made his appearance again in the spring, with four children-not at the dressing-room window, where there was scarcely a sufficient resting-place for the young brood, but at the nursery window, which was fronted by a parapet that ran round the house, and where they might rest for a time at a safe distance, and pick up the crumbs thrown to them without running the risk of entering the

room.

It is rather singular that he should always attend them, and never the mother. At this time he never left them to enter the room, or approached nearer to the window than was necessary to obtain the food, which he administered impartially to all. These visits were, however, of course, not of long duration, as the young were soon able to provide for themselves, and the advancing spring furnished them with a plentiful supply of their natural food.

Here, as I supposed, ended our intercourse with this interesting and beautiful little creature; but my surprise was great when, about the middle of the following winter, and during some severe weather, our little tail-less friend again made his appearance; not, however, with his former confidence and familiarity, but with much more caution, and even alarm, and as if rather to take refuge from the attack of some enemy, than to obtain food, or resume his old habits. He rested for a minute on the door, looking suspiciously around him, then flew down, but soon rose again; and after flying round the room in a hurried manner, endeavored to hide himself behind the music-stand. In short, he appeared so uneasy and alarmed that I opened the window, and he immediately darted out of it. He returned, however, occasionally, by his old entrance, but his visits were short, and he was wild and uneasy while with us. After calling home in this manner, now and then, for about three weeks, I totally lost him, and never again either saw him or discovered any traces of him; and I greatly fear he fell a victim to one of our numerous cats, as he was seen in the court by the servants two or three times, after he had entirely discontinued his visits to the dressing-room.

It may be asked, by what means I could positively ascertain that this was the same bird which had visited us the preceding winter. The loss of his tail was a mark of distinction from others, (though I am surprised the feathers had not grown again,) but from the minute observations on his plumage and general appearance, which his familiarity had given me the opportunity of making during a whole winter, I think I could have distinguished him among any number of his species. The tameness of the Robin is almost proverbial; but there was almost a mixture of reason with the instincts of this little animal; and the recollection for so many months of the place where he had been sheltered during the preceding winter, and his return to it at the same period of the following year, are very remarkable circumstances. Had I taken this little bird, and confined him in a cage, I might probably have kept him for years as a tame companion; but I could not be so treacherous as to repay his unbounded confidence in us with the loss of liberty.

THE MONTH OF APRIL,
OR,

A WORD IN SEASON.

WE PROPHESIED in our last, that we should win many a heart by our frank manner of "speaking out." We were not a false prophet; as the loveable tracery of many a fair hand has, in various colored inks, attested on paper of every hue. Some say "the truth should not be spoken at all times." WE ask-why?

Well; leaving the wise to their debate, let us employ our time more profitably. MARCH has fled-and left behind it sad proofs of its power. Thousands and thousands who saw its advent, have not lived to see its close. Despising the ordinary rules of prudence, health has been sacrificed to appetite; and fashionhas trampled discretion under her feet. Thin shoes and wet feet; seminudity and severe cold; excess and indisposition; late hours and shattered constitutions have travelled as usual, in company. The result is known by some already; and will be felt, more or less, by others for years to come.

We must again refer our readers to the article of last month, (see page 79), and enjoin the continued observance of the rules we there laid down. March is gone, we admit, nominally gone; but we know his pranks too well not to beware of his ugly tricks. We slink away from the whisper of his breath; but when he "blows us up," there is really no bearing with him. We turn and flee.

April of late years, is not the April that once was. For one genial visit, we now have a dozen chilly ones-a hot sun and cold winds, despatching our inhabitants by the hundred. Fickle as a fair maid, the month must be guarded against. It promises fair; but these promises are seldom made good. They are blighted by the return of Easterly winds; and the very revival of increased life and vigor is oftentimes the source of dangerous or fatal inflammatory disorders. Consumption stalks abroad with fearful strides amongst adults; and children fall a prey to measles and hooping-cough. Bronchitis, gout, and rheumatism, way-lay all who are proof against advice; and what these enemies are, let those say who have faced them.

