Song Birds and Water Fowl 



displayed in land birds, from the humming-bir( 

 up to the eagle, have been taken into account 

 interesting and significant as these variation 

 are, the resemblance of them all become 

 absolutely monotonous, in comparison with th 

 numerous and broadly distinctive forms o 

 water fowl. And this variety of form is thei 

 least merit, as compared with the terrestria 

 group. 



In poetry of pose and motion, the advantagi 

 is strongly with the water fowl, many of whicl 

 are in this respect quite unequalled by any o 

 the land species, except some of the birds o 

 prey. What could be more beautiful, for in 

 stance, than a flock of terns, disporting witl 

 consummate grace upon the wing in intricat( 

 convolutions ; or the various gulls, winnowing 

 their languorous course on willowy wings ; or 

 among the more aquatic species, the slov 

 majestic sailing of the stately swan ? There ii 

 nothing in all the earth so airy, graceful, thrill 

 ing, as the sea-bird in its flight — the denizen o 

 two contiguous and opposing deeps. Or, again 

 observe the dainty motions of the piping plove 

 running on the beach, or the heron's lordly ai] 

 of solitude, when standing motionless. One': 

 thoughts will run in quite a different channel 



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