18 PLEASURES OF ORKITIIOLOG Y. 



Nor may we here forget that Cygnine C) group. 

 White as the fairest snow, and proud of port, 

 With neck of graceful arch ; domestic some, 

 Yet more in hyperborean climes abide, 

 Free as the air of heaven to wander wild, 

 And greet, though rarely, our south brumal sun. 

 Say YE aberrant, for YE have, perchance, 

 On marge of inland lake — the sea*s wild shore, 

 Sought out some guiltless victim and from tube. 

 Fraught with destruction, sent the thunder forth, — 

 Say, heard YE e'er a melancholy wail ; 

 Have not some plaintive notes assail'd your ear, 

 As out the life-blood flow*d — the plumage stain'd, 

 Which memory never, never may forget 1 



And deem YE that the RapiorSy too, for waw, 

 Pursue their course mid paths of upper air — 

 From Alp to distant Alp or Andes soar — 

 Or stooping, snatch the all unconscious lamb, — 

 That to the eyrie Hannah Lamond's bairn (*) 

 Was borne to prove a mother's agony, 

 And triumph 1 — Else why urge your lofty claim ? 



C) (Cygnine group, birds of the Swan tribe. 



(^) See a finely wrought up story on this subject in Black- 

 wood's Magazine for October, 1826. 



