The Illustrated Alphabet of Birds

*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 11073 *** Note: Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this file which includes the original illustrations. See 11073-h.htm or 11073-h.zip: (http://www.ibiblio.org/gutenberg/1/1/0/7/11073/11073-h/11073-h.htm) or (http://www.ibiblio.org/gutenberg/1/1/0/7/11073/11073-h.zip) The Baldwin Library University of Florida ILLUSTRATED ALPHABET OF BIRDS 1851. [Illustration: bird on cover.] A-B-C-D [Illustration: frontispiece drawing.] [Illustration: title page drawing.] A a THE AUK. A is an Auk, Of the Artic sea, He lives on the ice, Where the winds blow free. [Illustration: THE AUK.] B b THE BLUE BIRD. B is a Blue Bird. In early spring, How sweet his songs Through the forest ring. [Illustration: THE BLUE BIRD.] C c THE CONDOR. C is a Condor, On the Andes' height, He plumes his wings For a lofty flight. [Illustration: THE CONDOR.] D d THE DUCK. D is a Duck Of the canvas back sort; To shoot at a flock Is considered fine sport. [Illustration: THE DUCK.] E e THE BALD EAGLE. E's a Bald Eagle, So bold and so free; On the flag of our country He spans land and sea. [Illustration: THE EAGLE.] F f THE FISH HAWK. F is a Fish Hawk, Who lives on the shore: He catches his prey Mid the ocean's roar. [Illustration: THE FISH HAWK.] G g THE GOOSE. G is a Goose; His feathers we take And put them in sacking Our beds to make. [Illustration: THE GOOSE.] H h THE HUMMING BIRD. H is a Humming Bird, Sporting mid flowers And brightly enjoying The sunny hours. [Illustration: THE HUMMING BIRD.] I i THE IBIS. I is an Ibis, Who wanders in bogs, And lives upon lizards, And fishes and frogs. [Illustration: THE IBIS.] J j THE JAY. J is a Jay, With his blue and white coat, With a crest on his head, And a ring round his throat. [Illustration: THE JAY.] K k THE KING BIRD. K is a King Bird, Pugnacious and bold: A hero in fight, And a terrible scold. [Illustration: THE KING BIRD.] L l THE LARK. L is a Lark, A sociable bird; His song in the meadow Is frequently heard. [Illustration: THE LARK.] M m THE MAGPIE. M is a Magpie, He lives at the west, Steals and scolds and eats carrion; He's none of the best. [Illustration: THE MAGPIE.] N n THE NIGHT HERON. N is a Night Heron, Of fishes quite fond; He looks for them now, As he stands by the pond. [Illustration: THE NIGHT HERON.] O o THE OWL. O is an Owl, Who hides through the day; And comes out at night, To seek for his prey. [Illustration: THE OWL.] P p THE PIGEON. P is a Pigeon So rapid in flight, That before you can shoot him He's gone out of sight. [Illustration: THE PIGEON] Q q THE QUAIL. Q is a Quail, Who hides in a tree, And whistles "Bob-White" With lively glee. [Illustration: THE QUAIL.] R r THE ROBIN. R is the Robin, So kind and so good, Who covered with leaves, The poor Babes in the Wood. [Illustration: THE ROBIN.] S s THE SWALLOW. S is the Swallow, She darts through the air To catch little insects, Her favorite fare. [Illustration: THE SWALLOW.] T t THE TURKEY. T is a Turkey, A fine dashing beau, By his fuming and strutting, His pride you may know. [Illustration: THE TURKEY.] U u THE UPUPA. U's the Upupa, Or Hoopoe. His crest He can raise up or lower, As suits him best. [Illustration: THE UPUPA.] V v THE VULTURE. V is a Vulture, Who feeds on the dead, When the dark battle-field, With corpses is spread. [Illustration: THE VULTURE.] W w THE WOODPECKER. W's a Woodpecker, Who with his long bill, Bores holes in a tree, And of worms eats his fill. [Illustration: THE WOODPECKER.] X x THE XANTHORONUS. X is Xanthornus, Or Baltimore Bird. Oft in our orchards, His music is heard. [Illustration: XANTHORNUS.] Y y THE YELLOW BIRD. Y is a Yellow Bird, With feathers so bright, Who sings all the day, And sleeps all the night. [Illustration: THE YELLOW BIRD.] Z z THE LETTER Z, OR ROOST. Z stands for none Of the feathered race. It must serve as a roost, Or lose the last place. [Illustration: THE LETTER Z, OR ROOST.] *** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 11073 ***