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KIDD'S OWN JOURNAL. 



been operated upon by a medical man. Mr. 

 Kent, the celebrated canine surgeon, of Great 

 Marylebone Street, has told us of many equally 

 remarkable things. Dogs that he has cured once, 

 — and whose masters resided at a remote distance, 

 have, when again attacked by disease, trotted 

 back on three legs to his surgery, and whiningly 

 made known to him their need of his further 

 assistance. He tells us, too, of their gratitude to 

 him, unmistakeably evinced in every action. The 

 diseased leg, — suspended from acute pain, has on 

 several occasions been presented to Mr. Kent, 

 just as the wrist of a patient would be handed to 

 a physician about to feel the pulse. If we studied 

 animals more than we do, we should love them 

 much better than we do.] 



" Headstrong,'" — with a Witness ! — A local 

 paper, Mr. Editor, has the following : — " Singular 

 fulfilment of a dream. — On Wednesday morning 

 week, a man named Edward Woodley, a painter, 

 working at the Xetherton station, near Dudley, 

 was proceeding to his employment in company 

 with his master ; to whom he related that, during 

 the past night, he had dreamed that the scaffold- 

 ing gave way and precipitated him to the ground. 

 Strange enough, during the day, this prediction 

 or dream was fully verified by the unfortunate 

 dreamer falling ivith a scaffold from a height of 

 twenty feet, while painting the goods-shed. The 

 man was stunned by the fall, but no bones were 

 broken ; which may perhaps be attributed to the 

 lucky fact that he fell upon his head. He was 

 anabled to proceed to his usual work the next day." 

 — This is the first time, Mr Editor, that ever 

 I heard of such " a lucky fact." A man falling 

 from the height of twenty feet — and a scaffold 

 weighing him down to boot, is a sad thing to 

 think of. But when we find he is " lucky " 

 enough to pitch on his head ; and able to go to 

 work afterwards — surely we may " get up a harm- 

 less laugh at his expense !" — A Looker on. 



[This man will make his fortune, if he comes 

 to London and applies to Mr. Peto.] 



A Blackbird pursued by a Sparrow-hawk. — 

 On Monday last, Mr. Editor, in the forenoon, a 

 singular occurrence took place at Letham Grange 

 House, Edinburgh, the residence of John Hay, 

 Esq. While Mr. Hay was engaged writing in his 

 library, two panes of the window were simultane- 

 ously broken ; and the glass scattered upon his wri- 

 ting table, and about the room. Mr. Hay's first 

 impression was, that a couple of shots had been 

 fired ; occasioning the crash. But on further ex- 

 amination, he discovered that a blackbird, which 

 had been pursued by a sparrow-hawk, had, in its 

 eagerness to escape, dashed through the window, 

 and taken shelter, in a terrible state of trepidation 

 between two spaniels, which were lying on the rug 

 before the fire. It would seem that the hawk had 

 been no less anxious to get at its prey, than the 

 blackbird to elude its pursuer ; and that it had also 

 flown against the window, broken a pane, and pre- 

 cipitated itself into the room, at the further end of 

 which it lay extended. The poor blackbird, though 

 much exhausted, after a time recovered, and was 

 set at liberty. In securing the sparrow-hawk, Mr. 

 Hay had his hands slightly injured by its talons. 

 — E. C., Glasgow, February 1st. 



Electric Cable. — The laying down of the first 

 sub-marine cable in the United Slates, and which 

 is ultimately intended to connect this country and 

 the Continent of Europe with the Continent of 

 America, has been successfully completed. The 

 cable which forms the first section of the New- 

 foundland Electric Telegraph works, has been 

 sunk between Cape Tormontine in the province 

 of New Brunswick, and Carleton Head. — E. W. 



Pigeons. — I have about twenty pairs of Fancy 

 Pigeons, Mr. Editor, confined in a stable. There 

 is a loft over it ; and a small enclosure, covered 

 with wire netting. My birds are all well paired, 

 and build regularly. They also lay regularly. 

 After "sitting" a short time, the nest is destroyed 

 and the eggs are ejected. This is the case with 

 some only. Others sit well, will hatch, and rear 

 their young up to a certain age. They then ne- 

 glect them, go again to nest, and hatch another 

 family. This has now become a " settled state of 

 things." I therefore ask our Editor for his ad- 

 vice under such trying circumstances. — A Sub- 

 scriber, Croydon. 



[There can be no doubt that your stable, and its 

 accommodations, are too limited for the large and in- 

 creasing number of its tenants. Reduce them one 

 half ; and the consequence will be a happier result. 

 Study nature in all your movements. Crowded 

 rooms amongst our own race, lead to the direst 

 evils ; and Pigeons are by no means the most 

 " moral" of the feathered tribes, under any circum- 

 stances. Thin their ranks ; or let them fly abroad for 

 air and exercise. Discontinue hemp seed, and give 

 them some "salt cat ;" for the manufacture of which, 

 see our second volume, page 268. Let them have 

 an abundance of fresh water ; and you will soon find 

 a radical change for the better, if you take the hint 

 we have thrown out.] 



Directions for Mixing Egg and Bread for 

 Birds. — I have found by experience, that a small 

 pestle and mortar is the best medium for incorpo- 

 rating egg with stale bread. It saves waste, as 

 the birds eat all up clean. I never give my birds 

 sweet cakes, for fear of their being made with but- 

 ter, which, to nestlings in particular, is very hurt- 

 ful.— W. C. W. 



Sagacity of the Toad. — You gave a most curious 

 account, Mr. Editor, in your second Volume, page 

 332, of the habits of a toad, which, being as it was 

 most respectably authenticated, I cannot doubt. 

 This account has been transferred to the BelVs Mes- 

 senger, and from it again into the Farmers' 

 Journal. T. G. H., a Correspondent of the latter, 

 says in reply : — " This curious account of a pecu- 

 liarity in the habits of the toad, reminds me of 

 a similar circumstance which occurred this last 

 summer : — A small pot, containing a plant of y c o- 

 podium densum, stood on a slate platform in a 

 small propagating-house. The altered appearance 

 of the plant induced me to take it in hand, and ex- 

 amine it. To my astonishment. I found a toad had 

 uprooted a portion of the plant, and had insinuated 

 himself beneath it, into la hollow he had made by 

 pressing the soil to fit his body — at least it had 

 that appearance. I turned him out of the pot; 

 the next day he was there again. I removed his 



