172 BIRDS IN TOWN AND VILLAGE 



and the bird-form meets our sight everywhere in 

 decorative art Eastern and Western ; for its aerial 

 beauty is without parallel in nature ; but the living 

 birds, with the exception of the unfortunate captives 

 in cages, are not with us. 



A robin redbreast in a cage 

 Puts all heaven in a rage, 



sings Blake prophet and poet ; and for " robin 

 redbreast " I read every feathered creature endowed 

 with the marvellous faculty of flight. Wild, and 

 loving their safety and liberty, they keep at a distance, 

 at the end of the garden or in the nearest grove, 

 where from their perches they suspiciously watch 

 our movements, always waiting to be encouraged, 

 waiting to feed on the crumbs that fall from our 

 table and are wasted, and on the blighting insects that 

 ring us round with their living multitudes. 



