I 1 ic 0 aliey tl icy can call find it when wanted 9 0 why do the above questions amuse you more than the answers answer because the who asks the question is the duelist quei que list As to tile the other questions about which you ask rny my opinion my ansidei must be brief eighteen hours study out of the 21 is too much I 1 think for delicate young persons it does not allow sufficient time t or tor sleeps sleep ji n and meals I 1 doubt about the introduction of capital punishment as a part of the id inary college discipline it will have a good ellece en act on oil tile the survivals no doubt I 1 01 abt OLIVER NV HOLMES A |