Catherine Ann Turner Dorset

“ 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 Tailor-Bird is an inhabitant of India.
3. The Golden-crested Wren is the smallest of the British Birds; it takes its name from a circle of gold-coloured feathers, bordered with black, forming an arch above its eyes, which it has the power of raising or depressing; it is a native of every part of Europe, and is also to be found in Asia and America.
4. Halcyon, or Kingfisher. Esteemed the most beautiful of our native birds; but its form is clumsy, and its bill very disproportionate to its size. ”

“ 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 ”

“ 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 ”

“ 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 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. ”

“ 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. ”

“ 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 ”

“ 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 ”