260 Birds. 



which are whitish, marked at their upper end with 

 purple dots. 



" The Goldfinch weaves, with willow down inlaid, 

 And cannach tufts, his wonderful abode ; 

 And oft suspended at the limber end 

 Of plane-tree spray, among the broad-leaved shoots, 

 The tiny hammock swings to every gale. 

 Sometimes in closest thickets 'tis concealed ; 

 Sometimes in hedge luxuriant, where the brier, 

 The bramble, and the plum-tree branch 

 Warp through the thorn, surmounted by the flowers 

 Of climbing vetch, and honeysuckle wild." 



GRAHAME. 



The following lines were written by Cowper on a Gold- 

 finch starved to death in his cage. The Goldfinch 

 speaks : 



"Time was when I was free as air, 

 The thistle's downy seed my fare, 



My drink the morning dew ; 

 I perched at will on every spray, 

 My form genteel, my plumage gay, 



My strains for ever new. 



' But gaudy plumage, sprightly strain, 

 And form genteel were all in vain, 



And of a transient date ; 

 For caught and caged, and starved to death, 

 In dying sighs my little breath 



Soon passed the wiry grate. 



" Thanks, gentle author of my woes, 

 Thanks -for this most effectual close 



And cure of every ill. 

 Never your cruelty repress ! 

 For I, if you had shown me less, 



Had been your prisoner still." 



