although it was at some distance. Its innocence 

 of the offence was proved by every fresh leaf 

 being still eaten, although it was a prisoner. Can 

 this description enable you to give it a name, or 

 me an idea what can so destroy the plants ? I 

 send two leaves, in the hope they may aid in the 

 discovery; also a sprig of Heliotrope, in proof of 

 my assertion respecting the damage I experience 

 since, and only since, the destruction of the birds. 

 Upon this very sprig, you will find a " happy 

 family " have already fixed their domicile ! Being 

 obliged myself, thanks to the gunners! to perform 

 ^^effectually the besogne (intense labor) the poor 

 birds have been destroyed for doing effectually, — 

 that is, to hunt after insects, — I found, near the 

 Funchias, two beetles, — not my well-known ene- 

 mies Ilemirhipus lineatus obscurus, but a large 

 kind, the corselet bordered with a metallic violet 

 color. Can these be the insatiable gluttons 

 whose appetites I have so much cause to lament? 

 I leave you to judge, from the accompanying 

 specimens, the appearance my pet heliotropes, 

 verbenas, annuals, &c., present. Is it not trying? 

 Could you be patient under such trials ? — 



FoRESTIERA. 



[ You are, fair lady, an emblem of Patience. 

 We confess we could not be patient, under 

 such a visitation. We suffer indeed in the same 

 way, and lose our patience daily. Many a 

 darling of our heart perishes in a single night. 

 The issue from your " smooth caterpillar," was 

 the Sphinx ligustri, or Privet-hawk-Moth, — a 

 rapacious fellow where there are any tender leaves, 

 — spreading desolation far and near. The 

 wretch who, with its family in posse, was domi- 

 ciled on the Heliotrope, is the Bombyx orgya, 

 or Antiqua. It was a female specimen. This 

 also spreads wide desolation in a garden. The 

 leaves you send have been a prey to snails, cater- 

 pillars, &c, of all sorts; and prove you to be a 

 martyr indeed! We agree with you, perfectly, 

 that nearly all this is the necessary consequence of 

 the destruction of birds, who, at this season, are 

 better than all the gardeners in the kingdom. 

 What the larger tribe consume, even in one day, is 

 almost incredible; but people will not be set 

 right, — will have their own way; and we are 

 obliged, nolentes volentes, to suffer for their delin- 

 quencies and mad follies. In a word, gentle 

 Forestiera, — we cannot help you. You know — 

 we have before asserted it — " which way our 

 heart lies." May your next request be more easy 

 of accomplishment! We hate to be foiled in 

 anything.] 



in perfection, and is beginning to warble the 

 melodious notes of its species. I shall be glad 

 to learn if any of your numerous correspondents 

 have found anything similar in their researches 

 this season. — J. W., Burnside St., Glasgow. 



Another perfectly "white" Blackbird* — Knowing, 

 dear Mr. Editor, your desire to chronicle every- 

 thing interesting in Natural History, and espe- 

 cially those freaks of nature that occasionally 

 take place in the feathered tribe, whereby the 

 colors that designate the different varieties of our 

 song birds are sometimes reversed, I beg to 

 apprise you of a white blackbird at present in the 

 possession of Mr. M'Kenzie, Dundas Street, 

 Glasgow. This bird is a very fine specimen of 

 its kind, and was found by Mr. M'Kenzie in a 

 nest containing a family of four. Three of them 

 are black as blackbirds usually are, and this rara 

 avis is white as snow, without a single colored 

 feather in its plumage. It has the yellow beak 



" Hope on, — Hope ever" — When reading your 

 remark, headed as above, at page 56 of the 

 Journal, my pen dotted down the subjoined fugi- 

 tive thoughts. Being impromptu, they are at all 

 events " fresh " from the heart. They are cer- 

 tainly not studied. If you see aught in them 

 to encourage what we all love, " Hope," — that 

 sweet anchor of the soul, they are at your ser- 

 vice. — Helen Hetherington. 



" Hope on and Hope ever" our motto shall be, 

 When by Fate's adverse winds we are driven ; 

 When our frail bark is toss'd on the dark stormy 



sea, 

 It will pilot us safely to Heaven. 



We have braved many storms, and the same 



gentle hand 

 That has sooth'd us in many a sorrow, 

 Will waft us in peace to that bright "happy land," 

 Where joy ever beams on the morrow. 



" Hope on and hope ever ! " — Tho' dark be the 



night, 

 And wildly the tempest is foaming, 

 In the home of our hearts is a beacon of light 

 To illumine our footsteps when roaming. 



" Hope on," — as we calmly float down with the 



tide i 

 " Hope ever,"— the prize is before us ; 

 With Mercy to cheer us, and Truth for our guide, 

 And the banner of Love waving o'er us. 



There's a clear brilliant star beaming brightly 



above ; 

 And will it desert us ? Oh, — never ! 

 So up with the Standard of Friendship and Love— 

 " Hurrah, boys! Hope on, and Hope ever! " 



[The Editor of this Journal, and his attend- 

 ant Satellites, su r ly rank soon as a " New 

 Planet." It appear so. Let " Jupiter" 

 look out !] 



Avidavats. — Will your correspondent at Rugby 

 be so obliging as to tell me how he treat3 his 

 avidavats when they are moulting ? Also tell 

 me how he feeds them ; and what diseases they 

 are liable to ? Three of these beautiful little 

 creatures have just come into my possession ; and 

 I am ignorant as to their care and management. 

 — L.D. 



Street Music. — When you first brought out 

 your Journal, Mr. Editor, you emphatically 

 said, that you reserved to yourself the right of 

 trying to put down all abuses, be they what they 

 might. How have I pored over your columns, to 

 see if you would attack the street organs, — those 

 " infernal machines," that help so continually to 

 fill up the spare wards in our lunatic asylums! 

 Do tell me, Mr. Editor, if you can, why you 

 have never yet raised your voice against these 

 abominations? Do you never hear them? Are 

 you never annoyed by them? Can you pass 

 through the streets in a state of sanity, or with- 



