284 THE LANGUAGE OF BIRDS. 
To mourn their death in plaintive strain^ 
For thou art pity's bird. 
And oft, as at the closing day, 
Thy thrilling notes I hear, 
I fondly deem thy pensive lay. 
The requiem of the year. 
Where fading leaves their shadows fling, 
'Tis sweet to find thee nigh, 
A listener, when I touch the string, 
And warbling in reply. 
The redbreast is seldom confined in a cage, being 
rather a troublesome bird to feed ; for although fond 
of fruits, its chief diet consists of insects; but in 
severe winters, they will eat almost every kind of 
berry, even the solanum dulcamara. This shews the 
erroneous assertion of some people, who insist, that 
whatever a bird will eat is not injurious to man ; 
whereas, it is well known that the dulcamara is a 
strong poison, and that many children, tempted by 
the beautiful appearance of the fruit, have eaten it, 
and in consequence have met their death. 
These birds are very spirited ; the males will fight 
