amely at home, hum-drum with our Spouses,
While Crickets and Butterflies open their houses?
Shall such mean little Insects pretend to the fashion?
Cousin Turkey-cock, well may you be in a passion!
If I suffer such insolent airs to prevail,
May Juno pluck out all the eyes in my tail!
So a Fete I will give, and my taste I'll display,
And send out my cards for St. Valentine's Day."

This determined, six fleet _Carrier-Pigeons_ went out
To invite all the birds to Sir Argus's Rout.
The nest-loving _Turtle-Dove_ sent an excuse;
_Dame Partlet_ lay in, as did good Mrs. _Goose_.
The _Turkey_, poor soul! was confined to the rip;[1]
For all her young brood had just fail'd with the pip.
The _Partridge_ was ask'd; but a Neighbour hard by
Had engaged a snug party to meet in a Pie:
And the _Wheat-ear_ declined, recollecting her Cousins,
Last year, to a feast were invited by dozens,--
But, alas! they return'd not; and she had no taste
To appear in a costume of vine-leaves or paste.
The _Woodcock_ preferr'd his lone haunt on the moor;
And the Traveller, _Swallow_, was still on his tour;
While the _Cuckoo_, who should have been one of the guests,
Was rambling on visits to other Birds' nests.
But the rest all accepted the kind invitation,
And much bustle it caused in the plumed creation.

[Illustration]

Such ruffling of feathers, such pruning of coats,
Such chirping, such whistling, such clearing of throats,
Such polishing bills, and such oiling of pinions,
Had never been known in the biped dominions!
The _Tailor-Bird_[2] offer'd to make up new clothes
For all the young Birdlings who wish'd to be Beaux:
He made for the _Robin_ a doublet of red,
And a new velvet cap for the _Goldfinch's_ head;
He added a plume to the _Wren's_ golden crest,[3]
And spangled with silver the _Guinea-Fowl's_ breast;
While the _Halcyon_[4] bent over the streamlet to view
How pretty she looked in her bodice of blue!

[Illustration]

Thus adorn'd, they set off for the Peacock's abode,
With the guide _Indicator_,[5] who show'd them the road:
From all points of the compass flock'd birds of all feather,
And the _Parrot_ can tell who and who were together.
There was Lord _Cassowary_[6] and General _Flamingo_,[7]
And Don _Peroqueto_, escaped from Domingo:
From his high rock-built eyrie the _Eagle_ came forth,
And the Duchess of _Ptarmigan_[8] flew from the No