So our homes in the boughs 



Made him think of the house, 



And the Swallow, to help him invent, 



Eevealed the best way 

 To economise clay, 



And bricks to combine with cement. 



The knowledge withal 



Of the carpenter's a^^l 

 Is drawn from the Nuthatch's bill ; 

 And the Sand Martin's pains 



In the hazel-clad lanes, 

 Instructed the mason to drill. 



Is there one of the arts 



More dear to men's hearts ? 



To the bird's inspiration they owe it,. 



For the Nightingale first 

 Sweet music rehearsed, 



Prima-donna, Composer, and Poet. 



The Owl's dark retreats 



Showed sages the sweets 

 Of brooding, to spin, or unravel 

 Fine webs m one's brain, 



Philosophical— vain ; 

 The Swallows, — the pleasures of travel. 



Who chirped in such strain 



Of Greece, Italy, Spain, 

 And Egypt, that men, when tbey heard, 

 "Were mad to fly forth 



From the nests in the North, 

 And follow — the tail of the Bird. 



Besides it is true 



To our wisdom is due 

 The knowledge of Sciences all ; 

 And chiefly, those rare 



Metaphysics of Air 

 Men "Meteorology" call. 



And men in their words 



Acknowledge the Birds' 

 Erudition in weather and star. 

 For they say, " 'Twill be dry — 



The SwalL w is high," 

 Or, " Rain, for the Chongh is afar.'" 



