400 SONNETS. 



Selby, Illustr. Br. Orn. — Stewart, Nat. Hist. — Syme, Br, Sony 

 Birds — Sweet, Br. Warblers — Bechst. Caye Birds (Angl.) — Niyht- 

 inyale Warbler, Steph. Gen. Zool. — Mudie, Feath. Tribes. 



Description ; Male. — Bill dusky ; eyes laro^e, and of a hazel 

 colour; the whole of the upper parts reddish brown, in some 

 individuals inclininjr to chesnut ; tail, tawny red and broad ; 

 quills and wing coverts brown, slightly tinged with red, paler at 

 the edges ; under parts pale yellowish ash colour ; legs long, and 

 light brown : length from tip of the bill to end of the tail six 

 inches and a half. 



Female. — Does not differ from the male in plumage. 



Youny of the year. — Before the first moult they are spotted 

 with yellow, and the breast is more yellow than in adults. 



NEVILLE WOOD. 



Foston Hall, Derbyshire, June 4, 1835. 



SONNETS ON THE SCENERY OF THE MALVERN HILLS. 



in. 



The Herefordshire Beacon. 

 This hill is remarkable for being, in its upper part, invested with the lines of an 

 ancient camp, generally supposed to be of British origin, but subsequently 

 strengthened and occupied by the Romans. 



The jubilant wind hath here a martial tone, — 



Here on this height, where once the Roman passed 



With all his legions, and the surging blast 



Rang with the shout of trump and clarion, 



As, like a cloud, the embattled host swept on 



From their entrenchments : — lo ! through the dimness cast 



By old obhvious Time some records last, 



And Memory claims the precinct as her own. 



For oft, while lingering here, I half forget 



The lapse of ages; — History's wizard spell 



Peoples the fosse and turf-grown parapet ; 



Still, still on Fancy's ear the war-notes swell, 



And in the breeze's rush, the hawk's shrill cry, 



Come the last voices of Antiquity. 



IV. 



The North Hill, at Twilight. 

 In such a place as this, at such an hour, 

 "When darkness curtains the theatric show 

 Of the vain world, — our inward light doth glow 

 Most brightly, and the soul puts forth her power, 

 And vindicates her most-ennobling dower j — 

 She looks into herself,— and there descries, 

 As a calm lake reflects the o'er-arching skies. 

 Thick-coming thoughts, that sparkle like a shower 

 Of meteor stars, and from her depths outleap. 

 Bringing not earthly wishes, worldly cares, — 

 But fulgent aspirations, — Joys as deep 

 As Heaven is high, — ethereal Hope that wears 

 The hue and fragrance of the morning's breath. 

 And Faith, whose radiance thrids the gloom of death. 



E. S. 



