INTRODUCTION. XV 



Towards evening again the songs of the "woodland 

 choir soften down into fuller, richer, deeper melody. 

 — 'Tis then that the soothing, mom-nful note of the 

 Ring Pigeon is heard to the greatest advantage : — 



Wand'ring at eve the woods among, 

 I love to hear the Ring Dove's song, 

 That peaceful soimd is ever dear, 

 I love that soft coo, coo, to hear. 



The Common Merl or Ouzel, also chaunts his 'ves- 

 per melody with surprising richness, 



the Merl's note, 

 Mellifluous, rich, deep-toned, fills all the vale, 

 And charms the ravish'd ear. 



And if every season, and every time is enlivened 

 by the feathered race, so is every scene. Climb the 

 mountain- side, and the Eagle (Aquila) or the Ossi- 

 frage (Ossifraga) on extended pinion shall greet 

 your admiring gaze. See ! he ascends, wheeling 

 sun-wards, he gains on the great luminary, till he is 

 lost in the cserulean vault of the " brave o'erhanging 

 firmament." 



Bird of the broad and sweeping wing, 

 Thy home is high in heaven, 

 Where wide the storms their banners fling, 

 And the tempest clouds are driven. 



