Imagini ale paginilor
PDF
ePub

an acid nature, is at once neutralised by the application of this penetrating and volatile alkali. A small quantity introduced into the wound on the point of a needle, or fine-nibbed pen, and applied as soon as possible, will scarcely ever fail.-R. B.

may remain until the following March, when they must be potted off singly, for the decoration of the parterre.-W. BROWN, Merevale.

The Skylark, the Robin, Chaffinch, Cuckoo, &c. -Your noble appeal to man's better nature in the matter of imprisoning our little "free songsters," does you honor. I observe that your article on the subject has been copied far and near. May it have the effect you intended it to have! Brutal indeed must be the heart that could, at such a season as this, take pleasure in acts of spoliation and robbery! [You are right, Heartsease. Brutal indeed must it be-brutal indeed is it. Already do we behold remnants of nests torn out of the hedges; and see thousands of little beautifullyspotted eggs exposed for sale in the highways. Callow nestlings, too, meet our eye at every turn

Feigning Death to Save Life-Self-preservation seems to be an inherent principle in animals-a dread of pain and suffering, and a consciousness of death; which consciousness must be of the highest order in some animals, since they feign that death as the last remaining struggle for self-preservation, when all other hopes have failed. An implanted knowledge of the termination of life must exist, or its effects would not be feigned, nor the anxiety for safety be so paramount an object. It cannot be example that sets the fox to simulate death so perfectly that he-many of them at their last gasp! The stolid permits himself to be handled, to be conveyed to a distant spot, and then to be flung on a dunghill. The ultimate hope of escape prompts the measure, which unaided instinct could not have contrived. What we, humanly speaking, call knowledge of the world, (which is the mainspring of half our acts and plans,) is the result of deep observation of character, and of the leading principles which influence society; and this would apply very well with fox in relation to fox. But the analogy must cease here; and we can only say that this artifice of the fox is an extraordinary display of high cunning, great self-confidence, and strong resolution. There are many insects, particularly the genus Elater, the spider, and the dorr-beetle, which feign death when seized by the hand.-THOMPSON.

faces of the robbers show that they have no heart beneath their vest. Hence, to argue with them would be folly. The sight is sickening; and the mind revolts at the barbarity. We would think well of human nature if we could-but is it possible?] The sky-larks now revel in enjoyment. I watch them and listen to them early and late. What music! what ecstatic delight as they enter Heaven's precincts! I can tell where they have been, by the celestial strains that accompany them in their descent. Our chaffinches are now all either building their nests or attending on their young. The cuckoo is right merry, singing away from morning to night. The swallows too, and our other summer visitors, have made our garden their home. Ours is a paradise of harmless delights. One of our pet robins has built its nest Nunneries, Convents, and Monasteries.-These and hatched its young family, in a small watering nurseries of crime and wickedness, Mr. Editor, pot. Being rusty and worn out, it was thrown are at last-thank God!-about to be placed under carelessly into a hedge; and whilst suspended some surveillance. Both yourself and readers there, the odd idea of using it as a nursery sugwill, I am sure, be glad to know that Mr. CHAM-gested itself to the happy pair, who, having furBERS' motion for leave to bring in a Bill connected nished it with oak leaves, now live in it rent-free. with the subject, has, after much opposition, just I only hope they may escape the fangs of those been carried. People brought up against their horrible cats! To see such very tame darlings torn will in these hot-beds of vice and pollution will to pieces would be heart-rending. As for the now be able, by legal means, to obtain their dis- garden and its attractions, the flowers, the bees, charge. It was high time to interfere; but, as the blossoms, &c., fain would I say "Come and see you will admit, "better late than never."-A them!" OUR EDITOR will always be welcome, I (NOW HAPPY) PROTESTANT PARENT, May 11. am sure, wherever he may go.-HEARTSEASE, Hants.

[We rejoice at this, Sir, quite as much as you can do. We are but too well aware of the horrors which rule in these foul dungeons of uncleanness and hideous depravity.]

