

KIDD'S OWN JOURNAL. 


soon, and on the look-out for more targets. I hear | 
we shall have many ‘rich displays” this Christ- 
mas, of London taste—not *virtt.”” They shall be 
attended to, rely on it, by—Watter, Cambridge. 
P.S.—Thanks—ten thousand thanks, for your 
noble endeavor to introduce ringlets again. The 
modern “ fashion” of plastering over every pretty 
face with huge breadths of matted hair, drawn 
down as you say by “high art,” is truly 
disgusting. 

flow to avoid Catching Cold.—Accustom your- 
self to the use of sponging with cold water every 
morning, on first getting out of bed. It should be 
done quickly, and followed with a good deal of rub- 
bing with a rough towel. This has considerable 
effect in giving to the skin, and maintaining, a 
proper action in it; and thus proves a safeguard to 
the injurious influence of cold, and sudden changes 
of temperature. Therefore a person who is in the 
habit of thus fortifying the skin will be much less 
likely to suffer injury from heated rooms, and the 
change from a hot room to the cold air. Sir Astley 
Cooper once said:—‘‘ The methods by which I 
preserve my own health, are—I speak feelingly, 
temperance, early rising, and sponging the body 
every morning with cold water, immediately after 
getting out of bed; a practice which I have adopted 
for thirty years. And, though I go from the hot 
theatre into the squares of the hospital, in the 
severest winter nights, yet I scarcely ever have a 
cold.” —Puss. 

Large Deciduous Cypress—There is in the 
garden of the vicarage here a deciduous Cypress, 
measuring in girth 9 feet 4 in. at 2 feet from the 
ground, and 7 feet 3 in. at 6 feet. Its height is 
about 60 feet, its shape symmetrical, the spread of 
the lower branches, which feather down to the 
ground—say 45 feet. It stands on the edge of a 
small pond, in which its roots luxuriate exceed- 
ingly. The soil seems a strong loam on a hard 
chalky bottom.—S. R. F., Boxley, Kent. 

Fancy Pigeons.—I have taken quite a fancy to 
the keeping of pigeons; and I do wish you would 
commence a series of articles on that subject. 
They could not fail to be interesting. Pigeons are 
such fond—loving creatures, that you, of all 
people, must delight in recording their habits, 
tastes, and playful ways. Can you tell me where 
I can “safely ” deal—so as not to be cheated in 
my purchases ? I am really terrified to enter our 
common bird-shops. They are so dirty !—Rr- 
BECCA EH. 
[We shall be delighted, dear Rebecca, to assist 
so loving a heart as thine in pursuing what was 
with us, in our early days, the fondest of our 
delights. We used to be “ noted” for affectionate 
pigeons. Perhaps they taught us to be affec- 
tionate. When we sat down, and called them to 
us, we were immediately covered with them. We 
used to fill our waistcoat and other pockets with 
- hemp-seed,—our mouth also was well stocked. 
The saucy rogues would then come and help 
themselves from every suspicious-looking corner of 
our apparel; and they all loved us,—oh, how 
fondly! Shoulders, knees, arms, head—on every 
-place where they could rest, they did rest. We 
have no doubt that some one of our kind corres- 


pondents will be good enough to commence a 
| series of Paperson the Keeping of Fancy Pigeons. 
We will then add “notes” as we go on. 
Touching the purchase of fancy pigeons, you will 
find in our advertising columns of the present 
number that there are some very choice ones an- 
nounced for sale bya Mr. McLean. Write to him 
at once.] 

Deep Sea Soundings.—Hitherto a continuous 
series of soundings in deep water has been rendered 
difficult by the fact of each sounding costing the 
ship a fresh line: however strongly the line was 
made, when once out it has never been recovered. 
The Americans have invented a mode by which 
the weight, on touching the bottom, is detached, 
so that the line may be drawn back with ease. A 
hole is drilled through a 64 Ib. or heavier shot, suf- 
ficiently large to admit a rod about three-quarters 
of an inch in diameter. This rod is about twelve 
or fourteen inches in length, and, with the 
exception of about one and a half inches at the 
bottom, perfectly solid. At the top of the rod are 
two arms extending one from each side. These 
arms, being upon easily-acting hinges, are capable 
of being raised or lowered with very little power. 
A small branch extends from the outside of each 
of them, which is for the purpose of holding, by 
means of rings, a piece of wire by which the ball 
is swung to the rod. A piece of rope is then 
attached by each end to the arms, to which again 
is joined the sounding line. The ball is then 
lowered into the water, and upon reaching the 
bottom the strain upon the line ceases, and the 
arms fall down ; allowing the ball to detach itself 
entirely from the rod, which is then easily drawn 
in, the drilled portion of which is discovered to be 
filled with a specimen of that which it has come 
in contact with at the bottom. With this appa- 
ratus, aided by the host of assistants whom Lieut. 
Maury’s recent visit to Europe will doubtless 
bring to the great work of exploration, the ocean 
bed may become in time as well known to us as 
the bed of the Thames, or that of the Hudson.— 
W.C., Woolwich. 


Forgiveness —A deaf and dumb person being 
asked to give his idea of forgiveness, took up a 
pencil and wrote :—‘ It is the sweetness which 
flowers yield when they have been trampled 
upon.”’—VioLer, Worcester. 

Nest of the Titmouse—A large half-peck 
garden-pot was inverted amongst some laurels ; 
and through the hole, a Parus Major, or Great 
Titmouse, found its way to build its nest. The 
interior of the pot was half filled with dry leaves 
next the ground : and then a quantity of feathers. 
In the centre of this warm receptacle, the eggs 
were deposited. Ion several occasions lifted up 
the pot whilst the old bird was away, and in- 
variably found that the eggs were covered during 
oh absence.—J. F. Woop, The Coppice, Notting- 
am. 

Sagacity of the Horse.—Some years ago, a 
person liying at Beeston, near Nottingham, had 
two horses in a swampy piece of ground called the 
‘“‘ Hassocks.” One night he was aroused from 
bed by a neighing at the gate in front of his house. 
_———— 
oe 
