128 DESCRIBED BY MANT. 



recording carefully and minutely, the analogies, and also the 

 differences, however slight, which they observe. 



We close our account of this interesting bird with Bishop 

 Mant's admirably descriptive lines : 



Hark to that chattering noise afar, 



Which with repeated frequent jar 



Sounds from the depths of yonder wood, 



And mars its silent solitude ! 



Approach, but gently and with care, 



Lest you the busy woodman scare, 



And of this craft's rich meed despoil. 



See where, intent upon his toil, 



He stands, and smites with frequent blow 



Of his hard bill the prize below. 



Firm in that chink, tenacious shut, 



As in a vice, the hazel nut ; 



The frequent blow the nut resists, 



And now around he turns and twists 



His anvil, that a part more weak 



May feel the impression of his beak, 



Which by the body's powerful swing 



Propelled, makes loud and louder ring 



The thicket, till the vanquished shell 



Yields to the mighty master's spell, 



And at his foot the hidden prize 



Disclosed, the precious kernel lies. 



'Tis but a slight and feeble bird 



Thus far off through the thicket heard, 



The little Nuthatch. But the skill 



And vigour of his pickaxe bill, 



The force of his expanded feet, 



So firm to grasp, to run so fleet, 



As up and down with motion free, 



He climbs, descends, the forest tree ; 



Nor least of all, his mingled hue 



Of chestnut, buff, white, grey, and blue, 



Will with the sight our care repay 



In wandering by the woodland way. 