Provide, therefore, proper clothing for the body, and let your feet be well and strongly shod. Avoid large fires, and walk abroad whenever the weather will admit of it.

April is a month, in which to rise early is indispensable. There is no valid excuse for lying in bed. The sun is up; the birds are up; the flowers are growing; the trees are budding; and everything that has breath (man alone excepted) is using it to the glory of its Creator. The house is all very well, to shelter us when it rains; but "health" must be sought abroad. Novels-those pestiferous emanations from half-turned headsmust be laid aside altogether. They poison the mind whilst they affect the body. Vain is it to court the goddess, Health, whilst we are enter taining these, her enemies. She will not be thus wooed, or thus won. Make a clean breast of it. Out at once into the fields. Raise your eyes and heart to the blue ether. Let your ear be attuned to the anthem of the rising lark, and your lovely locks wet with the early dew of the morning. Then, fair maidens, come home to the well-spread table

with a healthy appetite, your cheeks glowing with Nature's kisses, your breath exhaling aromatic perfume, and your eyes glistening with delight at what you have seen and heard.

Tell your tale to such of the family as come crawling down, with their eyes half open, at eight o'clock; and mark the contrast. They will eat histlessly without an appetite; sip their tea yawning, without a relish; flirt with the "provocatives" which are hardly touched; whilst you will eye every delicacy with delight, find a rich flavor in every crisp curl of thin, frizzled bacon, and go through all the delectable performances of the breakfast-table with a gusto that is perfectly en

viable.

OURS being a JOURNAL of "Nature," par excellence, it will hardly be a matter for surprise if, now and then, we should come into contact with her sworn foe-Fashion.

We shall not weary ourself by attacking this monster in all its strongholds, albeit we do now and then get up a laugh when we see its votaries so blindly led by the nose, and living such a purely artificial existence. Eating, drinking, sleeping, deforming the body, shopping, lounging, strolling, riding, driving, yawning, paying complimentary visits, receiving ditto, gossiping, talking scandal, and other such ephemeral passe-temps, unceasingly occupy the eventful lives of our west-end folk, and the inhabitants of our squares. We tumble over some of them daily, as we pursue our more "useful" but more humble occupation. What see we, as we trip along? Carriages decked with ladies and lap-dogs; fine, showy, painted, and made-up women, marching along the streets, followed by lazy, strapping men in plush; younger ditto, followed by hectic or dyspeptic Pages, faced with gilt mushroom buttons, &c., &c. In fact, silks and satins, finery and bombast, carry all before them at the west. ""Tis true, 'tis pity; pity 'tis, 'tis true!

Then, what a pretty tale do our bazaars, pantheons, and exhibitions tell us, of the wearisome duties" "of a fashionable or "genteel "life! How terribly are the frequenters of these "decoys" put to it, to show a happy face! Indeed, they turn their faces so completely away from Nature, that her ladyship forbids their being happy. She is right. Two single days of this unmeaning round of fashion's follies, would finish us up completely. Let us be thankful that our lot is cast in a more rational mould, and that we live in a purer atmosphere-moreover, not for ourself, but for others. Whilst these dead-weights-these very drones of society, are eking out their days in the mad pursuit of folly, be it ours to rival the bees in pro

curing good mental food for our much-loved readers. Life will thus be rendered sweet. Time will not "hang" on our hands, but our moments will be one round of harmless delights.

The superficiality of the world we live in, few can be strangers to. We live not for ourselves, but for a set of idle, well-dressed people, who judge of us by our external deportment. The world seems to enjoy this empty parade-this unceasing round of daily ceremonies. They sigh, no doubt, when alone, for it must be hard work to live a life of hypocrisy; but the mask is soon replaced, and the farce again in full operation. We have said that we sometimes "get up a laugh when we see these poor victims of fashion doing their drudgery. We repeat it; yet is it a laugh of pity rather than of anger.

