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KIDD’S OWN JOURNAL. 

at once ruining their plumage, and gradually con- 
suming their insides. Whilst they are moulting, 
it may be sparingly given. No doubt he does 
cunningly watch for it. In all other respects you 
treat him properly. Canary and flax should be 
his general food. His feet should certainly be kept 
clean, and his legs ought to be soaked in warm 
water. In the spring, he should have a square 
water-bath attached to the open door of his cage. 
He will then wash regularly. These birds should 
not be unnecessarily handled. We still continue 
to recommend the Zollverein cages, which exclude 
vermin. ‘They can be made s0 as to prevent the 
waste of seed which yon complain of. If we can 
aid you further, pray say so. We always take 
delight in giving advice to those who love their 
pets.] 
How to curea Cold—A cold, my dear Sir, is 
an unpleasant companion; although, in a former 
number, you have sung so sweetly about being 
“nursed by those one loves” during its continu- 
ance. That is “ poetry ;” but let us try “ prose.” 
Hundreds of remedies are daily prescribed for a 
cold—many of very opposite tendencies ; and as it 
is the nature of the complaint to disappear of its 
own accord in a very few days, every. remedy in 
succession has come in for a share of praise! 
They may be all summed up, however, in water- 
gruel or spare living, moderate warmth and per- 
spiration, and one or two gentle purgatives. Some, 
not satisfied with this method of starving a cold, 
have maintained that quite an opposite plan of 
diet and treatment is the proper one. A fit of 
intoxication has, no doubt, sometimes cured a 
disagreeable cold, as well as plunging into a cold 
bath, or a surfeit in a warm, crowdedroom. But 
these are uncertain and doubtful expedients, and 
their consequences may, in nine cases out of ten, 
be hurtful. Unquestionably, the most rational 
plan is the starving system. For allaying the 
tickling cough, an infusion of linseed may 
be freely taken; an infusion of quince 
seeds; or a solution of gum arabic in water. 
These are preferable to the sweet sirups in 
general use, as the former may be taken in large 
quantities, and repeatedly, without loading the 
stomach. I throw these observations out now, as 
being “‘ seasonable.” We, English, are seldom 
free from colds. You tell us very plainly “why” 
it is so!—Sarau R., Clifton. 
[Say, Miss Sarah, in your next, whether you 
follow our advice, and look well to your “ under- 
standing.” Dry feet, obtainable only by wearing 
strong and reasonably thick boots, is the great 
secret of keeping free from colds. Your advice 
is how to cure a cold,—our’s how to avoid its 
visitation. We shall be “at” your sex again on 
this matter, very shortly! We cannot, somehow, 
help loving you,—with all your faults !] 

Canaries Living and Breeding in the Open 
Air.—I send you special notice, my dear sir, of 
auuther inieresting fact,—the more interesting as 
it occurs so late in the year (Oct. 3). One of my 
pet canaries has this very morning presented me 
with a nest of four young ones. It is her fifth 
brood this season,—making altogether twenty-one 
birds hatched and reared by herself. I may add, 
that she has, during the summer, abandoned two 



nests, one of which contained four eggs. This 
last, our gardener believes to have been destroyed 
by ajay. I wish you had been here this morning ! 
We mustered nineteen birds on the wing,— all in 
splendid plumage, and flying about in every direc- 
tion. You really must come down oftener. If you 
have not time,—see if you cannot “make” it.— 
Henry Wo.uaston, Welling, Kent, Oct. 3. 
[We really do take shame to ourself for having, 
apparently, so neglected you. We can only plead 
the multiplicity of our avocations and engage- 
ments, aSareasonable excuse for our prolonged 
absence. Our pen is never slumbering ; our body 
‘knows but little rest ; our mind is rarely at repose ; 
and as for our legs—they bid fair to discover “ the 
perpetual motion.” Our eyes are not short-sighted ; 
our tongue is not tied; our hands are not idle. 
We name this to you, my dear sir; but it is meant 
for many others also. We have no time to “ write” 
formal excuses. We rejoice exceedingly at your 
good fortune ; and hope next season will be a still 
more prosperous one for you.] 

Fossil Turtle—Mr. Geo. Fowlstone, lapidary, 
in the Arcade, Ryde (formerly of Doncaster), has 
lately procured from the quarries at Swanage, one 
of the largest and most entire fossil.turtles ever 
discovered. The top shell is quite perfect, and 
measures 20 inches by 154 inches, and is 4 feet 94 
inches in circumference. ‘The fossil is imbedded 
in a block of stone, weighing 3 cwt. He has also 
a portion of another fossil turtle of nearly the 
same dimensions, which was broken in quarrying. 
—C. P. 
Are Variegated Leaves produced by Disease ?2— 
If variegation proceeds from a disease in the plants, 
the following account of a variegated holly shows 
that some plants fatten pretty well in their “‘ill- 
ness.” I cannot ascertain the age of the tree I 
allude to; but the circumference of the stem (one 
foot from the ground), is 5 feet 6 inches; and six 
feet from the ground, 4 feet 10 inches. The di- 
ameter of the branches is 30 feet ; and the height 
of the tree, 35 feet. It would have been larger if 
it had got fair play; but it is much injured by its 
neighbors, which are two large trees,—namely, 
an ash, and an elm.—P. Macxksnzin. 

Leaf Mould.—Now that the autumn, the season 
of falling leaves, has arrived, I would make a few 
brief observations on the subject of obtaining a 
supply of leaf-mould for the ensuing season. Every 
person is fully aware of the very beneficial results 
of using this ingredient in the formation of com- 
posts for numerous families of plants ; and at this 
season every means should be resorted to for 
procuring a sufficient quantity. Oak leaves are 
said to be the best for this purpose, from the 
presence of the substance known chemically as 
tannin. I believe beech, chestnut, and various 
other leaves are very little inferior to oak leaves. 
The leaves having been collected together, should 
be thrown into a pit, and left there till fermen- 
tation takes place. Frequent turning will be found 
to greatly facilitate the decomposition of the leaves. 
In the spring, when dry, warm weather occurs, I 
would advise the removal ef the leaves from the 
pit or heap in which they have been rotting during 
the winter, to an open, airy situation, where there 



