Jennings's Ornitholbgia, S'iS 



We hear not of the many seeds 



Which we devour of noxious weeds ; 



Of worms and grubs, destructive things, 



That each of us his offspring brings. * 



What though we snatch a feast of corn 



Or ere it 's safe in yonder barn. 



Yet is there not enough beside 



For MAN and his consummate pride ? " Page 285' 



Mr. Jennings has divided his work into two parts, the first 

 comprehending British and European birds, the second foreign 

 birds; the whole being preceded by an introductory sketch, 

 of the present state of ornithology, and accompanied by what 

 the author calls copious, but which we should designate volu- 

 minous, notes, and which we should have arranged either in the 

 introduction or in an appendix, as, in their present form, they 

 both interrupt the current of the verse, and throw important 

 facts and subjects into corners, instead of bringing them regu- 

 larly and prominently forward. This, however, is an objection 

 of small moment ; for many readers are best pleased with a 

 little irregularity, and will readily pick up chance seeds of 

 knowledge scattered by the way-side, when they would shrink 

 from the labour of reaping a whole field, laid out according to 

 rule. It is, perhaps, more also in unison with the author's 

 design, " to combine the prose portion of the work with familiar 

 poetry, so as to render the science altogether more attractive, 

 and to exhibit a useful epitome of it." Taking this view of the 

 subject, we shall now take a glance at the manner in which Mr. 

 Jennings has executed his plan of combining amusement with 

 instruction. Respecting nests^ we find the following in the 

 author's introduction, which is inscribed to Mrs, Richard 

 Kay: — 



" You, LADY ! when that smiling boy. 

 Of promise bright, his parents' joy. 

 Shall upward grow, will prompt his mind 

 To all that's good and great — refin'd. 



***** 



Oh ! teach him, when, you will know best. 

 To love, admire the warbler's nest j 



* " Bewick states that * a single pair of sparrows, during the time they 

 are feeding their young, will destroy about four thousand caterpillars 

 weekly.' They feed their young also with many winged insects; in London, 

 it is presumed, chiefly with flies." 



" The utility of the goldfinch is peculiarly striking, it feeding in winter, 

 when at large, principally on thistle seed : hence it is called the thistle- 

 finch." 



We should object to the latter inference of utility, that the only thistle 

 seed which the goldfinch can procure in winter must be unproductive, all 

 the fertile seed being scattered by the winds during the autumn. — Rev, 



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