We repudiate all intention of being "ill-natured" in these remarks of ours. We rather wish so to "hold the Mirror up to Nature," that we may show Vice her own features, and exhibit them in all their naked deformity. Fashionable and "genteel people never think," it is impossible. They must be "different from all the world, or they will lose caste. Theirs is not fine feeling, properly so called; but an "exclusive feeling of superiority, recognised by no denomination of well-bred people, save their own peculiar "set." All below them are considered barbarians, and are treated as such. Benignant Nature takes notes of all these matters, and withholds from this branch of her children the charm of "happiness." They lie down in weariness, and they rise up in listless indifference.

One thing there is, existing in the fashionable and so-called "genteel" world, that we cannot comprehend. We mean the lax system that almost universally prevails in evening dress. Women, young and old, who would be thought paragons of modesty during the day, at night appear unabashed in a state of semi-nudity. They evidently consider themselves, when thus attired, irresistibly attractive. They may be pæonies; but they are not violets nor daisies. When we see these full-blown giant flowers courting admiration, we feel sick at heart, and seek a solace in those of gentler mien. The “rose-bud "for us, in preference to the cabbage rose :

"Some maidens coy, with anxious care conceal

The snowy breast beneath the envied gauze ; But you more freely every charm reveal,

Scorning to be restrained by modest laws. Thanks for your kindness, gentle fair; but learn That when we see the rose o'erblown in you, We gaze not-but with sweet attraction turn

To yonder rose, HALF-open to the view."

Our fashionable ladies will, in defiance of the poet, tell us that this is quite a matter of opinion, We may be and that we are over-fastidious. "singular," perhaps; but we do love common modesty. Nor can we see any just reason why women should not assume a virtue if they have it not." It were a harmless deceit, and readily pardonable.

* We have a perfect hatred for the word " genteel" so lamentably is it prostituted in its ac cepted use!-ED. K. J.

Oh! that we could inoculate all such dwellers in our great city-and all like them in other great cities-with a love of nature! that we could entice them to rise betimes and walk into the fields and hedge-rows, examining "with their own eyes" those myriads of "things having life," at the sight of which they now shriek and faint away! This would be a triumph indeed over prejudice; and we think even Mr. John Gray, of Glasgow, would not venture, in print, to find fault with "strolling dabblers" such as these.

All we wish is, that our élite would give him an opportunity" to write upon the subject. We will be their champion gladly; and defend them nobly against the onslaught of the whole exclusive clique.

*

FAR BE IT FROM US, even in the mist of thought, to wound the feelings of any one member of that sex whom we profess to adore, and collectively do worship! With the name of Woman, we "naturally" associate all that is lovely and amiable. Let this confession of ours absolve us from the consequences of what we are now about to touch upon, and that as lightly as may be the innate propensity of the fair sex to "deform" the natural beauty of their elegant persons.

No one will attempt to deny that our mother Eve was of excellent form, exquisitely symmetrical Taking HER, then, as the standard, let us keep as near to our original" as may be. Nature herself pleads hard for this. Her daughters strive morning, noon, and night, to destroy their symmetry; and yet with all their wilfulness, they positively cannot altogether succeed! Is not this cause sufficient why their hearts should relent, and listen for a moment to reason? We think it is. Such forbearance in dame Nature shows the tender love she bears to her offspring. She cannot forget that

*We quite agree with Lord Byron who, whilst speaking of the fair sex, remarks:-"There is something to me very softening in the presence of Woman; some strange influence, even if one is not in love with them. I always feel in better humor with myself, and everything else, if there be a woman within ken."-Well said, Lord Byron! There is a delightful spell cast over us when we are so favored. It is our "privilege," and we will enjoy it.-ED. K. J.

fact. But as we do not write for the fashionables, let us try and reason with the "select few; leaving "the many to kill themselves, and deform their posterity to the last generation. They ever have done ever will do it.

We are told by the mothers of families, that young persons can very well indeed dispense with stays; and that none but married women have any necessity for them. We believe it, because it is a reasonable belief. Yet will not these young people believe it. No! an idea prevails that the female figure cannot be preserved, or shown to advantage, without some ligature around the person. Hence the many fatal cases of consumption to which we have before alluded.

