impatient of delay. Sometimes, in his eagerness to reach the point of attraction, he outstrips the speed of the hunters, and leaves them far behind then turning back, he flies to meet them, and seems, by his redoubled cries, as if he would upbraid them for the tardiness of their movements, and urge them to proceed with greater rapidity. Arrived at the nest, the little bird stays his flight, and pausing, with outspread wing, hovers over the spot for a few seconds, long enough to indicate it to his followers: then flying to a neighbouring tree or bush, he conceals himself in the foliage, and patiently waits for his share of the booty, which the hunters do not fail to leave for one who has proved himself so much their benefactor.

These birds are considered so valuable by the inhabitants, that they will not permit any of them to be destroyed.

THE HONEY-BIRD'S SONG.

Give heed, give heed to the honey-bird's song,
With my cheer, cheer, cheer, the wild woods among;
Tho' far in the forest perchance I may fly,
The hunter of honey must follow my cry,
Till in clefted rocks, or in hollow trees,
I find out the stores of the forest-bees.
Give heed to my notes, so shrill and clear:
Come follow the honey-bird, cheer, cheer, cheer.

Oh! linger not, hunters, the way is long;
Come follow me swiftly the woods among:
Wherever the golden honey is stored,

I will guide your steps to the secret hoard;
For the wild bee's path through the sky I can trace,
And I follow the flight of their airy race.

Give heed to my notes, so shrill and clear:
Come follow the honey-bird, cheer, cheer, cheer.

And now let the foot of the hunter rest,
For we pause at last by the wild bee's nest.
Lo! here is honey enough and to spare:
Then refuse not your winged guide his share.
So the signal cry of your herald-bird,
Morning and evening shall duly be heard.

Give heed to my note, so shrill and clear:

Come follow the honey-bird, cheer, cheer, cheer.

176

CHAPTER HI.

THE FOURTH ORDER.

GALLINE.

The Gallinaceous birds are so named from their affinity to the domestic cock.

This order is composed chiefly of a very natural family, remarkable for having furnished us with the most part of our domestic poultry, and with some excellent game.—Cuvier.

ORDER GALLINE.

The Ring-dove. Cushat.

Columba Palumbus.

THIS is the largest of the pigeon, or dove tribe. It is seventeen inches in length. It inhabits woods and forests, and selects the highest trees for its abode. It is so shy and retired a bird,

that we rarely see it, though its soft, gentle coo, may be heard in fine mild weather, by those who dwell in the neighbourhood of woods, or wander beneath their shade; and we know no sound more expressive of tranquil enjoyment than this soft wood-note, coming out of the depths of the grove or the forest, when the air is calm and the skies are blue, and the fields are arrayed in their summer loveliness. The greater part of the ring-doves are supposed to leave England in November: they pass over to the continents of Asia and Africa, and do not return till March. The cones of the pine, the fir, and the larch, furnish their favourite food; they likewise feed on beech-nuts, acorns, herbs, wild fruits and grains. In countries where the myrtle abounds, myrtle-berries seem their chosen dainties; and when thus fed, their flesh is said to acquire a particularly fine flavour. The ring-dove builds its nest on the tops of the highest trees. It rears two broods in the year, the first in April, the second in July. The eggs are rarely more than two. The male and female birds divide the labour of hatching them, and in sixteen or eighteen days the young birds make their appearance. This bird is found in most of the countries of Europe.

We need scarcely refer to the emblematic use

made of the dove by writers of every age, as a symbol of purity, gentleness, fidelity, &c. She is, indeed, surrounded by a bright halo of hallowed associations, some of which are of too sacred a nature to be lightly alluded to. We can never cease to turn with delight to that interesting page in the history of the world, in which the dove is first introduced to our notice, as one of the many inmates of the ark. From early infancy our attention is rivetted by the beautiful and touching narrative of the inspired historian, who describes the gentle bird going forth from her place of shelter, and returning thither again and again, until the overflowing waters, restrained once more within appointed limits, left the earth a fit dwelling-place for man, and bird, and beast.

Doves have been long held in the highest veneration by the Eastern nations. They were classed by Moses as clean birds, and might be offered in sacrifice by those who were too poor to bring a more costly oblation.

Names derived from that of the dove, in various oriental languages, seem to have been used as descriptive of loveliness, and were especially applied to beautiful women. The celebrated queen Semiramis is said to have derived her name from semir-jemamah, the brown or moun