BIRDS OF THE POET 

 Again : — 



"As birds from river banks. 

 Arisen, now in round, now lengthened troop, 

 Array them in their flight, greeting as seems 

 Their new-found pastiire." 



" As cranes 

 Chanting their dolorous note, traverse the sky 

 Stretched out in long array." 



Pigeons are thus referred, to : — 



" As a wild flock of pigeons to their food 



Collected, blade or tares. 



If aught alarm them, suddenly desert." 



' ' As doves. 

 By fond desire invited, on wide wings 

 And firm, to their sweet rest returning home." 



In the present day attention is often called to 

 the vast flocks of starlings seen : — 



" In large troops. 

 And multitudinous, when winter reigns 

 The starlings on their wings are borne abroad." 



The lark, of course, makes its invariable appeal 

 to the poet : 



' ' That warbling in the air, expatiates long, 

 Then, trilling out its last sweet melody. 

 Drops, satiate with sweetness." 



Birds are shown greeting a morning in spring 

 when "the tender may bloom flushed through 

 many a hue in prodigal variety" appears : 



" On the tree-tops the feathered quiristers 

 Applied their wonted arts, and with full joy 

 Welcomed those hours of prime." 



Leaving the birds aside for a moment we may 

 quote one observation that marks beyond dispute 

 the eye keenly watchful for the more subtle ex- 

 pression of feeling by living things : — 



" It chances oft some animal bewrays 

 Through the sleek covering of his furry coat 

 The fondness that stirs in him and conforms 

 His outward seeming to the cheer within." 



Watch a rat or a mouse in a trap, with its head 

 pressed closely in a corner and note how easily its 

 agitated state of mind may be read : — 



' ' Through the sleek covering of its furry coat." 



