CONTENTS.
| LETTER | PAGE | |
| [I]. | —FROM THE MAGPIE TO THE SPARROW | [19] |
| [II]. | —THE SPARROW'S REPLY | [22] |
| [III]. | —FROM A YOUNG GARDEN-SPIDER TO HER MOTHER | [29] |
| [IV]. | —FROM A YOUNG NIGHTINGALE TO A WREN | [33] |
| [V]. | —FROM AN EARWIG, DEPLORING THE LOSS OF ALL HER CHILDREN | [39] |
| [VI]. | —FROM THE WILD DUCK TO THE TAME DUCK | [42] |
| [VII]. | —THE TAME DUCK'S REPLY | [47] |
| [VIII]. | —FROM THE GANDER TO THE TURKEY-COCK. By Charles Bloomfield | [53] |
| [IX]. | —FROM THE DUNGHILL-COCK TO THE CHAFFINCH | [58] |
| [X]. | —FROM THE BLUE-BOTTLE FLY TO THE GRASSHOPPER By Charles Bloomfield | [63] |
| [XI]. | —FROM THE GLOW-WORM TO THE BUMBLE-BEE. By Charles Bloomfield | [66] |
| [XII]. | —FROM THE PIGEON TO THE PARTRIDGE | [71] |
| [XIII]. | —FROM THE WOOD-PIGEON TO THE OWL | [78] |
| [XIV]. | —THE OWL IN REPLY TO THE WOOD-PIGEON | [85] |
| [XV]. | —FROM A SWALLOW IN THE SOUTH OF FRANCE TO AN ENGLISH ROBIN | [88] |
| [XVI]. | —ON HEARING THE CUCKOO AT MIDNIGHT, MAY 1ST. 1822. By Charles Bloomfield | [95] |
LIST OF FULL-PAGE ILLUSTRATIONS.
| PAGE | |
| THE BIRD AND INSECTS' POST-OFFICE | [Frontispiece.] |
| MAGPIE | [18] |
| SPARROWS | [23] |
| SPIDERS | [28] |
| NIGHTINGALE | [32] |
| WRENS | [35] |
| WILD DUCKS | [43] |
| SPARROWS | [49] |
| GOOSE | [55] |
| COCK | [59] |
| PARTRIDGES | [70, ][74] |
| PIGEONS | [72, ][76] |
| OWLS | [79, ][83] |
| SWALLOWS | [89, ][92] |
| AND SEVERAL SMALLER ONES IN THE TEXT. | |
AUTHOR'S PREFACE.
We all know that Æsop has made his birds and beasts talk, and reason too; and that so well as still to make the volume bearing his name a favourite with thousands. Perhaps, too, we all know that same French author has objected to this method of teaching, alleging that children should not be imposed upon (or something to that effect), and led to believe in the reality of talking birds and beasts. To me it appears plainly that they do not, nor are they inclined to, believe in any such reality. Observe two or three children at play with a favourite kitten. When one of them, in mere wantonness, shall give the little animal a rap on the nose, or a squeeze by the tail, the owner of the cat will instantly exclaim, "Poor little pussy! she does not like that, she says." Now, the child knows very well that the cat did not say a word about the matter, but she looked and acted as if she had, and that was enough.
In the following pages I have endeavoured to make my winged and creeping correspondents talk in their own characters, according to their well-known habits and pursuits.