1^§ THE FEATHERED TRIBES. 



And if a cloud obscure the sun, 



A*"!!'.! faint und fluttering heart you nni, 



And to the pitfall you should shun, 



KcEort in trembling- haste ; 

 AVhile on that de\yy cloud so liigh. 

 The lark, sweet minstrel of the sky, 

 Sings in the morning's beamy eye, 



And bathes his spotted breast. 



Ah I simple bird, resembling j-ou 

 Arc those, that with distorted -view, 

 'Ihrough life some selfish end pursue 



With low inglorious aim ; 

 They sink in blank oblivious night. 

 While minds superior dare the light. 

 And high on honour's glorious height 



Asi>Lic to endless fame.* 



This bird foods cliicfly upon worms, larvce, and insects, some of which arc taken on the 

 wing. It begins its nest in the southern parts of Britain, about the middle of April, 

 sometimes availing itself of a recess beneath some crag of roclc, whoi'c the arm cannot 

 follow them. Mr. Knapp mentions that one bird had made her nest deep in the 

 crevice of a stone quarry, so carefully hidden from view by projecting fragments, that it 

 was not observed till part of the stone had been removed. Another hen-bird had 

 descended among the interstices of some rather large loose stones, just as a mouse would 

 have done, and then proceeded laterally to a hollow space in a bank, against which the 

 stones were laid ; and so deep had she penetrated, that many of the stones had to be 

 removed before the treasure could be discovered. 



As soon as the breeding season has terminated, the annual moulting takes place, when 

 the plumage of both old and young birds is very similar. At other times the adult male 

 has the top of the head and the back of a fine gray colour, the wing-coverts and quill- 

 feathers almost black, the lower part of the back and two-thirds of the tail white, the 

 wings black, and the chest a delicate fawn colour, fading into white. The length of the 

 bird is six inches and a half, and it weighs about six drams and a half. 



Sweet informs us that he watched a pair of these birds near the gravel pit in Hj^de- 

 park. They were quite lively, and were flj'ing about after the insects as brisklj' as if it 

 were summer, although it was the middle of November. They appeared not to be at all 

 shy, as if they liad been there some time, and allowed the naturalist to come within three 

 yards of them, so that they might have been easily caught in a traj). The song of this 

 bird is not very often to be heard when wild, partly, perhaps, because its voice is low and 

 soft. When confined the whcatears are almost continually singing, by night as well as 

 by day, and they have a very pleasant, variable, and agreeable song, diflorent from all other 

 birds ; their winter song is, however, the best and the most varied. Sweet saj's that a 

 pair which he had began to sing a few days after they were cai^tured, and continued in 

 fidl song up to the time at which he M'rotc. When in a large cage or aviary, where 

 there is plenty of room, it is very amusing to catch them at l?la}', flying up and do\\-n, 

 and spreading open their large wings in u curious manner, dancing and singing all 

 the while. 



THE UEDIiREAST.f 



The redbreast is so familiarly known, both in itself and in its habits, as to require but 

 little of minute description from us. Its beautiful colouring, its sprightl}' form, its 



• Mrs. C. Smith. t lirythata llubucula. — Swaius. 