The Heliotrope.-My plan of propagating this is as follows:-At the end of July, I select tops of young shoots, from three to four inches in length; cut them square (i.e. horizontally) at the bottom, close under a leaf, taking a few of the lower leaves away. I then insert them in a mixture of loam, rotten leaf-mould, and a little sand. I do not top them. I generally put from 40 to 50 cuttings in a broad shallow pot, and place them in a cold frame, sprinkling them now and then, to keep them moderately moist, and shading them from In this way, rarely one in 40 fails to grow. When rooted, I pot them off, from four to six in a pot, according to the size of the latter; preferring a certain number in one pot to a multitude of small pots. They are then stopped, and

the sun.

[ocr errors]

[Thanks many, gentle Heartsease. We will, D.V., come and see what you so prettily and attractively record. Our "Engagement Book' is, we observe, filling fast. May the summer continue for a twelvemonth at least! Talking of those cats, reminds us that we have a tale to tell about that nest of seven robins, whose exodus from the green-house took place some weeks since. Of the whole family one only lives-the other six were torn limb from limb by two savage cats. Vain was it to attempt to drive them away. They haunted those poor little helpless nestlings from morning till night, till, one by one, they fell-either from fright or weakness, into their enemy's jaws. Retribution has done its work. Those cats, and some halfdozen others, preying upon our grounds, sleep in the dust. We have sworn an eternal war against the race, and our oath shall be held sacred. If people will keep cats, and daily divide a half

pennyworth of meat among two cats and perhaps as many dogs, we say let them-if they can. But they shall not sponge upon us, to make up for an empty stomach on our grounds. Oh no!]

Singular Case of Poisoning at Stettin.-Not long since, a gentleman, who had a number of stuffed birds in his study, covered them with arsenic to secure their preservation. Soon after wards he became seriously indisposed, without being able to assign any cause for illness; until it was discovered by a physician whom he consulted at Berlin, that he had, from constant residence in the study, absorbed the deadly poison, with which his system became gradually impregnated.-W. T. [This should act as a caution to persons using stearine, and other candles; in the manufacture of which arsenic is employed.]

The Hydrograph.-Will any one of your readers be so kind as to give me some information respecting this instrument? It is a Scotch invention, and I was first told of it about twelve months since. I have been vainly looking to see or hear more of it. I particularly wish to know where, and at what cost, one can be procured? also, if the instrument is adapted for enlarging as well as reducing drawings? Another point is,- -are the drawings so taken necessarily reversed ?-Puss.

The "Roller" Bird.-On Wednesday last, says the Editor of the Liverpool Mercury (May 17), a very fine specimen of that rare bird, the Roller (Coracias garrula), was shot near Knotty Ash. The bird is now in the possession of Mr. James Mather, naturalist, Williamson Square, who has purchased it to add to his collection. It is one of the most beautiful European birds; its head, neck, and breast, presenting various shades of verditer blue, changing to pale green; the shoulders are azure blue. The Roller has a wide range of country. By some naturalists it is regarded as among the birds of Africa. It is very rarely seen in Britain; but it has been captured occasionally in a few counties of England, and also in Scotland.F. BIRCH.

whilst putting his paw upon the deceitful and cold smile, he pleads powerfully for the honest smiles of friendship, encouragement, and love. The subjoined is from his "Wise Saws: "-"Oh! what a sight there is in that word-smile; for it changes color like a chameleon. There's a vacant smile, a cold smile, a satiric smile, a smile of hate, an affected smile, a smile of approbation, a friendly smile, but above all a 'smile of love.' A woman has two smiles that an angel might envy, the smile that accepts the lover before words are uttered; and the smile that lights on the first-born baby, and assures him of a mother's love."-Is not this prettily expressed, Mr. Editor? And how correctly characterised are the world's smiles! But what have they to do with us?—Gossamer, Henley.

[Yes, gentle fairy, the thought is prettily expressed; and the sentiment is worthy of the writer. Albeit Sam Slick is a droll fellow, his heart is in the right place. We quite agree with you in your remarks; and shall cultivate such smiles only as become the human face, and reflect honor on the human heart. This is "the" season for perpetual smiles of love and friendship. Let us enjoy it!]