A few days since, the collected opinions of our most eminent medical practitioners on this subject, in the form of a very readable pamphlet, came into our possession. What shall we say about it? What can we say-excepting that the general use of stays, as hitherto worn, is therein proved to be suicidal; dealing out destruction, in a host of cases, both to mother and child! "How then shall the female figure be preserved in its natural purity of form?" ask our fair readers. Listen!

Others, beside the faculty, have studied this matter, and have provided against the evil; so that shape preservers" may still be worn, and no sad consequences result therefrom. An invention is now before the public that is exciting quite a sensation. We allude to the "Resilient Bodice" of the Mesdames Maitland, 54, Connaught Terrace. We were induced to pay a visit to their establishment, in consequence of an advertisement they sent for insertion in OUR JOURNAL. The nature of the announcement made a forcible impression upon us; so forcible, that it caused us to hold a long conversation with Mrs. Maitland, who received us very kindly-entering into our humor, and giving us a very satisfactory solution of every difficulty

we raised.

We came away, convinced, not only that the invention is a valuable one, but that it is incumbent upon all who would enjoy health whilst preserving the beauty of their person, to adopt this bodice. It is firm, but perfectly elastic, and fits close to the body; moreover it quite prevents any undue pressure on the ribs and liver. The principle of the invention, illustrated by wood en gravings, being fully detailed in our advertisement columns, we need here merely direct attention to it.

The use of stays, or the necessity for their use, is now quite superseded.

It redounds greatly to the credit of the medical profession, that they have been unanimous in their recommendation of the "Resilient Bodice." Whilst its adoption saves the life of many a patient, it will at the same time deprive them of many a fee. "Honor to whom honor, praise to whom praise

is due !"

PURE LOVE.

Love one human being purely and warmly, and you will, in degree, love all. The heart in this Heaven, like the wandering sun, sees nothing, from the dewdrop to the ocean, but a mirror which it warms and fills.-JEAN PAUL.

THE CUCKOO,

AND

ITS PECULIAR HABITS.

O, hateful ERROR,-Melancholy's child!
Why dost thou show to the apf thoughts of men
The things that are not?
SHAKSPEARE.

"Twixt TRUTH and ERROR, there's this difference known, ERROR IS FRUITFUL-TRUTH is only ONE. HERRICK.

OME two years since, there was a grand newspaper controversy about the habits of this bird, and it was one in which we personally took a part. We have, as our readers will have perceived, been requested more than once, to give the pith of the matter in our columns. We preferred waiting until the cuckoo was again about to visit us, and now we perform our promise. We long once more to hear this messenger of spring."

66

The grand dispute a very silly one, by the-bye-was whether, on certain occasions, the cuckoo assisted in feeding her young or not? The vast correspondence published on this subject, abundantly proves the truth of the fact that the cuckoo does assist, and also (another equally ridiculously disputed point) that the female cuckoo does utter the well-known ery of "cuckoo! cuckoo!" The old, musty and well-thumbed books of former days, are taken down and referred to by the dissentients, as their "authority; but close observers of modern times, and students of nature, who live in the fields, have verified, as" facts," what, up to a certain date, was a matter of surmise only. These documents have appeared in the Gardeners' Chronicle, the Gardeners' Journal, and other popular papers. To reprint them all, would fill more than a whole number of OUR JOURNAL. CHARLES WATERTON, the old veteran, has quite set at rest the silly remark about the hedge-sparrow's nest not being seen in July.

We have ourself seen newly-built nests in August, and had young hedge-sparrows in our own garden at the end of that same month. Many others testify to the same fact. Indeed, it were idle to argue the point. The controversy was provoked by a Mr. Henry Doubleday, of Epping, who, it would appear, entertained some personal pique against Mr. J. McIntosh, a naturalist of note, residing at Dorchester. This last gentleman, a writer in the Gardeners' Chronicle, the Naturalist, the late Mr. Loudon's Magazine of Natural History, etc., etc., provoked Mr. Doubleday's ire, by the following remarks on the cuckoo, which appeared in the Naturalist, and which were commented on in terms of high praise by the Gardeners' Chronicle:-

VOL. III.-11.

