From far Polynesia's Taheitian grove, Where, 'midst Flora's rich realm is his pleasure to rove, In his glossy green-black came the POE-BIRD (14) bright, Whose plumage and note afford equal delight. One of the handsomest of the tribe is the Viridis, or INDIANBEE EATER, of a green colour, with a black belt on the breast and the throat, and tail of the same hue; of this there are several varieties, inhabitants of Bengal. (13) Order, PICÆ, (Linn.) BEEF-EATER. The genus Buphaga, (Linn.) or BEEF-EATER, consists of two species only, distinguished by a straight somewhat square bill, mandible gibbous, entire, more gibbous on the outside; legs gressorial. The Africana, AFRICAN-BEEF-EATER, or African-Oxpecker, is eight and a half inches long; picks holes in the backs of cattle, for the purpose of getting at the larvæ of the gad fly; feeds also on insects; found near the river Senegal in Africa, and parts within the Cape of Good Hope. The STRIPED-BEEF-EATER is the size of the former; a specimen is in the museum of Mr. Bullock, (14) Order, PiCE, (Lath.) HONEY-EATER, the PoE, the GREAT-HOOK-BILLED, the HOOK-BILLED, &c. The genus ANTHOPHAGUS, (Lath.) or HONEY-EATER, consists of seventy species; they have a bill somewhat triangular at the base, and more or less bent at the tip; nostrils rounded, partly covered by a membrane; tongue more or less extensile, formed for collecting honey from flowers, which is supposed to be their principal food; legs made for walking. This genus is also divided by Dr. Latham into those with thrush-like bills, and those with creeper bills. The following are examples of each; The Cincinnatus, (Luth.) POE-HONEY-EATER, Poë-Bec- Eater, Poë-Bird, or Kogo, with a thrush-like bill, is rather larger than Many EATERS of HONEY, flowers flutter'd among ; While others seem'd charm'd with the Poë-bird's song. a blackbird; length eleven inches; plumage deep greenishblack, in many parts very glossy; greater wing coverts white; tail coverts a rich blue; tail same as the body; neck feathers fine, long, somewhat curled, and standing from the neck like a ruff; a white tuft of curled feathers on each side of the neck. The term Poë is said to be the Otaheitan word for ear-ring, whence its name. This bird is said to be as remarkable for the sweetness of its note as it is for the beauty of its plumage; flesh delicate food; inhabits New Zealand and the South Sea Islands; and particularly Otaheitè; or, as the inhabitants themselves call it, Taheety, or Taheity. This island lies in latitude 18° South, and in the 150th degree of West longitude; it is beautiful, well wooded, and affords support to many inhabitants. The celebrated BREAD FRUIT-TREE, Artocarpus incisa, is indigenous here; it is about the size of a moderate oak; the leaves are oblong, and often a foot and half in length; they, in colour and thickness, resemble those of the fig, exuding a milky juice on fracture. The fruit is about the size of a new-born child's head. The eatable part, which lies between the skin and core, is as white as snow, and of the consistence of new bread. It is prepared for eating in various ways. The GREAT-Hooked-billed-HONEY-EATER, or GREATHOOK-BILLED-CREEPER, (Certhia pacifica,) with a creeper-likebill, is eight inches long; plumage above black, lower parts of the back, rump, and upper tail coverts, a fine deep yellow; beneath dusky; shoulders, inner ridge of the wing, and part of the coverts, yellow; quills and tail black; inhabits the Friendly Islands in the South Seas; called at Owhyhee, Hoohoo. The HOOKED-BILLED-HONEY-EATER, (Certhia Obscura,) may also be mentioned as a curious species. For another Honey-Euter, see pages 319, 320, Cinnyris affinis. THE POË-BIRD'S SONG. Anthophagus Cincinnatus.—(LATH.) Taheity! Taheity! The POE-BIRD's home, Taheity! Taheity! Who from thee would roam? Taheity! Taheity! Far over the sea! When, when shall return Thy own bird unto thee? Taheity! Taheity! All strangers I see ; When shall I behold Those I love, know, and thee? Taheity! Taheity! Thy groves and thy shade, Thy mountains, thy vales, For affection were made. Taheity! Taheity !— Thy Mahie* to see! Oh, when shall return Thy own bird unto thee? The Bread-Fruit-Tree, so called by the natives of Otaheitè. Not in woodlands apart from the rest of the crowd, Where the dark vested trees many warblers oft shroud; Not unheard and unseen, far from dwellings of men, Pour'd the BLUE-BIRD (15) his notes in the wild forest glen; But, the dear mellow harmonist seem'd to delight The Sylvia sialis, BLUE-BIRD, or BLUE-WARBLER, is six inches and three quarters long; above a rich sky-blue, with purple reflections; throat, neck, breast, and sides partially under the wings, chesnut; beneath white; inhabits the United States, Mexico, Brazil, and Guiana; eggs five or six, pale blue; feeds on insects and berries. It is much troubled with a species of tape-worm; most other birds, it is said, are also pestered with these animals. The spring and summer song of this bird is a soft, agreeable, and oft repeated, warble. In its motions and general character has a great resemblance to the redbreast; like him in this country, the blue-bird is known to almost every child in the United States. The cowpen lays its egg sometimes in the nest of this bird. See the NOTE on the CowPEN, forward; and also the ADDRESS to the BLUE-BIRD. "When winter's cold tempests and snows are no more, Green meadows and brown furrow'd fields re-appearing ; And cloud-cleaving geese to the lakes are a-steering; When red glow the maples so fresh and so pleasing, THE BLUE-BIRD'S SONG. Sylvia Sialis.-(Lath.) Free from sorrow, free from strife, Seek thou glory's sanguine field ;- Sweet are the delights of HOME! Home! thy magic circles round "There is a magic in that little word, SOUTHEY'S Hymns to the Penates. |