. THE CROSSBILL. 



though now above five-and-twenty years of age, 

 retains all her powers perfectly, without any dimi- 

 nution or symptom of decrepitude; the fineness 

 of limb, brilliancy of eye, and ardour of spirit, are 

 those of the colt, and though treated with no 

 remarkable care, she has never been disabled by 

 the illness of a day, or sickened by the drench of 

 the farrier. With birds it is probably the same 

 as with other creatures, and the eagle, the raven, 

 the parrot, &c., in a domestic state attain great 

 longevity ; and though we suppose them naturally 

 tenacious of life, yet, in a really wild state, they 

 would probably expire before the period which 

 they attain when under our attention and care. 

 And this is tnuch the case with man, who probably 

 outlives most other creatures ; for though excess 

 may often shorten, and disease or misfortune ter- 

 minate his days, yet naturally he is a long-lived 

 animal. His u threescore years and ten" are often 

 prolonged by constitutional strength, and by the 

 cares, the loves, the charities, of human nature. 

 As the decay of his powers awaken solicitude, duty 

 and affection increase their attentions, and the 

 spark of life only expires when the material is 

 exhausted. 



That rare bird the crossbill (loxia curvirostra) 

 occasionally visits the orchards in our neighbour- 

 hood, coming in little parties to feed upon the 

 seeds of the apple ; and, seldom as it appears, is 



