KIDD'S LONDON JOURNAL. 



87 



the following note must be introduced : Mr. 

 Poole, having a slate-trap once set for birds, 

 saw, on going up to it, a robin perched 

 outside. On opening the trap, one of these 

 birds was found within. It was carried off; 

 and the other, with amiable intent (!) fol- 

 lowed the captor of its companion (as it was 

 presumed) even into the house.' 1 '' 



It will be seen by the above, that Mr. 

 Thompson's observation goes to prove the 

 kindly feeling of the duck, who interfered to 

 put an end to hostilities. We like to record 

 this emphatically, because it suggests a good 

 example worth following. We cannot too 

 narrowly watch the natural disposition of 

 animals. Some of them are truly amiable, 

 as in the present instance. 



To the Robin Redbreast, 



" Exchange no Robbery." 



Welcome ! sweet chorister, in crimson vest ; 

 Come to my home, thou'lt find no warmer nest : 

 Wilt thou not dwell with me, an honor'd guest? 



Winter proclaims, through every barren tree, 

 That leafless branches will not shelter thee ; 

 Still, from thy British-home thou dost not flee! 



The ice-bound streams refuse their kind supply, 

 Frost seals the ground ; and hunger's thrilling 



cry 

 Tells thee to make a bold demand, or die! 



Then whistle at my casement all day long; 

 Heed not the passer-by, nor giddy throng ; 

 I'll give thee food, thou shalt give me thy song ! 



C. H. D. 



A SAGACIOUS RAVEN. 



" It was a common practice," says Mr. 

 Thompson, in his Natural History of Ireland, 

 " in a spacious yard in Belfast, to lay trains of 

 corn for sparrows, and to shoot them from a 

 window, which was only so far open as to 

 afford room for the muzzle of the gun ; nei- 

 ther the instrument of destruction, nor the 

 shooter being visible from the outside. A 

 tame raven, which was a nestling when 

 brought to the yard, and probably had never 

 seen a shot fired, afforded evidence that it 

 understood the whole affair. When any one 

 appeared carrying a gun across the yard, 

 towards the house from which the sparrows 

 were fired at, the raven exhibited the utmost 

 alarm, by hurrying off with all possible speed, 

 but in a ludicrously awkward gait, to hide 

 itself, screaming loudly all the while. Though 

 alarmed for its own safety, this bird always 

 concealed itself near to, and within view of, 

 the field of action ; the shot was hardly fired, 

 when it dashed out from its retreat, and 



seizing one of the dead or wounded sparrows, 

 hurried back to its hiding-place. I have 

 repeatedly witnessed the whole scene. The 

 raven's portion of the sparrows was as duly 

 exacted, as the tithe of the quails killed 

 during their migration at Capri, in the bay 

 of Naples, is said to be by the bishop of that 

 island." 



The Ages Passed Away. 



By 11. V. Sankey. 



Where, where are they who gaily lived 



In ages pass'd away ? 

 Whose memories have scarce survived 



Those ages pass'd away? 

 When beauty smiled, 

 And thus beguiled 

 With magic power, 

 Each tedious hour, 



In ages pass'd away. 

 Ah where, ah where have they now fled, 

 Who round them such a lustre shed 



In ages pass'd away? 



Who crowded to the festive scene, 



In ages pass'd away? 

 Or danced upon the village green, 



In ages pass'd away? 

 When hearts beat light, 

 And eyes beamed bright ; 

 And joy and mirth, 

 Sped through the earth 



In ages pass'd away? 

 Where, where are they, who swelled the tide 

 Of honor, fame, and lordly pride, 



.In ages pass'd away? 



Where, where are they who till'd the ground, 



In ages pass'd away? 

 Which autumn's golden harvests crown'd 

 In ages pass'd away? 

 When shepherds sung, 

 And gaily rung 

 Through wood and grove, 

 Soft tales of love, 



In ages pass'd away? 

 Alas, they sleep — to rise no more ! 

 Yet we live, as they lived before 



In ages pass'd away ! 



Strange Viper.— -In the Akhbour of Algiers, 

 we read that a hairy viper was observed a few 

 days before in the environs of Drariah, coiled 

 round a tree. It resembled an enormous cater- 

 pillar, and was of a brownish red color. Its 

 length, was about 22 inches. The moment it saw 

 that it was observed, it glided into the brushwood, 

 and all attempts to discover it were unavailing. 

 The authorities of the Museum of Natural 

 History of Paris have sent off orders to their 

 agents in Algiers, to spare no exertion to get a 

 specimen of the viper. Should they succeeed 

 in getting it — we hope they may! — they will 

 oblige by informing Kidd's Journal of it, by 

 electric telegraph. 



