KIDD'S OWN JOURNAL. 



283 



" Such a humane course of proceeding 

 would speedily be estimated, and become 

 general. And when we consider how very 

 much pain would be spared the poor sufferers 

 in their removal, it becomes — does it not ? — 

 criminal to be careless in the matter. If this 

 be not so ; yet, would there not be a great 

 amount of evil prevented in removing the 

 frightful sources of contagion, and so stopping 

 the spreading ravages of disease ? " 



We need offer no comment on the above. 

 The suggestions are such as ought to meet 

 with immediate attention in the proper quar- 

 ter. Let us hope that they will do so ; for 



— OUR MORTAL ENEMY IS ALREADY AMONGST 



US. 



OEIGINAL CORBESPONDENCE. 



Frogs and their Skins. — I think, Mr. Editor, 

 we may take it for granted that toads cast their 

 skins; for we are told by Mr. Henslow, of 

 Hitcham, that he has two Jersey toads which 

 have " changed their skins." That the same 

 practice exists with frogs, I have yet to learn ; 

 for though I have kept them for years, neither 

 myself nor family have ever seen anything tend- 

 ing that way. Let me here mention a curious 

 circumstance. Two of my frogs, which were 

 caught in a garden and far from the reach of any 

 water, have never taken to the water like the old 

 ones. Whether there exists any difference in 

 the nature of the two tribes, I cannot say. The 

 two garden frogs always rest — oneora and the other 

 under the moss; this, both by day and by night. 

 -—J. Lusher, 2, Exeter Change. 



The Black-cap. — I have just purchased a fine 

 black-cap; a brancher, clean moulted. He is 

 fed off on Clifford's German-paste and bread; 

 and has already begun to sing. You say these 

 birds are imitative. Shall I do wrong in hanging 

 him up with my larks, canaries, goldfinches, &c? 

 — J., Stepney. 



[The Black-cap's voice is so sweet, that he can 

 sing nothing badly. If you are not desirous of 

 confining him to his own natural note exclusively, 

 let him form a part of your orchestra by all 

 means. He will copy from all, and be a host in 

 himself; he will assist, too, in improving the rest. 

 You must ever bear in mind, that real fanciers 

 keep all birds that they wish to be true to their 

 own song, in a room far away from the rest. 

 In your case, there is no need for this. Stick to 

 Clifford's German paste. We have given 

 several receipts for making other pastes, but to 

 his we give the preference.] 



Remarkable Trait in a Cat's Character.— -I 

 know, Mr. Editor, you are not over-fond of 

 cats. Nevertheless, your principle is one that 

 approves of fair play. I have just seen the fol- 

 lowing in the "Fife Herald;" and I think if 

 transferred to Our Own Journal, it will not be 

 out of place. — " A cowfeeder's wife in Union 

 Lane, Perth, recently had four chickens hatched 

 by a hen, which died in four days afterwards. 

 The good woman, actuated doubtless by mixed 



feelings of duty and interest, was anxious to pro- 

 tect the young chickens, and accordingly pro- 

 cured a box and placed them in it near to the 

 fire, so as to make up for the want of the 

 natural heat of their parent. Her favorite cat 

 showed great anxiety to get into the box along 

 with the chickens; but its mistress, imagining 

 that the cat only wanted there to make a dinner 

 of them, did all she could to prevent puss from 

 getting near the box. All endeavors to keep off 

 the cat, however, were unavailing. At length, 

 the cow-feeder himself prevailed upon his wife to 

 allow the cat to go into the box, and great was 

 their surprise when puss, instead of destroying 

 the birds, showed the greatest maternal care and 

 solicitude for them. It lay down beside them, 

 stretched its paw and purred over them, mani- 

 festing evident tokens that it sympathised with 

 their forlorn situation. The chickens, in return 

 for the kindness shown by one hitherto con- 

 sidered their natural enemy, crouched around 

 the cat as if they had been under the wing of 

 their mother. In the morning, when the birds 

 went to feed, the cat went along with them, ate 

 out of the same dish, and appeared more desirous 

 to satisfy their wants than her own. Throughout 

 the day, the cat and the chickens were insepara- 

 ble companions. When they went to sleep for 

 the night, the cat invariably went also along with 

 them. Such conduct on the part of the cat, of 

 course attracted numerous visitors; and Mr. Scott, 

 of the White Horse Inn, North William Street, 

 wishing to get possession of the cat and chickens, 

 bought them for a considerable sum from the 

 cowfeeder's wife on Saturday week. Under Mr. 

 Scott's care, they are growing more fond of each 

 other. They feed, and walk, and sleep together, 

 and the chickens are thriving well under the 

 motherly guardianship and protection of this, 

 the kindest of all cats." — If this be true, Mr. 

 Editor, it is curious — is it not? — M. 



[We receive all these communications with 

 extreme caution — knowing how, at this season of 

 the year, they are " worked up " for the news- 

 papers. Of some forty or fifty curious anecdotes 

 of animals, that have recently gone the rounds, 

 we have been able to use not more than one or 

 two. Being very close observers of Nature, it is 

 not difficult for us to single out these fabrica- 

 tions; but it is injurious to science, for such 

 falsehoods to be so widely circulated. As the 

 names of parties who can be referred to, are 

 printed in the present instance, we see no harm 

 whatever in recording this anecdote; we have 

 given our authority, and thank our observant 

 correspondent for directing our attention to so 

 curious a narrative, Had the cat previously been 

 deprived of her kittens, we could have given it 

 more ready credence.] 



Cruelty to Animals. — Having been a subscriber 

 to Our Journal from its very first Number, it 

 is only natural that I should watch over its in- 

 terests with extreme jealousy. I have been so 

 charmed with the amiable and humane tone that 

 has pervaded it throughout, that I feel indeed 

 privileged to speak when I see anything going- 

 wrong with my "pet" periodical. How could 

 you, Mr. Editor, give insertion to that Paper 

 in No. 38, entitled " Notes by a Naturalist ?" 



