Zoological recreations / [William John Broderip].

  • William Broderip
Date:
1848
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Zoological recreations / [William John Broderip]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    on the extreme right and left, flew on the backs of those in the centre, and squeezed themselves into the middle. A fresh couple from the flanks immediately renewed the attack upon the centre, and the conflict continued till the light began to fail them. A severe frost in February killed all but one of them in one night, though in a furnished drawing-room. The survivor was preserved in a little cage, by burying it every night under the sofa cushions; but having been, one sharp morning, taken from under them before the room was sufficiently warmed by the fire, though per- fectly well when removed, it was dead in ten minutes.” The common Wren* is too often shot by the sportsman for the sake of the tail-feathers ; these, when skilfully manipulated, admirably represent the spider of February, March, and April, when anything like an insect is considered a honne bouche by the trout; and, indeed, the deceit, if lightly cast by a nice hand on the ripple, is sure to take fish, and good ones, too, “if,” as old Izaak hath it, “ they be there.” The bird may be followed up and down the hedge-row till it will suffer itself to be taken by the hand. Then borrow—steal if you wiU—two or three of the precious feathers—but let the little warbler go to enjoy its liberty, and furnish “ Wren’s tails” for another year. We must not forget the Redbreast, as we conclude this imperfect sketch of Resident British Song Birds, already too long. This, the familiar household bird, with its innocent con- fidence, would, we might have hoped, bear a charmed life every- where : but no. Sonnini tells us that it arrives in the Levant in October, seldom passing into the open islands, but seeking the luxuriant myrtle-groves of Scio, and those other isles which offer shade and shelter. There the Greek bird-catcher takes them by dozens in the snares to which, assured by the presence of their murderer, they offer themselves ; and the same war is waged against them, we are sorry to add, in other foreign countries, that one more dish may be added to the luxury and profusion of the table of Dives. With us this friendly bird is, and we trust ever will be, sacred. When everything is fettered by frost— “ When icicles hang by the wall, And Dick the shepherd blows his nail”— even then the plaintive warbling of the Robin is heard; as if to remind man that, amidst all the apparent desolation. Nature is not dead, but only sleeps, like the Beauty in the wood, to awake with all her former charms renewed. May, 1838. * Troglodytes Europseus, Motacilla Troglodytes, Linn.
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