200 EARLY AWAKENING OF BIRDS. 



successively, but collectively. It is appointed to be a 

 ready mover. Its principal food is worms, which feed 

 and crawl upon the humid surface of the ground in the 

 dusk, and retire before the light of day ; and, roosting 

 higher than other birds, the first rays of the sun, as 

 they peep from the horizon become visible to it. The 

 restless, inquisitive robin now is seen too. This is the 

 last bird that retires in the evening, being frequently 

 flitting about when the owl and bat are visible, and 

 awakes so soon in the morning, that little rest seems 

 required by it. Its fine large eyes are fitted to receive all, 

 even the weakest rays of light that appear. The worm 

 is its food too, and few that move upon the surface escape 

 its notice. The cheerful melody of the wren is the next 

 we hear, as it bustles from its ivied roost ; and we note 

 its gratulation to the young-eyed day, when twilight 

 almost hides the little minstrel from our sight. The 

 sparrow roosts in holes, and under the eaves of the rick 

 or shed, where the light does not so soon enter, and 

 hence is rather a tardy mover ; but it is always ready 

 for food, and seems to listen to what is going forward. 

 We see it now peeping from its penthouse, inquisitive- 

 ly surveying the land ; and, should provision be obtain- 

 able, immediately descends upon it without any scruple, 

 and makes itself a welcome guests with all. It retires 

 early to rest. The black-bird quits its leafy roost in 

 the ivied ash ; its " chink, chink'' is heard in the hedge; 

 and, mounting on some neighbouring oak, with mellow, 

 sober voice it gi atulates the coming day. " The plain- 

 song cuckoo gray " from some tall tree now tells its 

 tale. The lark is in the air, the " martin twitters from 

 her earth-built shed, " all the choristers are tuning in 

 the grove ; and amid such tokens of awakening plea- 

 sure it becomes difficult to note priority of voice. 

 These are the matin voices of the summer season : in 

 winter a cheerless chirp, or a hungry twit, is all we hear ; 

 the families of voice are away, or silent ; we have little 

 to note, and as little inclination to observe. KNAPP. 



Printed and Published by O. HF.ARDER, Buckwell St. PLYMOUTH. 



