KIDD'S LONDON JOURNAL. 



105* 



as yet. Still we live " on hope ;" and trust 

 some day to receive a " missive " explanatory 

 of the motive that rendered our presence a 

 matter of such importance. If the " missive " 

 should arrive, we will endeavor " on this 

 occasion only" to grant the really-reasonable 

 request (under such circumstances), of a per- 

 sonal interview. We do it on our own re- 

 sponsibility ; and entreat our King of Pub- 

 lishers to keep our sacred presence as invio- 

 lable as ever. We know Everything. We 

 know Everybody. We hear, see, and instruct 

 the whole World. We travel from town t 

 town, from city to city, from family to family, 

 with the speed of thought. We are ubiqui- 

 tous. Our devotion is perfect to all our 

 readers ; we serve them cheerfully ; we write 

 for them with extreme delight. But we are 

 bound to tell them, as doth our amiable 

 publisher — that we are not visible, neither 

 are we palpable to the touch. We are a 

 fairy sprite. 



We owe it to our Correspondents, to ex- 

 plain to them why it is that their various 

 favors have not all been inserted. The 

 cause is simply this : — We go to press one 

 number under another, or one week in ad- 

 vance. This of course throws the contribu- 

 tions one week into arrear. Our columns 

 will only admit a certain quantity of matter ; 

 and this has to be " varied." Patience, 

 therefore, as we have before hinted, " must 

 have her perfect work." We will bring up 

 arrears with all due diligence. All letters 

 requiring immediate replies, we have at- 

 tended to by post. 



ORIGINAL CORRESPONDENCE. 



Disease in a Pigeon. How can I cure it ? — 

 Some time since I lost a very favorite pigeon, by 

 the formation of a lump, about the size of a small 

 nut, under his tongue. The inside of the mouth 

 was quite yellow ; and as the bird was unable to 

 eat, I killed it. I have another, which is just 

 visited in the same way, and the mouth is be- 

 coming yellow. Can any of your correspond- 

 ents tell me the cause of this, and, above all, 

 inform me how to cure it ? I am truly unfor- 

 tunate. — J. S., Mitcham. 



Canaries for Breeding, — Will you kindly assist 

 me with a few words of advice as to the proper 

 time for " putting up " canaries to pair, and to 

 breed from ; also show the best method of treat- 

 ment, &c., &c? — J. R. 



[Our library table is literally strewed with 

 letters from young ladies and their brothers, all 

 imploring our advice on a similar subject. As 

 we are well known to be " great*' on such mat- 

 ters, we say " wait a little." It is far too early 

 yet, to think about this. Next month will be 

 quite time enough. Early broods always suffer 

 from the biting winds of March and April, and 

 seldom thrive. You may purchase your birds 



for breeding, immediately; but be careful not to 

 keep the hens in the same apartments as 

 their intended husbands. They will be plight- 

 ing their vows too soon ; this, in birds, is highly 

 objectionable. Take the hint.] 



Ailment of a Green Parrot. — A green parrot, 

 yellow-headed, lively, and robust, began to moult 

 in last March or April, when suddenly, the lid 

 of the right eye became weak, and finally closed 

 over the or^an, and has continued so up to the 

 present time. A slight sore then appeared at 

 the bottom of one of the pinions of the left wing, 

 and in about a month after, a hard excrescence, 

 from the paring or pressure of which the bird 

 appears to suffer no pain, grew on the right side 

 of the head, just behind the eye, and another on 

 the neck towards the left side cf the head. The 

 bird's spirits, however, continued to be good 

 until last October, when he became silent and 

 sleepy, and has remained so up to the present 

 time. During the last three months, he has 

 voided at times with difficulty; occasionally the 

 intestines seeming to be very loose, and, at other 

 times, the motion being attended with much 

 straining and effort. The food consists of strained 

 bread and milk, Indian corn, and some hemp; 

 a bit of potatoe every day, and occasionally, 

 pepper pods, and roasted apple. In spite of these 

 varied ailments, the bird's appetite has been, and 

 continues to be, excellent. Can any of your 

 readers, and if so, will they oblige me by " show- 

 ing cause, and suggesting a remedy," for the 

 above? — L. G. W., Dublin. 



The Blach-cap. — Erom reading your most 

 delightful description of this bird, in the Gar- 

 deners' Chronicle, I have been induced to buy 

 one, and he has turned out a splendid bird. I 

 feeti him, according to your instructions, on 

 German paste, bruised hemp seed, and bread. 

 Is this right ? [Sponge cake, or stale sweet bun 

 is preferable to bread.] Pie is fidgetty when he 

 sees a candle. How shall I hang him ? In the 

 dark, or near a window ? High or low ? — 

 W. D. 



[You are acting quite right with your bird. 

 If he is shy, cover him up at night, by all means. 

 As winter is fast decaying, we give advice which, 

 had winter been coming on, we should have re- 

 versed. Black-caps are splendid candle-light 

 songsters. Hang him moderately low, and let 

 him face a cheerful window. Do not shift his 

 quarters often, as they get used to one particular 

 situation. We have left out that part of your 

 note, referring to our ' ' abilities" in treating upon 

 these birds. But rest content, when we assure 

 you that, if we have sung sweetly of the Black- 

 cap, we shall anon sing of him again, and more 

 sweetly than ever. We love the darling rogue 

 too well, to be silent when he is amongst us.] 



The Amazon Parrot. — As you have already 

 stated, that your own personal knowledge of 

 the nature and economy of these birds is very 

 limited, will some of your obliging and intelli- 

 gent correspondents answer me the following 

 questions? My bird, which is now dead, ate 

 heartily, and was very cheerful, but her inside 