The Advantages of (what silly people call)—— "Vermin."-I have a plantation of larch, which has been entirely underset with oaks by magpies and jays; these oaks will come into use, and be of some size when the larches are cut down; and be much hardier than any planted by hand among the larch.-Ornithophilos.

A Costly Nest.-A pair of missel-thrushes, we are told by the Leicester Journal, recently built their nest in a cedar tree, located in the pleasuregrounds of Earl Manvers, Thoresby Park It appears that the household linen was being bleached in the sun, and that the variety offered was too tempting to be resisted. Accordingly a lady's cap was selected to begin with. Then followed a collar, a habit-shirt, and some lace. These, combined with twigs and moss, enabled the happy pair to build a tidy habitation. But not being able to interweave the habit-shirt with the other materials, an end sticking out betrayed the whereabout of the thieves. The nest was found. In it were two eggs. I regret to tell you that it was torn out of its resting place, and sent to London as a curiosity! No doubt the poor thrushes have forsaken these grounds. I hope so. What with robbers, guns, traps, and poison, our poor little vernal choristers are brutally treated, whilst attempting to share our hospitality!

How can I remove Heat Marks from the Surface of a French-Polished Table?-I have had the misfortune, Mr. Editor, to disfigure the top of a handsome table, French-polished, by placing on it some hot plates. Vainly have I tried to remove the marks. They remain, apparently indelible. Can any of your readers kindly assist me, by pointing out a remedy for the removal of these foul-VIOLET, Worcester. blots?-FRANK FREELY.

[We imagine, by what you state, that the marks must be deeply indented. In such a case, the top of the table must, we fear, be scraped afresh, and polished anew. This, if the table be a large one, would be a heavy expense to incur. However, wait one little month, and see if any better mode can be proposed.]

Smiles. Nobody who reads OUR JOURNAL can doubt Our Editor's thoughts about smiles,-those illuminations of the heart reflected glowingly on the face. A smile costs no effort; yet how eloquent its meaning,-how delightful the impression it conveys! Sam Slick joins in the feeling; and,

The Natural History of Australia -I hear, Mr. Editor, that Dr. Harvey, of Trinity College, Dublin, is about to visit Australia, under the joint auspices of the University and of the Royal Dublin Society, for the purpose of exploring the natural history, and especially the seaweeds of the southern coasts of that continent. The Australian shores are well known to be rich in varied and curious forms, but as yet they have been very imperfectly explored; naturalists and collectors who have hitherto visited Australia having chiefly attended to other departments. Dr. Harvey will therefore, let us hope, reap an abundant harvest of new and beautiful species, particularly among the more

delicate and perishable kinds. The specimens, I am told, will be carefully preserved, with as much attention to neatness in displaying them as circumstances will admit. The filiform kinds will be displayed on white paper. Dr. Harvey's first collections will be made in Western Australia, at various points along the coast, from Swan River to King George's Sound. Three or four months will be devoted to this locality. He will then proceed to Sydney and Van Diemen's Land; and it is his present intention to visit the coast of Chili. NANNETTE.

Can Fishes See?—I heard an argument the other day, Mr. Editor, touching the vision of fish. One party strongly insisted upon it that fishes were more accessible to sound than to light; whilst the other maintained the direct contrary. Which was right?-WILLIAM C., Eton.

[Fishes are no doubt moderately possessed of the power of hearing; but their sight is wonderfully acute, and it far surpasses any other instinctive gift. The eyes of fishes are much more perfectly formed than their other organs of sense, and we are much better acquainted with their action. They even observe a very minute object when the water is dark and the surface ruffled. But, on a clear day, river-fishes can see a shadow passing along the water, and are alarmed by it. Their eyes are admirably formed, both for protection and for readiness in the use. The surface is in general flat, and the common integument passes over the eye, without any duplicature or eyelid, except in a very few peculiar species; and thus the most violent agitation of the water produces much less effect upon the eye of fish than a gentle breeze does upon the human eye. Such an eye could not, indeed, exist exposed to the air, or to any drying element; and hence in all eyes that are to be used in the air, there are either moveable eyelids, as in the mammalia; or nictitating membranes, as in birds; by the application of which, the coat of the eye is kept moist and transparent. But the eye of a fish from the nature of its element, and the adaptation of the structure to that element, is always ready; and in all states of the water, in which the muscular action of the fish can keep its place, the eye can see the smallest substance. Turbid water, or even rolling pebbles, can do little injury to an eye so flat. But in proportion as the external surface of the eye is flat, the crystalline lens is convex. It is, indeed, nearly a perfect sphere; and thus the eye has great magnifying power; although it appears to have considerable range of focal length. The eye of a fish is one of the most curious varieties of that most interesting of organs.]

