File:Birds and nature (1905) (14564793960).jpg

Identifier: birdsnature11905chic (find matches)
Title: Birds and nature
Year: 1900 (1900s)
Authors:
Subjects: Birds Natural history
Publisher: Chicago, Ill. : A.W. Mumford, Publisher
Contributing Library: Smithsonian Libraries
Digitizing Sponsor: Biodiversity Heritage Library

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minds the following account ofThomas Pennant, a naturalist, who pub-lished a work on British zoology in theyear 1776, will be of interest. In hisremarks regarding the English robin,Mr. Pennant says: This bird, thoughso very petulant as to be at constantwar with its own tribe, yet is remark-ably sociable with mankind; in it winterfrequently makes one of the family; andtakes refuge from the inclemency of theseason even by our fire sides. Thomson(in his Seasons) has prettily describedthe annual visits of this guest:The red-breast, sacred to the household gods,Wisely regardful of th* embroiling sky.In joyless fields, and thorny thickets, leavesHis shivering mates, and pays to trusted ManHis annual visit. Half afraid, he firstAgainst the window beats; then, brisk, alightsOn the warm hearth; then, hopping, oer the floor,Eyes all the smiling family askance.And pecks, and starts, and wonders where he is:Till more familiar grown, the table-crumbs,Attract his slender feet. 62 ^ I- » — crq HH
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The afifection this bird has for man-kind, is also recorded in the ancient bal-lad, The Babes in the Woods; a com-position of a most beautiful and pa-thetic simplicity. It is the first trial ofour humanity; the child that refrainsfrom tears on hearing that read, givesbut a bad presage of the tenderest ofhis future sensations. Our own Robin is not without its partin legend. There is an Algonquin In-dian legend regarding the origin of theRobin in which a young Indian boy, theson of a great chief, had reached theage when it became necessary for himto receive the discipline of severe trial.The poet Whittier has placed the legendin verse. The chief left his son When the boy was well-night grown,In the trial-lodge alone.Left for tortures long and slow,Youths like him must undergo.Who their pride of manhood test,Lacking water, food, and rest. For seven days the boy fasted, andfor seven nights he did not sleep, when, Weak from Natures overstrain.Faltering, moaned a low complaint:Spare me, fat

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