It is generally supposed by ornithologists that the "cuckoo does not feed its young; that having deposited its egg in the nest of the hedge accentor, or some other small bird, it leaves it to the care of a foster-mother. On this subject I am in possession of proofs to overthrow this longestablished belief. In the summer of 1850, in the month of July, a hedge accentor constructed its nest in a holly hedge; about two feet from the ground, and about fourteen from an adjoining garden wall. Immediately on its being finished, and before the owner of it had time to deposit her second egg, a cuckoo, which had for some days past been watching with anxious eye tunity, and during the temporary absence of the the operations of the accentor, took the opporsaid hedge accentor, quietly deposited in the nest her egg, which occupied but a few minutes. She then immediately took her departure, (uttering at the same time her well-known cry of "cuckoo, cuckoo," in rapid succession) to a neighboring elm tree. Of this egg, the hedge accentor took no notice; but deposited her four eggs, and commenced incubation. In due time, this important office was completed; and three hedge accentors and the cuckoo were brought to life (or addled. In the course of three days, the young rather light), the fourth egg of the accentor proving accentors, by some means (but by what means could not ascertain) took their departure; as did also their mother, whom I never saw again, nor any remains of the young. The addled egg, however, I found on the ground immediately beneath the nest. This departure took place in the evening, or early in the morning. On the fourth day, seeing the old cuckoo frequently fluttering about the hedge which contained the hedge accentor's nest and the young cuckoo, I was induced to watch her proceedings with some little care and attention, Taking my stand at no great distance from the nest under the wall alluded to, in a few minutes the old cuckoo flew over the wall to the nest. I immediately applied a pocket telescope to my eye, and very distinctly saw the old bird feed its young. This operation I watched for some time, every day; creeping nearer and nearer, till I could see distinctly the actual feeding of the young without the aid of telescope or spectacles. I now became anxious to know whence the bird procured its food, (this, I imagined, from its frequent visits to the nest, was at no great distance,) and of what description it was, Knowing the cuckoo to be particularly fond of caterpillars, I walked into the garden, where there were some gooseberry bushes covered with caterpillars of Abraxas grossulariata. Thither I bent my steps, and saw the cuckoo engaged in clearing the bushes of the caterpillars. When she had what she considered sufficient for that meal, off she flew in a direct line over the wall; and, as if she had been shot, dropped on the other side, where the hedge in question was. In this manner the old bird continued to feed her young as long as a caterpillar remained on the bushes, When they were finished, she proceeded to a field near in quest of food; and through her Alderman. This proves further to me that the diligence, her progeny got as fat as a London cuckoo lays but one egg; at least this one could have laid no more; yet I never observed her

M

sitting on the young in the nest, as other birds do.-J. MCINTOSH.

The appearance of these interesting facts in print, and their eager reception by naturalists, seem to have awakened Mr. Doubleday's dormant passions. In language most foul, he thus rashly replied to the reviewer at once exposing his own ignorance, and his anything but praiseworthy motives:

THE CUCKOO.-To the Editor of the Gardeners' Chronicle.-Sir, in a review of the Naturalist in your last number, it is stated, on the authority of a writer in that periodical, that the cuckoo does feel attachment to its young, etc. This statement, in such a widely-circulated journal as the Gardeners' Chronicle, may mislead many persons accustomed to place implicit confidence in its contents. As it appears to confirm assertions altogether incorrect, I will proceed to notice the writer's remarks. He says In the month of July, a hedge accentor constructed its nest in a holly hedge." This bird is one of our earliest breeders, and I much doubt if ever a recent nest was seen in the month of July. "Immediately on its being finished, and before the owner had time to deposit her second egg, a cuckoo deposited in the nest her egg, which occupied but a few minutes; and immediately took her departure, uttering at the same time her well-known cry of 'cuckoo, cuckoo,' in rapid succession." Nearly all the old cuckoos leave this country at the end of June and beginning of July.,,And the female never utters the cry of "Cuckoo," her ONLY note being a harsh chatter. The writer then goes on to state that the young were fed by the female cuckoo, upon the larvae of Abraxas grossulariata, taken from gooseberry bushes. Now it so happens that in July not a larva of this moth can be found, all having assumed the, winged state. The larva, which strips the gooseberry bushes of their leaves, belongs to one of the saw-flies (Nematus ribesii). In conclusion, I positively state that the cuckoo never feeds its own young; that the female never utters the cry of" Cuckoo; and that an old cuckoo is never seen in this country at the end of July, at which time, according to the writer's account, the young cuckoo was in the nest.-HENRY DOUBLEDAY, Epping.

