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KIDD'S OWN JOURNAL 



the effect of a splendid tulip-bed. This is carry- 

 ing the "poetical feeling" to its extremest limit. 



In one of the tanks — there are eight of them, 

 and filled (the marine portion only) with seven 

 tons of sea-water, which is supplied expressly 

 from Brighton — are a private party of water tor- 

 toises, with whom is allowed to associate a young 

 alligator, black and motionless as if he were made 

 of India-rubber. 



The number of visitors who flock in to inspect 

 the " Vivarium," is extraordinary. Nor are we 

 surprised at it. Old people may gain from it much 

 useful information, and to children it will prove a 

 source of endless attraction. 



All honor be to Mr. Mitchell, the Society's 

 Secretary, for the admirable manner in which 

 he has " got up" this new summer attraction ! 



ZOOLOGICAL FOLK LORE— No. II. 



BY J. M'lNTOSH, MEM. ENT. SOC, ETC. 



{Continued from Page 223.) 



No. 10. Bees. — If stolen, bees will not thrive, 

 they pine away and die ! They must not be 

 bought, it is better to give a sack of wheat 

 for a hive ! If there are bees kept at the 

 house where a marriage feast is celebrated, 

 care is taken to dress up their hives in red or 

 scarlet cloth. The foolish people actually 

 believe that the bees would forsake their 

 dwellings if they are not made to participate 

 in the rejoicings of the owners. When a death 

 occurs in the family, they cover the hive with 

 a black cloth ! If they swarm on rotten wood, 

 a death must take place in the family ! They 

 are also said not to thrive in a quarrelsome 

 household ! The common humble bee also 

 comes in for its share ; for if one happens to 

 enter a house, it is a sure sign of death ! 



If they swarm in May, 

 They're worth a pound next day ; 

 If they swarm in July, 

 They're not worth a fly. 



Again, in some counties, we have it thus : — 



A flight in May is worth a load of hay, 

 A flight in June is worth a silver spoon, 

 A flight in July is not worth a fly. 



No. 11. Wasps.— The first one seen in the 

 season should always be killed. By so doing, 

 you free yourself for the year from all your 

 enemies ! 



No. 12. A certain Cure for Scarlet 

 Fever. — In certain parts of Ireland, when a 

 person is attacked with this malady, you are 

 drily requested to cut some of the sick man's 

 hair off, and put it down the throat of an ass ! 

 Donkeys indeed must such people be ! 



No. 13. Weasels. — It is considered un- 

 lucky for a weasel to cross one's path. Ill- 

 success is sure to follow. It is also very ill- 

 luck for a hare to cross one on the highway. 



Nor did we meet with nimble feet, 



One little fearful Lepus, — 

 That certain sign, as some divine, 



Of fortune bad, to keep us. 



No. 14. Birds. — It is said that, if a bird 

 should fly into a room and out again, by an 

 open window, it surely indicates the decease 

 of some of the inmates ! 



No. 15. Snakes. — It is a common belief in 

 many parts of England, particularly Somerset, 

 Dorset, Cornwall, and Devon, that it is im- 

 possible to kill a snake till sun-down (i.e. the 

 setting of the sun), when it immediately 

 dies ! 



No. 16. Sailors. — Sailors sometimes make 

 a considerable pecuniary sacrifice for the ac- 

 quisition of a child's caul (foetus envelope of 

 the head), the retaining of which, is to in- 

 fallibly preserve them from drowning. 



No 17. A Lamb in the Spring. — It is 

 considered very lucky to see one of these 

 with its head towards you ; and still more 

 so, if it happen to be a black one ! 



No. 18. Moles. — In Devonshire, it is be- 

 lieved that moles begin to work with the flow 

 of, and leave off with the ebb of, the tide. 

 The same is related of the beaver ! 



No. 19. Spiders. — We are informed that, 

 in the south of Ireland, spiders are enveloped 

 in treacle, or preserved alive, in order to be 

 swallowed as a certain cure for ague ! 



No 20. Crows. — To see a crow flying 

 alone, is a sure sign of bad luck, and an odd 

 one perched in the path of the observer is a 

 sign of death ! 



No. 21. The Owl. — This innocent, and 

 most useful bird in the destruction of rats, 

 mice, &c, is still heard with alarm, and re- 

 mains with us as in Chaucer's days : — 



The oule, eke that of deth the bode bringeth. 



If it should happen to change the darkness 

 of its ivy-bush for the rays of the sun at 

 noon-day, its presence is a sure sign of ill- 

 luck to the unfortunate beholder ! The dis- 

 cordant screech of the owl has probably been 

 the cause of such superstitious dread as fore- 

 boding evil, &c, and from the circumstance 

 of its being heard only in the dark or 

 twilight : — 



The obscure bird, 

 Clamor'd the livelong night. 



Macbeth. 

 So well known and established was the 

 character of the owl, as a bird of omen, that 

 Shakspeare uses the term metaphorically, 

 applying it to inauspicious persons : — 



Thou ominous and fearful owl of death, 

 Our nation's terror, — and their bloody scourge ! 

 Henry VI.— Part 1. 



We would advise all who are ignorant enough 

 still to hold these birds in abhorrence, to read 

 the humane defence against their destruction 

 by that celebrated naturalist, Charles Water- 

 ton, Esq., who threatened to strangle his 

 keeper if ever he molested them. 



Taunton, June 15. 



[To be Continued.) 



