KIDD'S OWN JOURNAL. 



depth of six feet in some of the streets. The 

 Thames was frozen over, and a fair held on it. 

 The state of the streets was not then, however, 

 nearly so bad as now ; and we have never seen 

 anything so desolate and dreary as the aspect of 

 the town on Wednesday. The effect has been 

 likened to the cab strike ; but nature's look-out 

 far surpasses the other strike in inconveniences. 

 The cab strike, after all, left us our legs, but the 

 slippery snow of Wednesday made them too often 

 perform the revolutionary exploit of bringing the 

 head clown to the same level. 



For many hours, London was in a state of 

 blockade ; having little communication within, 

 and none externally. To pass from Pall Mall to 

 Oxford-street has been an expedition requiring no 

 small nerve and resolution ; and many an adven- 

 ture might be written from one not very distant 

 part of the town to another. Little indeed do the 

 mariners of England, who live so much at ease in 

 the Turkish waters, dream of the perils besetting 

 the hardy passenger in the streets of London, in 

 this Russian winter. The idea of red-hot shot is 

 rather pleasing than otherwise, to the imagination 

 just saluted with a snow-ball ; and the inhabitant 

 of this city, in a state of wintry siege, envies the 

 warriors in the peaceful occupation of the Bos- 

 phorus. 



So much for London in the snow. The 

 accounts from the country are equally curious 

 of their kind. Of the many disasters occa- 

 sioned by this severe visitation, we would 

 fain keep silence. Wind, storm, snow, and 

 tempest, have laid thousands upon thousands 

 prostrate. They have sunk to rise no more. 

 We live to ruminate upon their destruction. 

 " Such is life!" 



THE METROPOLITAN POULTRY SHOW. 



The grand winter show took place at 

 the Baker-street Bazaar, on Tuesday, Janu- 

 ary 10th ; and was, beyond all dispute, the 

 best we have yet had. 



The rooms were very well arranged, all 

 things considered ; and the animals exhibited 

 were for the most part displayed to advan- 

 tage. We were quite pleased to see so much 

 11 good" company present on the opening 

 day; and to note the interest taken in a 

 careful examination of the birds. 



The Cochin China mania has, we are glad 

 to see, very greatly subsided. Of this class, 

 there were some remarkably fine specimens ; 

 and we should say "healthy" ones, — for 

 when the cocks opened their ungainly 

 mouths to crow, the sound thereof might 

 have been heard at a distance very remote 

 indeed ! The prices affixed to these gawky 

 birds, some of them at least, were low enough 

 in all conscience ; but the fact is, it is now 

 ascertained that the cost of their food (they 

 eat enormously), set against the produce of 

 their eggs, is such as to render their " value" 

 problematical. They eat their heads off ! 



The snow storm no doubt prevented many 



breeders sending up their birds ; but there 

 was nevertheless a goodly collection. There 

 were 1,139 entries of poultry, 425 pens of 

 pigeons, and 50 pens of rabbits, — making a 

 total of 1614 competing pens. 



The Dorkings (our special favorites) came 

 out among the Cochins in the finest possible 

 relief. What noble specimens were here 

 exhibited ! For a cock and two hens there 

 were 27 entries. The prizes went to the 

 Rev. Mr. Boyes, Mrs. Finch Noyes, and Mr. 

 W. Smith. In the sixth class, for a cock 

 and two pullets, were 48 pens, many of them 

 of great merit. The difference in the prize 

 pens was but trifling, but they were taken as 

 follows :— Mr Smith, Mr. Terry, and Mr. 

 Boyes. The next was the competition con- 

 fined to cocks only ; and here both prizes 

 were gained by Mr. Fisher Hobbs. A pen 

 of this gentleman's birds was purchased for 

 his Royal Highness Prince Albert. Those 

 for hens, were awarded to the Rev. J. Boyes 

 and Mr. Bleabington. 



We were delighted to find our opinion of 

 these birds strongly confirmed by the best 

 practical judges among the visitors. They 

 are, doubtless, " profitable" in every point of 

 tiew • whilst the Cochins are hideous to look 

 at, and a perfect nuisance to all the neighbors 

 near whom they dwell. 



The gold and silver-pencilled and spangled 

 Hamburghs were some of them beautiful 

 creatures. The Sebright Bantams were only 

 passable, — with one or two exceptions. We 

 have bred many infinitely superior. The 

 game fowl were indeed noble animals, — quite 

 up to the mark. The Spanish too, were 

 better grown than ever we saw them, and in 

 rude health. But all the feathered tribe 

 were (on the opening day) in the finest con- 

 dition. We saw them subsequently, how- 

 ever, when many of them were in a pitiable 

 plight ; such close confinement had shortened 

 the lives of a considerable number. They 

 were not worth the trouble of removal. 



The pigeons deserve our very best word. 

 There was a princely collection of them, — 

 many sent in by the " Philo-Peristeron 

 Society." Among these were, of course, the 

 very celebrated pouters of Mr. Bult, of 

 Hornsey. What a superb carriage have 

 these most redoubtable birds ! The won- 

 der of the world are they, of their kind. 

 They were the theme of general admiration. 

 But so indeed were many others among this 

 select association. The almond tumblers, 

 too, fascinated many a pretty face, and a 

 tender heart — as the fair owner passed by ; 

 and we dwelt long on the spot to listen to 

 the amiable conversation that these choice 

 little feathered pets drew forth. Nor did we 

 fail to join in it. We were quite " at home " 

 among these pleasures of our youth. 



The rabbits too are entitled to honorable 



