
KIDD’S OWN JOURNAL. 
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have blossomed, the flower-stalks being be- 
tween 2 and 3 feet higher than the leaves. 
At the Moult, a great number of exotics 
have been planted in the open air; and even 
in the early part of November, the grounds 
may be seen gay with salvias, petunias, se- 
necias, bouvardias, and brugmansias, &c. 
These last-named shrubs stand the winter 
well; and though often cut down to the 
ground, form strong plants by the end of the 
summer. Various herbaceous plants from 
Mexico, particularly stévias, are perfectly 
acclimated; and a species of phylotacea is 
conspicuous, from its numerous spikes of 
deep purple berries. At the head of the 
estuary, of which Salcombe is the entrance, 
in the grounds of Coombe Royal, the resi- 
dence of John Luscombe, Esq., are ‘ine 
specimens of orange, citrons, lemons, shad- 
docks, and limes; they are protected, only 
in winter, by temporary frames of reed; and 
one tree, a Seville orange, is known to have 
attained the age of 200 years. 
CaoBat oY: 
CRUELTY TO ANIMALS. 
WE HAVE NOW ARRIVED at a time of year 
when people meet together to be sociable, 
kind, friendly, and affectionate. All is cold, 
winterly, bleak, and comfortless without ; 
and we strive to forget this, by making all 
warm and comfortable within. Fires blaze 
upon the hearth. Our tables are covered 
with dainties. Abundance of the good 
things of this life are ours; and we are as 
mercifully sheltered from the pitiless storms 
that are raging in all parts of the country. 
Surely this should make us merciful and 
kind to the little pensioners who are now 
driven by stress of weather to seek refuge 
near our dwellings. ‘They are, just now, 
coming to us in large numbers, and lovingly 
striving to win our sympathy. A litle—a 
very little satisfies their wants; and what a 
song do we getin return! Daily do we 
rejoice in the scenes we are now hinting at; 
and we should indeed be glad to get others 
to think as we think, and to follow our 
example. 
But we are foo singular in this our favorite 
recreation. Whilst we encourage, foster and 
protect our little confiding visitors, our neigh- 
bors are on every hand murdering them 
wholesale. The sight of any bird that is 
tame, and that approaches the house for a 
crumb, is the signal for the gun to be got 
ready. Food is thrown out; the enemy then 
watches in ambush, whilst the unsuspecting 
little creatures make themselves “ at home.” | 
Next follows a report; and the ground is 
presently seen strewn with the feathers of 
robins, wrens, blackbirds, thrushes, hedge- 
sparrows, chaffinches, and tit-mice. There 
lie their little mangled bodies, ‘‘ damning 
evidence” of the innate cruelty of MAN! 
This, too, at a time when the pangs of hunger 
ought to claim for them an indemnity ! Every 
five minutes throughout the day are these 
disgusting scenes going forward in our fields, 
gardens, woods, forests, and hedge-rows. 
Well may the various tribes seek refuge 
with us! They seem instinctively to know 
how dearly we love them. 
Whilst on this subject, it will not be out 
of place to introduce here some remarks on 
cruelty to animals generally. Some may say, 
“they are not new.” Granted; but they are not 
any the worse on that account. They will bear 
the most attentive perusal; and prove to - 
parents how careful they should be to imcul- 
cate humanity in the minds of their children 
from infancy. This 1s a point almost entirely 
neglected, as we see daily. Hence the bar- 
barities practised by adults,—as a matter 
of course. 
Were a history of the cruelty inflicted by 
one animal on another to be written, the 
amount of torture that is chargeable to man 
would immeasurably exceed that of any other 
creature. Ferocious and heartless as carni- 
vorous animals are, it is a curious fact that 
they usually act with great expedition in the 
destruction of life. They seize their victim 
by the neck, and spine it; and so far exhibit 
a sympathy with its sufferings as not to com- 
mence their meal till life is extinct. 
But man is “ingeniously” cruel. He has 
invented instruments of torture. Too refined 
for the employment of nails and teeth in the 
exercise of cruelty, and with numberless 
other motives for using and subduing animals 
(besides the appetite for eating them), he 
has invented whips and goads, and bridles 
and curbs. He makes use of sticks and 
stones to force them to his will; and he too 
often accomplishes his end by a _ cruel 
indifference to the feelings of a sensitive, a 
speechless, and a helpless creature. 
It is the practice at Smithfield Market, to 
allow the drovers, when a beast is sold, to cut 
off the hair of the animal as a perquisite. 
This, were it done with a pair of scissors, 
would inflict no pain; but it is usually taken 
off by means of a knife—and so rudely, that 
even the skin is torn. And they very fre- 
quently cut a piece off the end of the tail! 
What matters it to them? ‘The animal is to 
die in a few hours! Mr. Langham, a butcher 
of extensive business and great experience in 
such matters, says—‘‘T have seen them do 
it to my own animals.” He has frequently 
spoken to the police about it, and they 
reply— If we saw this done we should take 
the man to Guildhall; but it is very difficult 
to see them do it.” The same authority 
remarks, that there is not a place all round 
Smithfield where the poor animals can get a 


