THE LANGUAGE OF BIRDS. 
73 
So thou, precursor still of good, 
O herald of approaching spring ! 
Shalt to the pensive wand^'er sing 
Thy song of Hope and Fortitude ! 
What a lesson of content and gratitude may be 
learnt from these simple worshippers ! Mr. White^ 
in speaking of the thrush, says, In severe frost, it is 
one of the first birds that suffers from the inclemency 
of the season. He further observes, " I had remarked 
for years that the root of the cuckoo-pint {arum) was 
frequently scratched out of the dry banks of hedges, 
and eaten, in severe snowy weather. After observing 
with some exactness myself, and getting others to do 
the same, we observed it was the thrush kind that 
scratched it out. The root of the arum is remarkably 
warm and pungent.'' 
Thrushes, during long droughts, are of great service 
in hunting out shell snails, which they pull in pieces 
for their young, and are thereby very serviceable in 
gardens. 
In the summer, when their young become fledged, 
they leave neighbourhoods, and retire to sheep-walks 
and wild commons. 
H 
