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KIDD'S OWN JOURNAL. 



insertion in our own Journal. Physiologists, 

 it would appear, have long since discovered that 

 certain coloring matters, if administered to ani- 

 mals along with their food, possessed the property 

 of entering into the system and tingeing the bones. 

 In this way the bones of swine have been tinged 

 purple by madder ; and instances are on record of 

 other animals being similarly affected. No attempt, 

 however, was made to turn this beautiful discovery 

 to account until lately, when Mr. Roulin speculated 

 on what might have been the consequences of 

 administering colored articles of food to silkicoriyis, 

 just before spinning their cocoons. His first ex- 

 periments were conducted with indigo, which he 

 mixed in certain proportions with the mulberry 

 leaves serving the worms for food. The result of 

 this treatment was succcessful — he obtained blue 

 cocoons. Prosecuting still further his experi- 

 ments, he sought a red coloring matter, capable of 

 being eaten by silkworms without injury resulting. 

 He had some difficulty to find such a coloring 

 matter, at first, but eventually alighted on the Big- 

 nonia chica. Small portions of this plant having 

 been added to the mulberry leaves, the silkworms 

 consumed the mixture, and produced red-colored 

 Bilk. In this manner the experimenter, who is 

 still prosecuting his researches, hopes to obtain 

 silk, as secreted by the worm, of many other 

 colors. — This is truly a wonderful age, Mr. Editor. 

 Not a day passes without the discovery* of some- 

 thing new and useful. — Hearts-ease, Hants. 



The House-Marten — its Perseverance wider 

 Difficulties. — In the summer of 1851, a pair of 

 martens commenced their nest in front of our 

 house — immediately over a flower-border which 

 had been considerably injured by the refuse of the 

 nests of the preceding year. Everything was 

 resorted to to frighten them away ; and the half- 

 built habitation destroyed. No sooner, however, 

 was this done, than they recommenced operations 

 on the same spot ; and the persevering little crea- 

 tures were about their work for the fouith time 

 when I procured a ladder, and having reached the 

 site, well covered it with lard. This prevented 

 their building materials adhering. After well 

 examining the place, nothing daunted, they moved 

 just far enough to escape the grease ; and, in a 

 place equally objectionable, constructed their new 

 abode. I then attached four strings to the corners 

 of a small board, and suspended it under the nest 

 (in the manner of a hanging bookshelf). This 

 answered every purpose. The neatness of the 

 flower-border was preserved, and the little brood 

 we- e reared as happily as though no untoward cir- 

 cumstance had taken place. Last summer, per- 

 ceiving a commotion amongst some martens, I 

 discovered that a pair of house-sparrows had driven 

 them out, and taken possession of their nests. 

 This was an aggression that called for punishment. 

 Taking my gun from its resting place, I shot both 

 the intruders, when the martens soon returned to 

 their abode. Unfortunately, however, in a few 

 days, another pair of sparrows served them the 

 same trick. Again came forth the instrument of 

 destruction. On this occasion I killed the hen 

 sparrow only ; her wary husband had taken the 

 hint, and decamped. I saw him no more. The 

 martens seemed to understand all about it. They 

 again took possession, Rnd remained with us till 



summoned by their tribe to revisit the shores of 

 Africa. — J. J., Gloucester. 



Ravages by Insects. — Your interesting corres- 

 pondent, Puss, who seeks to learn the name of the 

 caterpillar, whose ravages in Sutton Park caused 

 her so much surprise — is informed that it was most 

 probably either that of Yponomeuta Eronymella, 

 or Yponomeuta Padella. However, not having 

 seen the caterpillar, and not knowing what trees 

 it fed upon, I cannot speak oracularly. If Puss 

 should see anything of the kind in the coming 

 season, let her forward me a few of the offenders 

 through you ; and she shall be enlightened by re- 

 turn of post. I gather from her lively style that 

 she is an " early bird," and a dear lover of nature. 

 If so, let her commence her entomological studies 

 by carefully observing the caterpillars in question. 

 By rising at five o'clock, whilst yet the dew is 

 spangling on their webs, she will see them all at 

 work ; and enjoy the sight. The wondrous 

 manoeuvres of the larvae, meeting and passing on 

 the same silken cord, will delight her not a little. 

 Their ascent, descent, and perfect understanding 

 of the routine prescribed them, exceeds belief un- 

 less witnessed. Puss, whilst making her obser- 

 vations next summer, will no doubt think of Old 

 Bombyx. He will only add, that close scrutiny 

 will verify the fact of these caterpillars being ex- 

 cellent barometers, during the brief period of their 

 existence. — Bombyx Atlas. 



Naturalists (so called), and their Exclusive- 

 ness. — I am sorry, Mr. Editor, to see occasion for 

 the able article in your last month's Journal, 

 signed " A Strolling Dabbler." I must, however, 

 approve of its having been inserted , and as cordially 

 agree with the concluding editorial note thereon. 

 I had always fondly hoped, that such excellent pub- 

 lications as the Naturalist, and our own Journal, 

 would have secured and increased that (I may say) 

 " freemasonry " of kindness, and good feeling, which 

 should bind lovers of natural history together. Sorry 

 ami, that my hope has not been altogether a happy 

 one. Now, I feel strongly the ill-natured remark of 

 Mr. Gray (so ably pointed out by yourcorrespondent 

 as occurring at page 262 of the Naturalist) ; in- 

 asmuch as I myself have not sufficient time to 

 take up the study entirely as " a science," but 

 more as an instructive amusement. 1 must still 

 think, as I have stated in that work, that an in- 

 terchange of Local Notes and Incidents in a 

 popular magazine, cannot but aid the advancement 

 of the science, and tend to further inquiry on, and 

 the investigation of, many subjects which would 

 otherwise be lost sight of. — John Garland, 

 M. Ent. Soc. &c. — Dorchester. 



[It will readily be believed that our Correspon- 

 dence with reference to Mr. Gray's coarse and 

 ill-natured comments on his fellow laborers in 

 the field of science, is voluminous. To prove, 

 however, our great dislike of returning evil for 

 evil, we withhold all but the above very tempe- 

 rate remonstrance. If Mr. Gray, of whom we 

 know nothing, be a gentleman in the usual ac- 

 ceptation of the word, he will appreciate our 

 delicacy. If otherwise, we shall yet have the 

 pleasure of proving, that 4he feelings of a gentle- 

 [ man inhabit our own breast. We have had a 

 i pardonable laugh or two at his expense ; and to 



