
KIDD’S OWN JOURNAL. 247 

of that animal. She was gentle to all, but “ affec- 
tionate ”’ to our friend only. She would sit on his 
knee, purr, and rub herself against his shoulders 
or face. At mealtime, no choice morsel would 
tempt her from his side; and at night—wishing 
to treat her with all hospitality—a snug bed was 
made up, and carried into our friend’s sleeping- 
room. But this would not do for Pussy, till some 
article of his clothing was placed in the basket; 
and then all was right. During the day, our 
friend was generally absent for some hours. Puss 
would then, for a time, trot about the house 
as if quite at home; and when tired of looking 
for her favorite in-doors, she would go and place 
herself on the limb of a tree overlooking the 
road, and there patiently await his return. Once 
in sight, she was happy. She would jump down 
and run to meet him, and her loud purring 
would tell of his return. Singular as the affec- 
tion of this animal was, it was not less extra- 
ordinary that she should come to a strange place, 
and to all (save one) strange people, yet never for 
an instant appear lost or perplexed! From the 
time of her first arrival, she was at home ; and 
neither our dogs or cats offered the smallest annoy- 
ance, or exhibited any symptoms of jealousy at the 
introduction of such a visitor. Neither did Puss 
once attempt to touch any one of our birds. She 
made herself a favorite with one and all; and 
at the end of four days, was sent home to her 
master’s house, where she at once fell into her 
old habits, and where she probably hopes some 
day again to see her favorite.—Puss. 

Stainborough Woods, and their Feathered 
Inhabitants.—I send you an Ode, which I have 
written to accompany a small volume on “ Stain- 
borough or Wentworth Castle,” by a townsman 
of mine. The scene is endeared to many, by the 
recollection of numerous gala excursions, and 
delightful reflective rambles.—[We print a part 
of this, only ; and preserve the “note,” which is 
interesting to naturalists.] It is too long, I fear, 
for insertion in Our JouRNAL :— 
What boon to us townsmen, from stifling crowds 
stealing, 
When freed some bright day to enjoy this 
domain ; 
In moments of leisure to hive each sweet feeling. 
To lighten and solace our labors again! 
To mark in those gardens the many-hued flowers, 
Which foreign lands send us to blend with our 
own; 
To seek the cool shade of those fresh-tufted 
bowers, 
Where the chesnut and beech smile in beauty 
full-blown. 
To tread the green margin of those winding waters, 
Were the cygnet and swan arch their necks 
o’er the wave ; 
Or bound on the green turf when Beauty’s sweet 
daughters 
Share or smile on the sports of the hardy and 
brave. 
Yon oak woods in green robes, with amber tints 
shining, 
Where frolic the squirrel, the hare, and the 
deer ; 

Where spring coming warblers, with home birds 
combining, ' 
And all, but the nightingale’s song, we may 
hear. 
His notes, too, would charm, but their sweetness 
betrays them— i 
And kingfishers dart o'er the stream-waving 
reed,— 
For the market of lucre the trapper waylays them, 
To music and beauty sad martyrs indeed ! * 
Yet, praise to the owner ; no meek tiny being, 
No sweet-throated warbler at fis will may 
bleed; 
Far richer his pleasure, in hearing and seeing 
Their joy in that life which their Maker 
decreed. 
Long, Stainbro’, delight us through each varied 
season, 
In Spring’s verdant promise, in Autumn’s rich 
old ; 
O! Kilo the gross, bring the thoughtless to 
reason, 
Shed light on the heart which the world hath 
made cold ! 
Barnsley, Oct. 10. T. Lister. 

On Packing and Sending ‘‘Game.”—At a sea- 
son, my dear Sir, when one’s kind friends in the 
country are in the social and very commendable 
habit of sending us Londoners up some “fine 
specimens” of poultry, game, &c., a word from 
you as to the proper mode of “‘ packing ” the same 
will be useful. While so much wet prevails, and 
there is such universal dampness in the air, 
nothing will “keep ” long; therefore no animals 
should be sent up with their internal machinery 
removed. ‘ Pick” them, by all means, if they be 
of the feathered tribe ; but do not “draw” them. 
Just hint at this; do—A. W., Hampstead. 
[Your remarks are correct. Many perishable 
articles, owing to want of thought in the kind 
purveyors of game to.their London friends, are 
spoilt ere they come to hand. Many persons are 
in the habit of paunching hares, and drawing 
poultry, before they pack them in baskets; but 
the practice isa bad one. The entrails of the 
Se ee 
* Yet Stainbro’ Woods, to the naturalist, are rich in 
small birds of the kinds less likely than the above to 
attract the rapacity of the bird-catcher, or from whose 
stealthy arts they enjoy a comparative protection. Of 
the rarest, the pied and the grey flycatchers seek each 
spring these sheltering woods, which contain also the nut- 
hatch, creeper, and the greater and lesser spotted and 
green wood-peckers. All the summer warblers find their 
way here from southern lands, except the Reed and 
Dartford warblers. All the tits are here permanently, 
except the bearded and crested tits. Large birds, too, 
abound, as daws, pies, jays, harmless kestrels; and, more 
rarely, sparrow-hawks and herons, and the white and 
brown and the long and short-eared owls. These would 
be more plentiful, but for the prejudices against.those 
kinds which claim a morsel of game or fish, which is so 
strong, that, asa neighboring gentleman remarked, if 
a wish existed to preserve these noble but lessening 
tribes from extinction, the keepers would overrule this 
repugnance to destruction. Few offer a sanctuary, like 
Waterton, for persecuted birds ; it is pleasant, however, 
to record that none but game and rapacious birds are 
allowed to be destroyed by any one about the place ; this 
merciful edict applying also to squirrels, whose agile 
movements add such grace to the scene.—T. L. 