Mr. McIntosh's reply to this remarkable document, is just what might have been expected from so straightforward a man and lover of truth. It has been copied into most of the English and American Journals:

THE CUCKOO.-Sir, at page 454 of the Gardeners' Chronicle appear some remarks by Mr. Doubleday, of Epping, denying the truth of an article which I contributed to the Naturalist. This denial of Mr. Doubleday, I should have treated with indifference, if Tuesday's post had not brought me half a dozen letters, and three Gardeners' Chronicles, from naturalists whose names I am not at liberty to use, (one of whom, by-the-bye, forgot to attach his name,) which I here beg to acknowledge, expressing their opinion of the subject published by me in the Natuas quite correct; and urging that

ralist "

cuckoo does

cry

Still

truth demanded should reply. This I now do, and repeat that the cuckoo in the case in question did feed its own young with the greatest care and attention; and that for some time in the month of July, with the caterpillars of Abraxas grossulariata. And that it cried "Cuckoo, cuckoo!" I again assert. That the female cuckoo does cry "Cuckoo, cuckoo!" is a fact well known to myself and others. Therefore, I would advise Mr. D. to live in the country for a year or so, and watch the habits of this bird, which he most assuredly has never done. If he is in possession of the Mag. of Nat. Hist., consisting of nine volumes, he will find it recorded, long before March, 1851, that the female Cuckoo, cuckoo ! further, I have shot them cuckoo, cuckooing," even so late as the 8th of August; right and left, male and female. If you have patience to wait, and will read the Naturalist, I shall (D. V.) record some more facts from personal observations on this bird, not less at variance with received opinion; and this may be because I have had more and ampler opportunities of studying such matters than some other persons. Again, with respect to the doubts expressed of a recent hedge-sparrow's nest being met with in July, I have only to repeat what I have seen. The hedge-sparrow, or hedge accentor's nest, may be found from March to August, with freshlaid eggs and with young. I have now a nest before me, taken on the 22nd of this month of July, (yesterday,) with two new-laid eggs, from a hedge on an open down. I have also in my possession fresh-faid eggs of this bird, taken from a nest on the 7th of August, 1850! The doubts and positive statements respecting the caterpillars of Abraxas grossulariata, I am also compelled to dispose of in the same way; that is, they are equally at variance with what I have seen. I have, at this moment, upwards of thirty caterpillars on a gooseberry bush in my garden, and ten chrysales in a box, and I am writing on the 23rd of July. I have frequently taken and had caterpillars of Abraxas grossulariata in the latter end of August, and beginning of September. I have also had flies from the larvae of Nematus ribesii, and I know the difference between the two insects as well as I know the difference between a cabbage and a turnip. It is evident that Mr. Doubleday has yet very much to learn respecting the natural history and habits of birds and insects. statements and repeated Having made these these facts, I regard it as a matter of great

indifference as to what Mr. Doubleday may think or say of them. My main object will be answered, if I can gain a hearing from the public, for that which I have not read only, but seen and handled. I shall only add, that a more uncourteous, ungentleman-like criticism has never before been made upon any writings of mine. For this, however, I care but little, coming from the quarter it does.-J. MCINTOSH, Charminster, Dorset.

At this time, July 1851, we were also writing in the Gardeners' Chronicle; and feeling naturally astonished at Mr. Doubleday's temerity, we addressed the Editor as follows: