Of the blue lake; and all the winged kind
Do fear the echo of thine angry cry.

How bright thy savage eye! Thou lookest down,
And seest the shining fishes as they glide;

And, poising thy gray wing, thy glossy beak
Swift as an arrow strikes its roving prey.
Ofttimes I see thee, through the curling mist,
Dart, like a spectre of the night, and hear
Thy strange, bewitching call, like the wild scream
Of one whose life is perishing in the sea.

THE AMERICAN EAGLE.

1. BIRD of the heavens! whose matchless eye
Alone can front the blaze of day,

And, wandering through the radiant1 sky,
Ne'er from the sunlight turns away;

Whose ample wing was made to rise
Majestic o'er the loftiest peak,
On whose chill tops the winter skies,
Around thy nest, in tempests speak-

2. What ranger of the winds can dare,
Proud mountain king! with thee compare?
Or lift his gaudier2 plumes on high
Before thy native majesty,

When thou hast taken thy seat alone,
Upon thy cloud-encircled throne?

3. Bird of the sun! to thee to thee
The earliest tints of dawn are known,
And 'tis thy proud delight to see

The monarch mount his gorgeous throne;
Throwing the crimson drapery by,
That half impedes his glorious way;
And mounting up the radiant sky,
E'en what he is-the king of day!

4. Bird of Columbia! well art thou
An emblem of our native land;
With unblenched3 front and noble brow,
Among the nations doomed to stand,
Proud, like her mighty mountain woods;
Like her own rivers, wandering free;
And sending forth, from hills and floods,
The joyous shout of liberty!

5. Like thee, majestic bird! like thee
She stands in unbought majesty,

With spreading wings, untired and strong,
That dares a soaring far and long,

That mounts aloft, nor looks below,

And will not quail1 though tempests blow.

1 RA'-DI-ANT, beaming with brightness. 2 GAU'-DI-ER, more showy.

C. W. THOMPSON.

UN-BLENCHED', unstained; unshrinking.
QUAIL, shrink back,

1. Secretary Vulture, Gypogeranus serpentarius. 2. Turkey Buzzard, Cathartes aura. 3. Carrion Crow, Cathartes atratus. 4. Egyptian Vulture, Neophron percnopterus. 5. Condor, Sarcoramphus gryphus. 6. Bearded Vulture, Gypoetus barbatus. 7. California Vulture, Cathartes Californianus.

1. THE VULTURES are, on the whole, considerably larger than the falcon birds, but they are much less courageous. Most of them, unlike the falcons, feed on putrid flesh; and they are generally protected by the natives of the countries which they inhabit, on account of their utility1 in disposing of decayed animal remains.

2. The beak of these birds is long and curved, but not notched; and the talons, not being required to tear living animals, are comparatively weak; but in order that the parts of the bird which come in contact with its offensive food may not become soiled or matted, most of the head is naked; and the legs, at the lowest parts, are covered with scales, and not

with feathers as in the eagle. The wings are strong and large, and the general plumage uncommonly thick and coarse.

3. Among the vultures of the western continent may be mentioned the condor of South America, which is five feet in length, and the expanse of its wings fourteen; the California vulture, but little less in size than the condor; the well known turkey buzzard of our southern states; and also the black vulture, or carrion crow of the south, which is found in the streets of cities, where it is protected, being regarded as a kind of scavenger2 whose labors are subservient to the public good.

4. The Egyptian vulture, sometimes called Pharaoh's chicken, is abundant in Spain and on the opposite African shores. The secretary vulture, found in Southern Africa, is a very curious-looking bird, which feeds exclusively upon reptiles and serpents. The bearded vulture, or vulture of the Alps, which approaches the character of the falcons in frequently seizing live animals for its prey, is about four feet in length, and the largest bird of Europe.

"Among the barren Alpine cliffs the bearded vulture dwells,
Who never fattens on the prey which from afar he smells;
But, patient, watching hour on hour, upon a lofty rock,
He singles out some truant lamb, a victim, from the flock."

1. Virginia Horned Owl, Bubo Virginianus. 2. Little Screech Owl, Bubo Asio. 3. Great Horned Owl, or Eagle Owl, Bubo maximus. 4. Great Snowy Owl, Surnia nyctea. 5. Hawk Owl, or Barn Owl, Strix Americana.

5. The OWLS, which also belong to the birds of prey, are a

E

very numerous family, and some of them are found in all quarters of the globe. They feed on birds, small quadrupeds, and insects, and some species on fish. Those most common in this country are the barred owl, which is about eighteen inches in length; the little sparrow owl; the great northern white owl, or snowy owl; the white or barn owl; and the Virginia horned owl. The latter, found in almost every part of the United States, is the one whose mournful hoo, hoo, hoo-e is so often heard in the night season.

inhabits the great forests of Europe.

The eagle owl

6. The owls are mostly noctural' in their habits, remaining concealed by daylight, and coming forth at night in pursuit. of their prey. Their abodes are usually deep forests, old ruins, and hollow trees; and this circumstance, connected with the grotesque5 appearance of their shaggy heads and large round eyes, their noiseless flight, the dismal hootings of some, and frightful screechings of others, as heard in the silence and gloom of night, have caused them to be regarded, by the ignorant of all countries, with a kind of superstitious dread. The poets have indulged freely in this general prejudice; and in their descriptions of midnight storms and gloomy scenes of nature, the owl is generally introduced to heighten the horror of the picture.

7.

"In the hollow tree, in the old gray tower,

The spectral owl doth dwell;

Dull, hated, despised in the sunshine hour,
But at dusk he's abroad and well!

Not a bird of the forest e'er mates with him

All mock him outright, by day;

But at night, when the woods grow still and dim,
The boldest will shrink away!

"So, when the night falls, and the dogs do howl,

Sing ho! for the reign of the horned owl!

We know not alway

Who are kings by day,

But the king of the night is the bold brown owl!"

1 U-TIL-I-TY, usefulness.

BARRY CORNWALL.

14 NOC-TUR'-NAL, pertaining to the night.

2 SCAV'-EN-GER, one who cleans the streets 5 GRO-TESQUE', oddly formed; uncouth.

of a city.

3 SUB-SERV'-I-ENT, conducive.

6 SU-PER-STI"-TIOUS, full of idle fancies in religious matters.