204 
NATURE NOTES. 
Among others he notes how 
“ The blackbird whistles from the thorny brake, 
The mellow bullfinch answers from the grove ; 
Nor are the linnets, o’er the flowering furze 
Poured out profusely, silent.” 
Here are the young birds, learning to fly. 
But at last. 
“ O’er the boughs 
Dancing about, still at the giddy verge 
Their resolution fails ; their pinions still 
In loose libration'stretched, to trust the void 
Trembling refuse.” 
“The surging air receives 
Its plumy burden ; and their self-taught wings 
Winnow the waving element.” 
Birds seem to have fascinated Thomson : 
“ High from the summit of a craggy cliff 
Hung o’er the deep, such as amazing frowns 
On utmost Kilda’s shore, whose lonely race 
Resign the setting sun to Indian worlds. 
The royal eagle draws his vigorous young. 
Strong-pounced, and ardent with paternal fire. 
Xow fit to raise a kingdom of their own. 
He drives them from his fort, the towering seat. 
For ages, of his empire ; which in peace 
Unstained he holds, while many a league to sea 
He w'ings his course, and preys in distant isles.” 
This is a no less royal bird ; 
“ The stately-sailing swan 
Gives out his snowy plumage to the gale ; 
And, arching proud his neck, with oary feet 
Bears forward fierce, and guards his osier-isle. 
Protective of his young.” 
These lines are from Spring ; here are a few from Summer. Now, 
“ short is the doubtful empire of the night ; ” and very soon 
“ The meek-eyed morn appears, mother of dews. 
At first faint-gleaming in the dappled east ; ” 
soon the light brightens, and before it “ white break the clouds 
away,” and finally, 
“ The dripping rock, the mountain’s misty top. 
Swell on the sight, and brighten with the dawn. 
Blue, through the dusk, the smoking currents shine ; 
And from the bladed field the fearful hare 
Limps, awkward ; while along the forest glade 
The wild deer trip, and often turning gaze 
At early passenger.” 
He did not disdain to describe in homely style very homely 
scenes: as the heat of the day, when, 
“ in a corner of the buzzing shade. 
The house-dog, with the vacant grey-hound, lies. 
Out-stretched and sleepy. In his slumber one 
Attacks the nightly thief, and one exults 
O’er hill and dale ; till wakened by the wasp 
They starting snap.” 
