Il6 THE CHOUGH AND CROW. 



become so universally courted, that it can scarcely be 

 necessary to show that the geographical distribution of 

 the species is much wider than was formerly supposed. 



The old song of " The Chough and Crow " will probably 

 be remembered as long as the English language lasts. 



Shakespeare has introduced both these birds in a fine 

 description of Dover Cliff. It is not improbable that 

 the chough, which affects precipices and sea-cliffs, may 

 once have frequented the cliffs at Dover ; but whatever 

 may have been the case formerly, this haunt, if it ever was 

 one, has long since been deserted. Shakespeare, at all 

 events, has placed this bird in a situation most natural 

 to it : 



" Come on, sir ; here 's the place : stand still. How 



fearful 



And dizzy 't is, to cast one's eyes so low ! 

 The crows and choughs, that wing the midway air, 

 Show scarce so gross as beetles : half way down 

 Hangs one that gathers samphire, dreadful trade ! 

 Methinks he seems no bigger than his head : 

 The fishermen, that walk upon the beach, 

 Appear like mice ; and yond tall anchoring bark, 

 Diminish'd to her cock ; her cock, a buoy 

 Almost too small for sight : the murmuring surge, 

 That on the unnumber'd idle pebbles chafes, 

 Cannot be heard so high. I '11 look no more, 



