Chapter 1

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THE PEACOCK "AT HOME."

BY A LADY.

TWENTY-THIRD EDITION.

THE BUTTERFLY'S BALL; 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.

LONDON: Printed by S. & J. Bentley, Wilson, and Fley Bangor House, Shoe Lane.

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; 'Twas humm'd by the Beetle, 'twas buzz'd by the Fly, And sung by the myriads that sport through the sky. The Quadrupeds listen'd with sullen displeasure, But the tenants of Air were enraged beyond measure.

The _Peacock_ display'd his bright plumes to the Sun, And, addressing his Mates, thus indignant begun:

"Shall we, like domestic, inelegant Fowls, As unpolish'd as Geese, and as stupid as Owls, Sit tamely at home, hum-drum with our Spouses, While Crickets and Butterflies open their houses? 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 determined, 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;[1] For all her young brood had just fail'd with the pip. The _Partridge_ was ask'd; but a Neighbour hard by Had engaged a snug party to meet in a Pie: And the _Wheat-ear_ declined, recollecting her Cousins, Last year, to a feast were invited by dozens,-- But, alas! they return'd not; and she had no taste To appear in a costume of vine-leaves or paste. The _Woodcock_ preferr'd his lone haunt on the moor; And the Traveller, _Swallow_, was still on his tour; While the _Cuckoo_, who should have been one of the guests, Was rambling on visits to other Birds' nests. But the rest all accepted the kind invitation, And much bustle it caused in the plumed creation.

Such ruffling of feathers, such pruning of coats, Such chirping, such whistling, such clearing of throats, Such polishing bills, and such oiling of pinions, Had never been known in the biped dominions! The _Tailor-Bird_[2] offer'd to make up new clothes For all the young Birdlings who wish'd to be Beaux: He made for the _Robin_ a doublet of red, And a new velvet cap for the _Goldfinch's_ head; He added a plume to the _Wren's_ golden crest,[3] And spangled with silver the _Guinea-Fowl's_ breast; While the _Halcyon_[4] bent over the streamlet to view How pretty she looked in her bodice of blue!

Thus adorn'd, they set off for the Peacock's abode, With the guide _Indicator_,[5] who show'd them the road: From all points of the compass flock'd birds of all feather, And the _Parrot_ can tell who and who were together. There was Lord _Cassowary_[6] and General _Flamingo_,[7] And Don _Peroqueto_, escaped from Domingo: From his high rock-built eyrie the _Eagle_ came forth, And the Duchess of _Ptarmigan_[8] flew from the North. 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 Æsop relates, about cast-off apparel; For Birds are like Men in their contests together, And, in questions of right, can dispute for a feather.

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.

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] next perform'd a _pas seul_, While the elderly bipeds were playing a pool.

The Dowager Lady _Toucan_[14] first cut in, With old Doctor _Buzzard_ and Admiral _Penguin_; From Ivy-bush tower came down _Owlet_ the Wise, And Counsellor _Cross-bill_[15] sat by to advise. Some birds past their prime, o'er whose heads it was fated Should pass many St. Valentines--yet be unmated, Sat by, and remark'd that the prudent and sage Were quite overlook'd in this frivolous age, When birds, scarce pen-feather'd, were brought to a rout, 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_; And the _Raven_ foretold that no good could ensue! They censured the _Bantam_, for strutting and crowing In those vile pantaloons, which he fancied look'd knowing: And a want of decorum caused many demurs Against the _Game Chicken_, for coming in spurs.

Old Alderman _Cormorant_, for supper impatient, At the Eating-room door for an hour had been station'd, Till a _Magpie_, at length, the banquet announcing, Gave the signal, long-wish'd for, of clamoring and pouncing: At the well-furnish'd board all were eager to perch, But the little Miss _Creepers_ were left in the lurch.

Description must fail, and the pen is unable To recount all the luxuries that cover'd the table. Each delicate viand that taste could denote, Wasps _à la sauce piquante_, and Flies _en compôte_; Worms and Frogs _en friture_, for the web-footed Fowl, And a barbecued Mouse was prepared for the Owl; Nuts, grains, fruit, and fish, to regale every palate, And groundsel and chickweed served up in a salad. The _Razor-bill_[17] carved for the famishing group, And the _Spoon-bill_[18] obligingly ladled the soup; So they fill'd all their crops with the dainties before 'em And the tables were clear'd with the utmost decorum.