How can I Cure the Toothache?-If you can help a sufferer, do; pray do!-C., Long Acre.

[A mixture of two parts of the liquid ammonia of commerce with one of some simple tincture, is recommended as a remedy for toothache, so often uncontrollable. A picee of lint is dipped into this mixture, and then introduced into the carious tooth, when the nerve is immediately cauterised, and pain stopped. It is stated to be eminently successful, and in some cases is supposed to act by neutralising an acid product in the decaying tooth.]

THE SONG OF JUNE. BY ELIZA COOK.

Oh, come with me, whoever ye be,

The strong and the hale-the poor and the pale-
Come from the palace, and come from the cot;
Ah, sad is the spirit that follows me not!
Old December lighted his pyre,

And beckoned ye in to the altar blaze;
He hung up his misseltoe over the fire,
And pressed soft lips upon Christmas days.
Ye welcomed him with his eyes so dim,
When I wander about, and whistle you out,
But I know ye have more love for me,
With my blackbird pipers in every tree.
Oh, come from the town, and let us go down
To the rivulet's mossy and osiered brink;
'Tis pleasant to note the lily queen float,
The gadfly skim, and the dappled kine drink.
Oh, let us away where the ring-doves play,
And there we can count the squirrels that mount,
By the skirts of the wood in the peaceful shade;
And the flocks that browse on the distant glade.
And if we should stay till the farewell of day,

Its parting shall be with such lingering smile, That the western light, as it greeteth the night, Will be caught by the eastern ray peeping the

while.

Little ones come, with your chattering hum,
And the bee and the bird will be jealous full

soon;

For no music is heard like the murmuring word Of a child, as it treads 'mid the flowers of June.

Ye who are born to be weary and worn

With labor or sorrow, with passion or pain,— Come out for an hour, there's balm in my bower, To lighten and burnish your tear-rusted chain. Oh, come with me, wherever you be,

And beauty and love on your spirits shall fall; The rich and the hale, the poor and the pale,

FOR LADY JUNE SCATTERS HER JOYS FOR ALL!

LOVE OF CHILDREN.

It is a false and mistaken notion altogether, that men of great mind and intense thought are easily wearied or annoyed by the presence of children. The man who is wearied with children, must always be childish himself in mind; but alas! not young in heart. He must be light, superficial, though perhaps inquiring, and intelligent; but neither gentle in spirit, nor fresh in feeling. Such men must always soon become wearied with children; for very great similarity of thought and of mind-the paradox is but seeming is naturally wearisome in another while, on the contrary, similarity of feeling and of heart is that bond which binds our affections together. Where both similarities are combined, we may be most happy in the society of our counterpart; but where the link between the hearts is wanting, there will always be great tediousness in great similarity.

:

BEAUTIES OF JULY,

WILD FLOWERS.

Dearly I love the field-flowers! yes,
Because they are a blessing given
E'en to the poorest little one

Who wanders 'neath the vault of Heaven.
The garden-flowers are rear'd for few,
And to that few belong alone;

But flowers that spring by vale or stream,
Each one may claim them for HIS OWN.

M

ANN PRATT.

