24 PLEASURES OF ORNITHOLOGY. 



Of Psittacid*s (') or Picid's scream what time, 



The days of tempest o'er, adorn'd with smiles, 



Flora and Ceres in their garlands dance, 



Strewing their odours to the passing breeze. 



Go listen to the throng; and chief to him 



In plumage plain, the Mimic Merulid, (*) 



He who hath all the Sylviads* songs by heart — 



All notes melodious and all dissonance 



Ever at ready beck, as he may list ; 



Still, through the live long night, he sings his own, 



Lively yet soothing, rapturous yet sweet. 



Now hie YE to some quiet, sombre shade — 

 And if at eve, when sad the day hath been. 

 And rain descending bathes the earth with showers. 

 Most favourable time YE choose to hear 

 The Wood-Thrush Q) warble his melodious lay. 



Nor cease the active Fringillids to greet 

 The woods, the dales, with music ; chief of these 

 Of graceful form and robes of citrine hue. 

 With intertexture elegant of grey, 



(0 Psittacidf a bird of the Parrot tribe.-— (^) Tardus 

 pohjgloltus, or Mocking-bird.— (3) Turdus melodus. 



