THE LANGUAGE OF BIRDS. 183 
According to the American Ornithology^ this bird 
is an inhabitant of the northern countries, appearing 
in the Genesse country, with the first deep snow ; 
hence they have acquired the title of snow-birds. 
It extends throughout all the northern parts of Eu- 
rope, in the remote wilds of Russia, and Kamtschatka : 
they are abundant in the Highlands of Scotland, 
sometimes building on the tops of the heath, and 
sometimes in a furze bush, like the linnet, and occa- 
sionally on the ground, and, like that bird, the nest 
is composed of felt-work. 
This beautiful bird has not escaped the epicurean 
taste of the bons vivans of America ; from becoming 
extremely fat, it is there considered a great delicacy, 
hundreds being destroyed to supply the market of 
Philadelphia. When will man learn to moderate 
his appetite ! This is almost as bad as Heliogabalus' 
feasting upon Nightingale^s tongues, 
THE SNOW BIRD. 
Say, pretty stranger-bird, where is thy home ? 
In a lonely dell, or on mountain top ? 
Are its walls of ice, with a snowy dome, 
Bespangled with many a crystal drop ? 
