INCESSOEES. 



INTRODUCTION. 



For to me it appears, that, of all inferior creatures, Heaven seems to 

 have intended birds as the most cheerful associates of man ; to soothe 

 and exhilarate him in his labours by their varied melody ; to prevent 

 the increase of those supernumerary hosts of insects which would soon 

 consume the products of his industry. 



ALEX. WILSON. 



Others more gorgeously apparell'd, dwelt 

 Among the woods, on nature's dainties feeding, 

 Herbs, seeds, and roots ; or, ever on the wing, 

 Pursuing insects through the boundless air : 

 In hollow trees or thickets there conceal'd 

 Their exquisitely woven nests, where lay 



Their callow offspring. 



Of these, a few, with melody untaught 

 Turn'd all the air to music within hearing, 

 Themselves unseen. 



IN our former volume we detailed, so far as 

 our limits would permit, the history and habits 

 of the order of birds which has, by common 



