Essays on natural history, chiefly ornithology / by Charles Waterton.

  • Waterton, Charles, 1782-1865.
Date:
1854
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Essays on natural history, chiefly ornithology / by Charles Waterton. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The University of Leeds Library. The original may be consulted at The University of Leeds Library.

    28/428
    dynasty may always make sure of my loyalty, even if any of our old line of kings were still in exist- ence; for “ The illustrious house of Hanover, And Protestant succession, To these I have allegiance sworn, While they can keep possession.” But to my life and adventures. When I was not quite eight years old, I had managed to climb upon the roof of an out-house, and had got to a starling’s nest under one of the slates. Had my foot slipped, I should have been in as bad a plight as was poor Ophelia in the willow tree, when the u envious sliver broke.” The ancient housekeeper, mentioned in the account of the barn- owl, had cast her rambling eye upon me. Seeing the danger I was in, she went and fetched a piece of gingerbread, with which she lured me down, and then she seized me, as though I had been a male- factor* At nine years old, I was sent to a school in the north of England, where literature had scarcely any effect upon me, although it was duly adminis- tered in large doses by a very scientific hand. But I made vast proficiency in the art of finding birds’ nests. It was judged necessary by the master of the school to repress this inordinate relish for ornitho- logical architecture, which, in his estimation, could be productive of no good. Accordingly, the birch rod was brought to bear upon me when occasion offered; but the warm application of it, in lieu of