portunities of study. We can generally, too, ap- 

 proach birds sufficiently near to identify them with 

 a good telescope ; while to approach them within 

 gunshot is often, from their wildness, shyness, and 

 wariness, extremely difficult. Could the use of 

 the gun be entirely dispensed with, 



" A consummation 

 Devoutly to be wished," 



this shyness and wariness in birds would soon wear 

 off; we should then experience comparatively 

 little difficulty in approaching them, for the pur- 

 pose of observing their habits, and that in a far 

 more satisfactory manner than we are now enabled 

 to do. 



The grounds of Terrick House, the residence of 

 one of my three brothers, J. S. Stone, Esq., have 

 afforded the feathered tribes an asylum for several 

 years past. Within the limits of these grounds 

 no gun is ever discharged ; nor are nets, nor traps, 

 nor other instruments of destruction allowed to be 

 used. Here the birds are at full liberty to enjoy 

 themselves as best they may ; all are free to come 

 and free to go. Free to pursue the round of court- 

 ship, marriage, nest-building, laying, incubating 

 their eggs, and rearing their young. Welcome to 

 the shelter its evergreens afford from the blasts 

 and storms,and snows and cold of winter. Welcome 

 to the protection those evergreens, as well as deci- 

 duous trees and shrubs, afford from the powerful 

 rays of a noontide summer's sun, and its conse- 

 quent parching heat ; tempering that heat, and 

 diffusing a delightful and refreshing coolness 

 around. Welcome to partake of the fruit of vege- 

 tables, or any other fare the place affords. 

 Welcome to disport themselves, if they be of 

 aquatic habits, upon its waters. Welcome, and 

 more than welcome, to solace themselves, their 

 partners, and the inmates of the house with their 

 music. 



Then follows Mr. Stone's comment upon 

 the Barn Owl, Rook, and other visitors to 

 this sacred spot. There is, beside, a vast 

 amount of pleasant reading scattered over 

 these pages, to which we refer the curious 

 inquirer. 



We may here acknowledge the safe receipt 

 of Part 45 of " A History of British Birds," 

 by the Rev. F. 0. Morris ; and Part 26 of 

 " The Nests and Eggs of British Birds," by 

 the same author. These both maintain the 

 reputation they have so long enjoyed. 



A book on " British Game Birds and Wild 

 Fowl," by Dr. Morris (to be published in 

 Monthly Parts), is announced. When it 

 reaches us, we shall be happy to give our 

 report of it. 



The Illustrated London Magazine. 

 February. Piper and Co. 



There is no falling off in the conduct and 

 interest of this marvellously cheap periodical. 

 Its matter is excellent, and its illustrations 

 are sweetly picturesque. 



Among the varied contributions, is one on 

 " Taming the Horse." It will be here seen 

 how largely " kindness " enters into the 



secret. Kindness is, no doubt, the grand talis- 

 man for taming everything and everybody. 

 We propose to offer a few extracts confir- 

 matory of this, and at the same time we shall 

 be able to gratify some of our readers by a 

 direct allusion to the " horse whisperers," so 

 anxiously inquired about in our last number. 



The Tartars begin to exert their influence over 

 their horses when they are but eight months old ; 

 they make them carry their children on their backs, 

 and thus they are trained by degrees, till about 

 six years old, when they become perfectly amenable, 

 and equal to the greatest hardships. Niebuhr 

 and other travellers tell us, that the Arabian 

 horses are divided into two great branches, the 

 Kadtsche and Kochlani; the descent of the former 

 is not known, but there has been a written genea- 

 logy kept of the latter for upwards of two thou- 

 sand years. They are kept solely for riding ; and 

 are in such high estimation, that they can only be 

 obtained at enormous cost, — their origin is said to 

 be derived from King Solomon's stud. They are 

 capable of sustaining the greatest fatigue, and can 

 even pass whole days without food. They are said 

 to be undaunted in courage against an enemy ; 

 and it is told of the noble and faithful creature, that 

 when wounded and unable to bear his rider any 

 longer, he retires from the fight and takes him to 

 a place of safety — and should his master fall to 

 the ground, he never quits his side till he has at- 

 tracted some one by his neighing to come to his 

 assistance. Indeed, there is an influence more 

 potent than bit or bridle or harshness — the influ- 

 ence of kindness. 



The Arabs treat their horses with the utmost 

 tenderness ; they never make use of the whip 

 or spur but in cases of the greatest emer- 

 gency — they treat them, in fact, as companions, 

 and talk to them and caress them — allow them to 

 share their tents, and carefully attend to their 

 wants. The mane and tail, which are never cut, 

 are washed every morning as well as the legs ; 

 and every little roughness on the skin is smoothed. 

 The family who thus associate with the horse, 

 consider him in the light of a friend; aud when 

 he lies down, the little children may be seen 

 fondling about his neck and body — nothing, 

 indeed, can exceed the affection of an Arab for his 

 horse : it is impossible to reckon on the fulfilment 

 of a bargain for his sale. It often happens that a 

 rich European, attracted by the beauty of an 

 Arabian horse, offers such an exorbitant price for 

 his purchase, as might be supposed to be an irre- 

 sistible temptation to one in poverty; but it rarely 

 happens that the bargain is completed — one look 

 at his horse is enough to make the Arab declare 

 off, he protests that his horse is dearer to him 

 than his life — that money is useless to him, but 

 that when mounted on his favorite, he feels as rich 

 as a Pacha. 



There are hundreds of affecting anecdotes of the 

 strength of this affection. D'Arvieux mentions 

 one of a poor Arab, who made journeys to Rome 

 to inquire after a mare whom he had been 

 induced to sell. While kissing and caressing her, 

 he would cry like a child — he would embrace her 

 and wipe her eyes with his handkerchief, and rub 

 her with his shirt sleeves ; and he would give her 

 a thousand blessings during whole hours that he 



