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KIDD'S OWN JOUKNAL. 



June, on the second appearance of the cholera, 

 the thermometer marked 34 degrees centigrade. 

 The highest temperature which man can support 

 for a certain time, varies from 40 to 45 degrees 

 (104 to 1 13 of Fahrenheit). Frequent accidents, 

 however, occur at a less elevated temperature. — 

 I may add, that the loss of lives through the 

 sun's heat, during this present summer, have 

 been very numerous. Serious accidents, too, by 

 storms, and deaths by lightning, have been 

 recorded, in such numbers that it makes the 

 heart sick to read of them. — Julia. 



The large Tiger Moth. — Towards the latter 

 end of March there may be found feeding on the 

 common nettle-dock, and various other plants, a 

 small hairy caterpillar (Arctia Cayd) of a uni- 

 form chesnut color; but which, after changing its 

 skin, becomes black with a row of white spots 

 along the sides, placed one on each segment. In 

 addition to these, there are two more spots on 

 each of the third and fourth segments. After the 

 third moult, it measures about an inch in length. 

 The hair is much longer, and of a light chesnut 

 color, especially towards the head ; and the row 

 of white spots is further increased to three. 

 After the fifth moult, it measures about two inches 

 in length. The three rows of spots are reduced 

 to one, and the back is covered with shining blue 

 tubercles, from which spring numerous long 

 white hairs, giving it a very handsome appear- 

 ance. By the time it is full grown, these hairs 

 have become black. Those at the sides are bright 

 chesnut; and each segment is ornamented with 

 a golden oval-shaped spot. The head and legs 

 are black. About the latter end of May or the 

 beginning of June, it is full grown; and now 

 commences the grand operation of forming the 

 cocoon; for the accomplishment of which it is 

 furnished with a minute and slender organ, which 

 Kirby and Spence have aptly termed the spin- 

 neret. It is composed of several longitudinal 

 slips, alternately corneous and membranous. 

 By this, the insect has the means of contracting 

 the tube, which terminates in a slender orifice; 

 which, although elaborated in two distinct silk 

 tubes, unite previous to their emission from the 

 orifice of the tube. Having found a suitable situ- 

 ation, most commonly a corner of the breeding 

 cage, it commences by covering the side and top 

 with a thick coatiEg of silk. This done, the 

 caterpillar spins numerous fine threads from side 

 to top; crossing and recrossing them as it pro- 

 ceeds, until the whole is rendered firm and com- 

 plete. It then becomes motionless, and in a few 

 days changes to the chrysalis. The moth appears 

 about three weeks after. The following de- 

 scription, though applying to most specimens, 

 must on no account be considered as general ; for 

 like most of the genus it varies greatly, both in 

 regard to size, and the shape and color of the 

 marking. Anterior wings, white, marked with 

 six variously-shaped dark brown spots. That 

 nearest the base of the anterior margin, is the 

 largest. Under wing, bright scarlet; ornamented 

 with five or six dark blue spots; the three largest 

 forming a line along the outer edge. Fringe 

 of all the wings, yellowish white. Head sur- 

 mounted by a crimson ring. Thorax, thickly 

 covered with dark brown hairs. Abdomen. 



scarlet, marked with six black spots on the 

 upper surface. — C. Miller, Hackney. 



Poultry — Curious Fact — A friend of mine has 

 just lost by death a hen which for some time has 

 shown evident symptoms of distress and pain. 

 Rue, doses of salts, and other remedies, were 

 vainly tried. She grew gradually worse, till 

 death put an end to her sufferings. On opening 

 her, we found the ovary full of eggs,weighing more 

 than one pound. They were congealed in one 

 mass, and as hard as an over-boiled egg. Can 

 any of your readers tell me the cause of this 

 disease — if it is one — and can they propose any 

 known remedy? — C. P., Boston. 



[We are not ourselves aware of the cause of 

 this coagulation of the eggs; but some of our 

 readers may be. The other matters in your note, 

 with reference to the description of all kinds of 

 fowl, showing their several excellencies, &c, we 

 shall attend to by and by. Poultry-keeping is 

 now becoming very general.] 



Goats, Remarks on keeping', and Observations on 

 their Milk. — I beg to refer your correspondent, 

 who requires some particulars with reference to 

 keeping goats, to the Agricultural Magazine for 

 July. Therein a correspondent, J. T., has 

 thrown together some interesting details. I have 

 transcribed a portion of it, for the benefit of your 

 readers generally. — u Any economical housewife 

 can always provide her family with the best and 

 richest new milk twice a-day, if the premises con- 

 tain a few poles of garden ground, a yard, and 

 an open shed or two; for, by such simple ap- 

 pliances, and almost without expense, two or 

 three milch goats, yielding each, upon an 

 average, a quart of milk per day, can be kept. It 

 is with great satisfaction that I have seen an 

 article on the subject of goats' milk, to the ability 

 and truthfulness of which my own repeated ob- 

 servations for some years enable me to bear testi- 

 mony. The author (Mr Cuthbert Johnson) I 

 have known long, and the near vicinity of our 

 residences facilitates careful inspection. Without 

 apology, I shall borrow several passages from the 

 treatise, and I hope to the profit of those domestic 

 economists who feel, and are candid enough to 

 confess, that the objections raised against this 

 milk on the score of strong and rank flavor, are 

 utterly without foundation. On this point, our 

 author observes : — ' It must not be supposed that 

 the taste of ihe milk of the goat differs in any 

 degree from that of the cow; it is, if anything, 

 sweeter, but it is quite devoid of any taste which 

 might reasonably be supposed to be derivable 

 from the high-flavored shrubs and herbs upon 

 which the animal delights to browse.' This state- 

 ment is true to the letter. I have proved the fact 

 many a time with parties in the drawing-room of 

 the writer ; but now to cite authorities on the food 

 of the goat, and the extreme hardihood of the 

 animal. There is hardly a weed or a plant which 

 is rejected by the goat; it has been calculated 

 that while the cow eats 276 and rejects 218 com- 

 mon plants, the goat eats 449, but rejects only 126, 

 ' In the garden,' says Mr. Johnson, ' (if by chance 

 they are allowed to browse), I notice that they 

 select the rose trees, common laurels, arbutus, 

 laurustinus, and the laburnum.' It is wellknown 



