rth.
The _Grebe_ and the _Eider-Duck_ came up by water,
With the _Swan_, who brought out the young _Cygnet_, her Daughter.
From his woodland abode came the _Pheasant_, to meet
Two kindred, arrived by the last India fleet:
The one, like a Nabob, in habit most splendid,
Where Gold with each hue of the rainbow was blended;
In silver and black, like a fair pensive Maid
Who mourns for her love, was the other array'd.
The _Chough_[9] came from Cornwall, and brought up his Wife;
The _Grouse_ travell'd south, from his Lairdship in Fife;
The _Bunting_ forsook her soft nest in the reeds;
And the _Widow-Bird_[10] came, though she still wore her weeds:
Sir John _Heron_, of the Lakes, strutted in a _grand pas_.
But no card had been sent to the pilfering _Daw_,
As the Peacock kept up his progenitor's quarrel,
Which AEsop relates, about cast-off apparel;
For Birds are like Men in their contests together,
And, in questions of right, can dispute for a feather.

[Illustration]

The _Peacock_, Imperial, the pride of his race,
Received all his guests with an infinite grace,
Waved high his blue neck, and his train he display'd,
Embroider'd with gold, and with emeralds inlaid;
Then with all the gay troop to the shrubbery repair'd,
Where the musical birds had a concert prepared.

A holly-bush form'd the Orchestra, and in it
Sat the _Black-bird_, the _Thrush_, the _Lark_, and the _Linnet_;
A _Bullfinch_, a captive almost from the nest!
Now escaped from his cage, and with liberty blest,
In a sweet mellow tone, join'd the lessons of art
With the accents of nature, which flow'd from his heart.
The _Canary_, a much-admired foreign musician,
Condescended to sing to the Fowls of condition;
While the _Nightingale_ warbled and quaver'd so fine,
That they all clapp'd their wings and declared it divine!
The _Sky-Lark_, in ecstasy, sang from a cloud,
And _Chanticleer_ crow'd, and the _Yaffil_[11] laugh'd loud.

[Illustration]

The dancing began when the singing was over:
A _Dotterel_ first open'd the ball with the _Plover_;
Baron _Stork_ in a waltz was allow'd to excel,
With his beautiful partner, the fair _Demoiselle_;[12]
And a newly-fledged _Gosling_, so fair and genteel,
A minuet swam with the spruce Mr. _Teal_.
A London-bred _Sparrow_--a pert forward Cit!
Danced a reel with Miss _Wagtail_ and little _Tom Tit_.
And the Sieur _Guillemot_[13]