221 NATURAL HISTORY READER. 



language — older than Erse, older than Sanscrit — ever got 

 translated ? I am afraid, dear, the key has been turned in 

 the lock and thrown into the well. 



12. The ornithologists tell us that some birds build 

 nicer nests, sing sweeter songs, than their companiotis of 

 the same species. Can experience add wisdom to instinct ? 

 or is it the right of the elder-born — the birthright of the 

 young robin who first breaks the shell ? Who has rightly 

 looked into these things ? 



13. I half remember the story of a beautiful princess 

 who had all imaginable wealth in her stately palace, itself 

 built up of rare and costly jewels. She had everything 

 that heart could desire — -everything but a roc's egg. Her 

 mind was contracted with sorrow till she could procure 

 this one ornament more to her splendors. I think it turned 

 out that the palace itself was built within the roc's egg. 

 These birds are immense, and take up three elephants at a 

 time in their powerful talons (almost as many as Gordon 

 Cummings himself on a good day's hunt), and their eggs are 

 like domes. 



14. Now, do not you be like the foolish princess, and 

 desire a roc's egg ; it will prove a stone — the egg of a rock 

 indeed. Be content, rather, with the ostrich-egg I send yon. 

 With your own slender fingers lift the lid ; pretty, is it not, 

 the tea-service I send you ? The tidy warblers threw out 

 the emptied shells ; one by one I picked them up, and have 

 made cups and saucers, bowls and pitchers for you. A 

 roc's egg never held anything one half so fine. 



Atlantic Monthly. 



