86 BRITISH BIRDS. 



devour flies ; but its most delicious morsel was any species 

 of hairy caterpillar ; these insects it seized with avidity, 

 shook them to death, and softened by passing several 

 times through the bill, till they were quite pliant, when 

 it would swallow whole the largest of the caterpillars 

 of the egger or drinker moths. It was very fearful of 

 strangers, fluttering in its cage to avoid their attentions ; 

 but it would quietly sufi'er itself to be handled by a 

 young lady, who had been its kind benefactress, appear- 

 ing to like the warmth of her hand to its feet. 

 But now let us listen to another poet : — 



" Hark ! the cuckoo's sprightly note, 

 That tells the coming of the vernal prime, 

 And cheers the heart of youth and aged man. 

 Say, sweet stranger, whence hast thou ta'en thy flight. 

 From Asia's spicy groves, or Afric's clime; 

 And who direct'st the wandering journey far? 

 Philosophy says, instinct — Religion, God. 

 Though simple in thy note, it speaks to man's 

 Reflecting soul, since thou didst wing thy course 

 From Albion's clifl!'s, another year is gone, 

 A year ! how short the space unnoticed by 

 The gay and mindless throng, yet awful to 

 The race of human kind. 

 Another year may pass, unheeded as 

 The one so lately number'd in the book 

 Of Time, and thou wilt take thy flight to realms 

 Unknown ; but when thou cheer'st the future spring, 

 "Will those who now admire the song, walk forth 

 To hear the lay ? This awful question brings 



