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KIDD'S OWN JOURNAL. 



and was not observed until after the front had 

 been attached, and the whole finished. It was a 

 little vexing to see the unwelcome intruder 

 parading about in the box, as regardless of its 

 contents as if they had been as many old rotten 

 sticks. He walked over one bird, then over 

 another, now in the bottom of the case, then again 

 on the back, sides, &c, until he at last became 

 stationary in one of the corners. Being an eyesore 

 in such a place, he would have been summarily 

 dealt with, but for the case being a close one, and 

 all but hermetically sealed. The re-opening of it 

 would have cost some trouble, and not a little 

 risk. The consecpuence was, the little creature 

 was permitted to remain, in the hope that want 

 would terminate his existence. In this, however, 

 I have been mistaken; and from being looked upon 

 as a grievance, he ultimately became an object of 

 some interest. Indeed he has in consequence 

 already more than fully repaid the space which he 

 occupies. Towards noon of the second day of his 

 incarceration, he commenced operations in the 

 corner already alluded to; and by breakfast time 

 of the day following, the web was completed. 

 The little artisan was then observed to walk 

 slowly and very sedately, all over the newly- 

 formed fabric ; seemingly with the view of ascer- 

 taining if all was secure. This done, the apertitre 

 was next examined, and with more apparent care 

 than was bestowed upon the rest of the structure. 

 This wonderful mechanical contrivance — which 

 serves at once the four-fold purpose of store-house, 

 banqueting-hall, watch-tower, or of an asylum in 

 times of danger, being found all right, the artificer 

 then took up his station within it ; no doubt to 

 await the success of the net which he had spread, 

 and whence, had fortune proved kind, he would 

 boldly have rushed to secure the struggling prey. 

 It happened, however, that no other insect had 

 the misfortune to be imprisoned along with him- 

 self, and, as already hinted, none can get in. 

 There, on his watch-tower, he still remains as 

 motionless as a statue. And there has the patient 

 little animal continued for the space of twelve 

 months, having taken up his position on the 3rd 

 of October, 1851, and kept watch and ward with- 

 out ever having moved, night or day, as far as 

 could be observed, except on three occasions. 

 These, however, were so trifling, that they are 

 not worth mentioning. But this is not all, as 

 will be anticipated. The animal being still alive, 

 it follows, as a natural consequence, that life has 

 been sustained during all this time without the 

 least particle of nourishment having been obtained ! 

 The little creature is still as life-like as on the first 

 day of his imprisonment. This circumstance is 

 not a little curious ; and to the naturalist the fact 

 must be of some value. Mr. E. adds, that the 

 longest period during which, so far as he can learn, 

 spiders have been ascertained to have lived with- 

 out food, is ten months." — I have sent you this, 

 my dear Sir, deeming it to be particularly inte- 

 resting, and worthy of record. — Helen W. 



The Blackbird Imitative. — You are right in 

 saying the nestling blackbird will copy anything. 

 A friend of mine kept his blackbird, during the 

 cold weather, in his sitting-room, where, being 

 musical, he often amused himself in whistling the 

 " Schottische." The first part of this, " Blacky " 



soon learnt to perfection. "When the weather 

 became warmer, his cage was hung out in the yard : 

 and there he frequently warbled forth a new solo. 

 I fancy the merry tailor (whose shop is con- 

 tiguous to the yard) taught him this. He also 

 very soon learned to whistle up the dog and the 

 pigeons to feed. He has not yet been heard to 

 sing the note peculiar to the bird in its natural 

 state. He was caged very young, and this is 

 his third year. He sings very sweetly. I assure 

 you my friend has not designedly taught him ; but 

 has been astonished at his powers. As I have 

 myself heard the bird's performance, I can vouch 

 for the truth of this statement. One guinea has 

 been offered for him, but refused. — J. C. 



[We observe in the Leeds Intelligencer of May 

 14, the following, which supports your argu- 

 ment : — " One of a pair of blackbirds frequenting 

 the garden of a Mr. Drummond, Muthild, and who 

 keeps a number of bantams, " crows " night and 

 morning. Indeed he imitates the bantam cock so 

 well, that no person can distinguish one from the 

 other.] 



A Stroll in Epping Forest. — When old Sol 

 arose on the morning of the 2nd of May, he 

 found myself, my youngest son, and old "Fino," 

 enjoying a substantial breakfast ; discussing 

 thereat the probable pleasures of a day which we 

 had devoted, in our mind's eye, to a merry ramble. 

 It was agreed that my companion should look 

 after water-beetles ; and that whilst he was so 

 engaged, I should secure any other stray beetle 

 or butterfly, &c. &c, that might cross my path — 

 "Fino" keeping order among the rabbits. Well ; 

 our various instruments de chasse being ready, off 

 we started, about five o'clock, a.m. Our route lay 

 direct to the " Seven Sisters ; " and thence to the 

 Tottenham Station, which we crossed ; and on to 

 the Ferry House. It certainly was a glorious 

 morning, although there was a cool easterly wind 

 stirring ; and we did not regret not having put in 

 practice an idea (which we at one moment enter- 

 tained) of going sans veste. Passing forwards, we 

 reached Walthamstow ; and here the beams of the 

 sun began to be felt. This refreshed us ; and thus 

 accompanied, a most lovely walk we had. Onward 

 still further, and we came to the Woodford Boad, 

 which runs through part of the forest. Here it 

 was decidedly warm. Turning to our left, we 

 followed up the road, meeting, now and then, a 

 brood of pretty little goslings, which seemed much 

 to interest " Fino ;" but the old fellow was despe- 

 rately alarmed when the fond mother flew at him, 

 with outstretched neck and wings ; hissing close 

 to his very nose. He took all this, however, as he 

 generally does everything else, very good-tem- 

 peredly, and, after a time, made tolerable friends 

 with Mrs. Goose and her happy family. He was 

 not so successful, however, with an old hen, further 

 on. She would listen to no accommodation ; and, 

 to avoid a row, " Fino " made a bolt of it. In good 

 time we reached the turnpike, and, in a few minutes 

 more, the " Bald Face Stag " (an old acquaintance 

 of ours). We can indeed recollect the said " Bald 

 Face," for some few years ! Here we were ushered 

 into a room we knew full well ; and, lookirg at our 

 watch, found it half past seven o'clock. We rested 

 near a good fire, just half an hour— pour rafraichir 

 la memoire — and having requested dinner to be 



