290 



KIPD'S OWN JOUKNAL. 



ged. Two or three snakes also afforded us 

 famous sport. At one o'clock, all was calm 

 in the Rendezvous des Tans. A stroll further 

 on, was proposed ; when suddenly a cry was 

 heard that resounded through the whole 

 forest. A versicolor a had been taken. I 

 mean the endromis versicolora, Mr. Editor. 

 A whole host of parthenias were shaken off 

 the birch trees. You would laugh to see 

 these fellows. They sit across the branches 

 just like a man on horseback ! Puella, rubri- 

 cosa, stellatarum, metra, sabetticce, antiopa, 

 and a whole army of others, were also pri- 

 soners. After this, an adjournment to the 

 little inn before-mentioned, which I was not 

 sorry for. To say the truth, I was getting hun- 

 gry, as was a] so my brother. Capital omelet, 

 gruyere, butter, wine, and good beer, were 

 soon forthcoming ; and here we enjoyed our- 

 selves thoroughly till the cool of the evening. 

 We then all returned home ; Bombyx Atlas 

 and his party delighted with their day's 

 sport, and myself and my brother equally so 

 with our clay's fun. 



I think you will confess this was an exhi- 

 larating scene, Mr. Editor. My next shall, 

 be an excursion in a contrary direction. Till 

 then, believe me your faithful friend, 



Tottenham, Oct. 25. Fino. 



ENGLISH BIBBS AND ENGLISH PLANTS,— 



ACCLIMATED IN THE 



UNITED STATES,— NEW YORK. 



To THE EDITOR, — I HAVE BEEN RESIDING, 



My dear Sir, in the United States, for up- 

 wards of twenty years; and being a warm ad- 

 mirer of Nature's handiworks, have paid some 

 little attention to the birds and plants of the 

 State of New York. Whilst, however, admiring 

 the fine plumage of the former, I have regretted 

 the almost total absence of song ; to remedy this, 

 I and my associates have conceived the idea of 

 introducing English Song Birds, and you will no 

 doubt be pleased to learn that the Sky-Lark 

 liberated in the neighborhood of Brooklyn, about 

 eight years ago, has continued to frequent the same 

 spot; and though persecuted almost beyond en- 

 durance by trappers and gunners, he still main- 

 tains his ground. A letter received by the last 

 steamer, informs me that his song is still heard, 

 and that at least one nest has escaped the spoiler. 



We are now about to try tbe experiment on a 

 more extended scale, and for this purpose we 

 have the grounds of one of the most beautiful 

 rural cemeteries in the world allotted us for the 

 purpose. This consists of more than 300 acres 

 of open and wooded land, enclosed in a good 

 fence, and protected by keepers. We have a 

 room in one of the buildings, in which we intend 

 to keep the birds during the ensuing winter ; so 

 that we can liberate them the moment the season 

 opens. 



It is our intention to send> at once, the following 

 birds: sky and woodlarks, thrushes, blackbirds, 

 robins, black caps, and goldfinches ; all these in 



sufficient quantities to insure success. We have 

 arranged to send them out by a steam ship, which 

 will arrive there in about twelve days. 



My object in writing to you is, to request that 

 you will favor me with your advice as to the 

 best means of keeping them in a healthy state, 

 not only during the voyage, but during their cap- 

 tivity; as well as for any suggestions respecting- 

 other hardy birds. I have taken your excellent 

 Journal from the very commencement, and 

 have derived much pleasure and profit from its 

 perusal. I have noted well your remarks on 

 " Canaries breeding in the open air," in England; 

 and intend to try the experiment in America. 

 [Do so, and write us full particulars of all your 

 experiments. We will gladly publish them in 

 full.] 



As regards plants, we have succeeded in 

 naturalising the fox -glove, which is now found 

 growing amongst the rocks; but we have not 

 been as successful with the daisy. The last hard 

 winter left but one plant surviving, and we 

 despair of success. We have seeded it down with 

 grass; have protected plants during the winter, 

 and planted them out in spring, but cannot succeed. 

 Neither can we bloom the common gorze, or 

 furze. 



Whilst speaking of birds, I forgot to say that 

 we have tried the eggs of the thrush; packing 

 them carefully in pulverised charcoal, and when 

 at their destination, putting them at once in the 

 nest of the migratory thrush ; these eggs, though 

 apparently fresh, seemed to have lost their 

 vitality. [You can never manage to export 

 " fruitful" eggs. The embryon would be destroyed 

 long ere their arrival.] 



As I shall send the birds away in about a 

 week, I shall feel obliged by your dropping me 

 a line at your earliest convenience.* 



Manchester. T. S. W, 



* We have replied to this letter by post, giving 1 you 

 all the information you require, in detail. Pray -write 

 us freely, from time to time, about your plants, as well as 

 your birds. Our readers feel a lively interest in all 

 such matters. — En. K. J. 



NOTES BY A KATXTEAJiIST. 



PLOVERS' EGGS. 



Evert one who has been in London — and who 

 has not? — must have noticed, as they fought 

 their way through Hungerford Market, or passed 

 some West -end poulterer's door, trays neatly 

 lined with moss; and closely packed with eggs of 

 a dusky-olive color, covered with little dark 

 spots. Should curiosity prompt us to ask to 

 what bird they belong? — we are told that they 

 are Plovers'. 



Of these, some hundreds are every week sold ; 

 and the question naturally arises — How are they 

 procured in such quantities, seeing that the 

 plover is a wild bird, and not at all likely to be 

 taught to lay in straw? I often felt puzzled 

 myself on this score ; and it was not until May 

 last, that I could get any light thrown on the 

 subject. We had travelled far during the day, 

 having crossed that region of heather and bog, 

 Shap Eells; and from thence among dreary moors 



