284 REMARKS ON THE DRY ROT. 
guile the incubation of his female, sitting on her 
nest in a bush close at hand. But on returning to 
the town, we notice another little chaffinch, often in 
some wretched alley, a prisoner with the loss of 
both its eyes, and singing nevertheless as though its 
little throat would burst. Does this blind captive 
pour forth its melody in order to soothe its sorrows ? 
Has Omnipotence kindly endowed the chaffinch 
with vocal faculties; which at one time may be em- 
ployed to support it in distress, and at another time 
to add to its social enjoyments? What answer 
shall we make? We know not-what to say. But 
be it as it will, I would not put out the eyes of the 
poor chaffinch, though by doing so I might render 
its melody ten times sweeter than that of the sweet 
nightingale itself. O that the Potentate, in whose 
dominions this little bird is doomed to such a cruel 
fate, would pass an edict to forbid the perpetration 
of the barbarous deed! Then would I exclaim, 
O king of men, thy act is worthy of a royal heart. 
*« That kind Being, who is a friend to the friendless, 
shall recompense thee for this.” 
A SHORT REMARK OR TWO ON WHAT IS 
COMMONLY CALLED DRY ROT. 
Dry Rot is a misnomer. This disease in timber 
ought to be designated, a decomposition of wood 
by its own internal juices, which have become 
vitiated for want of a free circulation of air. 
