KIDD'S OWN JOURNAL. 



255 



over four years. He and his son now work in my 

 garden, Mr. Editor, and the whole family are much 

 respected. Is not this a curious case of " gourmand- 

 ise" in a rat — of kind thoughtful feeling in a gar- 

 dener, as well as of grateful feeling in the old lady; 

 and may it not teach a lesson to all of us — never 

 to judge rashly by putting too much faith in ex- 

 ternal appearances ? We may sometimes condemn 

 a fellow-creature for a theft committed by a rat ! — 

 Bombyx Atlas. 



The Family of Rooks, domesticated at Dover. 

 — It is not one of the least remarkable circum- 

 stances connected with Dover, Mr. Editor, that 

 a number of rooks have for a few years past taken 

 up their quarters among the trees in the grounds 

 attached to the large house belonging to E. R. 

 Rice, Esq., situated at the rear of the Marine 

 Parade. Occupying the position that this spot 

 does, in the centre of a bustling town, the fact 

 occasioned universal surprise ; and the " cawing" 

 of the rooks soon became interesting. The inha- 

 bitants of the neighborhood have, on their parts, 

 conceived quite a regard for these sable-feathered 

 friends; so much so, that the vagabonds who 

 have essayed to scare them have received instan- 

 taneous and condign punishment. It is not, 

 therefore, surprising, that a report that a rookery 

 was about to be destroyed should have occasioned 

 a strong expression of feeling on the part of those 

 residing near. This has emanated in the form 

 of a petition to Mr. Rice, signed by between thirty 

 and forty householders, requesting that he will 

 not permit the rooks to be disturbed. — So that it 

 is hoped the colony will yet be allowed to live in 

 peace. — E., Sandwich, Kent. 



[Turn which way we will, we find the heart of 

 the savage peeping out. How is it that the En- 

 glish, with all their boasted civilisation, cannot 

 bear to see any living creature " happy ?" Of all 

 animals, rooks are the most friendly. They 

 must indeed have a mean opinion of mankind, for 

 so returning their proffered hospitality !] 



The Dormouse — A " Tail " of Mystery. — In 

 your last, Mr. Editor, was a pleasing episode in 

 the life of a " Happy Mouse." I want to address 

 a note to her. Permit me to do so through the 

 channel of our Journal. Will you so far oblige 

 me? — Little Bo-peep, Worcester. 



[We cannot do less, Little Bo-peep, seeing that 

 your communication involves a curious inquiry. 

 Subjoined, therefore, is your letter. We have 

 referred it to " Downy " in the first instance, and 

 her "reply" (just received,) shall be given, pro 

 bono publico.] 



"Bo-pe»" to "Downy." 

 " Dear, Happy Downy. — I am an aspiring little 

 Dormouse, young and inexperienced ; but seeking 

 at all risks to better my present condition. Pray 

 lend me your aid to further my wishes. The 

 truth is, I desire to enter a family wherein one of 

 our kindred lived most happily. By my winning 

 little ways — being young, sprightly, and gentle — 

 I should not fear to win the affection of all. Now, 

 between one member of that family and myself, 

 there seems to exist a feeling of sympathy. She 

 desires to make me her pet, I long to become 

 her darling. One thing sadly stands in my way. 

 My predecessor had the misfortune to lose his tail 



when about three years old. Some wise-heads 

 assert, that this detriment to our beauty regularly 

 takes place about that age. Now, as you are a 

 mouse of experience, and the mother of so large a 

 family, due credit would attach to your testimony. 

 I therefore entreat that, at an early day, you will 

 kindly inform me whether you can still " a tail 

 unfold ? " Meantime, my heart beating with hope, 

 believe me yours ever affectionately, Little Bo- 

 peep. — P.S. — If, as I begin to fear, you do not 

 belong to our family, perhaps you can contrive to 

 throw some little light upon my question." 



"Downy" to "Bo-peep." 



" My dear little Cousin. — I hasten to reply to 

 your very affectionate letter, received this morn- 

 ing from the Editor of our Journal. I regret 

 that I am unable to speak from actual experience, 

 or observation, in reply to your query. That not 

 only myself, but also every one of my family can 

 " a tail unfold " — and a pretty long one too ! 

 I can honestly affirm. Now, without presuming 

 to contradict your wise-heads, I will venture to 

 doubt their statements. I have consulted my 

 little mistress, my old master Bombyx Atlas, and 

 his sapient dog Fino. Annexed is the result of 

 our consultation ; or, as we say in Hebrew, 

 "Hereby hangs a tail." They all confess their 

 inability to speak from positive practical expe- 

 rience ; but I have referred to the " Museum of 

 Animated Nature" (a most valuable work), " LeDic- 

 tionaire Universale d'Histoire Naturelle " (a work 

 above all praise), Blumenbach (whose name speaks 

 for itself), and four other works on natural history. 

 I have also carefully perused the minute descrip- 

 tions of the manners and habits of one hundred and 

 fourteen of the genus "Mouse," and ten of the 

 genus " Dormouse ; " but neither I nor Bombyx 

 can find any allusion to the alarming and disagree- 

 able prospect for dormice, or any other mice, atthe 

 third year of their age. Indeed Bombyx perfectly 

 recollects talking with a man who deals in fancy 

 birds, fishes, mice, &c, &c, upon the subject of 

 the age which mice, properly taken care of, might 

 expect to reach ; and the man showed him a mouse 

 which he affirmed he had reared himself, and 

 which he said was upwards of eight years old. It 

 certainly had as fine a caudal appendage, Bombyx 

 tells me, as any mouse could wish to produce. 

 For these reasons, my dear little Bo-peep, endeavor 

 to redouble your efforts to win the affection of your 

 wavering protectress. Tell her that you would 

 rather die before the arrival of the doomed third 

 year, than become a tailless mouse. Tell her that 

 I do not believe one word about her wise-heads. 

 The great Creator would never have formed us 

 with such a beautiful ornament as our fine tail, if 

 it were to be taken clean off when we had attained 

 the third year of our existence ! Bombyx Atlas does 

 not believe it ; neither does Fino ; nor do I. My 

 little mistress quite ridicules the idea. Most 

 happy shall I be, to know that I have been any 

 way instrumental in promoting your welfare. May 

 you become as happy as I am, and never forget to 

 show your gratitude to your mistress, if you 

 should succeed in persuading her to take you 

 under her fostering care ! As for the contemplated 

 loss of your tail, it will be time enough to talk 

 about that when it occurs ; and it is my belief you 

 will never have occasion to refer to that subject 



