12 PLEASURES OF ORNITHOLOGY. 



A warble too sends forth. Nor silent sits 

 The Black-bird^ J in the spring ; he, o'er the rill, 

 Amidst some bush of thorny texture wove. 

 Remote from prying eyes, from hands profane, 

 Pours out his happiness in tuneful song. 



The Bulfinch^ too, whose velvet, jetty plume?, 

 In contrast set with flamy red intense 

 And modest grey, a beauteous bird bespeak. 

 His many mimic notes sends o'er the dell. 

 Exciting admiration. To the plum's 

 Big floral buds — a promised boon of fruit — 

 An enemy destructive, lo ! he comes. 

 Despite of caution and the gardener's care. 



Nor are the Sj/lviads silent : their sweet notes 

 All possible variety ] from tones 

 That deeply move the soul, to wildest airs 

 Which imitative art at once defy. 



^*) Turdus merula. — (^j Loxia pynhula. This bird is a very 

 excellent imitator of musical sounds. The author has lately seen 

 a very fine bulfinch, whicli has been long an inmate of a fashion- 

 able family at the west end of the town; it is their travelling 

 companion, and appears to untfer no inconvenience by the tran- 

 sition from town to the country, or vice versd. Besides its 

 powers of sonir, which are good, it has some singular predi- 

 lections and dislikes. To a gentleman, a visitor and occasional 



