fields; the European jackdaw, the mischievous blue jay, the chattering magpies, and the nut-crackers. The latter have the most perfect of the cone-shaped bills. The well-known blue jay, whose screaming voice sounds among his fellow musicians of the woods like the harsh notes of a trumpeter, is found only in North America. A writer who has well described him says, "He is distinguished as a kind of beau among the feathered tenants1 of our woods by the brilliancy of his dress; and, like most other coxcombs,2 he makes himself still more conspicuous by his loquacity, and the address of his tones and gestures."

3

3. The magpie, which is much better known in Europe than in this country, is about eighteen inches in length, and is noted for his pilfering and restless habits, and noisy manners, as well as for his gay plumage, which is a velvety black, intermingled with white, blue, and green. He is easily taught to imitate the human voice. This same bird has been found in considerable numbers in portions of the country west of the Mississippi; but it has been noticed that where the magpie is found the blue jay is unknown, as if the territorial boundaries of these two noisy and voracious families had been mutually agreed on.

4. Plutarch tells us of a magpie belonging to a barber at Rome which could imitate almost every word it heard. Some trumpets happened one day to be sounded before the shop, and for a day or two afterward the magpie was quite mute, and seemed pensive and melancholy. All who knew it were greatly surprised at its silence; and it was supposed that the sound of the trumpets had so stunned it as to deprive it at once of both voice and hearing.

5. It soon appeared, however, that this was far from being the case; for, says Plutarch, the bird had been all the time occupied in profound meditation, studying how to imitate the sound of the trumpets; and when at last master of it, the magpie, to the astonishment of all its friends, suddenly broke its long silence by a perfect imitation of the flourish of trumpets it had heard, observing with the greatest exactness all the repetitions, stops, and changes. The acquisition of this lesson had, however, exhausted the whole of the magpie's

stock of intellect, for it made it forget every thing it had learned before.

6. Among the starlings are included the common and red

meadow lark, and the several species of blackbirds. Although our meadow lark can not boast the powers of

song which distinguish that "harbinger of day," the skylark of Europe, yet in richness of plumage,

as well as in sweetness of voice, so far as his few notes extend, he is eminently its superior.

7. Our common blackbird, called also the purple grakle, is a well-known plunderer of corn-fields; yet his merry presence adds a charm to the mellow days of autumn, and we would not willingly part with him.

"In the last days of autumn, when the corn
Lies sweet and yellow in the harvest-field,
And the gay company of reapers bind

The bearded wheat in sheaves, then peals abroad
The blackbird's merry chant. I love to hear,
Bold plunderer, thy mellow burst of song

Float from thy watch-place on the mossy tree,
Close by the corn-field edge."

8. In the group of starlings are also included the orioles, or hang-nests, of which the Baltimore oriole, also known as the golden robin, firebird, and fire-hangbird, is the most noted. The head, back, and wings of the oriole are black, and the lower parts and breast of a golden orange. In constructing his hanging nest, the oriole displays great ingenuity in using the best materials which he can procure; and skeins of stolen silk and thread are frequently found interwoven in the fabric.

9.

"High on yon poplar, clad in glossiest green,

The orange black-capped Baltimore is seen;

10.

The broad, extended boughs still please him best;
Beneath their bending skirts he hangs his nest;
There his sweet mate, secure from every harm,
Broods o'er her spotted store, and wraps them warm;
Lists to the noontide hum of busy bees,

Her partner's mellow song, the brook, the breeze;
These day by day the lonely hours deceive,

From dewy morn to slow descending eve.

5

Two weeks elapsed, behold! a helpless crew
Claim all her care, and her affection too;

On wings of love the assiduous nurses fly;

Flowers, leaves, and boughs abundant food supply.
Glad chants her guardian as abroad he goes,

And waving breezes rock them to repose."

11. The finches, which are the smallest of the perchers, are, for the most part, excellent songsters. In this numerous family are found the weaver birds, celebrated for their curious hive-shaped nests, the buntings, and snowbirds, the latter visiting us in winter only from the frozen regions of the north, the indigo-bird, the hawfinch, groundfinch, our common Canary bird, and the American yellow-bird, known also as the thistle-finch or goldfinch.

"I love to see the little goldfinch pluck

The seed from thistle's tuft, and twit, and twit;

And then, in some gay bower of blossoms perched,
Trim his gay suit, and pay us with a song:

I would not hold him prisoner for the world."

