46 SKETCHES OF BIRDS, IN Short Enigmatical Verses, FOR THE AMUSEMENT OF CHILDREN; WITH ILLUSTRATIVE ANECDOTES AND DESCRIPTIONS FROM THE BY SAMUEL ROPER. LONDON: PRINTED FOR HARVEY AND DARTON, GRACECHURCH STREET. MDCCCXXXII. 2521. f. 40 PREFACE. IN devising amusement for my children during the long winter evenings, it occurred to me as one mode of attaining that end, to throw some of the subjects of Ornithology into rhythmical Enigmas; in which, by seizing a few of the most prominent peculiarities of the animal, either as respects its plúmage, habits, notes, or localities, ingenuity might be exercised and rewarded without much difficulty, and an acquaintance with Natural History be cultivated and enlarged. Such was the origin of the following Verses; and having found them productive of much amusement, and some instruction to my own family," |