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KIDD'S LONDON JOUKNAL. 



TO CORRESPONDENTS. 



W. S.— -You can obtain the rabbits you speak of, at 

 Leadenhall Market. 



A Phrenological Reader.— We esteem your kind favor, 

 and quite agree with you in your remarks on the 

 "noble science." You offer to substantiate "the 

 fact" of the bullfinch and canary having young, and 

 rearing them. If you can do so, send authenticated 

 particulars, and we will publish them. We are still 

 very sceptical on the matter. 



Jane W.— Thanks. 



Correspondents sending in any " facts" connected with 

 Science or Natural History, are requested in every 

 case to append their names and places of abode. In no 

 instance, however, will their names be published with- 

 out their express sanction. 



Private Letters.— Of these we daily receive such 

 immense quantities, that we must really beg the 

 writers to excuse our not replying to them ; our time 

 being overwhelmingly occupied with Public duties. 



To obtain this Paper without any difficulty, our readers 

 need only order it to be sent to them by any of their 

 local Booksellers or Newsvendors. It is published 

 simultaneously with all the other weekly periodicals. 



KIDD'S OWN JOURNAL. 

 Saturday, Hay 8, 1852. 



Late though the Spring be, yet are 

 ■we well rewarded for our patience in waiting 

 for it. Every successive day adds to our 

 wonder, our admiration, and our enjoyment. 

 No plea have we now for being found within 

 doors ! 



Our occupation henceforward will be to 

 watch the hand of Nature in her various 

 operations. The business of creation is 

 resumed. The vital spark is rekindled in 

 dormant existences. All things give evi- 

 dence that they " live, move, and have their 

 being " from the benignant hand of an all- 

 wise God. What a theme to descant upon ! 

 What a delight to witness ! 



The earth has now put on her Spring 

 livery, and awaits the bidding of her Lord. 

 The air breathes gently on our cheek, and 

 conducts to our ear the warblings of the 

 birds; also to our senses the odors of new- 

 born herbs and flowers. The great eye of 

 the world " sees and shines" with bright 

 and gladdening glances. The waters teem 

 with life ; and Man himself feels the re-vivi- 

 lying and all-pervading influence. 



How have we prayed for refreshing 

 showers, to assist in the development of all 

 our heart holds dear! — for we must ever con- 

 fess that the alternating varieties of gentle 

 rain and exhilarating sunshine greatly en- 

 hance the beauties of May. They tend to 

 perfect the budding leaves, tender grass, 

 and elegant blossoms ; and thus complete 

 the landscape of Nature. 



The very thought of a Spring shower in- 

 duces to a poetical feeling : — 



Away to that snug nook ; for the thick shower 

 Rushes on stridingly. Ay, — now it comes ! 

 Glancing about the leaves with its first dips, 

 Like snatches of faint music. Joyous thrush ! 

 It mingles with thy song, and beats soft time 

 To thy bubbling shrillness. Now it louder falls, 

 Pattering, like the far voice of leaping rills ; 

 And now it breaks upon the shrinking clumps 

 "With a crash of many sounds — the thrush is 



still. 

 There are sweet scents about us: the violet 



rises 

 On that green bank; the primrose sparkles 



there ; 

 The Earth is grateful to the teeming clouds, 

 And yields a sudden freshness to their kisses. 

 But now the shower slopes to the warm west, 

 Leaving a dewy track; and see ! the big drops, 

 Like falling pearls, glisten in the sunny mist. 

 The air is clear again, and the far woods 

 Shine out in their early green. Let's onward 



then, 

 For the first blossoms peep about our path ; 

 The lambs are nibbling the short dripping 



grass, 

 And the birds are on the bushes. 



The very thought of birds, — listening as we 

 do now, daily, to the voices of nightingales, 

 blackcaps, and our summer warblers, — 

 would lead us on beyond all due bounds in 

 our remarks. We therefore prudently leave 

 our readers to enjoy the reality of what we 

 could, after all, but faintly depict on Paper. 

 We will however bring under their notice, 

 whilst rambling through the fields and lis- 

 tening to the feathered choir, the sweet 

 verses of James Montgomery. All who have 

 feeling, must appreciate their beauty : — 



" Who could hear such concert, and not join 



in chorus? 

 Not I,— sometimes entranced I seemed to float 

 Upon a buoyant sea of sounds: again, 

 With curious ear, I tried to disentangle 

 The maze of voices ; and with eye as nice, 

 To single out each minstrel, and pursue 

 His little song through all its labyrinth, 

 Till my soul entered into him, and felt 

 Every vibration of his thrilling throat, 

 Pulse of his heart, and flutter of his pinions." 

 All who can enjoy Nature after this fashion, 

 will find in us a kindred spirit. We never 

 wander abroad without cultivating such 

 feelings to their fullest extent. We are indeed 

 one of " the ^eZ^-natiiralists," against whom 

 the Literary Gazette people and the Book 

 Naturalists wage such an eternal war.— 

 An honorable distinction for us, say we. 



ORIGINAL CORRESPONDENCE. 



Hints to young Beginners on Rearing Young 

 Birds. — Mr. Editor, As I have not the least 

 doubt that the perusal of your excellent Journal 

 will excite in many the desire to rear canaries 

 for themselves, I should like to give beginners 

 the benefit of my experience in that line; for 

 although far from being extensive, it may yet 