12. In the same group is found the English chaffinch, which has been described

"As brisk, as merry, and as loved a bird

As any in the fields and woodlands heard."

Here are also found the cross-bills, the linnets, and many others that are often called sparrows, among which are the songsparrow and the well-known chipping-bird. In this goodly company we also place the English skylark:

"Shrill-voiced and loud, the messenger of morn,

Ere yet the shadows fly, he, mounted, sings

Amid the dawning clouds."

"Type of the wise, who soar, but never roam;

True to the kindred points of heaven and home."

13. The horn-bills and plantain-eaters are mostly birds of

F

large size, confined to Africa, India, and the adjacent islands. Among the plantain-eaters are several species of the touracos, which have great brilliancy of plumage, elegance of form, and grace of motion. It has been said of the violet plantaineater, that "while other birds are pretty, handsome, splendid, gorgeous, beautiful, the coloring of the plantain-eater is truly regal." The engraved picture of this bird, without its coloring, conveys a very inadequate idea of its beauty.

1 TEN-ANTS, inhabitants.

2 Cox'-60MB, a fop; a vain, showy fellow. 3 LO-QUAC'-I-TY, talkativeness.

4 VO-RA'-CIOUS, greedy for eating; hungry.

15 E-LAPS'ED, passed by.

6 AS-SID'-U-OUS, attentive; careful.

7 IN-AD'-E-QUATE, insufficient; imperfect.

LESSON XVII.

THE SNOWBIRD (Fringilla Hyemalis).

1. THE well-known snowbird is one of our visitants from the frozen regions of the north, coming even from beyond the arctic circle, and spreading over the United States in small flocks at the beginning of winter. At first they hover around the borders of woods; but as the weather sets in colder, they approach the farm-houses and villages in diligent search of food.

2. Their increased activity on such occasions is generally a sure prognostic1 of a storm. On the first indications of spring many of them set out on their return to the north, while others first visit high ranges of mountains, where they build their nests and rear their young previous to their departure. The plumage of the snowbird undergoes2 considerable changes. The snow-bunting is a bird somewhat similar to this, but has more pointed wings. The following lines to the snowbird. contain both poetic and moral beauty:

3. "Oh! what will become of thee, poor little bird?

The muttering storm in the distance is heard;

The rough winds are waking, the clouds growing black,
They'll soon scatter snow-flakes all over thy back!

From what sunny clime hast thou wandered away?
And what art thou doing this cold winter day?

"I'm picking the gum from the old peach-tree;
The storm doesn't trouble me. Chee, dee, dee.'

4. "But what makes thee seem so unconscious of care?
The brown earth is frozen, the branches are bare:
And how canst thou be so light-hearted and free,
As if danger and suffering thou never should'st see,
When no place is near for thy evening nest,
No leaf for thy screen,3 for thy bosom no rest?
"Because the same hand is a shelter to me,
That took off the summer leaves. Chee, dee, dee.'

5.

"But man feels a burden of care and of grief,

While plucking the cluster and binding the sheaf.
In the summer we faint, in the winter we're chilled,
With ever a voids that is yet to be filled.
We take from the ocean, the earth, and the air,
Yet all their rich gifts do not silence our care.

"A very small portion sufficient will be,

If sweetened with gratitude.

Chee, dee, dee.'

6. "I thank thee, bright monitor; what thou hast taught Will oft be the theme of the happiest thought;

7.

We look at the clouds; while the birds have an eye
To Him who reigns over them, changeless and high.
And now, little hero, just tell me thy name,
That I may be sure whence my oracle came.

"Because, in all weather, I'm merry and free,

They call me the Winter King. Chee, dee, dee.'

"But soon there'll be ice weighing down the light bough,
On which thou art flitting so playfully now;

And though there's a vesture' well fitted and warm,
Protecting the rest of thy delicate form,

What, then, wilt thou do with thy little bare feet,

To save them from pain, 'mid the frost and the sleet?

"I can draw them right up in my feathers, you see,
To warm them, and fly away. Chee, dee, dee.""

MISS GOULD.

1 PROG-NOS'-TIC, a sign by which a future 6 MON'-I-TOR, one who warns of faults or inevent may be known.

2 UN-DER-GÕES', passes through.

3 SCREEN, that which shelters from danger. 8 ŎR'-A-CLE, a wise saying of great author

4 BUR'-DEN, load; weight.

5 VOID, want; longing.

forms of duties. 7 THEME, subject.

ity.

19 VEST'-URE, garment.