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KEDD'S OWN JOURNAL. 



bees, a great number were killed on the horses, 

 or put to flight. The horses, however, were so 

 much injured that they died in an hour. The 

 value of the bees destroyed was l,500f., and of 

 the horses 2,500f. A few days before bees from 

 the same hives killed seventeen goslings. I 

 have no doubt that all bees are actuated by 

 one and the same instinct. It is therefore desi- 

 rable never to do anything that may provoke 

 them ; or the consequences, as we have seen, may 

 be truly serious. — Therese, Paris. 



Tameness of the Thrush. — The instances you 

 have cited of the tameness of the song thrush 

 (Turdus musicus), are curious certainly; and 

 they prove how very confiding this sweet creature 

 is whilst approaching so near our dwellings. I 

 have, however, something still more curious to 

 tell you ; and I should have communicated it at 

 an earlier day, but for the fear of some robber 

 who would no doubt have possessed himself of 

 my domestic visitors. Very recently, I observed 

 in one of the trees (a sycamore) in my front 

 garden (immediately facing the window of my 

 sitting-room), two handsome thrushes. I thought 

 little of this, until I found them pay repeated 

 visits to the same tree. I could not for one 

 moment have supposed that they were about to 

 build their nest here, for the tree of which I have 

 spoken actually overhangs the public road. In 

 this road, omnibuses (whose departure is loudly 

 heralded by a crazy horn), and vehicles of all 

 descriptions, are momentarily passing ; besides 

 pedestrians innumerable.* However, my little 

 friends well knew what they were about; and 

 sure enough they did build their nest there (about 

 fifteen feet from the ground); laid their eggs; 

 hatched their young; fed them daily, whilst I 

 and my household gods were looking on with 

 delight; and now they are just on the eve of 

 taking wing to see the world. I have many a 

 time trembled lest some idle boy, or passing 

 vagrant, should have espied the nest, and 

 removed it. Hitherto my fears have been ground- 

 less. Ere this meets the eye of the public, let 

 me hope that my fondest wishes will be realised, 

 and that the birds will have flown. The sagacity 

 of this loving pair has been abundantly proved. 

 They reasoned, doubtless, that no person would 

 suspect their having chosen so public a site; and 

 therefore, by using proper caution in flying 

 stealthily to and fro (in this matter their cunning 

 was extreme), their foresight became their safe- 

 guard. I have never felt greater anxiety in 

 my life about the nest of any bird ; and I shall 

 indeed feel happy when all danger has been re- 

 moved by the departure of the nestlings. There 

 has been something remarkable attending this 



* It is worthy of remark, that the nest of these birds 

 was built during one of the most " noisy " months in the 

 year ; at a time when the road was " alive " with visitors 

 to the races, crowded into every description of vehicle. 

 Horns were blown, shouts raised, songs sung, drums 

 beaten ; and, on one occasion, the band of a cavalry regi- 

 ment passed. The sounds of their various instruments 

 (for the band was in full play) would, I should have 

 Imagined, have caused the birds much alarm. From the 

 very moment of their young being hatched, the parents 

 have paid repeated visits to the lawn at the rear of the 

 house; and it has indeed been a gratifying sight to 

 observe how busily they have been occupied in providing 

 for the wants of their family. 



nest, both at its commencement and on its sub- 

 sequent completion. No sooner had the mother 

 thrush collected her nesting material, and given 

 it form and finish, than two sparrows took pos- 

 session of a lower branch of the same tree, and 

 commenced building a local habitation for a 

 family in expectancy. No sooner was it finished, 

 than a vast multitude of the sparrow tribe as- 

 sembled in conclave in an adjoining tree — the 

 whole evidently keeping their eyes intently fixed 

 upon the said nest. Anon, a most vociferous 

 outcry rent the air ; the effect produced by which 

 is perfectly indescribable. There was an ebul- 

 lition of sounds resembling, we should imagine, 

 those which followed the destruction of Babel. 

 A greater confusion of tongues never surely was 

 before commingled. The object or meaning of 

 this I could not possibly divine ; but I noted the 

 result. There had been a committee of the whole 

 house. Deliberations had been gone into. Some 

 knotty point had been discussed : a resolution had 

 been passed. The house then broke up, and the 

 members separated. A day or two subsequently, 

 one single pair of sparrows only were observable ; 

 and these were busily occupied in removing all 

 the materials of the former nest to a higher 

 elevation near the top of the tree, but equally per- 

 pendicular with the nest of the thrush. They 

 are now sitting. The " motive " that actuated 

 the sparrows throughout, is best known 

 to themselves. They raised a question, and 

 settled it among themselves. The thrushes 

 evidently cared little about what was going 

 forward, and wisely declined going into par- 

 ticulars. — William Sfooneh, New Road, Ham- 

 mersmith. 



Fly-papers ; what are they made of? Dear 

 Mr. Editor, — Do you really think it is cruel to 

 use the fly-papers? I mean the papers that 

 are sold about the streets, covered with a sticky 

 substance like treacle, and which catch the flies 

 in multitudes. If I thought it " cruel," I am 

 quite sure I would not use these papers. What 

 are they made of? — Amelia W. 



[As you have asked us a question, Miss Minny, 

 we feel ourselves bound to answer it; but every 

 hair on your well-arranged head will rise up, as 

 you listen to what we have to say. As for your 

 poor, fluttering little heart, itwillbeat ten thousand 

 to the minute. These diabolical inventions are 

 now being sold in countless thousands ; and the 

 barbarities they inflict are hideous. Hearken, all 

 ye who patronise these fly-papers ! Hear how 

 they are made. The two compounds are, 

 common resin and sweet oil; heated, ama'ga- 

 mated, and spread upon sheets of old news- 

 papers. Thus are they " manufactured." Now 

 for their " attractive " qualities. Wherever flies 

 abound, there it has been deemed advisable to 

 spread our, these papers, one, two, three, or more. 

 A little sifted loaf-sugar lightly sprinkled on 

 them, completes the " charm." Let us note the 

 result. In an instant some luckless fly descends, 

 in search of a treat. He realises it, by finding 

 either a leg or a wing fixed as in a vice. Escape 

 is totally impossible. The more he struggles, 

 the worse are the consequences. Here he must 

 live; here he must fast; here he must linger; 

 here he must " stick " and groan — till starvation 



