dove creeps close to her mate
At this sound of alarm, which all living things hate;
The snake-bird is startled, and drops from her bough
To dive in the stream that runs swiftly below.
Whilst perch'd on a tree the wood-pelican's dreams
Are disturb'd by the crane's and the crying-bird's screams.
The tortoise made off at the mention of rain,
And troops of scared quadrupeds scour the plain!

The rest quickly rise from their seats in affright,
To see if the warner has told them aright,
As they flatter themselves that it may be mere fancy,
Or put little faith in the toad's necromancy;
They find he speaks truly, the storm is approaching,
Dark clouds o'er the beautiful blue are encroaching,
The tempest lays low the tall grass in the field,
To the furious blasts even forest-trees yield;
All is silent at first, then the loud cracking thunder
Bursts at once o'er their heads, and o'erwhelms them with wonder!
His danger by instinct each quadruped knows,
Now confusion has taken the place of repose:
The bears shake their coats, and roll off with a growl,
Wolves, dogs, wolverenes, scamper off in full howl.
With their quills mounting guard, timid porcupines wait,
Whilst the Jaguar and Couguar crouch low and retreat.
The sloth gently draws himself up on a bough,
The raccoon slyly enters the hollow below.
Mice, hedgehogs, and tortoises creep to their holes,
And their fortified refuge is sought by the moles.
Seals and otters plunge silently into the lake,
Mrs. Beaver, too, dives with her young in her wake.
The tapir returns to his home in the fens,
The marmots are off to their underground dens,
And the wishtonwish marmot, the kind prairie dog,
Makes room in his hole for the tortoise and frog.
The hamster runs home, with the pouch in his cheek
Stuff'd with various provisions enough for a week;
Then stores in his dark lonely cell the rich pelf,
For, ill bred and greedy, he cares but for self.
No children, no wife, no companion had he,
With his very best friend he could never agree,
But lived by himself without pleasure or mirth,
In a hermit-like vault, five feet deep in the earth;
But the sentinel marmot's shrill whistle of fear
Echoes loud o'er the plain, and is heard far and near
By his joyous allies, for whose safety he cared,
And whose dangers, mirth, sorrows, and dwelling he shared.
And Mrs. Opossum, good dame, holds her breath,
Sa