Catherine Ann Turner Dorset

“ And now their great Monarch, who quitted his seat,
With an air of true majesty said, “I entreat,
As he fears my displeasure, that every creature,
Will to-night lay aside all that’s bad in his nature.
You have heard with what harmony Birds can retire,
And their conduct in this respect all must admire.
In the feather’d race here an example we find,
Far better than that which is set by Mankind.
How oft have their galas a tragical end,
One loses a mistress, another a friend—
The wife of a third has elop’d from a ball,
A fourth the next day in a duel must fall. ”

“ And now the fair parties, with Mirth for their guide,
And light-hearted Laughter, a moment divide,
And gaze on the Eagles, the old ruin’d wall,
The Boat-house, the Temple, the Hermitage, all;
Reproved, when their pleasure too freely they quaff,
By that memento mori, the Afric Giraffe.1
Some visit the laughing-bird, called Cockatoo,
Who drops them a courtesy, and cries “How d’ ye do?”
Or Mungo, the negro, who quaintly and sly
Takes his tea, Cayenne pepper, and cold apple-pie.
[p31] Some gaze on the Cygnets that glide like a dream,
And bend down to admire their fair forms in the stream ”

“ 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 Fête I will give, and my taste I’ll display,
And send out my cards for St. Valentine’s Day.”
—This determin’d, 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:
For all her young brood had just fail’d with the pip. ”

“ A native of America, where it builds in the hollows of trees, and sits at the entrance, ready to peck at the monkeys, who often endeavour to destroy and eat the young. It is about the size of a Magpie, but the head large in proportion, to enable it to support its immense bill, which is six inches and one-half in length, but extremely thin. It is a mild inoffensive bird, and easily tamed, but cannot endure the cold of our climate. The feathers of the breast are highly esteemed by the natives. ”

“ Esteemed the most beautiful of our native birds; but its form is clumsy, and its bill very disproportionate to its size. It inhabits the banks of rivers and streams, where it will sit for hours, on a projecting branch, watching for its prey. The ancients relate many fabulous stories of this bird, as that of its laying its eggs in the depth of winter, and that during the time of its incubation the weather remains perfectly calm, whence the expression Halcyon Days. ”

“ The white grouse, or white game, inhabits the Highlands of Scotland and the Western Islands; it prefers the coldest situations on the highest mountains, where it burrows under the snow. It changes its feathers twice in the year, and about the end of February puts on its summer dress of dusky brown, ash, and orange-coloured feathers; which it loses in winter for a plumage perfectly white, except a black line between the bill and the eye. The legs and toes are warmly clothed with a thick long coat of soft white feathers. ”

“ A sea bird, of which there are several species numerously spread over the northern world; from whence they come towards winter to the British shores and remain till they have reared their young: it is sometimes called the foolish Guillemot from his stupidity; for when their companions are shot one after another, they have so little sense of danger, that they make a small circuit, and then return and settle in the same place, to share the same fate. ”

“ A large singular bird found in the island of Java, in Africa, and the southern parts of India. The head of this bird is armed with a kind of natural helmet, extending from the base of the bill to near half-way over the head.
7. Flamingo. A bird of the crane kind, but web-footed, whose plumage is of a bright scarlet: when standing erect, it measures above six feet, though its body is not larger than that of a Goose; and is a native of Africa, Persia, and South America. ”

“ The story is there told with the simplicity and sprightliness of which the French language is so peculiarly capable, but which a literal translation would render not only insipid but vulgar.
In a poetical dress it may possibly give to the young reader a part of that amusement, which it once afforded the infancy of the author. ”

“ That a dark cloud approaches, obscuring his light!
[p37] Alas! ’tis the same with all earthly affairs,
And pleasure gives place to a dark crowd of cares.
The Trees were all lively, the Beasts were content,
And the beautiful Birds on their pleasure were bent,
Nothing doubting the multitude, struck with amaze,
Came to gaze on their beauty and speak in their praise
When they saw that the crowd by degrees had retired,
And that they left alone were no longer admired;
They gazed on the Booths that were aptly design’d
To display the fair merchandize art had combined ”

“ Price One Shilling plain, and Eighteen-pence coloured.
It is unnecessary for the Publisher to say any thing more of the above little productions, than that they have been purchased with avidity, and read with satisfaction, by persons in all ranks of life: he has only to hope that the present Production will be equally acceptable. ”

“ A machine used in poultry-yards, under which it is usual to confine the mother bird with the young brood, till it has acquired strength to follow her. The word is derived from the Saxon, Hrip, meaning a covering, or protection, for the young. ”

“ And preserve from disorder the pride of the place;
To keep the fair flowrets from wandering away,
As well as the things that were fairer than they,
For placards were posted near every spot,
You may stand to “admire” me, “but gather me not.”
The Beasts and the Birds were so fresh and so fair,
That they call’d forth the wonder of all who came there,
And the Boa Constrictors so slimy and gay,
That they seem’d to have painted themselves for the day.
[p28] The Green-bonnet Monkey, with speckles bespread,
Was proud of the verdigris tuft on his head ”

“ Which reason was given to man to repress.
But now let us tell them, with pride, in their feasts,
To copy the Insects, the Birds, and the Beasts.”
The effect of his speech was immediately seen,
They all roar’d “Rule Britannia” in praise of his Queen.
And as soon as their Monarch had quitted the room,
Without growl, grunt, or grumble, they all scrambled home. FINIS.
H. Bryer, Printer, Bridge-Street, Blackfriars.
[back cover]
OF
J. HARRIS
May also be had
THE PEACOCK “AT HOME:”
A SEQUEL TO
THE BUTTERFLY’S BALL,
Price One Shilling plain, and Eighteen-pence coloured ”

“ The pips of apples are also a favourite food, and, to obtain them, they split the apple with one stroke of their bill; they are consequently found to be very injurious to orchards. It has been observed that they have been more frequently seen in England since the fir-tree has been more generally planted than formerly.
16. Siskin. A migratory bird, which is seen in the southern parts of England at the time of the barley harvest, and is sometimes called the Barley-bird. It has a pleasing note, and is sold as a singing-bird in the London bird-shops by the name of the Aberdevine. ”

“ The accusation of its flirtation with the Greenfinch is to be understood as pure scandal, the most prying naturalists never having discovered any particular attachment between them.
17. Razor-bill. A migratory sea-bird, which visits the northern shores in spring, and leaves them in winter: they lay a single egg on the ledges of the rocks without any nest, and on which it is said to be fixed with a cement. ”

“ AN ORIGINAL POEM. BY MR. ROSCOE.
AND
THE FANCY FAIR;
OR,
GRAND GALA AT THE ZOOLOGICAL GARDENS. LONDON:
GRANT AND GRIFFITH,
SUCCESSORS TO
J. HARRIS, CORNER OF ST. PAUL’S CHURCH-YARD.
[p4] LONDON:
Printed by S. & J. Bentley, Wilson, and Fley
Bangor House, Shoe Lane.
[p5] THE
PEACOCK “AT HOME.”
BY A LADY.
The Butterfly’s Ball and the Grasshopper’s Feasts
Excited the spleen of the Birds and the Beasts:
For their mirth and good cheer—of the Bee was the theme,
And the Gnat blew his horn, as he danced in the beam ”

“ Forward Chits! from the egg-shell but newly come out.
In their youthful days, they ne’er witness’d such frisking;
And how wrong in the Greenfinch to flirt with the Siskin!16
So thought Lady Mackaw, and her friend Cockatoo ”