56 



KIDD'S OWN JOURNAL. 



primroses, and poly anthtises were in bloom; some, 

 profusely. Also, the Aloysia citriodora, and 

 the southernwood, Artemisia abrotanum, were as 

 green as in the middle of the summer. Among 

 wild flowers I noticed Borago officinalis, Myosotis 

 arvensis, Cynoglossum officinalis, Linaria cymba- 

 laria, Lamium album, blooming abundantly. It 

 was interesting to observe that the pelargoniums 

 which displayed so much vigor and freshness, oc- 

 cupied an exposed position, which secured com- 

 parative dryness ; whilst those which were shel- 

 tered, and thus kept in a damp condition, had 

 been much injured — showing the effects of damp 

 in preparing the way for the action of cold, and 

 confirming the remark that " moisture is the pro- 

 vider for the lion frost." — E. Marnock. 



The Return to Nature ; Dead Leaves. — There 

 are some very sensible remarks, Mr. Editor, in the 

 "Horticulturist," connected with the preservation 

 of the leaves which fall from the trees in autumn. 

 The writer says : — " People would do well to 

 reflect for a moment on the nature of fallen leaves, 

 which contain not only the vegetable matter, but 

 the earthy salts, lime, potash, etc., needed for the 

 next season's growth ; and that, too, exactly in the 

 proportion required by the very tree and plant 

 from which they fall It is precisely in this way, 

 by the decomposition of these very fallen leaves, 

 that Nature enriches the soil, year after year, in 

 her great forests. Such leaves, then, are highly 

 valuable ; and should be carefully collected, from 

 week to week. To dig these under the soil, about 

 the roots, where they will decay, and enrich that 

 soil — is to provide, in the cheapest manner, the 

 best possible food for that tree." — These obser- 

 vations deserve attentive consideration, Mr. Editor. 

 I invariably see that all leaves in our garden are 

 thus profitably made use of in the autumn. The 

 result is always most satisfactory. — Sylvia. 



The Zollverein Bird Cages. — In your first 

 volume, Mr, Editor, you commented, in the highest 

 terms of praise, on the zinc cages exhibited in 

 Hyde Park. Can you tell me whether they can 

 be had in England ; and if so, where ? You said 

 they would effectually exclude vermin ; and this is 

 what I am so anxious about.—- Sarah L., Not- 

 tingham. 



[We are happy to tell you, that you can obtain 

 these cages, in choice variety, at 90, Charlotte 

 Street, Fitzroy Square.] 



New Aviary at Rugby. — Dear Mr. Editor : — 

 A perusal of your interesting Journal, has created 

 amongst us a great love for the study of Natural 

 History ; and has led to the formation of an Aviary 

 in the playgrounds of this College. It has been 

 built for the reception of small British birds. I 

 am happy to inform you that, on its completion, 

 Mr. Bingham most kindly presented us with all 

 his collection of British birds — consisting of a pair 

 of skylarks, a pair of yellow-hammers, a pair of 

 bullfinches, a pair of mountain-finches, two pairs 

 of goldfinches, a pair of quails, a pair of black- 

 headed buntings, a pair of brown linnets, a pair of 

 green linnets, two pairs of red-poles, a pair of 

 chaffinches, a pied wagtail, a robin, and a siskin. 

 Other birds have since been added ; and the aviary 

 for the reception of hawks has been enlarged. I 



consider it right to tell yon that, among the British 

 birds, there have been three deaths. The wagtail 

 is dead, and one of the yellow-hammers. The 

 latter was killed by the robin. [The robin will 

 soon kill the other ; and more in addition. He 

 should be removed at once. Eobins are insatiably 

 blood-thirsty.] The quail was drowned in the 

 basin belonging to the fountain. [You must make 

 this basin much shallower, or, in the spring, half 

 your stock will be drowned.] The pair of kestrels, 

 in the hawk aviary, are very healthy, but the 

 sparrow-hawk has died from cramp. [You must 

 carefully guard against damp, especially at such 

 a season as this, or you will lose half your birds.] 

 The foreign birds, in the aviary adjoining the 

 conservatory, are in a very healthy state, — par- 

 ticularly the avidavats, Virginian nightingale, 

 bishop-bird, widow-bird, a pair of wax-bills, a pair 

 of spice-birds, a Java sparrow, and a pair of shell 

 parrots. These last were sent to Mr. Bingham, 

 from Australia. We have not yet been able to 

 get a specimen of the ground parrot mentioned in 

 our Journal, (vol 1, page 153) ; but we hope to 

 do so soon. — C. J. Bromhead, Hon. Sec, College 

 of the Deaf and Dumb, Rugby. 



[We are glad to hear that we have aided you 

 in your studies ; and sincerely hope you will closely 

 pursue your most delightful researches into the 

 beauties of Nature.] 



More Cruelty to Animals ; A Mutilated Jack- 

 daw. — Knowing well, my dear Sir, what a cham- 

 pion we have in you, I send you a most horrible 

 case of barbarity just reported in the Hampshire 

 Advertiser. Do pray offer some comment on it, 

 as it may act in terrorem over some other fiend in 

 human shape. The paragraph I allude to, is as 

 follows : — " A correspondent, who dates his com- 

 munication from Commercial Eoad, Blechynden 

 (Southampton), writes : — For the last three or 

 four years, a neighbor of mine has had in his pos- 

 session a jackdaw, and a remarkably fine specimen 

 it was. In short, its perfect symmetry of form, 

 together with its singularly confiding and friendly 

 habits, and intelligent look, rendered it a general 

 pet in this vicinity ; and with myself it was an 

 especial favorite. Frequently has it come to my 

 window (for bits of bread, &c), and when opened, 

 would perch on my finger, and allow me to rub its 

 poll ; when, after thus caressing it for a minute or 

 so, away it would fly, to interest and amuse others, 

 as I always fancied ; for one should have thought 

 a bird with such a confiding nature would have 

 had no enemy, but have endeared itself to all. 

 Notwithstanding, however, its lively and happy 

 looks, and friendly habits, poor Jack, a day or 

 two ago, whilst on its rounds (looking, possibly, 

 for a Christmas morsel), met with an Anguis sub 

 umbra. Some diabolical monster in human 

 shape has cut off the nether part of its bill up- 

 wards of half an inch, so that the poor bird can 

 now peck nothing with it, which is most painful to 

 witness. Whether or not it is possible for the 

 mutilated beak to grow again, I am not sufficient 

 ornithologist to know ; if not, I fear poor Jack's 

 doom is sealed, although it may be carefully fed 

 by its owner. Whatever may have been the poor 

 bird's failings — even if regarded by some as too 

 familiar, such wanton and deliberate cruelty is 

 most shocking. It is to be hoped this human 



