A POEM. 341 



And soon the ready prize of whosoe'er 

 Should happen at the time to meet them there : 

 But such a prize ! by labour are they fated 

 Their strength to lose, and be emaciated : 

 A few days' rest and food reclothe their bones, 

 And reconcile them to their new found homes ; 

 Tho' at these times the gen'ral flight we may 

 Expect t' arrive, and also make away ; 

 Yet some come earlier some later stay : 

 Indeed, they have been known throughout the year 

 To stay, to incubate their young to rear : 

 Near to some tree the nest is mostl made ; 



Four w-ftw rusty colour'd eggs are laid, 



Mark'd with brown spots therein ; in size they hold 



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As- large as- pigeons -ktj> and of 'tnoif mould. 

 If you would know the female from the male, 

 Do but examine the exterior veil 

 Of th' outside feather of the wing ; a stripe 

 The former has, along the same, of white ; 



