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KIDD'S OWN JOURNAL. 



epistle (we mean the observations that we have 

 not printed), that invests you with a peculiar in- 

 terest in our eyes. Do not scruple to question us 

 closely on any subject. You see by the extent of 

 our reply to you, that we " read your character," 

 and admire it ; else should we have been veiy brief. 

 Your concluding remark about Dr. Elliotson, is 

 quite true. Brutally as he has been used by the 

 world at large, and by the medical profession in 

 particular, for persevering in his researches after 

 truth, — he is now placed on a pinnacle from which 

 his brethren cannot hurl him down. They once 

 hated him ; they now tremble before his influence.] 



Chickens Nursed and " Brooded''' by a Spanish 

 Cock. — Our Journal being the recognised 

 medium of communication for all matters of public 

 interest, I have pleasure in sending you the fol- 

 lowing : — Some two years since, I purchased of 

 Mr. Peck,Wigan, (the celebrated breeder of choice 

 fowls,) a black Spanish cock. This is a most 

 remarkable bird ; for he actually plays the part of 

 mother to a number of Cochin-China chickens, 

 whose parent had unnaturally left them to shift 

 for themselves. During rain, too, I have often 

 noticed chickens taking shelter under his wings. 

 A few evenings since, I found him in a pen — in 

 company with two hens, each of which had a brood 

 of chickens. On taking him up, he also was 

 covering a number of little ones ! I removed 

 him immediately, and placed him in a pen 

 by himself; when lie became very excited, — 

 spreading out his wings like a broody hen, and 

 " clucking" in the hens' vernacular. Amazed 

 at this, I turned thirty chickens into the 

 same pen ; when he at once settled down, and 

 induced many of the chickens to nestle down 

 under his wings. Others perched on his back, 

 and the remainder settled close around him. What 

 puzzles me still more is, the fact of the chickens 

 being all strangers to him. For the last three 

 months he has been out on "a walk," and only 

 returned a fortnight since. Last year he was the 

 father of some very fine chickens. Had he been 

 a Capon (I hear these birds are occasionally used 

 as " nurses "), I should not have marvelled so 

 much. Can any of your readers account for this 

 curious incident ; or tell of any similar circum- 

 stance? For your private satisfaction I send (as 

 you desire) my name and address. — J. S. H. 



Nest of the Cole-Tit. — I am a dear lover of 

 birds, Mr. Editor, and so are you. I therefore 

 have pleasure in sending you the particulars of a 

 Cole-Tit's nest. A pair of these pretty creatures 

 have built their nest in an inverted flower-pot, 

 size " No 16." It is on the ground ; and through 

 the top hole do they go in and out. The nest is 

 made the exact size of the pot. It is composed 

 of moss and wool, and is about four inches deep. 

 In it were deposited, some weeks since, ten eggs. 

 Whilst I write, there are ten fine birds nearly 

 ready to take wing ! I need not tell you how I 

 love these little rogues — nor with what delight I 

 shall watch their movements, and strive to pro- 

 tect them from the cats. — W. Foguett, Major, 

 Stride House, Newport, I. W. 



[We have (just now) several delightful scenes 

 of this kind in our own garden. The birds love 

 us for protecting them. Such droll manoeuvres 



are there every day visible to deceive the cats ! 

 These vermin cannot get at the nests, — but they 

 too often take vengeance on the young, when they 

 first come abroad. However, we know a " little 

 secret " that infallibly keeps them quiet ! Several 

 of the monsters have been carefully watching a 

 nest, containing a goodly number of young wrens. 

 We have been as carefully watching them. The 

 wrens may come out now — all danger is over !] 



Ornithological Society, Rugby. — We have 

 just held our General Meeting (June 13), and 

 made our new appointments. Since I last wrote 

 you, we have added many birds both to the Fo- 

 reign and English Aviaries. In both there are at 

 this time of writing a variety of nests. It being 

 a rule however, with our Society, never to disturb 

 birds whilst sitting, I cannot at present furnish 

 particulars. [Your rule for not disturbing 

 birds whilst sitting, deserves comment. It 

 is a most wholesome regulation. Were it 

 more generally adopted, the increase of young 

 birds, successfully reared, would be very consider- 

 able. Birds are as sensitive as we are ; and dis- 

 like prying curiosity into their family arrange- 

 ments. Leave them quiet, and they will 

 rarely fail of their purpose.] In the Foreign 

 Aviary, the cut-throats built and laid eggs ; 

 but being disturbed by the glaziers who were 

 engaged above, putting in rough squares of 

 glass — to diminish the heat of the sun, they 

 forsook their nest. They have nested again, 

 laid, and sat. No produce, however, rewarded 

 their toil. This has disconcerted them. The 

 | bronzed Manikins, and the weaver-birds, have 

 made several nests, but they have deposited no 

 eggs. All the inmates are very healthy. In 

 March last, our Bishop-bird was habited in a gay 

 and brilliant dress. It had a splendid bright 

 orange ruff round its neck — the lower part of its 

 body being covered with feathers like the finest 

 black silk velvet , and wings and tail fringed with 

 bright orange. It is now changed in appearance 

 to the female weaver-bird ! The Avidavats have 

 moulted four times during the year ; and each 

 moulting produces a different change in their ap- 

 pearance. The male weaver-bird became greatly 

 altered in moulting. The feathers on the top of 

 its head, and lower part of its body, became pink. 

 The face now has the appearance of a black mask, 

 and it has a dark crimson bill. The only change 

 in the female is, that the bill from red has 

 changed to yellow. The Cardinal in moulting, 

 underwent no change in its appearance. Neither 

 did the Spice-birds, Cut-throats, Java-sparrows, 

 Bronzed Manikins, Shell-parrots or Harlequin 

 Bishop-bird. The plumage of the AVax-bills has 

 become lighter in color, with a beautiful pink un- 

 derneath. The Indigo-birds have become more 

 intensely blue, intermixed with slate-colored fea- 

 thers. The feathers on the wings and back of 

 the Widow-bird, changed from the appearance of 

 black silk velvet to a brown color mixed with 

 black. — C. J. Bromhead, (Chairman) College of 

 the Deaf and Dumb, Rugby, June 14. 



END OF VOLUME HI. 



