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ANGLING. 



wonderful labours of instinctive art, none is so 

 beautiful as the formation of their mossy dwellings. 

 With what deep and continuous affection does the 

 female brood over her cherished treasures ! how 

 unwearied is the gallant male in his tender assi- 

 duities, and with what melodious love does he out- 

 pour that rich and varied song by which he seeks 

 to soothe her sedentary task ! 



" Over his own sweet voice the stock-dove broods !" 



But close at hand, on that umbrageous bough, sits 

 the fond partner of his joys and sorrows, so that it 

 is in no spirit of selfish solitary musing that he 

 ever murmurs by woodland stream or shadow- 

 haunted brook, " a music sweeter than their own." 

 The slender winged and glossy plumaged swallow, 

 which skims the verdure of the new-mown meadow, 

 or dimples the surface of the breezeless lake, the 

 ponderous but giant pinioned eagle, winging his 

 way from distant isles, o'er waters glittering with 

 redundant life, the proud far-sighted falcon, which 

 launching from some hoar cliff, or lightening- 

 scathed peak, 



" Doth dally with the wind, and scorn the sun," 



the wild and fearful lapwing, with graceful crest 

 and dark dilated eye, are each and all enslaved for 

 many a long enduring season by this love of off- 

 spring, and toil in its support from dewy morn- 

 ing until latest eve. 



But it is far otherwise with our voiceless dwellers 

 /n the deep, who exhibit but few attachments, are 



