Caw! Caw! Or, The Chronicle of Crows, A Tale of the Spring-time

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or The Chronicle of Crows A Tale of the Spring-time by RM Illustrated by JB
LONDON; Grant & Griffith, successors to Newbery & Harris: THE CORNER OF ST PAUL’S CHURCHYARD.
WHAT HAPPENS IN SPRING WHEN THE LITTLE BIRDS SING.
In the merry spring time, thus says my song, When the sun shines bright and the days grow long, And the crocuses brilliant, in purple and gold, Bloom in the gardens in numbers untold; When in the fields the grass grows green, And a few early lambs are seen; When daffodils in gaudy gowns Look gay upon the verdant downs, And fair spring flowers of each degree In every sheltered nook you see.
HOW MANY STICKS GO TO THE NEST OF A CROW.
Upon a bright and sunny day The Crows to one-another say, “Caw! Caw! our nests now let us build.” Away they fly: each beak is fill’d With little sticks of beechen wood, With which they build their houses good: When all is done, with joy they see The work of their community.
THE NESTS NOW MADE, THE EGGS ARE LAID.
And, circling widely, Caw! they say, Caw! Caw! our eggs now let us lay. Two spotted eggs in every nest For warmth await the mother’s breast. And all the Crows around them fly With flapping wings and joyful cry: “Caw! Caw!” they say, “now it is fit That we upon our eggs should sit.”
EACH CROW BRINGS FOOD TO HIS MATE SO GOOD.
The patient Crows for many a week No other occupation seek; But, while one sits and looks around, The other makes the woods resound With cawings loud, or frequent brings Worms, seeds, or such delicious things, And kindly feeds his brooding mate From early morn till evening late.
THE YOUNG CROW KNOWS WELL HOW TO CHIP THE SHELL.