KIDD'S LONDON JOURNAL. 



243 



concern of supporting their families, discon- 

 tinue their singing at this season ; every infe- 

 rior amusement on the commencement of this 

 great era of their happiness, is laid aside, 

 when, proud of becoming parents, and rear- 

 ing a progeny of their own, they seem trans- 

 ported with pleasure. 



Of those birds that build on the ground, 

 the greater part of the young are able to 

 run as soon as they are excluded from the 

 shell ; all that is necessary for them is show- 

 ing their food, and teaching the manner of 

 collecting it. Those, however, which are 

 hatched upon trees, remain in the nest so 

 long as they continue in an unfledged state. 

 During this period, both parents are com- 

 monly employed in providing a regular sup- 

 ply ; with which they are all fed in their 

 turns, one after another, that none may take 

 away the nourishment from the rest. It is 

 not till after their plumage is fully grown, 

 and they are capable of avoiding danger by 

 flight-, that the young are led from the nest, 

 and taught to provide for themselves. 



At first they make only short excur- 

 sions, while the weather is line, around 

 • the nest, or to those places in its vicinity 

 where food abounds. After they have been 

 for some days taught to discover their food, 

 and carry it away, and have become at 

 length completely qualified to provide for 

 themselves, the old ones lead them no longer 

 back to the nest ; but, conducting them to 

 some field, where their food is plentiful, for- 

 sake them for the last time ; and, their former 

 intimate connection being no longer neces- 

 sary, is for ever broken off. 



What is this Mighty Breath, ye sages say, 

 That, in a powerful language, felt, not heard, 

 Instructs the fowls of heaven, and thro' their 



breast » 



These arts of love diffuses ? What but God! 

 Inspiring God! who, boundless Spirit all, 

 And unremitting Energy, pervades, 

 Adjusts, sustains, and agitates the whole! 



From this date, all these visible objects 

 will be gradually coming under our observa- 

 tion. Let us rejoice, and be happy in the 

 prospect. 



REVIEW OE BOOKS. 



History of British Birds, No. IV.; History 

 of British Butterflies, Bart III. ; History 

 of the Nests and Eggs of British Birds, 

 Part IV. By the Rev. F. 0. Morris. 



These three serials progress well. There 

 are evidences of extreme care and minute 

 research visible in every page. The illus- 

 trations too are equally good. It is pleasing 

 to know that they are so widely circulated. 

 They deserve it. 



The Naturalist, No. 14. 



The April Number of this delightful 

 Miscellany is, as usual, full of interest. 

 Among others, we would direct attention to 

 a Contribution by Henry D. Graham, Esq., 

 on " The Birds of Iona." The writer being 

 an enthusiast) in the best signification of 

 the word, his narrative is charming. 



We find at page 88, some useful and 

 timely hints by a Correspondent, W, B. B., 

 on the best mode of Killing Insects for the 

 Cabinet. These we subjoin: — 



I am reminded by a notice in " The Natu- 

 ralist" for January, of some facts I have for 

 some time intended communicating to you, re- 

 lative to killing insects for specimens. I had 

 previously been in the habit of employing either 

 bruised laurel leaves, or hot water; but on one 

 occasion last summer, when I could not con- 

 veniently procure either of these, I thought of 

 employing the vapor of chloroform. I accord- 

 ingly put about three drops into an eight ounce 

 bottle, in which were three large Lepidoptera, 

 which it killed in about fifteen seconds, or perhaps 

 less. I have since that time, almost constantly 

 used it for injects of all kinds, with perfect 

 success. Its effects are nearly instantaneous, and 

 it does not in the least interfere with their set- 

 ting up, or their preservation. For the future I 

 never intend going out " insect hunting," without 

 a small quantity, which I may put drop by drop 

 into my store bottle. It is especially useful for 

 Lepidoptera, as it acts upon them so speedily 

 that they are completely prevented from flutter- 

 ing about, and so injuring their wings; its action 

 on Hymenoptera and Coleoptera is no less remark- 

 able, and in the case of the latter especially, 

 will completely prevent the more tedious " hot 

 water " process. 



BIEBS OE SONG.* 



Give me but 

 Something whereunto I may bind my heart, 

 Something to love, to rest upon, — to clasp 

 Affection's tendrils round. Mrs. Hemans. 



No. VI.— CAGE BIRDS.-THE CANARY. 



When a Bird is about two years old, he 

 is considered " steady" (if he has been care- 

 fully educated), and he may be allowed to 

 hang in the company of any others— however 

 loud they may be. Each successive 3 T ear 

 tends to his improvement ; for, if he be at all 

 given to imitation, he will copy no notes 

 save those which are sweet and essentially 

 musical. No better tutor could be found to 

 instruct young canaries, than a staunch bird 

 in his second or third year. They very 

 quickly forget, in the sweet strains of his 

 melodious voice, the gibberish they have 

 learnt while keeping promiscuous and " loose " 

 company elsewhere. Always let them be 



* Reprinted with many New and Important Additions 

 from the Gardeners' Chrouiele Newspaper 