ANY PEOPLE IMAGINE that it is absolutely necessary for them to become regular botanists, before they can feel a love for flowers or venture to talk of them with enthusiasm! This is perfectly absurd. Why, the sight of a flower growing under a hedge in July, with its little innocent head modestly peeping forth to woo the passing stranger, has charms paramount to all so-called philosophy. Let botanists call these summer debutantes what they will, and bestow on them the hardest and ugliest of Latin names-WE will love them still the same, whilst we worship them in our own vernacular. Oh, Nature! blessed mother! thou art the loveliest of the lovely, the kindest of the kind. Would that we could live in thy service for ever! But this cannot be. Die we must; yet even on our death-bed may we be found warbling thy praises!

Such weather as we are now enjoying, and such sights as are now unfolded and still daily unfolding to our wondering eyes, have surely charms sufficient to make us all "good." We will not believe that any heart, only commonly instructed in the knowledge of good and evil, can associate with birds, flowers, trees, plants, buds, blossoms, insects, and all the happy summer tribes who are now in the very zenith of their glory, without being wrought upon, naturally, to "love one another," and to rejoice in the feeling of universal benevolence. Oh, that we could cross the path of every one of those who at this season are "halting between two opinions." We would entreat them to ramble abroad with us for a day or two, and never leave them till we had made converts of them all. Some may smile at the idea in which we so fondly indulge; yet have we ere now been very successful this way, and enjoyed many a triumph. The victory is worth striving for. It is not, we admit, easily won. Still," kindness" is such a weapon

But we were going to speak of wildflowers, which just now are in all their beauty. Let us seek them in company; for there must now be only "one" heart amongst the chil dren of one great and good Father. His sweet voice reaches our ear in every tree; and his bountiful hand scatters blessings upon us wherever we tread.

VOL. III.-21.

The heat of June has brought everything so forward, that we now behold flowers of every hue, and of every shape, in the most abundant variety. At every step we take, the blue flowers of different shades of the common speedwell (the plant does look as if uttering a blessing upon us) meets the eye. There are nineteen different species of the speedwell indigenous to this country; some very rare, but others as plentiful as can be desired. Some grow in pools and running brooks, while others love the shade of woods or the dry sand of hills. One species has never done flowering through both the sum mer and the winter, and often may its little blossom be seen hermetically sealed in ice. In the centre of the flower bud, there exists a white ring, and from the brightness of the colors together, may have been suggested to the poet the lines upon this plant :

[graphic]

:

"Or caught from Eve's dejected eye

The first repentant tear."

Here, in this field from which the rye has just been carried, is a pansy or heart's-ease. Who, to look at this small plant, with its blue, yellow, and white flower, would suppose it the origin of the beautiful ornaments of our garden, which bear the same name; yet such is the fact: if the seeds are sown in a light loamy soil, a hundred different colored and larger flowers will be obtained next year. The pansy is equally variable as to its duration; it may live only one year, as is usual with what are strictly annual flowers, or it may extend over a series of years, perhaps the effect of accident. In this field you may also see the remains of that pest to agriculturists, the common mustard or charlock. Its yellow flowers cast even the corn of that next field into the shade. Gay as it looks, it is a vile weed. Beside it, is the handsomest of all our wild flowers, the corn-cockle, with its beautiful pink blossoms striped with a darker shade, and the segments of its calyx or cup, which supports the flower high above the blossoms. The plant is very graceful, and, though not loved by the agriculturist, is too beautiful for us to say a word against it. In this stagnant pool of water is the waterplantain, with its rose-colored flowers, on a long stem, and looking so graceful and cool! The not-very-inviting-looking yellow flower is the iris, or fleur-de-lis; it possesses a large root, always lying horizontal, and a piece of it held between the teeth is said to cure the tooth ache. It is very acrid, is used for making ink, and we suspect its chief virtue consists in its acrid quality, which, causing the saliva to flow, may cool the mouth.

In this adjoining thicket, it is very likely we shall find another species, with smaller and purple flowers. It has a very English name, the "roast-beef" plant, from a fancied resemblance to the smell of our national dish,

Y

[ocr errors]

which is emitted from the bruised leaves. He must have been a very hungry man who discovered it! Growing by the side of the pool is the myosotis, or forget-me-not, the emblem of friendship and something more, throughout Europe. There are six other species common to this country, which go by the more homely sobriquet of "mouse-ear,' a contrast to the extra sentiment of "forgetme-not." The plant, properly so called, is always found near pools of this kind, although every myosotis found by the roadside gets the name. Its flowers are larger, the leaves fresh-looking and shining; not hairy, as in most of the other species. We have only alluded to it for the benefit of those inclined to sentiment, that they may not make a mistake in bestowing such a favor on their friends; as the "forget-me-not" is too famous in verse for us to bestow upon it more glory.

