118 THE JAVA SPARROW. 



I will do thee justice, thou saucy one: 



I have turn'd to my book thy name is here ; 

 I see there are some good things thou hast done ; 

 Thou hast held thy wife and thy children dear. 

 As the sire of thy feather'd family 

 There is some good thing to be told of thee. 



With unwearied tenderness, day by day, 



Thou hast nursed them well, and their wants supplied 

 And even when borne as captives away, 



The prison-grate scared thee not from their side. 

 Thou fed'st them still as if they were free ; 

 Sing bravo ! that this can be told of thee. 



Dost linger here still, with thy saucy face ? 

 IVe no more praise for thee, roguish elf; 

 For even thy tenderly cherished race, 



I fear, will be train'd up thieves like thyself! 

 'Tis well, bold sparrow, there ever should be, 

 Even one good deed recorded of thee. 



ORDER PASSERES. 



The Java Sparrow. 



THE habits of this bird seem little known, except 

 as they are exhibited in a state of captivity. He 

 is often brought to our coasts from the spicy 

 islands of the east, and pent in a cage, passes 

 his life as an exile and a prisoner. He is a tract- 



