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HAIL, Welcome SPRING! much lov'd, auspicious guest! Whose blooming presence fires my grateful breast.

(a) The Salmon is also too well known to need a particular description. One has been known to weigh upwards of seventy pounds weight. They leave the fresh waters and retire into the sea at the approach of winter, and return

Ambrosial dews and soft descending show'rs, Refresh the earth, and rouse the new-born flow'rs; The grazing herds through verdant pastures range, Delighted at the renovating change;

Inspir'd by influence of Nature's reign,

They range the wood, or wanton o'er the plain:

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again about the beginning of April; but some rivers, contrary to all others, as the Usk and Wye, in Monmouthshire, and the Exe in Devonshire, have them in season all the six winter months.

The best are found in the Thames, Tamar and Exe, but they are in no great abundance, as they prefer the cold northern rivers: they are, therefore, larger and much more numerous in the Tweed and Tyne. Their haunts are the clearest waters, nearest the spring-heads in summer, the deepest parts of a rapid stream, in the middle, and near the ground; on pebble, chalk, or gravelly bottoms.

Salmon-peal are found in the rivers of Devon, Dorset and Yorkshire. They do not exceed sixteen inches. These last chuse deep holes near the brooks, or under the root of a tree. Salmon do not get fat till they have been some time in the rivers, and the nearer the spring-head the better. The best season to commence angling is abont the middle of May.

The bleating sheep on sunny hillocks lie,

Or seek the brakes t' escape the teasing fly.

Herds low their passion; flocks bleat out their loves,
Contentment reigns throughout the fields and groves.
A blooming verdure richly clothes each spray,

And birds with songs salute each new-born day;
The thrush, the linnet, and lark mounting high,
In emulation with each other vie:

At intervals the cuckoo joins the song,
Although the stranger's visit be not long.
Th' industrious bee, to liberty restor❜d,
Extracts the juice which liquid blooms afford;
Amalgamates the whole, a compound sweet!
Then flies, impatient, to its straw-retreat.
Each morning gives the blushing roses birth,
And crowns with beauties the new-teeming earth;
On rudest spots most beauteous flowers grow,
And e'en on hedges most luxuriant blow;
To taste each sweet, or to enjoy the sun,
From flow'r to flow'r yon butterfly see run;

By nature so bedeck'd in ev'ry part,

Blush, human artist, blush, nor boast your art!
The hills with pride unfold their leafy tops,
And wanton zephyrs fan the fragrant crops.
Now swains of love the language soft employ,
And rustic nymphs affect not to be coy;
The glowing lip yields no reluctant kiss,
But kind indulgence crowns the lover's bliss.
For this soft season does each passion move,

And, inward working, tunes the heart to love.
The am'rous pair through lawns and woodlands stray,
To gather flow'rs, and taste the sweets of May;
Link'd arm in arm, enamour'd stroll along,
While birds in unison, chaunt their love-song.
The ardent youth, his ready love to show,
Searches each bank where purple violets grow;
And robs gay FLORA of her blooming store,
To add new sweets to what was sweet before.
Thus bless'd like EDEN's happy pair, they rove,
And think the world was made for them and love.

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