"The cavern-loving Wren sequester'd seeks The verdant shelter of the hollow stump; And with congenial moss, harmless deceit, Constructs a safe abode. On topmost boughs The glossy Raven, and the hoarse-voiced Crow, Rock'd by the storm, erect their airy nests. The Ouzel, lone frequenter of the grove Of fragrant pines, in solemn depths of shade Finds rest, or 'mid the holly's shining leaves; A simple bush, the piping Thrush contents, Though in the woodland concert he aloft Trills from his spotted throat a powerful strain, And scorns the humble choir. The Lark too asks A lowly dwelling hid beneath the turf, A hollow trodden by the sinking hoof: Songster of heaven! who to the sun such lays Pours forth as earth ne'er owns. Within the hedge The Sparrow lays her sky-blue eggs. The barn, With eaves o'er-pendent, holds the chattering tribe. Secret the Linnet seeks the tangled copse. The White Owls seek some ruin'd antique wall, Fearless of rapine; or in hollow trees, Which age has cavern'd, safely courts repose. The thievish Pie, in twofold colours clad, Roofs o'er her curious nest with firm wreath'd twigs, And side-long forms her cautious door; she dreads The talon'd Kite, or pouncing Hawk, savage Herself, with craft suspicion ever dwells." FACTS AND ANECDOTES OF NESTS AND EGGS. EASTER EGGS. During the fifteen days after Easter, which constitute the Russian carnival, the people of that country supply themselves with eggs, variously coloured, which they send or give to one another as presents; and when they meet during this time they salute with the words, "Christ is risen;" to which the other having answered "He is certainly risen," they kiss one another. He that salutes first is obliged to present the other with an egg; no one, of whatever rank or sex, being allowed to refuse either the egg or the kiss. This custom prevails in many Catholic countries; the eggs, it appears, being considered as an emblem of the resurrection. EGGS USED AS COIN. The want of any copper coin in Peru has given rise to a curious practice of which Lieutenant Maw was informed at Truxillo. A person coming to the market of that city, and not wishing to spend a real upon every article, purchases a real's worth of eggs, with which he or she proceeds to market; buying an egg's worth of vegetables from one, and so on from others, till all that was wanted has been obtained. The eggs are taken as current payment, and finally purchased themselves by those who require them for use. ILLUMINATED NESTS.