KIDD'S LONDON JOURNAL. 



43 



cess of incubation is going on. The number of 

 eggs is two only, for each " sitting;" and when 

 the young first break the yolk, and burst into 

 life, you will see something " a shade uglier " 

 than you have ever before witnessed. Of all 

 " monstrosities," a newly-hatched chick is per- 

 haps the most monstrous. However, they soon 

 outgrow their apparent deformity, and thrive 

 wonderfully fast. They are fed carefully by their 

 father and their mother; and soon afterwards are 

 themselves in a position to feed their own 

 children ! This information will suffice for your 

 present purpose. We shall not forget to supply 

 further particulars anon. Write freely, when 

 you want our " advice;" for we shall seek to 

 create a lovo for the keeping of domestic 

 pigeons.] 



African Parrot. — I observe a query in your 

 last week's paper, having reference to an Aus- 

 tralian parroquet, suffering from a tumour. I 

 am anxious to observe what remedy will be pro- 

 posed for its cure, or removal. Will you, mean- 

 time, tell me how to cure my African Parrot? 

 It is unwell, cross, dull, mopish ; and refuses its 

 food. It has been in this sad state for several 

 days. A journal like yours has long been 

 wanted ; and allow me, as one of the many, to 

 bid you God-speed in your enterprise. — W. S. , 

 Belfast. 



[The real truth is, these poor creatures are 

 martyrs to the changes of temperature in this 

 climate of ours. They are never well long to- 

 gether; and very seldom "happy." We have 

 eschewed all the race, from boyhood upwards ; 

 observing, go where we might, that their owners 

 were always in distress, and the poor birds look- 

 ing as lugubrious as the holder of " a dishonored 

 bill for £1,000." Change of air, food, and 

 scene, are all we can propose. Try them, until 

 we obtain through our pages some more efficient 

 remedies ; by all means let the food administered, 

 be of the two, rather too dry than too moist.] 



Food for Bullfinches. — Will you please inform 

 me how I can keep my bullfinches in fine plu- 

 mage? Mine are quite dull, and their bodies 

 over-fat. Can I " pair " them with canaries ; if 

 so, at what season? — J. T«, Aberdeen. 



[You have ruined the constitution of your 

 bullfinches, and quite spoiled their feathers, by 

 giving them hemp-seed. They are " fond of it." 

 True. We are " fond " of many things, which 

 are not " good " for us. Discontinue the hemp- 

 seed gradually ; and as a rule, administer flax 

 and canary only. The bird's personnel will soon 

 exhibit better proportions, and when next he 

 moults (if not sooner), his native colors will 

 shine out in full lustre. You ask about "pairing" 

 these birds with canaries. Do not attempt it. 

 You might as well try to arrest the progress of 

 " Father Thames," at London Bridge, by throw- 

 ing a blanket across the river at "low water." 

 You may suspend a canary near his cage, if you 

 will, by way of company ; and no doubt they will 

 enter into friendship. That friendship, however, 

 will be " platonic."] 



Song Birds in England and Ireland. — I rejoice 

 to recognise your arrival amongst us, as the 

 avowed, the tried friend of all the winged choir 

 — of whom you have sung so long, so loud, and 

 so sweetly; and, let me add, of whom we shall 

 kindly insist upon your " singing " again! You 

 are aware, no doubt, that while you are revelling 

 in your praises of the nightingale, blackcap, 

 woodlark, and redstart — Ave, in Ireland, are 

 denied their sweet presence, deprived of the har- 

 mony of their melodious voices! How is this? 

 By the way, I think it right to tell you that you 

 have very many friends in Ireland; who, if they 

 cannot hear the birds you " discourse about," 

 yet love to read what you say about them. I 

 send you my address, and offer you a hearty 

 welcome, whenever your steps may be directed 



hitherward.- 



-J. P., Athlone. 



[Too truly, my good friend, have you said, 

 that our " pets" shun your "neutral ground." 

 Disturbed as Ireland is by conflicts, which 

 " fright " the very inhabitants "from their pro- 

 priety," how can the amiable vocalists you have 

 named sing their song in so strange a land? If 

 we were in the habit of exercising our vocation 

 as a "singer" (which we rejoice that we are 

 not), rely on it, we should never be able to sing 

 in your land. You have seen it recorded, that 

 even the " larks " in Ireland are wrcnatural. 

 They " try " to sing; but the farmers annihilate 

 them by the million, bringing every engine of 

 murder they can invent, to riddle holes through 

 their little bodies! At the proper season, we 

 shall immortalise your proteges, and so aid you 

 in the earnest desire you show to hear more of 

 their excellencies. Many thanks for the other 

 favor, contained in your note. We accept your 

 kind offers of aid gladly, and in return will bear 

 all your wishes actively in mind.] 



" Instinct and Reason in Animals." — We have 

 some little reason to pick a quarrel with you, 

 Mr. Editor, for so abruptly terminating the 

 popular discussion in the Gardeners' Chronicle, 

 on this subject. After promising us that the "last 

 chapter" (the most interesting of all) should 

 mark " the Progress of Human Reason, from the 

 Cradle to the Grave," — a lapse of one week occurs 

 without any article appearing aspromised! You then 

 wind up the year by saying, that with it "the inquiry 

 must terminate, and patience do the rest ! " If 

 the space allotted to you was insufficient to admit 

 of your completing the series of articles, I do 

 think you stand pledged to do so in your own 

 paper; and I leave it to yourself to say if the re- 

 quest be unreasonable. The care and close reading 

 you must have given to the whole matter, deserve 

 a better termination. What say you ? May we 

 look for it ? I speak the language of very many 

 of your admirers, when, on their behalf, I call on 

 you to redeem your promise. — W. P., Clifton. 



[You bear rather hard upon us ! Our thoughts 

 are now "fugitive," and you ask us to go into 

 metaphysics ! However, it shall never be said 

 that we broke faith ; and as there was not room 

 for the termination of the inquiry in the original 

 channel, we will try and collect our thoughts, 

 and give them utterance in our own columns 

 next week.] 



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