prove useful. Last season was my first attempt 

 to rear canaries, and having determined to try it 

 on a somewhat extensive scale, I procured some 

 half dozen hens from bird dealers here, all of which, 

 with one exception, were birds of a year old 

 only. About this time last year, they were " put 

 up ;" three with canaries, one with a linnet, one 

 with a goldfinch, and the last with a siskin. 

 The siskin was two years old. In due course 

 they made their nests, laid their eggs, and sat most 

 faithfully ; but when the young appeared, it never 

 seemed to strike the mothers that food was neces- 

 sary to the welfare of their offspring, as they never 

 (with the exception of the two-year old hen) gave 

 them a morsel of food from the time of their 

 birth! The consequence was, that in twenty- four 

 hours the young had, for the greater part, de- 

 parted this life. As for the cock birds, they took no 

 notice whatever of the young. The deaths during 

 the season amounted to at least twenty-four. The 

 two-year old hen mated with the siskin, had 

 imperfect eggs at her first sitting. At her second 

 sitting she brought out four young ; two of 

 which died after coming to maturity. I then took 

 out the siskin, and put in a canary. The latter 

 again sat, and brought out three young; only 

 one of which arrived at maturity. I may here 

 say, that I was not successful in getting young 

 from the linnet or goldfinch. Their wives were, 

 however, in the course of the season, mated with 

 canaries, and brought out young, — but only to 

 die as above stated. The purpose of this com- 

 munication is, to uphold your advice not to 

 attempt breeding with young birds, the result 

 being so very uncertain and unsatisfactory.— 

 J. C, Glasgow. 



Gratitude and Confidence in a Skylark, rescued 

 from a Hawk. — One of my little boys whilst 

 taking a walk on the sea-shore, observed a lark 

 closely pursued by a hawk. From a feeling of 

 compassion, the boy threw his cap at the hawk, 

 and strove hard, by shouting, to rescue his poor 

 prisoner. He was successful ; for the hawk 

 dropping his prey, rose on the wing, and reluc- 

 tantly disappeared. The lark instinctively re- 

 cognised his little protector; and as it lay on the 

 ground at his feet, permitted itself to be taken 

 up. It was then carried home; and in a few 

 minutes it commenced eating heartily. More- 

 over, it took to a cage as naturally as if it had 

 been used to it all its life. This very bird is now 

 one of my best songsters. — F. 



[This pleasing little anecdote has been kindly 

 furnished to us by Lady F., who so graphically 

 described the peculiarities of the Rock- Thrush, 

 at page 266 of our Journal.] 



How to attract Moths and Butterflies. — Some 

 time since, a Correspondent, C. M., inquired of 

 you, — how he could readily attract Moths and 

 Butterflies ? I send you, for his information, a 

 recipe much used in the Northern parts of 

 England, and also in Scotland. To one gill of 

 hard ale, add a quarter of a pound of coarse sugar 

 and a teaspoonful of strong rum. Let these 

 simmer together, and the " charm" is complete. 

 This preparation should be rubbed on trees 

 skirting the outside of a wood, and if possible 

 near a meadow. The wind blowing from the 



wood, would then convey the smell to the moths, 

 in the meadow or grass field. Many dozens may 

 be thus collected on a summer's evening. They 

 become intoxicated, and can be removed from 

 the tree when in this state with the greatest ease. 

 — W. H. F. 



[This also comes to us through the same kind 

 channel as the preceding, — Sir William Henry F. 

 having obligingly noted down for us the results 

 of his own personal observation.] 



Nightingales in Moscow. — I have just seen a 

 paragraph in the newspapers, in which it is 

 stated that in Moscow the nightingales sing in 

 every respect as beautifully in cages as in their 

 native woods. In the bird shops, it is said, they 

 are heard warbling with all the fulness and 

 variety of tone which characterise the nightin- 

 gale in its natural state. By rattling beads upon 

 their tables of tangible arithmetic, the Russians, 

 it is added, can make these birds sing at plea- 

 sure during the day; but in the night they make 

 the streets of the city resound with the melodies 

 of the forest. Do you believe this to be true ? 

 If so, Moscow, at the nightingale season, must be 

 a delightful place indeed ! — L. B. M., St. Leo- 

 nards. 



[Whether the above be true or not, we cannot 

 say as regards Moscow — it is quite true as regards 

 Paris. A year or two since we revelled in such 

 delights, although cholera was mowing down at 

 the very same time thousands of Frenchmen 

 per day. Nightingales were seen suspended in 

 cages all over the city ; and were singing as well 

 and as sweetly by day as by night. The greater 

 the noise in the streets, the louder and more ten- 

 derly-expressive was Philomel. The climate is 

 the cause of this, most undoubtedly. As for the 

 nightingales in the Tuileries Gardens; outside 

 the city; and at Versailles, — we never heard 

 such harmony before. It was, in French phrase- 

 ology, ravissant. We must not however com- 

 plain ; for at this very time of writing, our own 

 garden rejoices in these visitors, who sing to us 

 morning, noon, and night. Some people say — 

 Charles Waterton denies it, and we quite 

 agree with him — that sleeping with your window 

 open at this season gives you cold. If it does 

 do so, then will our cold be worthy of the name 

 of one — for we must hear Philomel in the silent 

 hours of the night, let the consequence or penalty 

 be what it may. Such music destroys all desire for 

 sleep.] 



The Gout in Woodlarks. — In addition to what 

 you have already prescribed, let me recommend 

 the application of a warm fomentation, with a 

 decoction of soap-wort. — E. K. 



The Intruding Rook. — I have much pleasure in 

 supplying the particulars asked for by your Cor- 

 respondent at p. 281. The bird was much smaller 

 than the common rook, Its feet were quite black ; 

 and so was the body, excepting the head, which 

 was shaded from the back to the lower end of the 

 neck with a lovely grey color. There was also 

 a distinctly white ring round the eye, very 

 different from anything of the kind I have ever 

 before seen . It is probable, that the extreme 

 fright to which the poor bird had been subjected 



