Song Birds and Water Fowl 



displayed in land birds, from the humming-bird 

 up to the eagle, have been taken into account, 

 interesting and significant as these variations 

 are, the resemblance of them all becomes 

 absolutely monotonous, in comparison with the 

 numerous and broadly distinctive forms of 

 water fowl. And this variety of form is their 

 least merit, as compared with the terrestrial 

 group. 



In poetry of pose and motion, the advantage 

 is strongly with the water fowl, many of which 

 are in this respect quite unequalled by any of 

 the land species, except some of the birds of 

 prey. What could be more beautiful, for in- 

 stance, than a flock of terns, disporting with 

 consummate grace upon the wing in intricate 

 convolutions ; or the various gulls, winnowing 

 their languorous course on willowy wings ; or, 

 among the more aquatic species, the slow 

 majestic sailing of the stately swan ? There is 

 nothing in all the earth so airy, graceful, thrill- 

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

 two contiguous and opposing deeps. Or, again, 

 observe the dainty motions of the piping plover 

 running on the beach, or the heron's lordly air 

 of solitude, when standing motionless. One's 

 thoughts will run in quite a different channel, 



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