ally,
a gross little sensualist, who expiates his sensuality in the larder. His
story contains a moral worthy the attention of all little birds and little
boys; warning them to keep to those refined and intellectual pursuits
which raised him to so high a pitch of popularity during the early part of
his career, but to eschew all tendency to that gross and dissipated
indulgence which brought this mistaken little bird to an untimely end.

--From Irving's "Birds of Spring."

DEFINITIONS.--En-am'eled, coated with a smooth, glossy surface. 3.
Sen-si-bil'i-ty, feeling. 4. Mewed, shut up. 5. Var'let, a rascal. Versed,
familiar, practiced. 6. Vo-lup'tu-a-ry, one who makes his bodily enjoyment
his chief object. 7. Bon vi-vant (French, pro. bon ve-van'), one who lives
well. Gour-mand (French, pro. goor'man), a glutton. Gas-tro-nom'ic,
relating to the science of good eating. 8. Cor'pu-lent, fleshy, fat.
Ep'i-cure, one who indulges in the luxuries of the table. Vaunt'ed,
boasted. 9. Ex'pi-ates, atones for. Lard'er, a pantry. Es-chew', to shun.

NOTES.--5. John Logan (b. 1748, d.1788). A Scotch writer of note. His
writings include dramas, poetry, history, and essays. 8. The ortolan is a
small bird, abundant in southern Europe, Cyprus, and Japan. It is fattened
for the table, and is considered a great delicacy.

XL. ROBERT OF LINCOLN.

1. Merrily swinging on brier and weed,
Near to the nest of his little dame,
Over the mountain side or mead,
Robert of Lincoln is telling his name:
"Bobolink, bobolink,
Spink, spank, spink.
Snug and safe is that nest of ours.
Hidden among the summer flowers.
Chee, chee, chee."

2. Robert of Lincoln is gaily dressed,
Wearing a bright black wedding coat:
White are his shoulders, and white his crest,
Hear him call in his merry note:
"Bobolink, bobolink,
Spink, spank, spink,
Look what a nice new coat is mine;
Sure, there was never a bird so fine.
Chee, chee, chee."

3. Robert of Lincoln's Quaker wife,
Pretty and quiet, with plain brown wings,
Passing at home a patient life,
Broods in the grass while her husband sings:
"Bobolink, bobolink,
Spink, spank, spink,
Brood, kind creature; you need not fear
Thieves and robbers while I am here.
Chee, chee, chee."

4. Modest and shy as a nun is she,
One weak ch