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KIDD'S LONDON JOURNAL. 



in Mr. Fletcher Welch's park, which adjoins the 

 hamlet of Shepsconib. — R. D. 



An Intruding Hook Punished. — A week since, 

 I was walking in company with some friends, in 

 a lane adjoining the park of Sir Offley Wake- 

 man, Bart., Perdiswell, Worcester. In this park 

 is a rookery. We were much surprised, whilst 

 passing, to observe about fifty of these rooks in 

 a state of excessive consternatiou, and all con- 

 fined to a very small space. Hundreds more were 

 perched on the trees above, — all evidently in dis- 

 may about some unusual occurrence. On seeking 

 to investigate the cause, our eyes fell upon a most 

 unhappy-looking object that lay upon the ground. 

 No doubt he had been severely punished, for he 

 was aghast through fear, — rooted, aye riveted 

 to the ground, — nor did he move when our dog 

 went up to him. This intruder was a grey-headed 

 rook! How he came there, remains a mys- 

 tery. I took compassion on him, and carried him 

 home. He seemed sensible of the kindness we 

 showed him; and feeling free from the pursuit 

 of his adversaries, he took courage, shook his 

 wings, and stood erect. He then partook of some 

 refreshment, in the form of raw meat ; and after 

 taking a draught of cold water, seemed anxious 

 to depart. Placing him on the lawn, we left him 

 to his meditations. A few moments enabled him 

 to decide what to do; and, "looking a farewell 

 at us," he rose on the wing and disappeared. I 

 cannot find that any of his tribe have been seen 

 in this neighborhood. — Flora G., Worcester. 



Odd Contrivance of a Canary to get rid of 

 Fain. — The establishment of your delightful 

 Journal will elicit a multitude of curious "facts " 

 connected with Natural History ; and the readi- 

 ness you afford us all, in communicating them 

 to the public, deserves our best thanks. A short 

 time since, a canary suspended on the angle of a 

 window-shutter was dislodged by the opening of 

 the window, which brought the cage and its tenant 

 to the ground. On examining if any evil had re- 

 sulted from the accident, the bird's leg was found 

 to be broken. The canary being an "immense 

 little favorite," every effort was made to "set" 

 the limb; and it was placed between splints. 

 Whether or not the operation was unsuccessfully 

 performed, .1 cannot say; but certain it is, the 

 bird felt considerable pain; and his mind seemed 

 bent upon some decisive measure of expediency. 

 His moral courage was extraordinary; for with 

 his beak he actually severed his leg in two pieces, 

 — disuniting it at the joint immediately above the 

 binding. Yet did he live after this for five whole 

 years, and bis song continued as fine as ever it 

 was. I enclose my name and address. — W. S. 



\_Many animals have remarkable contrivances 

 under similar adverse circumstances. Rats, 

 when caught in a trap, will frequently eat through 

 the limb by which they are caught, leaving it 

 behind. Cats, also, have been known to sever 

 their tails at the root, when similarly " de- 

 tained."] 



or two since. One of the black fellows was ob- 

 served hammering with his bill, with great force, at 

 a joint of a twig on a tree, which he had evidently 

 selected for some part of his nest . Finding he 

 could not strike the twig off, he threw himself to 

 its point, and hung awhile; trying no doubt 

 whether his weight would bring it away. This 

 however also failed; and returning to his perch 

 at the joint, with a croak, this brought his mate 

 to his assistance. Both, after some apparent 

 consultation about the matter, threw themselves 

 to the point of the twig. Still it would not do; 

 and they were compelled to return to the perch, 

 from whence one of them flew off and shortly 

 returned with two assistants, A long consulta- 

 tion then took place, and it was amusing to ob- 

 serve the conclusion they had come to, as to 

 their modus operandi. Three of the rooks threw 

 themselves upon the point of the twig; while the 

 fourth, with great violence, attacked the joint. 

 Ultimately, the much-coveted twig was severed 

 from the branch, and was carried off to the nest, 

 with a crowing of gratification which nearly 

 drowned the noise of the other denizens of the 

 rookery." — The foregoing anecdote may interest 

 your readers, it is a wonderful illustration of the 

 instinct with which these birds are provided. 

 I have copied it from the " Perthshire Courier." 

 —J. F. 



A Canary silenced by Moulting. — In pity, Mr. 

 Editor, give me the benefit of your kind advice 

 in a matter of importance to me; for I, like your- 

 self, have a tender regard for all the feathered 

 tribe. I am a femme sole, in plain English a 

 maid, — young, and not married. My present 

 associates are a tame robin and a canary. The 

 former is quite hearty. The latter is ailing. He 

 was formerly a first-rate songster, charming 

 everybody far and near with the clearness of his 

 notes. Since he last moulted however his song 

 has been hushed, — his musical powers extin- 

 guished. Yet he looks " well," and eats heartily. 

 Now do tell me how I should act to restore what 

 I have lost; and enable me to join my pet 

 " Euterpe," in singing " a song of happier days." 

 Then will your Petitioner ever pray.— Mary L. 



[Reckon your prayer heard, and your bird 

 cured, Miss Mary. Give him immediately 

 boiled-milk (fresh) for two days, instead of 

 water. Then provide him with a small portion 

 of raw rump steak, finely scraped (moistened 

 with water) and keep him warm. Let his usual 

 food be canary, flax and rape seeds; and give 

 him some water-cress. Then write and tell us we 

 are a first-rate physician.] 



THE BRITISH WARBLERS. 

 BY THE LATE K. SWEET, F.L.S. — NO. IT. 



Ingenuity of Hooks. — " A curious circumstance 

 illustrative of the ingenuity of rooks, was wit- 

 nessed at the South Inch Rookery, Perth, a day 



In winter, when insects are scarce, I 

 occasionally treat them to the yolk of an 

 egg boiled hard, and then crumbled small. 

 This partly answers the purpose ; but it is a 

 good plan to have a stock of insects in store, 

 to supply them with a few every day, which 

 keeps them in good health, and makes them 

 sing more melodiously. A supply of some 



