206 
but up this matchless winding staircase, where 
the glories of Walton,— glories that would 
task any pen, however eloquent, to pourtray 
them effectually, many birds from Italy, and 
his favorite Rome, adorn’ the collection. 
From Guiana, Cayenne, and other parts of 
South America, were cotingas and jacomars 
of all colors, puff-backed shrikes, and tiny 
humming birds, glittering like gems;with their 
delicate tinier nests. One great curiosity 
was the campanero, or bell-bird, with a dark 
ascending horn, tufted with small white 
feathers ; the clear resounding bell-like note 
of this bird may be heard at three miles dis- 
tance. Finer than all these, was the glittering 
crested cock of the rock. 
The mirthful subjects were intermingled 
with the beautiful. Poor easy John Bull, for 
instance, with his debt of £800,000,000, was 
personified by a monkey figure. This same 
idea is illustrated by him in his writings under 
the figure of the hazel tree in his grounds, 
which, from the small beginning of a nut, 
actually supports a huge millstone ! 
In one glass case isa bed of artificial roses, 
beneath which are lurking various small finely 
marked serpents. Several handsome birds 
are fluttering about. One of them, venturing 
too near, is struggling in the fangs of one of 
their wily foes. This pictured allegory bears 
an appropriate motto, a warning against 
temptation, from the naturalist’s pen. 
Beauties! pause before ye venture, 
Lest ye tread the path of woe; 
Wily snakes are known to enter 
Into groves where roses blow. 
The most striking group which arrests 
the attention of the merest lounger, may be 
called a great political and religious satire 
on the times and characters of the Reforma- 
tion. In this unique case, a huge bloated 
toad represents the self-elected Defender | 
ee ee to the poor of Walton for their potato 
monster personifies William III.; or, as 
our satirical friend likes to call him, Dutch 
Billy. Another frightful reptile, made more 
hideous by a pair of horns, typifies Queen 
Bess. The great Reformers, Luther, and 
John Knox, have each their mocking reptile 
substitute. The informer, Titus Oates, 
characteristically figures as a sprawling 
loathsome toad, as if crushed to the dust 
by a heavy stone ; while mother Law-Church, 
as a scorpion, surrounded by her numerous 
dissenting spawn of beetles and lesser crawl- 
ing insects, is at the foot of a rock; on the 
summit of which, in the shape of a splendid, 
crested bird, is enthroned the Catholic 
Church, triumphant over her enemies, with 
the motto in Latin, “ On this rock will I 
build my Church !” 
This ingenious piece of satire is generally 
taken in good part even by representatives, 
of the systems attacked ; so much so, that 

| 
i 

KIDD’S OWN JOURNAL. 
as the author of it once told me, a neigh- 
boring Vicar of the State Church re- 
quested the loan of it to amuse his visitors ! 
Lastly, the cayman, the subject of his 
renowned capture, and the small serpent (that 
nearly cost him his life), must not be over- 
looked in this unrivalled collection, —a 
monument of abiding perseverance, artistic 
skill, and a thorough knowledge of his 
subject. The forms have none of that dead 
flatness, common to some collections, but 
are full, rounded, and life-like; without the 
support of wire, sawdust, or other slovenly 
stufiing—complete, trom the adjustment of a 
feather to the full portraiture of the form, 
attitude, and characteristic expression of the 
being represented. 
‘ Around the sides of the staircase (in 
addition to the other attractions) are many 
fine pictures, comprising subjects of land- 
scape and historic incident. ‘They are 
principally of the class called easel paintings, 
a delineation of which, being essayed by me 
in a “Visit to Walton Hall,” many years 
ago (inserted in the Leeds Mercury), and our 
present object being Natural History, I 
shall not do more than simply call attention 
to them. The same will be observed with 
regard to the scenery, then described; the 
principal features of which, are a fine 
wood-skirted valley, nearly filled by a fair 
lake, abounding in choice fish; and many 
varieties of water fowl. On the Northern 
extremity, is the small Island, on which the 
elegant mansion stands; on the site of the 
old residence of the Watertons, which, in 
days of civil dissension, has withstood hostile 
sieges, in defence of the principles of attach- 
ment professed by its owners to the loyalty 
and religion of their fathers. Further, in 
the same direction, are the stables and 
gardens ; and, passing along pleasant shady 
ways, over a low tract formerly given up 
culture (until a stringent imposition of the 
taxing system did away with the boon), we 
reach the grotto and pleasure grounds, given 
up (under due regulations and permission 
granted) to the gratification of the public. 
The bad usage experienced from the 
poachers, who some years ago disturbed the 
| harmony of this peaceful domain, and the 

still worse abuse sustained in the law courts, 
where their violent intrusion was defended ; 
the occasional abuse of the fishing privileges, 
—and a few instances of wanton damage,—: 
have compelled a more strict regulation of 
the admission of parties to these grounds. 
Great as our gratification in seeing the 
Hall had been, it was enhanced by a con- 
versation with the worthy owner, of which 
only an outline of the purport can be given. 
We repassed the draw-bridge, near to which 
his only son (a fine tall young man) and 


