Produced by hekula03, David E. Brown, and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This book was produced from images made available by the HathiTrust Digital Library.) FRONTISPIECE. [Illustration: THE LION.] The Lion, the King of all Beasts, How famous for Courage is he! And you, as the King of Good Boys, To learn your Book diligent be. A SHORT HISTORY OF _BIRDS & BEASTS_, FOR THE Amusement and Instruction OF CHILDREN. Adorned with Cuts. [Illustration] WELLINGTON: Printed by F. Houlston and Son. Price One Penny. [Illustration] THE COCK. [Illustration] The _Cock_ doth crow to let you know, If you be wise, what time to rise. There is no bird treated with so much cruelty as the _Cock_; for he, poor thing, (without the least offence,) is tied to a stake, and thrown at by a set of idle, wicked, barbarous fellows, till he is beaten in pieces. This is a custom the very heathens would blush at; and therefore I hope you, who are a christian, will never be guilty of any thing so inhuman. [Illustration] THE PARROT. [Illustration] The _Parrot_ prates he knows not what, For all he says is got by rote. The _Parrot_ is a chattering bird, he talks a great deal, yet knows not what he says; and is therefore not unlike some silly boys, who prate without thinking, and learn their lesson without looking at their book. THE CUCKOW. [Illustration] The _Cuckow_ tells a merry tale, Upon the hill and in the vale. There’s the pretty _Cuckow_! This good-natured bird comes a long journey once every year to see all his friends, and sing them a song. And after he has obliged them with his company about three months, he takes his leave, and returns to his own country again. THE COW. [Illustration] Early the _milkmaid_ to the meadow hies, And the _red Cow_ her empty pail supplies. This is the good-natured _Cow_ to which we are all so much obliged. She comes, poor thing! in the morning, and brings her udder full of milk for our breakfast, and the same at night for our supper. To her we are indebted for our custards, cheesecakes, curds and cream, as well as for our milk, butter, and cheese. [Illustration] THE NIGHTINGALE. [Illustration] The _Nightingale_ doth sweetly sing, To welcome in the cheerful spring. What a pretty bird the _Nightingale_ is! How sweetly she sings! I could wish ’twas summer all the year for the sake of her good company. THE LAMB. [Illustration] The little _Lamb_ doth skip and play, Always merry, always gay. See the little _Lamb_! how innocent he looks! he never did any harm, and therefore is beloved by every body: but the fox and the wolf, who are always in mischief, are hated and despised. THE LION. [Illustration] The _Lion_ ranges round the wood, And makes the lesser beasts his food: Thus tyrants on their subjects prey, And rule with arbitrary sway.