HISTORY
OF
BIRDS
LONDON:
Printed by Knight and Bagster,
14, Bartholomew Close.
FOR J. DAVIS, No. 56,
PATERNOSTER-ROW.
33
The Ostrich leaves its eggs in thedesert, and if it goes far away, it cannotfind them again. In the Bible,cruel and forgetful people are comparedto the Ostrich. It is a largebird, and runs very swiftly when pursued,and if it finds a bush it hides itshead, and thinks that because it doesnot see its pursuers, they cannot seeit. The Ostrich may remind us of ourselves,as we are by nature inclined tobe unkind and forgetful, and to act asif we thought God did not see us.
The Eagle is a bird of prey; it isviolent and strong, yet we read that itobeys the command of God, (Jobxxxix. 27.) and that he uses it to punishthose who disobey him. (Prov. xxx.17.) Thus God often makes useof wicked people, to punish otherswho despise his word. The text inProverbs, mentioned above, teaches usthat God will punish those who aredisobedient to their parents: I hopemy little readers will remember this.
The Peacock is very vain, and proudof its fine feathers. I suppose thatlittle girl is proud of her finery, andthe little boy tells her she is like thePeacock. In the book of Job, we arereminded that it was God who gavethe Peacock its beautiful feathers,(c. xxxix. v. 13.) Children should rememberthat they have nothing of theirown to be proud of, that every thingthey possess is given them by God, andthey should be thankful to him for allhis mercies.
The Goose is generally thought asilly bird, but I am sure that little boyand girl who are so mischievous as tofrighten the geese, are much more silly.Any person who observes geese closely,will find that they shew manyproofs of being wiser than they aresupposed to be; so you will often findamong your little companions, thatthose who appear to be dull, are superiorin many things to others whoseem to be very sharp and clever.