28 



KIDD'S OWN JOURNAL. 



It could be performed by means of a hot egg, 

 round which the materials could be placed with 

 the hand. If, at the same time, all the crevices 

 of the nest-boxes were filled up with sweet salad oil 

 (by means of a camel-hair brush), no vermin 

 could gain entrance. A warm nest, sweet and 

 wholesome, is, in my opinion, quite needful, if 

 you wish your young birds to be comfortably 

 hatched, and without struggling to escape from 

 the shell. — G. S., Walworth. 



[We rather shake our heads at the idea of 

 invariably "testing" the eggs on the 12th day. 

 Nature does not require, neither does she 

 sanction this, unless under very peculiar circum- 

 stances. The new nest, and a change of nest- 

 bpx, are really indispensable; and as such, we 

 advise their universal adoption. Remember, 

 however, never to touch the eggs with a cold 

 hand.] 



A Sky-lark in Pattens. — I am really delighted, 

 " dear Mr. Kidd," to observe the impression you 

 have made upon the public at large, by so affably 

 and good-naturedly replying to any questions 

 asked of you, not in the old, formal, cold, "marble 

 vein " of diction, but treating all your readers 

 as if they were your friends. They must be so 

 if they are like me. [Miss Louisa! let us pause 

 here one instant, to say — "thank you."] I am 

 now, Mr. Editor, fast getting rid of my natural 

 timidity, and I am bound to thank you for it. 

 Now let me seek your aid in a little matter of 

 difficulty. I have a skylark, a pet whom I love 

 dearly; and he does warble so sweetly! But his 

 feet make quite a clatter as he runs about the 

 bottom of his cage. They sound like sabots, just 

 as if he were dancing in walnut shells. What 

 is the cause of this? If you will tell me all 

 about it, I will, to use the words of one of your 

 many favorites (what an enviable man you are !) 

 " give you all my heart." — Lousia K. } Chelten- 

 ham. 



[Gentle Louisa! your gift is most readily 

 accepted. It shall be placed in a snug little 

 recess, of which we alone have the key. It is 

 the only remuneration we could have consented 

 to receive, and we " love " to be so repaid. How 

 well you young ladies contrive to divine our 

 thoughts and wishes ! But let us begin by scold- 

 ing you. Are you aware that, without extreme 

 care, your pet will perhaps lose some of his 

 claws? His feet are most probably diseased by 

 dirt! Now listen: cleanliness with birds, as 

 with ourselves, is indispensably necessary ; and 

 their feet should be cleansed regularly every 

 week. In the first place, you must have the 

 drawer of the cage well scraped and scalded; 

 when dry, cover it thickly with gravelly sand, 

 sifted, but not finely sifted. Mix with it some 

 old bruised mortar, of which these birds are par- 

 ticularly fond, as it keeps them in health. Next, 

 half fill a tea-cup with warm water, and place 

 your lark's feet and legs in it. You must con- 

 trive so to hold him, that his legs drop between 

 your fingers, the back of the latter being held 

 over the tea-cup. Let his Majesty's extremities 

 be bathed for at least five minutes. His limbs 

 will then be supple, and the "pellets" on his feet 

 will be so softened, that your affectionate little fin- 

 gers will readily remove what you call the "sabots." 



This operation over, dry the lark's feet with a 

 silk handkerchief, and quickly restore him to his 

 cage. You must be especially careful whilst 

 handling him, to press very lightly on his body; 

 and let your hand be as cool as possible during 

 the manipulation. The gratitude of the poor 

 bird for this seasonable relief, will be unbounded. 

 He will love you better than ever, and sing to 

 you such a song of gratitude! We have pre- 

 scribed publicly for you, as there are many other 

 young ladies, we opine, whose birds, " dance in 

 walnut shells !" We shall anxiously await another 

 " missive " from you, to hear how you have suc- 

 ceeded under our directions. If Ave have been 

 severe with you, forgive us. You erred from 

 ignorance, therefore "forgiveness'Vill be mutual.] 



Remarkable Affection in a Terrier.— I send 

 you, Mr. Editor, a paragraph which has recently 

 appeared in the " Worcester Journal." It is as 

 follows : — " Canine Affection. — Mr. Richard 

 Smith, gamekeeper to Sir O. P. Wakeman, 

 Bart., has in his possession a terrier bitch which 

 took to three wild ducklings when only three 

 days old, and for the last month has displayed 

 the greatest tenderness towards them. If they 

 wander she fetches them back."— Residing within 

 a reasonable distance of the place named, I have 

 made it my business to call and see the game- 

 keeper on the subject; determined that, if true, 

 the particulars should appear in the Public's 

 " Own Journal," which very wisely refuses to 

 register any but " facts." The statement is 

 true; and I will furnish you with the details. 

 Mr. Smith, accompanied by the terrier, was one 

 day passing through some grass fields, when 

 three young ducklings started up. The dog, 

 instead of pursuing them, showed the most evi- 

 dent symptoms of affectionate delight at their 

 discovery. This induced the gamekeeper to 

 carry them home, where he covered them up 

 warm in a snug basket, placing them in a 

 corner to be out of the way. The terrier, however, 

 soon routed them out; and one by one they were 

 safely conveyed by her into her own kennel. 

 Vainly were they brought back; for they were 

 as soon restored to the kennel. Only whilst they 

 were being fed, would the affectionate animal 

 remain quiet. They were then, as Smith said, 

 " sure to be removed and nestled up." One day, 

 the gamekeeper wanted to go out and take the 

 dog with him. On this occasion, the ducklings 

 were consigned to the pool ; and away they 

 swam,— to the perfect terror of the dog, who 

 barked incessantly till she had again safely re- 

 stored them to the kennel. The quondam duck- 

 lings are now ducks; but still they and the dog 

 trot about together in company, and a droll 

 sight it is. This singular attachment may arise 

 from the fact of the poor terrier never having 

 had any family of her own. It is really worth 

 recording; and as such I send it. Yours de- 

 votedly. — Amanda. 



Ignorance. — It is as great a point of wisdom 

 to hide ignorance, as to discover knowledge. 



True Humanity. — Be always at leisure to do 

 good. Never make " business " an excuse to 

 decline the offices of humanity. 



