OTHER NEIGHBORS IN THE TREES. 223 



be small, but they be monstrous full." Yes, the pack- 

 ing of the nest is close, but closer is the packing of the 

 egg. " As full as an egg of meat " is a wise proverb. 



9. Let us look at these first-fruits which the bountiful 

 spring hangs on our trees. " To break the egg-shell after 

 the meat is out we are taught in our childhood, and prac- 

 tice in all our lives ; which, nevertheless, is but a supersti- 

 tious relic, according to the judgment of Pliny, and the in- 

 tent hereof was to prevent witchcraft (to keep the fairies 

 out) ; for, lest witches should draw or prick their names 

 therein, and veneficiously mischief their persons, they 

 broke the shell, as Dalecampius has observed." This is 

 what Sir Thomas Browne tells us about egg-shells, and Dr. 

 Wren adds : " Lest they (the witches), perchance, might use 

 them for boates to sayle in by night." But I, who have no 

 fear of witches, would not break them — rather use them ; 

 try what an untold variety of forms we may make out of 

 this delicate oval. 



10. By a little skillful turning and reversing, putting 

 on a handle, a lip here, a foot there, always following the 

 sacred oval, we shall get a countless array of pitchers and 

 vases of perfect finished form, handsome enough to be the 

 oval for a king's name. Should they attempt to copy our 

 rare vases — in finest parian, alabaster, or jasper — their art 

 would fail to hit the delicate tints and smoothness of this 

 fine shell ; and then those dots and dashes, careless as put 

 on by a master's hand ! 



11. Are not these rare lines ? They look to me as wise 

 as hieroglyphics. Who knows what rhyme and reason are 

 written there — what subtile wisdom rounded into this 

 small curve — repeated on the breasts and backs of the birds 

 — their own notes, it may be, photographed on their swell- 

 ing breasts like the musical notes on the harp-shell — writ- 

 ten in bright, almost audible colors, on the petals of the 

 flowers — -harmonies, melodies for ear and eye ? Has this 



