that we mortals ccmld desire ? What would 

 we more ? 



The fact is, — it is ourselves who constitute 

 the " Evil World." We abuse our bless- 

 ings ; reject the opportunities of doing 

 good to ourselves and others ; and by our 

 bad passions, too often unrestrained, we 

 quarrel with humanity without any just 

 cause. Is it not so ? 



Let us however leave all such " dark 

 subjects," to travel on their own way. Our 

 spirits are joyous ; our delights harmless ; 

 our disposition kindly ; and our love for 

 mankind such, — that if they will bear us 

 company, we promise they shall never be 

 dull, never dyspeptic, never hypochon- 

 driacal,— never misanthropical. 



Nature will soon awaken, — like a 

 " Giant refreshed." We will then take 

 them to the fields, the woods, the forests, 

 the lanes, the copses, the brakes, — and 

 record such " natural beauties" the while 

 for their entertainment, that Ave will " win" 

 them , — nolentes volentes. 



We are yet in our infancy, — the " shell 

 hardly off our backs ! " As children then, 

 WE and our Readers will " together range 

 the fields ;" and as the seasons " open," revel 

 in all the indescribable enjoyments that even 

 now await us in near prospective at every 

 turn. 



" Nature's volume " is one of inexhausti- 

 ble entertainment and instruction, We will 

 begin with the first page ; and while our 

 health lasts, read on, and write on, till our 

 " Happiness " is complete. Our path is 

 chosen ; those who will walk in it, shall find 

 us neither " dull" nor ." prosy." — We have 

 said it. 



We stop the press, to acknowledge the 

 receipt of a letter from one of our friends 

 "in the far East." He tells us that both 

 he, and very many others who warmly ad- 

 vocate the success of our London Journal, 

 vainly inquire for it, day by day, in the 

 City ; and more particularly on 'Change. 

 All the booksellers and newsvendors say 

 " they are constantly asked for it, hut they 

 hare no time to send up for it." We have 

 made it our business to ascertain this fact, 

 personally ; and it is, alas, but too true ! 

 However, this shall be remedied instanter, 

 by the immediate appointment of a " Mer- 

 cury " of our own to wait upon our worthy 

 'Cits" of the trade. Surely, whilst our 

 fair fame is flying at electric speed all over 

 the world, it would never do to be " burked" 

 in tills great metropolis ! Why, we have 

 friends enough " on 'Change " to support us ! 



Mr. Mann, 39, Cornhill; Mr. Everett, Mr. 

 Kennedy, and others in the immediate vi- 

 cinity of the Royal Exchange, will from this 

 date hoist our colors " mast-high ! " 



ORIGINAL CORRESPONDENCE. 



Duck Eggs Hatched by Fowls. — Do you con- 

 sider it cruel, Mr. Editor, to place the eggs of 

 ducks under a common lien ; and do you imagine 

 the young are as well brought up by her as they 

 would be by a more " natural " parent? I have 

 heard much said on both sides of this question; 

 but what say you ? I am greatly interested in 

 the matter, and entreat a few lines in reply to my 

 question. — Sarah A., Godalming. 



[There can be no doubt, however well young 

 ducks may thrive under the domestic manage- 

 ment of a herj, that the practice of so breeding 

 them is " cruel." No sooner are the ducklings 

 hatched, while even yet the shell adheres to 

 their backs, than away they toddle into the first 

 sheet of water they can find ! Vain is it for the 

 poor hen to "cluck! cluck!" No clucking of hers 

 will ever call them back ! In the full enjoyment 

 of liberty and pleasure, they return just when 

 they please. The feelings of the poor hen are 

 meantime truly agonised. Her limited instinct 

 fails to convince her, that water is the " natural 

 element" of her progeny; and her fears for their 

 safety keep her in a state of constant alarm. 

 If the weather be fine and warm, ducks thus 

 raised thrive well enough; but we do not recom- 

 mend the practice. Besides, it is a pretty as well 

 as a " natural " sight, to note the importance of 

 a mother duck in company with her posse of 

 little toddlers. Nor is the self-importance of the 

 drake, under such circumstances, less amusing. 

 If " amusement " be your aim, as well as profit, 

 be natural ; and follow "Nature in her own perfect 

 way.] 



" Piping " Thrushes. — Can you tell me how I 

 can teach a thrush to "pipe?" I have heard 

 several "good performers" in my time; but 

 never could succeed in finding out the " art " of 

 training them. — George L., Brighton. 



[We arc ourselves not over fond of these 

 " piping " thrushes. We greatly prefer the wild 

 note. Mais chacun a, son gout. If you refer to 

 the "Naturalist,'' March, 1851, p. 22, you will 

 find a remark by Mr. S. Hannaford, Jim., to the 

 following effect — " A relation of mine had a 

 thrush, which he brought up from the nest; and 

 by constantly playing on the flute in the room 

 where it was kept, the bird was able in a few 

 weeks to whistle with great accuracy two or 

 three tunes. Unfortunately, a cat (let our cor- 

 respondent ponder on this, full five minutes) got 

 at him one day, and so severely mangled the 

 poor bird, that he died very soon after, But 

 even whilst dying, he commenced one of the 

 tunes in imitation of church bells." If any 

 person w r ho keeps birds, will keep a cat also, we 

 shall never pity them under any circumstances, 

 if they suffer cither loss or damage. It is a just 

 punishment for their cruelty.] 



Epidemic among Canaries. — Thrice welcome, 

 Mr. Editor, is your arrival amongst us who keep 

 birds ! You shall be constantly exercising your 

 vocation, depend upon it ! I have a number of 

 canaries flying about loose in a large room. 

 Some arc old, and some young; that is, not more 

 than 4 months old. These are all subject to 



