KIDD'S LONDON JOURNAL. 



217 



use it on all occasions for the amusement and 

 instruction of our readers. We shall soon 

 be joined by the awakening hand of Nature, 

 It will then be her's to instruct — onr's to 

 record; for 



Imitative strokes can do no more 



Than please the eye; sweet Nature every 



sense— 

 The air salubrious of her lofty hills, 

 The cheering fragrance of her dewy vales, 

 And music of her woods; no works of man 

 May rival these. They all bespeak a power 

 Peculiar and exclusively her own. 



It is " something " to be the associate of 

 such a Goddess as this ; nor is the privilege 

 of tracing her footsteps and recording her 

 doings to be lightly esteemed. We hold our 

 office in high honor. We must now hold 

 our hand — for the Printer says we have al- 

 ready written twice too much. 



ORIGINAL CORRESPONDENCE. 



Spring in Scotland. — How delightful is the 

 country, even now! Spring has come in with a 

 smiling face ; and whilst admiring the scenery of 

 the woods and glens, the birds greatly add to the 

 interest excited. They are like living flowers, 

 coming to provide for the bareness of the trees. 

 They are all busy, singing, preparing their nests, 

 making love or otherwise. The rooks have now got 

 their nests completely founded, and are zealously 

 working their task to completion. They are 

 very numerous in many parts of Scotland this 

 year. The pigeons too are already in pairs; 

 more particularly the wild wood pigeons ; and 

 they are all busy looking out for a spot to place 

 a feAV tiny twigs in, whereon they may rear their 

 duo. Loud caroo-ing is heard in the woody 

 glens. The birds generally are in full song 

 and glee, and never seem to tire. The thrush, 

 early in the morning, may be seen perched on 

 the pinnacle of some substantial pak, vibrating 

 the air and breaking the comparative silence 

 with his sweet, mellow notes, quite drowning 

 those of his smaller brethren. The Robin red- 

 breast is not behind his " big brother;" for he is 

 seen actively hopping about, arrayed in a vest of 

 unusual brightness, expressly put on for the oc- 

 casion ; bis notes are long and sweet, and appear 

 to be tightened to their utmost. The other little 

 modest feathered creatures are not less worthy of 

 comment. Their plumage is beautifully glossy, 

 their colors most distinctly marked, and their 

 little hearts bursting with glee. It is a delightful 

 employment to watch their movements; for they 

 seem to anticipate the fortunes attending the 

 good weather of coming April. The game birds 

 (of the pheasant and partridge kind) have their 

 beauties and enjoyments as well as their soaring 

 neighbors. The pheasant is in his proud glory. 

 The cry of the pnrtridge is clearer and more 

 distinct than at any other season; it seems the 

 morning of their days. The hares turn mad 

 through joy ; and from their giddy stupidity, are 

 perhaps more seriously plundered at this than 

 at any other season; the utmost caution there- 

 fore should be taken by the protectors of these 



animals against inroads. Nature meets at every 

 turn with happy faces — all full of the warmest 

 congratulation. Her family, one and all. seem 

 to thank her for the enjoyments of a beautiful 

 Spring. — J. F., Glasgow, March 13. 



Soft-billed Birds and their proper Food. — The 

 introduction of your Journal for the diffusion of 

 sound and useful knowledge for the rising and 

 risen generation, deserves public thanks ; and let 

 me, as one of the public, congratulate you on the 

 manner in which you provide weekly so large an 

 amount of wholesome mental food. At page 26, 

 you speak of my favorites, the soft-billed birds; 

 and I want you, at your earliest convenience, to 

 give in detail all that you know about them, and 

 to tell us theproper sort of food for them. Night- 

 ingales will soon be amongst us, and I want to be 

 "ready" with all needful information against 

 their arrival. — J. P. B , Hants. 



[We are in the field early with the informa- 

 tion you require. A correspondent at Liver- 

 pool has most kindly undertaken to transcribe 

 for us, weekly, from the pages of Sweet's "British 

 Warblers " (a noble work), the results of that 

 gentleman's interesting experience. It will com- 

 mence next week. In addition to this, — our 

 own interesting experience of nearly 30 years 

 will be brought to bear upon the question, so that 

 your wants will be abundantly supplied.] 



Where can I hear a Nightingale ? — I am so 

 interested in all you have said and written about 

 the nightingale, that I wish you to tell me where 

 I can hear one, and when ? — A Subscriber. 



[They will arrive in about a fortnight, and you 

 may hear them in Lord Holland's Park, Ken- 

 sington.] 



Anecdote of a Blackbird; and certain Matters 

 interesting to the Lovers of these Birds. — I once 

 had a blackbird, who, on moulting, appeared 

 with a pair of white wings. His name was 

 '• Smelt," so called from his close resemblance 

 to an individual of that name. He was a nestling 

 bird, and lived with me some seven or eight 

 years in a state of happiness. One day in my 

 absence, he was furiously attacked by a wild 

 blackbird; and the cover of his cage not being 

 put on, his assailant contrived to cleave his skull 

 in such a position, that his indignant soul " went 

 hissing through the wound." I had often, pre- 

 vious to this fatal encounter, been much amused 

 whilst watching the rivalry that existed between 

 my captive bird and those who enjoyed their 

 liberty. After singing against each other for a 

 while, the free bird would make a descent and 

 settle on "Smelt's" cage; but not being able to 

 attack him from the top, (for I always had a 

 cover on the cage, to keep the rays of the sun off), 

 he would presently hover in front of the cage, 

 and after a while, being excited thereto by 

 " Smelt's " menaces, he would cling to the 

 wicker-work (after the manner of a woodpecker), 

 and commence hammering away through the 

 bars — in the hope I suppose of effectually stopping 

 " his matin and his vesper song ; " and this, alas ! 

 on the fatal day just mentioned, that jealous 

 Hampshire blackbird (for " Smelt " was a native 



