a melancholy murmur through the whole.
T is love creates their melody, and all
this waste of music is the voice of love;
that e'en to birds, and beasts, the tender arts
of pleasing teaches. Hence the glossy kind
try every winning way inventive love

can dictate, and in courtship to their mates
pour forth their little souls. First, wide around,
with distant awe, in airy rings they rove,
endeavouring by a thousand tricks to catch
the cunning, conscious, half-averted glance.
of their regardless charmer. Should she seem
softening the least approvance to bestow,
their colours burnish, and, by hope inspir'd
they brisk advance; then on a sudden struck,
retire disorder'd; then again approach;
in fond rotation spread the spotted wing,
and shiver ev'ry feather with desire...

Connubial leagues agreed, to 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 obey'd; nor all the sweet sensations they perceive indulg'd 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 it's kind concealment to a few;

their food it's insects, and it's moss their nests. Others apart, far in the grassy dale,

or rough'ning 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 live-long day, when by kind duty fix'd. Among the roots of hazel, pendant o'er the plantive stream, they frame the first foundation of their domes dry sprigs of trees, in artful fabric laid,

and bound with clay together. Now 't is nought
but restless hurry through the busy air,
beat by unnumber'd wings. The swallow sweeps
the slimy pool, to build his banging house
intent. And often, from the careless back
of herds and flocks, a thousand tugging bills
pluck hair and wool; and oft when unobserv'd,
steal from the barn a straw; till soft and warm,
clean, and complete, their habitation grows.
As thus the patient dam assidious sits,
not to be tempted from her tender task
or by sharp hunger, or by smooth delight,
tho' the whole loosen'd 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 sudden flits
to pick the scanty meal. Th' appointed time
with pious toil fulfill'd, the callow young,
warm'd and expanded into perfect life,
their brittle bondage break, and come to light,
a helpless family demanding food

with constant clamour; O what passions then,
what melting sentiments of kindly care,
on the new parents seize! away they fly
affectionate, and undesiring bear
the most delicious morsel to their young,
which equally distributed, again

the search begins. Even so a gentle pair, by fortune sunk, but form'd of generous mould, and charm'd with cares beyond the vulgar breast, in some lone cot amid the distant woods, sustain❜d alone by providential Heav'n; oft, as they weeping, eye their infant train, check their own appetites, and give them all. Nor toil alone they scorn; exalting love, by the great FATHER OF THE SPRING inspir'd, gives instant courage to the fearful race, and to the simple, art. With stealthy wing, should some rude foot their woody haunts molest amid a neighbouring bush they silent drop, and whirring thence, as if alarm'd, deceive th' unfeeling school-boy. Hence around the head of wandering swain, the white-wing'd plover wheels her sounding flight, and then directly on in long excursion skims the level lawn,

to tempt him from her nest. The wild-duck, hence, o'er the rough moss, and o'er the trackless waste the heath-hen flutters, pious fraud! to lead the hot pursuing spaniel far astray.

CRUELTY OF CONFINING BIRDS.

Be not the muse asham'd, here to bemoan her brothers of the grove, by tyrant Man inhuman caught, and in the narrow cage from liberty confin'd, and boundless air. Dull are the pretty slaves, their plumage dull, ragged, and all it's bright'ning lustre lost; nor is that sprightly wildness in their notes, which clear and vigorous warbles from the beech. Oh then, ye friends of love and love-taught song,

spare the soft tribes, this barb'rous art forbear;
if on your bosom innocence can win,
music engage, or piety persuade.

But let not chief the nightingale lament her ruin'd care, too delicately fram'd to brook the harsh confinement of the cage. Oft, when returning with her loaded bill, th' astonish'd mother finds a vacant nest, by the hard hand of unrelenting clowns robb'd, to the ground the vain provision falls; her pinions ruffle, and, low-drooping, scarce can bear the mourner to the poplar shade; where, all abandon'd to despair, she sings her sorrows through the night; and on the bough sole-sitting, still at every dying fall

takes up again her lamentable strain

of winding woe; till, wide around, the woods sigh to her song, and with her wail resound.

INFLUENCE OF SPRING ON BIRDS.

But now the feather'd youth their former bounds, ardent, disdain; and, weighing oft their wings, demand the free possession of the sky:

this one glad office more, and then dissolves parental love at once, now needless grown. Unlavish Wisdom never works in vain.

'T is on some evening, sunny, grateful, mild, when nought but balm is breathing through the woods, with yellow lustre bright, that the new tribes visit the spacious heavens, and look abroad on Nature's common, far as they can see,

or wing, their range and pasture. O'er the boughs dancing about, still at the giddy verge

their resolution fails; their pinions still, in loose vibrations stretch'd, to trust the void trembling refuse: till down before them fly the parent-guides, and chide, exhort, command, or push them off. The surging air receives it's plumy burden; and their self-taught wings winnow the waving element. On ground alighted, bolder up again they lead,

farther and farther on, the length'ning flight; till, vanish'd every fear, and every power rous'd into life and action, light in air th' acquitted parents see their soaring race, and, once rejoicing, never know them more. High from the summit of a craggy cliff, hung e'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 vig'rous young, strong pounc'd, and ardent with paternal fire. Now 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, unstain'd he holds, while many a league to sea he wings his course, and preys in distant isles. Should I my steps turn to the rural seat, whose lofty elms, and venerable oaks invite the rook, who high amid the boughs, in early Spring, his airy city builds,

and ceaseless caws amusive; there, well-pleas'd, I might the various polity survey

of the mix'd household kind. The careful hen calls all her chirping family around,

fed and defended by the fearless cock;

whose breast with ardour flames, as on he walks