When they gaily had caroll'd till peep of the dawn, The _Lark_ gently hinted 'twas time to be gone; And his clarion, so shrill, gave the company warning, That _Chanticleer_ scented the gales of the morning, So they chirp'd in full chorus, a friendly adieu; And, with hearts beating light as the plumage that grew On their merry-thought bosoms, away they all flew.

Then long live the _Peacock_, in splendour unmatch'd, Whose Ball shall be talk'd of by Birds yet unhatch'd! His praise let the _Trumpeter_[19] loudly proclaim, And the _Goose_ lend her quill to transmit it to Fame.

[1] _The Rip._ 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.

[2] _The Tailor-Bird._ So called from the singular manner in which it constructs its nest, which is composed of two leaves, sewed together with wonderful skill by the little tailor, whose bill serves him for a needle, and the fine fibres of leaves furnish him with a substitute for thread, by which means he attaches a dead leaf to a living one, growing at the end of a branch. 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. 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_.

[5] _Cuculus indicator._ A bird of the Cuckoo kind, found in the interior parts of Africa; it has a shrill note, which the natives answer by a soft whistle; and the birds repeating the note, the natives are thereby conducted to the wild Bee-hives, which this bird frequents.

[6] _Cassowary._ 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.

[8] _Ptarmigan._ 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.

[9] _The Chough._ This bird, which is about the size of the Daw, has a long curved bill, sharp at the point, which, as well as the legs and feet, is of a bright scarlet, contrasting beautifully with its black plumage, which varies, as the light falls on it, to a deep purple violet. Its general haunts are the crevices of high cliffs in Devonshire and Cornwall.

[10] _The Widow_, or _Widah Bird_, is a species of Bunting, a native of Angola and other parts of Africa; and is remarkable for the feathers of its tail. The two middle ones are about four inches long, and ending in a long thread; the two next are thirteen inches in length, broad, and narrowing towards the points: from these proceeds another long thread.

[11] _Yaffil, the Woodpecker._ The name Yaffil is provincial, but is so very expressive of the noise it continually makes, that I have preferred it on that account. It is a beautiful bird, and is sometimes called the English Parrot; the colour of its plumage, green, yellow, and scarlet, giving it some resemblance to that bird.

[12] _The Numidian Crane_, or _Demoiselle_, from the elegance of its appearance, and its singular carriage, is called the Demoiselle, which means the Young Lady; for this bird walks very gracefully, and sometimes skips and leaps, as though it were trying to dance.

[13] _Guillemot._ 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 its 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.

[14] _Toucan._ 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.

[15] _Cross-bill._ So called because the two mandibles cross each other in different directions. They feed chiefly on the seeds of fir-trees; the singular construction of their bills being admirably adapted to separate the seeds of the cones. 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.

[18] _Spoon-bill._ So called from the construction of the bill, which is flat the whole length, but widens towards the end in the form of a spoon or spatula; and is equally remarkable in its substance, not being hard like bone, but flexible like whalebone. They feed on snakes, worms, frogs, and fish, even on shell-fish, which they first break with their bills.

[19] _The Agami_, or _Trumpeter_. A native of America, remarkable for a singular noise, resembling the instrument from which it takes its name.

THE BUTTERFLY'S BALL, AND THE GRASSHOPPER'S FEAST.

By Mr. ROSCOE.

Come, take up your hats, and away let us haste To the _Butterfly's_ Ball and the _Grasshopper's_ Feast: The Trumpeter, _Gadfly_, has summon'd the Crew, And the Revels are now only waiting for you.

