192 
NATURE NOTES. 
A STRIKE AGAINST DOCKERS. 
We’ve often heard of dockers’ strikes, 
But listen now, ye mockers ! 
I write to ask whoever likes 
To strike against the dockers. 
The man that docks his horses’ tails 
Is fit for any treason ; 
For such an act our best wit fails 
To find out rhyme or reason. 
Watch a horse going like the wind 
(We’ve seen it many a time, sir). 
His full tail streaming out behind : 
The sight is quite sublime, sir. 
And can you, outside Colney Hatch, 
Still think your horse’s leg, sir. 
Looks best with what the witch’s snatch'-'' 
Left Tam O’Shanter’s Meg, sir ? 
So, if the fashion should come in 
To practise squirrel-docking, 
YoTi’d only look with vacant grin. 
And would not think it shocking. 
O no, you’d only say, we guess, 
“ What fashion could be sweeter ? 
Nature’s a bungler, we confess : 
Docked squirrels look much neater. 
“ That bushy tail so dwarfs their shape, 
’Tis better to remove it ; 
To make them tail-less, like an ape. 
Will very much improve it.” 
If men so follow Fashion’s beck. 
They’ll want, as they grow older. 
To pare away their horse’s neck. 
Because “ it spoils his shoulder.” 
We watch docked nags ; for, though ’tis sad, 
’Tis hard to take our eyes off : 
Poor brutes ! ’tis strange they don’t go mad ; 
How can they drive the flies off? 
Soc the end nf lUirns’s hall.-id. 
