134 THE * PELICAN-ISLAND.’ 
the following lines, from the ‘ Pelican Is- 
land,’ might seem to bring to our imagina- 
tion the scene to which our naturalists 
refer :— 
“Throughout this commonwealth of sea-sprung 
lands, 
Life kindled in ten thousand happy forms, 
Earth, air, and ocean were all full of life. 
Still highest in the rank of being, soar’d 
The fowls amphibious, and the inland tribes 
Of dainty plumage or melodious song. 
In gaudy robes of many-colour’d patches, 
The parrots swung like blossoms on the trees, 
While their harsh voices undeceived the ear. 
More delicately pencill’d, finer drawn 
In shape and lineament ; too exquisite 
For gross delights ; the Birds of Paradise 
Floated aloof, as though they lived on air, 
And were the orient progeny of heaven, 
Or spirits made perfect veil’d in shining raiment. _ 
From flower to flower, where wild bees flew and 
sung, 
As countless, small, and musical as they, 
Showers of bright humming birds came down, and 
plied 
The same ambrosial task, with slender bill 
Extracting honey, hidden in those bells, 
Whose richest blooms grew pale beneath the blaze 
Of twinkling winglets hovering o’er their petals, 
