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A HISTORY OF WATER-FOWL. 



These splendid inhabitants of the air pos- 

 sess all those qualities that can sooth the 

 heart, and cheer the fancy. The brightest 

 colours, the roundest forms, the most active 

 manners, and the sweetest music. In send- 

 ing the imagination in pursuit of these, in fol- 

 lowing them to the chirping grove, the scream- 

 ing precipice, or the glassy deep, the mind 

 naturally lost the sense of its own situation, 

 and, attentive to their little sports, almost for- 

 got the TASK of describing them. Innocently 

 to amuse the imagination in this dream of life 

 is wisdom; and nothing is useless that, by 

 furnishing mental employment, keeps us for 

 a while in oblivion of those stronger appe- 



tites that lead to evil. But every rank and 

 state of mankind may find something to imi- 

 tate in those delightful songsters, and we may 

 not only employ the time, but mend our lives, 

 by the contemplation. From their courage 

 in defence of their young, and their assiduity 

 in incubation, the coward may learn to be 

 brave, and the rash to be patient. The in- 

 violable attachment of some to their compa- 

 nions may give lessons of fidelity; and the 

 connubial tenderness of others, be a monitor 

 to the incontinent. Even those that are ty- 

 rants by nature never spread capricious de- 

 struction ; and, unlike man, never indict a 

 pain but when urged by necessity. 



