Birds and all Nature Vol VII, No. 3, March 1900

Various

Various

Birds and all Nature Vol VII, No. 3, March 1900 / Illustrated by Color Photography

THE ENGLISH SPARROW

F. S. PIXLEY

You may talk about th' nightingale, th' thrush 'r medder lark,

'R any other singin' bird that came from Noah's ark;

But of all feathered things thet fly, from turkey-buzzard down,

Give me the little sparrer, with his modest coat o' brown.

I'll admit that in th' springtime, when th' trees 're gettin' green,

When again th' robin red-breast 'nd th' bluebird first 're seen;

When the bobolink 'nd blackbird from th' southland reappear,

'Nd the crow comes back t' show us that th' spring is really here —

I'll admit that in the springtime, when the groves with music ring,

Natur' handicaps th' sparrer; he was never taught to sing;

But he sounds th' Maker's praises in his meek 'nd lowly way;

'Nd tho' other birds come back at times, he never goes away.

There's a cert'in sort o' people thet, when th' skies 're bright,

Will hang around 'nd talk about their friendship day 'nd night;

But if things cloudy up a bit 'nd fortune seems t' frown,

They're sure t' be th' first t' kick a feller when he's down.

So when the summer skies 're bright it's easy 'nough t' sing;

But when it's cold 'nd rains 'r snows it's quite a diff'rent thing.

In autumn, when th' nippin' frosts drive other birds away,

Th' sparrer is th' only one with nerve enough t' stay.

'Nd even in midwinter, when th' trees 're brown 'nd bare,

'Nd th' frosty flakes 're fallin' thro' th' bitter bitin' air,

Th' sparrer still is with us – t' cheer us when we're glum,

Fer his presence is a prophecy of better days t' come.

Th' sparrer's never idle, fer he has t' work his way;

You'll always find him hustlin' long before th' break o' day.

He's plucky, patient, cheerful, 'nd he seems t' say t' man,

"I know I'm very little, but I do th' best I can."

What more can you 'nd I do than t' always do our best?

Are we any more deservin' than th' "little British pest?"

So, when you talk of "feathered kings" you'd better save a crown

Fer the honest little sparrer, with his modest coat o' brown.

THE PEACOCK

With pendant train and rustling wings,

Aloft the gorgeous peacock springs;

And he, the bird of hundred dyes,

Whose plumes the dames of Ava prize.

    – Bishop Heber.

IT WAS a saying among the ancients, "As beautiful as is the peacock among birds, so is the tiger among quadrupeds." The birds are of many varieties, some white, others with crests; that of Thibet being considered the most beautiful of the feathered creation. The first specimens were brought to Europe from the East Indies, and they are still found in flocks in a wild state in the islands of Java and Ceylon. The common people of Italy describe it as having the plumage of an angel, the voice of a devil and the intestines of a thief. In the days of king Solomon his navies imported from the East apes and peacocks, and Г†lian relates they were brought into Greece from some barbarous country, and that a male and a female were valued at a hundred and fifty dollars of our money. It is said also that when Alexander was in India he saw them flying wild on the banks of the river Hyarotis, and was so struck with their beauty that he imposed a fine on all who should slay or disturb them. The Greeks were so much taken with the beauty of this bird, when first brought among them, that it was shown for money, and many came to Athens from surrounding countries to see it. It was esteemed a delicacy at the tables of the rich and great and the birds were fatted for the feasts of the luxurious. Hortensius, the orator, was the first to serve them at an entertainment at Rome, and they were spoken of as the first of viands. Barley is its favorite food, but as it is a proud and fickle bird there is scarce any food it will at all times like. It lays waste the labors of the gardener, roots up the choicest se