Than where those parent birds lie dead; nor wakes
A sadder tone than the forsaken plea
Of famished broods that o'er their silence breaks.
Fainter and fainter sink the whispered cries,
As wanes the life and creeps the deadly chill,
Till wings are numb, and closed the hungry eyes,
While droop the downy heads, and all is still.
[1] ] The wedding plumes, which are esteemed the most valuable of all, are worn by the birds only during brooding time. Hence the special reason for hunting egrets at that season.