CHARLOTTE SMITH'S ODE. 143 



round with the greatest jealousy and circumspection. This 

 is very characteristic of the bird's shy and wary nature. 

 Mr. Alexander Hepburn says : * Missel Thrushes are very 

 wary birds. When they come to our gardens to eat the 

 berries of the yew, holly, ivy, or mountain ash, they alight 

 on a row of tall willow trees to see if they may remain in 

 safety ; and on finding matters according to their wishes, 

 descend to the fruit, making a prodigious noise. They are 

 very quarrelsome among themselves, and drive off the 

 Blackbird and Song Thrushes, and even pursue them on foot 

 round the roots of the evergreens, all the while uttering 

 their harsh notes.' The following lines are from Charlotte 

 Smith's 



ODE TO THE MISSEL THRUSH. 



The winter solstice scarce is past, 



Loud is the wind, and hoarsely sound 

 The mill-streams in the swelling blast ; 



And cold and humid is the ground 

 When to the ivy that embowers 



Some pollard tree, or sheltering rock, 

 The troop of timid warblers flock, 



And shuddering, wait for milder hours, 



While thou ! the leader of their band, 



Fearless salut'st the opening year, 

 Nor stay'st till blow the breezes bland, 



That bid the tender leaves appear. 

 But on some tow' ring elm or pine, 



Waving elate thy dauntless wing, 

 Thou joy'st thy love-notes wild to sing, 



Impatient of St. Valentine. 



Oh, herald of the spring ! while yet 



No harebell scents the woodland lane, 

 Nor starwort fair, nor violet, 



Braves the bleak gust and driving rain ; 

 J Tis thine, as through the copses rude 



Some pensive wanderer sighs along, 

 To soothe him with a cheerful song, 



And tell of hope and fortitude ! 



WHITE'S THRUSH (Turdus Whitei). This bird, of which 

 we here give a cut, is somewhat larger than the Song Thrush, 

 and rests its claim to admission into the British fauna on 



