. Birds & nature. Birds; Natural history. BIRDS PAIRING IN O the deep woods They haste away, all as their fancy leads, Pleasure, or food, or secret safety prompts ; That nature's great command may be obeyed. Nor all the sweet sensations they perceive Indulged in vain. Some to the holly hedge Nestling, repair, and to the thicket, some; Some to the rude protection of the thorn Commit their feeble offspring ; the cleft tree Offers its kind concealment to a few, Their food its insects, and its moss their nests; Others apart, far in the grassy dale Or roughening waste their humble text
. Birds & nature. Birds; Natural history. BIRDS PAIRING IN O the deep woods They haste away, all as their fancy leads, Pleasure, or food, or secret safety prompts ; That nature's great command may be obeyed. Nor all the sweet sensations they perceive Indulged in vain. Some to the holly hedge Nestling, repair, and to the thicket, some; Some to the rude protection of the thorn Commit their feeble offspring ; the cleft tree Offers its kind concealment to a few, Their food its insects, and its moss their nests; Others apart, far in the grassy dale Or roughening waste their humble texture weave; But most in woodland solitudes delight, In unfrequented glooms or shaggy banks. Steep, and divided by a babbling brook. Whose murmurs soothe them all the livelong day. When by kind duty fixed. Among the roots Of hazel pendent o'er the plaintive stream. They frame the first foundation of their domes, Dry sprigs of trees, in artful fabric laid. And bound with clay together. Now 'tis nought But restless hurry through the busy air, Beat by unnumbered wings. The swallow sweeps The slimy pool, to build his hanging house Intent; and often from the careless back Of herds and flocks a thousand tugging bills Steal hair and wool; and oft when unobserved. Pluck from the barn a straw; till soft and warm, Clean and complete, their habitation grows. As thus the patient dam assiduous sits. Not to be tempted from her tender task Or by sharp hunger or by smooth delight. Though the whole loosened spring around her blows, Her sympathizing lover takes his stand High on the opponent bank, and ceaseless sings The tedious time away ; or else supplies Her place a moment, while she suddenly flits To pick the scanty meal. —James Please note that these images are extracted from scanned page images that may have been digitally enhanced for readability - coloration and appearance of these illustrations may not perfectly resemble the original Marble, Charles C; Higley, William K
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Keywords: ., boo, bookcentury1800, booksubjectbirds, booksubjectnaturalhistory