So said little Robert, and pacing along, His merry Companions came forth in a throng, And on the smooth Grass, by the side of a Wood Beneath a broad Oak that for ages had stood, Saw the Children of Earth, and the Tenants of Air, For an Evening's Amusement together repair. And there came the _Beetle_, so blind and so black, Who carried the _Emmet_, his Friend, on his back And there was the _Gnat_, and the _Dragon-fly_ too, With all their Relations, Green, Orange, and Blue. And there came the _Moth_, with his plumage of down, And the _Hornet_, in Jacket of Yellow and Brown; Who with him the _Wasp_, his Companion, did bring, But they promised that Evening to lay by their Sting. And the sly little _Dormouse_ crept out of his hole, And brought to the Feast his blind Brother, the _Mole_. And the _Snail_, with his Horns peeping out of his Shell, Came from a great distance, the Length of an Ell. A Mushroom their Table, and on it was laid A Water-dock Leaf, which a Table-cloth made. The Viands were various, to each of their taste, And the _Bee_ brought her Honey to crown the Repast. Then close on his haunches, so solemn and wise, The _Frog_ from a corner look'd up to the Skies; And the _Squirrel_, well pleased such diversions to see, Mounted high over-head, and look'd down from a Tree. Then out came the _Spider_, with finger so fine, To show his dexterity on the tight line. From one branch to another his Cobwebs he slung, Then quick as an arrow he darted along; But just in the middle,--Oh! shocking to tell, From his rope in an instant poor Harlequin fell. Yet he touch'd not the ground, but with talons outspread Hung suspended in air, at the end of a thread. Then the _Grasshopper_ came with a jerk and a spring; Very long was his Leg, though but short was his Wing: He took but three leaps, and was soon out of sight, Then chirp'd his own praises the rest of the night. With step so majestic the _Snail_ did advance, And promised the Gazers a Minuet to dance. But they all laugh'd so loud that he pull'd in his head, And went in his own little chamber to bed. Then, as Evening gave way to the Shadows of Night, Their Watchman, the _Glowworm_, came out with a light.

Then Home let us hasten, while yet we can see, For no watchman is waiting for you and for me. So said little Robert, and pacing along, His merry Companions return'd in a throng.

THE FANCY FAIR;

OR,

GRAND GALA OF THE ZOOLOGICAL GARDENS.

Some years are elapsed, and some worthies are gone, Since _Peacocks_ and _Butterflies_ mimick'd the _ton_, And gave, in a manner becoming their station, Their _fêtes_ and their _balls_ to their fellow-creation. Then _Roscoe_ and _Dorset_, high-talented elves, Amused other people and solaced themselves, In describing the revels, the gibes, and the jokes, Of the creatures of earth, and the feathery folks; Of their fashion and fancy, the ebbs and the flows, And the beauty and wit of their belles and their beaux. But the world has spun round like a peg top since then, And imparted more knowledge to brutes and to men; New lights and perceptions old customs explode, And what is done now, must be done _à-la-mode_. Old fashions are fled, and what more can we say Than that _Dorset_ and _Roscoe_ might do for that day, But that Poets must deck in more dignified rhymes The wonderful deeds of these wonderful times? That _Augusta_ may spread her renown and her glory, Her famed _Fancy Fairs_ must be studded in story, And ages unborn learn the elegant Games Of the _Gardens_ that bloom on the south of the Thames. Old _Dryden_ the bard was at best but a gander, In singing the _Feast_ of the great _Alexander_; For what breast with the fumes of a banquet is fired Two thousand years after the guests have retired? Our happier bard takes the season that suits, At the spur of the moment he puts on his boots, All hot for _Parnassus_, and cries in a hurry, "Prepare me my _Pegasus_! '_Saddle white Surrey!_'" It is clear that he feels what his numbers prolong, That he warms with his subject, and soars in his song. But whether his lot be unhonour'd and low, Or the wreath of the _Laureat_ encircles his brow, With the world to admire him, mysterious elf! Is a secret of state that he keeps to himself. But come! _Zoological_ wonders require The strains of his genius, his force and his fire; He burns with impatience the scene to display: Hark away, to the _Gardens of Taste_! Hark away!

The sun, as he rose, was received with a cheer, From the Herald at Arms, the renown'd _Chanticleer_, Who proclaim'd, with a feeling of pride in his breast, That the _Gardens of Surrey_ were fairest and best. Then at once the shrill tidings were borne on the air, That the dawn had arrived of the famed _Fancy Fair_, And that all that was lovely, and beauteous, and bright, Was summon'd to honour that day of delight. The sunbeam was clear on that lovely retreat; The breath of the morning was balmy and sweet; Fair _flowrets_, that vied with the rainbow, were seen, And _trees_ in their livery of liveliest green. The voice of rejoicing, from children of earth, Was so mingled with cheerfulness, music, and mirth, That the mind, and the eye, and the ear, and the heart Were saluted with pleasure from every part. A thousand gay faces appear'd in the throng, And crowds of fair creatures came trooping along. Till the place, all enliven'd with joy and surprise, Was lit up with sunbeams and Beauty's bright eyes. The groups of all ages were gather'd so well, That they threw o'er the poet and painter a spell, And the flashes of fancy, wit, feeling, and fire, Resistless compell'd them to pause and admire.

Much pains had been taken to add to the grace, 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_."