Along this hedgerow we shall find some of the trailing and climbing plants; and let us point out the difference between climbing and trailing. This light green-looking plant is the black briar; the flowers are about the same color as the leaves, and are succeeded by a red berry. Near to each leaf, you will see a thread-like appendage, called a tendril, and it has taken hold of a branch of the thorn-hedge; thus supporting the plant, and enabling it to push the branch still higher up the hedge. Near to it is the nightshade, with its dark purple flowers and yellow streamers. This is a trailing plant, as it has no tendrils, and no hold of the hedge, except the support it derives from the closeness of the latter. The nightshade belongs to the same genus of plants as the potato, the flowers of both being very much alike. The berry of the nightshade is now green, but will soon assume the more gay and attractive color of red. It is a deadly poison, and mothers cannot be too careful with whom they trust their children in their walks during the autumn. We have often warned servants of the danger, on seeing their little charges plucking the dangerous and beautiful berry. Its effect is to cause most excruciating pains, and ultimate death, if an antidote is not speedily applied.

This cup-shaped large white flower is called the convolvulus, or bindweed, and sometimes "heave-bine." Though not furnished with tendrils, it twines itself round any stem that it can reach, and is altogether a most elegant plant. From the roots spreading very rapidly, it is not much of a favorite with gardeners, as it is apt to climb upon and choke, as the phrase is, more precious plants. The honeysuckle you will see also in this hedge. Its fragrant blossoms are now in perfection, although they have long flowered in gardens

and on walls:

"And honeysuckle loves to crawl Up the lone way and ruined wall," says the poet; and we may say it is always a welcome sight in an English hedge-row.

What a field for botanical research the

rows we have passed would afford! Here are nineteen distinct species, indigenous to Great Britain, besides innumerable varieties. It would require a whole number of OUR JOURNAL to give even the leading characteristics of each. Near the end of that long branch of the common dog-rose is a curious monstrosity, in the shape of a tuft of moss-instead of a new shoot. It is one of those freaks of nature in which she delights occasionally to indulge. The whole rose tribe of plants are so liable to vary with soil and climate, that their study is one of great difficulty.

At this season of the year our fields, pastures, and chalk-pits, are ornamented with a most beautiful and interesting tribe of plants, the orchidaceous. The variety of form and color which they exhibit, are so singular as to have rendered them general favorites; the tropical orchids being the mania of the day. The orchis plants are common in Kent, Suffolk, Surrey, and Middlesex, and, indeed, spread over the entire country. In most instances, they take their specific names from a resemblance, more or less close, to animals. Thus we have the monkey-orchis, the bee-orchis, the lizard-orchis, the butterfly-orchis, the man-orchis, and many others. The forms in many are almost ludicrously like, and they will amply repay the trouble of finding and examining.

To pursue our ramble further, would occupy more space than we can afford; nor

is it necessary. One peep at the flower itself, is better than a whole written chapter setting forth its excellences and beauties. Let us add that we are indebted for several "hints" in this article to an unknown pen. The fair writer has inoculated us with her summer feelings, and we have endeavored to improve upon the text which she has brought under our eye.

Let us all drink deeply into the spirit of this loving season; and whilst we wander abroad happily and lovingly, accompanied by our friends, let us endeavor to make others think as we think, feel as we feel, and see the same indescribable beauties in all animate nature.

THE VITAL POINT.

Sciences it was demonstrated by a learned acadeAr a recent sitting of the French Academy of brain of animals, that the motive power of the mician, from various careful experiments on the respiratory mechanism, the vital point of the nervous system, is not bigger in size than a pin's head. Upon this tiny speck depends the life of the nerves, which is the life of the animal.

« ÎnapoiContinuă »