LOOKING-GLASS. 
183 
As the oftrich is faid to grind glafs, and digeft 
iron, he was not formed to feel compaflion ; yet 
the crofs lines in his face exprefs more tendernefs 
than the ftraight and pointed traits. For the fame 
reafon, the long line, that divides the clofe beak of 
this bird, indicates clearly the hardnefs of his heart, 
in fuch a manner as forms a contrail between him 
and a man in that particular feature. 
But, upon the whole, and generally fpeaking, if 
we confider all the advantages that birds enjoy over 
every fpecies of animals on earth, they will be 
found entitled to the next place, for pre-eminence, 
after mankinds particularly from their undifputed 
perfeaions, — fuch as a {lately gait, upright walk on 
two feet, imitation of mufical founds, wedded love, 
motherly affeflion, and focial virtues, added to the 
invaluable gift of flying to an immenfe dillance, 
much fooner than the fwiftell four-footed animal 
could perform a fliorter race on his more folid 
element. 
Nor has Art been able to copy, much lefs excel, 
Nature’s choicell colours laviflied with profulion 
upon the plumages of thofe little amiable creatures, 
who daily difplay fuch a fplendid fliow as lurpalfcs 
the pomp of drefs at court, or a coronation, and in 
a llyle that beggars all defcription j nay, were their 
lives to be traced from the neft up to the fummit 
of domellic happinefs, there would be a wide field 
open for inftruflive contemplation, with a plealant 
N 4 fubjecl 
