[Illustration] HISTORY OF BIRDS LONDON: _Printed by Knight and Bagster_, 14, Bartholomew Close. FOR J. DAVIS, No. 56, PATERNOSTER-ROW. 33 [Illustration] The OSTRICH leaves its eggs in the desert, and if it goes far away, it cannot find them again. In the Bible, cruel and forgetful people are compared to the Ostrich. It is a large bird, and runs very swiftly when pursued, and if it finds a bush it hides its head, and thinks that because it does not see its pursuers, they cannot see it. The Ostrich may remind us of ourselves, as we are by nature inclined to be unkind and forgetful, and to act as if we thought God did not see us. [Illustration] The EAGLE is a bird of prey; it is violent and strong, yet we read that it obeys the command of God, (Job xxxix. 27.) and that he uses it to punish those who disobey him. (Prov. xxx. 17.) Thus God often makes use of wicked people, to punish others who despise his word. The text in Proverbs, mentioned above, teaches us that God will punish those who are disobedient to their parents: I hope my little readers will remember this. [Illustration] The PEACOCK is very vain, and proud of its fine feathers. I suppose that little girl is proud of her finery, and the little boy tells her she is like the Peacock. In the book of Job, we are reminded that it was God who gave the Peacock its beautiful feathers, (c. xxxix. v. 13.) Children should remember that they have nothing of their own to be proud of, that every thing they possess is given them by God, and they should be thankful to him for all his mercies. [Illustration] The GOOSE is generally thought a silly bird, but I am sure that little boy and girl who are so mischievous as to frighten the geese, are much more silly. Any person who observes geese closely, will find that they shew many proofs of being wiser than they are supposed to be; so you will often find among your little companions, that those who appear to be dull, are superior in many things to others who seem to be very sharp and clever. [Illustration] The SWALLOW is a bird of passage. It is part of the year in one country, and the other part in another country. In the Bible, we read that the Swallow observes the time of its coming, but man knows not the judgment of the Lord. The Swallows go from one country to another exactly at the time which God has appointed as best for them, but although we are told in the Bible what is the will of God, and find that nothing else can make us happy, yet we continually forget it, and so fall into sin, and meet with many troubles. [Illustration]