Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1833-01-26
GAZETTE
Ertract from GARDENERS Music of Nature.

fowls nave q UTtSk duu uVCty MUG III uiOiu
ing-but they loiter, and have drawing tone
in the evening. OF all the feathered tribe, the
GRO wing of the cock is the most shrll and sono
rous. Before the dawn, when every thing is
still, he may be heard at the distance Of three
four miles. His cry consists OF five notes, gene.
rally in the key of B.
The notes of a bantam essentially differ from
those of a game-cocK, probably the same species
would be found to have the same notes The
gallant chanticleer has. at his command his amO-
rOus phrases, aud his terms OF defiance, as we'll
as his song. By his Growing he has been distin-
guished in every age as the countryman's clock
and 'larum; as the Waterman that proclaims the
divisions of the night"
When Buunaparte returned from Elba, the
growing of the cocks was taken as a certain
omen Of his re gaming the throne; and such was
the enthusiasm OF the French people, that thev
confidently believed and declared they heard eve.
~ cock distinctly shout
Vi-ve Prm-- pe-reur!
which exclamation had the effect OF Touslng the
nation from one end to the other.
Who has not noticed the gaantry OF this no.
Bile bird 10 the midst Of his mates? With what
a soft and courteous tone he invites his party 20
the feast, presenting I" each favorite gran,with
a pOliteness that would do honor to man! Ami
mails so gifted are not only endowed with mind,
but probably enjoy all the pleasures If converse
ton and society? II we turn to the Minuetto in
the second Quartetto of Mozart, we find he has
transferred the language of this chatty brood.
with great skill, into that beauufel composition.
"No sooner has a hen laid, than she PUSHES
forth with clamorous joy. which the whole brood
adopt. The tumult is not confined % the fami-
ly concerned, but catches, from yard TO yard,
and spreads to every homestead within hearing,
ill at last the whole village is in an uprnaf."
Hayden has adopted this riotous passage - he
Finale to his Twentieth Qrartstto.
The cluck. cluck, OF a hen, which she REPEATS,
at distant intervals, to her chickens. serves TO
keep her struggling brood about her, aud within
hearing; but the moment she changes this INTO a
sort of chatterlng cry. it is understood by her
young ones as a call to parake OF what she has
found Rossinn has adopted many ct these
cackling passages in his operas, and to keep the
resemblance as close as possible, he has given
, them to his oboes and cafionets.
The next vocalist that claims our attention is
the cuckoo. without whose song we scarce can
call it spring. The plough boy bids MIN welcome
in the earl, morn. Borne BY fragrant gales, he
leaves his distant home for our sunny spors-the
coppice andthe mead. Children mark his we'll
known song, crying
Cuc-koo, Cue koo-
q how sweet 'tis, in the spring
To hear the welcome cuckoo sing
This noted bird is foreign musician, and, like
MANY others, remar kable for his cuaning, as well
as his song. They lay their eggs in The nests OF
other birds, which are no sooner Matched and ted,
than the Young cuckoo, with lawless strength,
bundles out his brother nestlinss, and takes con-
pete possession. Thus obtaining bed and board
at others cost, he stays and sings; and having
pas sed the summer with US, bids John Bull adieu
and goes abroad.
Parrots, like cuckoos, form their notes deep
in the throat, and show great aptitude III lmlta-
ting the human voice. A most remarkable in
stance | met with al Mr. Barham's villa in
Brompton. A lady, who had great admiration
for his talents, presented him with pa rot. on
which she had bestowed great pains IN teachi ne
| it to talk. After dinner, during pause IN the
conve rsat,on, | was startled by voice, from one
corner of the room. calling out, in strong hearty
maner, Come. Braham, give US song Moth.
| ing could exceed the surprise and admiration OF
the company. The request being repeated and
not answered. the parrot struck up the first verse
of God save the King, in clear, warbling tore,
almiog at the style Of the singer, aud sang 1t
through.
The ease with which this bird was laugh is
equally surprising with the performance The
same lady prepared him to aceos. Catal'na, while
dining with Mr.. Braham. which 50 alarmed Ma
dame. that she nearly fell from her chair. Upon
his commencing Rule Britannia in loud and
intrepid tone, the Chantress fell on her kness be-
fore the bird. exciamng, in terms OF delight. her
admiration of its talent This parrot has only
been exceeded by Lord KeiIy's. who. upon be-
ing asked to sing. replied. | never sing IN
Sunda, - Never mind thar, Poll; come give
US a song 49, No, excuse me. Eve got cold
can't you hear how hoarse am?" This extra,
ordinary creature performed the three verses oil
[. God save the K'ng.' word, aud music, without
hesitation from the beginning to the end.
The call Of the owl Is simply the reitera'ion OF
one note; DR. Arne has copied it IN Shakespeare
song in The Tempest:
v her. the bee sucks. there Turk ]:
| In u cowsip's bell lie,
There l crouch, when owls do cry.
The parspal regard which birds show tor the'
Young is worthy u remark. Their natural t'm
idi,y. upon the appearance Of danger, is CONVEX
ted into degree Of courage and holiness trul!