KIDD'S OWN JOURNAL. 



203 



and illustrating which, Mr. Cooper mentioned 

 that Hunter fed a sea gull (naturally a bird 

 of prey) with grain, and after twelve months 

 he destroyed the bird, and, upon examination, 

 found that its normally membranous stomach 

 had become much thickened ; and so changed 

 in character, as to resemble in appearance 

 the gizzard of the graminivorous fowl rather 

 than that of a carnivorous bird. 



Another striking instance of the periodical 

 modification of the digestive apparatus, was 

 found by Hunter in the crop of the pigeon 

 during the period of incubation. This crop, 

 which at other times was similar to that of 

 birds in general, during incubation assumes a 

 glandular character, which enables it, in 

 addition to its ordinary function, to secrete 

 a milky fluid, which is ejected, and affords a 

 nourishment for its young progeny ; rendering 

 the crop, in fact, a kind of mammary gland. 



FRESH AIR. 



"We beg most cordially to commend to 

 our readers' notice, the following advice, 

 given by an American orator. At no season 

 could it be more appropriate than at the 

 present : — " Gentlemen and ladies, open your 

 windows — let in the fresh air. Light, phy- 

 sical or moral, is not more essential to vision 

 than air is to health and happiness. Yet 

 how careful are most of us to exclude it ! 



You close up the windows, nail list around 

 the doors, and appear to do all in your power 

 to exclude Heaven's free gift of fresh air ; 

 and the reason why people are not smothered 

 is that the air is so subtle, it works its way 

 through every little crevice, so that it is 

 almost impossible to get it shut out alto- 

 gether. But, if people do not get themselves 

 quite suffocated, they continue to get pale, 

 stupid, nervous, and heavy headed for want 

 of pure air, which is so anxious to force itself 

 into their rooms, but which they contrive to 

 keep barred out. 



What would you think of a man, coming 

 down the river, on a raft, who would get a 

 basin of water and keep it for weeks to wash 

 himself every day, when the broad river was 

 running level with his feet ? You would say 

 he was a fool. Are you any wiser, who have 

 miles deep of fresh air above you, and yet do 

 not allow yourself more than a few square 

 feet to be used over and over again hundreds 

 of times ? 1 wish every one of you knew 

 what a curious piece of machinery your lungs 

 and hearts are, and how well the atmosphere 

 is adapted to our use. 



If you are afraid to have the fresh air 

 blow upon you while you are asleep, break a 

 pane of glass out of the top of the window 

 until you get used to fresh air ; and then a 

 stream of it hard enough to blow the quilts 

 off the bed will not hurt you. 



DAISIE S. 



Fair and peaceful daisies ! 



Smiling in the grass ; 

 Who hath sung your praises ? 



Poets by you pass, 

 And I, alone, am left to celebrate your mass. 



In the summer morning, 



Through the fields ye shine, 

 Joyfully adorning 



Earth with smiles divine, 

 And pour from sunny hearts fresh gladness into 

 mine. 



Lying in the meadows, 



Like the milky way, 

 From nocturnal shadows 



Glad to fall away, 

 And live a happy life in the wide light of day. 



Bees about you humming, 



Pile their yellow store ; 

 Winds in whispers coming, 



Teach you love's sweet lore — 

 For your reluctant lips still worshipping the more 



Birds with music laden, 

 Shower their songs on you ; 



And the rustic maiden, 

 Standing in the dew, — 

 By your alternate leaves tells if her love be true. 



Little stars of glory, 



From your amber eyes 

 No inconstant story 



Of her love should rise ; 

 And yet " He loves me not !" is oft the sad sur- 

 prise. 



Crowds of milk-white blossoms, 



Noon's concentrated beams 

 Glowing in your bosoms ; 

 So, by living streams 

 In Heaven, I think the light of flowers immortal 

 gleams. 



When your date is over, 



Peacefully ye fade, 

 With the fragrant clover, 



And sweet grasses laid — 

 In odors for a pall, beneath the orchard shade. 



Happy, happy daisies ! 



Would I were like you — 

 Pure from human praises, 

 Fresh with early dew, 

 And ever in my heart to Heaven's clear sunshine 

 true ! 



ENGLISH BEAUTY. 



" Life, long and happy, to English beauty 1" 

 says Mrs. S. C. Hall. Amen! say we. 

 Despite all that has been or ever will be 

 said of its fragility, its dangers, its destruc- 

 tion, it is a blesssed thing to look upon and 

 live amongst. 



Talk of its fading ! it never fades. It is 

 but transferred from face to face. The bud 

 comes forth as the blossom is perfected ; and 



