THE ILLUSTRATED ALPHABET OF BIRDS

BOSTON WM. CROSBY & H.P. NICHOLS. 1851.

A a

THE AUK

A is an Auk, Of the Artic sea, He lives on the ice, Where the winds blow free.

B b

THE BLUE BIRD.

B is a Blue Bird. In early spring, How sweet his songs Through the forest ring.

C c

THE CONDOR.

C is a Condor, On the Andes' height, He plumes his wings For a lofty flight.

D d

THE DUCK.

D is a Duck. Of the canvas back sort, To shoot at a flock Is considered fine sport.

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.

F f

THE FISH HAWK.

F is a Fish Hawk, Who lives on the shore: He catches his prey Mid the ocean's roar.

G g

THE GOOSE.

G is a Goose; His feathers we take And put them in sacking Our beds to make.

H h

THE HUMMING BIRD.

H is a Humming Bird, Sporting mid flowers And brightly enjoying The sunny hours.

I i

THE IBIS.

I is an Ibis, Who wanders in bogs, And lives upon lizards, And fishes and frogs.

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.

K k

THE KING BIRD.

K is a King Bird, Pugnacious and bold: A hero in fight, And a terrible scold.

L l

THE LARK.

L is a Lark, A sociable bird; His song in the meadow Is frequently heard.

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.

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.

O o

THE OWL.

O is an Owl, Who hides through the day; And comes out at night, To seek for his prey.

P p

THE PIGEON.

P is a Pigeon So rapid in flight, That before you can shoot him He's gone out of sight.

Q q

THE QUAIL.

Q is a Quail, Who hides in a tree, And whistles "Bob-White" With lively glee.

R r

THE ROBIN.

R is the Robin, So kind and so good, Who covered with leaves, The poor babes in the wood.

S s

THE SWALLOW.

S is the Swallow, She darts through the air To catch little insects, Her favorite fare.

T t

THE TURKEY.

T is a Turkey, A fine dashing beau, By his fuming and strutting, His pride you may know.

U u

THE UPUPA.

U's the Upupa, Or Hoopoe. His crest He can raise or lower, As suits him best.

V v

THE VULTURE.

V is a Vulture, Who feeds on the dead, When the dark battle-field, With corpses is spread.

W w

THE WOODPECKER.

W's a Woodpecker, Who with his long bill, Bores holes in a tree And of worms eats his fill.

X x

THE XANTHORONUS.

X is Xanthoronus, Or Baltimore Bird. Oft in our orchards, His music is heard.

Y y

THE YELLOW BIRD.

Y is a Yellow Bird, With feathers so bright, Who sings all the day, And sleeps all the night.

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.