114 SPARROW. 



the variety, length, and sweetness of its notes, visits 

 England about the beginning of April, and leaves it in 

 August. It is found only in some of the southern and 

 midland counties, and is said to be unknown in Scotland, 

 Ireland, and North Wales. It commences its song in the 

 evening, when other birds are generally at roost, as if k 

 disdained to waste its music in the throng, and continues it 

 by intervals during the whole night ; and, if undisturbed, 

 will sit for weeks together almost on the same tree. It 

 builds its nest near the bottom of some hedge, so artfully 

 secreted, that it generally eludes the inquisitive eye of the 

 school-boy ; and surely, robbing it or other birds of their 

 eggs and young, without any intention to rear them, is a 

 pitification, compared with the pain that is inflicted. 

 Thompson thus paints the feelings, and pleads the cause 

 of the songster under consideration. 



But let not chief the nightingale lament 



Her ruin'd care, too delicately form'd 



To brook the harsh confinement of the cage. 



Oft when, returning with her loaded bill, 



The astonish'd mother finds a vacant nest, 



By the hard hand of unrelenting clowns 



Robb'd ; to the ground the vain provisions fall, 



Her pinions muffle, and, lo, drooping, scarce 



Can bear the mourner to the poplar shade ; 



Where, all abandon'd to despair she sings 



Her sorrow through the night, and on the bough 



Sole sitting, still at every dying fall, 



Takes up her lamentable strain 



Of winding woe, till, wide around, the woods 



Sigh to her song, and with her wails resound. 



THE SPARROW. 



This bird, from its frequenting only the abodes of men 

 and places adjacent, may be said to be chiefly fed from 

 human industry ; for, in spite of every precaution, it will 

 partake of the food of the domestic pigeons and poultry, and 

 consumes a considerable quantity of grain : on this account 

 it has been long proscribed, and a reward set on its head; 

 but still the species continues undiminiahed. 



