" Plea for the Birds'' 



247 



those Chinese birds that build what are called edible 

 nests. 



But the halcyon is not very particular in this respect ; 

 so loose and careless is he, indeed, that it is almost 

 impossible to carry off in anything like proper shape 

 a halcyon's nest ; and these curiosities have over and 

 over again been advertised for by collectors and for 

 museums, and I have even heard that as much as 

 ;iOO have been offered for a fairly perfect specimen. 

 But such a run there is on Old Halcyon fly-fishers 

 will give anything almost for certain feathers of his 

 for their hooks as well as on his nest, that it is to be 

 feared before very many years have elapsed he will be 

 utterly extinct, unless some more strict laws are laid 

 down for his protection. There is, or used to be, 

 a great prejudice against him among sportsmen and 

 fishermen, because it was believed that he was very 

 fond of, and devoured trout-spawn ; but that fine orni- 

 thologist and careful observer, the Rev. H. D. Rawnsley, 

 in his " Plea for the Birds," defends poor Halcyon, and 

 says that he seeks as much for slugs and watersnails 

 as he does for trout-spawn and minnows. He has 

 fought weli for his existence, but now, when no part 

 of stream or wood is untraversed or unvisited by the 

 ruthless beauty-slayer, what hope is there for him ? 

 Poor and lovely halcyon ! 



" With his plumage shining fair, 

 On the bough he silent sits, 

 Then, with sudden circle low, 

 Downward to the water flits. 



He has found his prey, and bears 



A shining fish to yonder nest, 

 Where the callow young ones wait 



For the shining of his breast. 



