KIDD'S OWN JOURNAL. 



173 



bird had been carefully disposed of by its fond 

 parent. An agreeable trait have we here of the 

 potent and beautiful affection exhibited for their 

 young by the feathered creation. I have used 

 the word "nest" as applied to the dotterel; more 

 properly speaking it is the cunabula of the bird; 

 for it deposits its eggs in any chance depression 

 in a sandbank, or among the shingle by the sea- 

 shore. — Philo -Charadrius, Beading. 



Tameness of Animals ; The Goat. — I have 

 seen, Mr. Editor, on many occasions, a remarkably 

 handsome goat, marching at the head of a regi- 

 ment of soldiers, down towards Hyde Park. 

 The evident good understanding existing be- 

 tween this beautiful creature and the regiment, is 

 a matter for delight and astonishment. It pre- 

 cedes them on all occasions, and " marches" with 

 all the air and dignity of a true soldier, evidently 

 aware of its position and importance. You must, of 

 course, be aware of this, Mr. Editor, and can per- 

 haps furnish some particulars of it. — Thomas M., 

 Bayswater. 



[The goat you allude to is indeed a pet, much 

 loved by all who know him. He is, to all intents 

 and purposes, " one of the regiment." He lives 

 with them, " marches " with them, eats with 

 them, plays with them, sleeps with them, — thus 

 bearing us out in one of our leading articles of 

 to-day. This goat has been in the regiment, 1st 

 battalion of Grenadier Guards, eight months. 

 Not more than a fortnight elapsed after his en- 

 trance before he was led by a boy, with a string, 

 in front of the regiment. He " caught the idea" 

 immediately, relished it, took a fancy for " the 

 army," and enlisted. In three weeks he was the 

 " best man " in the regiment, and never neg- 

 lected his duties. Playful as a kitten when " off 

 duty," he is, when "on duty," inflexibly correct 

 and serious. Beating time to the music with the 

 utmost precision, he is, to all intents and pur- 

 poses, a " military goat," of unblemished cha- 

 racter, and undeniable courage. He is amiable 

 to a degree, even-tempered, and fond of anybody 

 who notices him. As for tricks and accomplish* 

 ments, you may teach him any thing. He is of a 

 black tan color, and stands two feet nine inches 

 high. His hair is from two to ten inches long, 

 (we have some of it in our possession, and very 

 fine and beautiful it is). He measures round the 

 waist forty-two inches. His length from nose to 

 tail is fifty -two inches. His horns are nine and 

 a-half by four and a-half inches round. His ears 

 are six inches, and his tail five inches long. In 

 his habits he is most cleanly, and altogether free 

 from the skunk-like smell of his race. He is of a 

 convivial favorite— in-doors, out-of-doors. Gladly 

 and frankly will he shake hands with anybody ; 

 but, like a " real gentleman," as he is, he will 

 brook no insult. Only let an undeserved charge 

 be brought against him, and see how soon he 

 will ve-butt it ! Under such circumstances alone, 

 is he head-strong. In all else, gentle as a lamb. 

 Such is the amiable character of the animal 

 about which you inquire. He is the property of 

 Drum-Major Jones, to whose kind teaching he 

 does much honor. Let us congratulate Mr. 

 Jones on his good taste in having so harmless a 

 hobby. The whole regiment shall also have our 

 good word, for seconding the feeling. The love 



of animals shows a good heart wherever it be 

 found. So, long life to the 1st battalion of 

 Grenadier Guards, and to the worthy " leader 

 of their crack regiment !"] 



Meeting of German Naturalists at Wiesbaden. 

 — The 29th Meeting of German Naturalists and 

 Physicians will take place next Saturday, Sep- 

 tember 18, at Wiesbaden. The convenience of 

 the situation of Wiesbaden, and the facility of 

 reaching it, are well known. The surrounding 

 country is full of interest, geological, mineralo- 

 gical, botanical, &c. ; and all those who will 

 honor the meeting with their presence will be 

 sure to meet a hearty welcome from the Presi- 

 dents and Secretaries and the assembled German 

 naturalists. The meeting will last from the 18th 

 to the 25th instant. A general invitation has 

 been issued to the principal learned societies of 

 Europe. — W. J. 



" A MAN OVER-BOARD S" 



"We have all head in the newspapers of 

 " men over-board," some saved — some lost. 

 Many of us have read, and shuddered at the 

 idea of a man being lost in sight of his 

 fellow creatures, who could not save 

 him. It is one thing to read this — another 

 thing to witness it. This last was our 

 melancholy lot a few days since. 



On the 26th ult., rising at 5 a.m., the 

 morning was beautifully fine ; so fine that, 

 being over weary with our literary duties, 

 we determined on making holiday. Accord- 

 ingly, we arranged for starting to Southend 

 by the early boat from Hungerford Market. 



Calling en route, at London Bridge, we 

 took in among a multitude of other passen- 

 gers, a fine young man, a sailor, (aged about 

 twenty-six), who was accompanied to the 

 water's edge by his old, venerable, and 

 loving mother (her age about 60). The 

 sailor was going down to Sheerness to " join 

 his ship." His idolising mother had come 

 to see " the last of him." " Jack ! " said the 

 old lady, dissolved in tears, " God bless 

 thee ! wilt give thy mother thy watch and 

 chain to remember thee by when thou art 

 gone ? " This request filled " Jack's " eye 

 with brine. " Aye, Mother," responded 

 he, " that will I — take 'em (he passed 

 the chain round the old lady's neck) ; and 

 God — for ever —bless thee ! ! " The vessel 

 moved on. 



The waving handkerchief of the old lady 

 gradually became lost to sight ; and " her 

 boy," holding up his straw hat as long as it 

 could possibly be seen (and much longer), 

 went below, and 



" Wiped away a tear ! " 

 The passing scene then broke the chain of this 

 little episode, and poetry gave way to prose. 



The vessel in course of time reached 

 Erith pier. All faces were joyful — some 

 three or four hundred hearts were happy. 



