'8 Bird Day Book 



THE CATFISH. 

 » $ • 



OH, DO not bring the Catfish here ! 

 The Catfish is a name I fear. 

 Oh, spare each stream and spring, 

 The Kennet swift, the Wandle clear, 

 The lake, the loch, the broad, the mere, 

 From that detested thing! 



"The Catfish is a hideous beast, 

 A bottom-feeder that doth feast 



Upon unholy bait; 

 He's no addition to your meal, 

 He's rather richer than the eel ; 



And Ranker than the skate. 



"His face is broad, and flat, and glum; 

 He's like some monstrous miller's thumb; 



He's bearded like the pard. 

 Beholding him the grayling flee, 

 The trout take refuge in the sea, 



The gudgeons go on guard. 



"He grows into a startling size ; 

 The British matron 'twould surprise 



And raise her burning blush 

 To see white catfish as large as man, 

 Through what the bards call 'water wan,' 



Come with an ugly rush ! 



"They say the Catfish climbs the trees, 

 And robs the roost, and down the breeze 



Prolongs his catterwaul. 

 Oh, leave him in his western flood 

 Where the Mississippi churns the mud ; 



Don't bring him here at all !" 



