The boggy moor a fruitful field appears,
Since the inclosure of those latter years;
Though oft a victim to the fowler’s snare,
The dotterel keeps her wonted vigils there!
Ah! simple bird to imitate false man,
Who does by stratagem thy life trepan!
So by the world is man oft led astray,
Nor strives to shun the siren’s ’witching lay;
But knows, alas! like thee, when ’tis too late,
The want of caution, and repents his fate.
In sad reality—too often seen,
Does folly end in sorrow’s tragic scene.
Cambridge, May 18, 1825.
T. N.
May 11.
St. Mammertus, Abp. of Vienne, A. D. 477. St. Maieul, or Majolus, Abbot A. D. 994.
BEES AND BIRDS.
A Warwickshire correspondent says, that in that county “the first swarm of bees is simply called a swarm, the second from the same hive is called a cast, and the third from the same hive a spindle. It is a saying in this county, that
“A swarm of bees in May
Is worth a load of hay;
A swarm of bees in June
Is worth a silver spune (spoon;)
A swarm of bees in July
Is not worth a fly.
“In Warwickshire, also, there is a different version of verses about the swallow, &c.