The Gradual Reader, First Step; Or, Exercises in Articulation - Tapa blanda

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This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated.1861 Excerpt: ... 25. Why, they have what serves as a needle to them; but 1 will tell you in the next lesson, of another animal, which sews with a needle a great deal plainer to be seen than that of these little insects. LESSON XIII. THE ORCHARD STARLING AND THE TAILOR BIRD. 1. There is a kind of bird called the orchard starling, about which Mr. Wilson, a gentleman who has written a great deal concerning the birds of our country, gives a very curious account. 2. He says that this bird commonly hangs its nest from the twigs of an apple tree, and makes it in a very singular manner. 3. The outside is made of a particular kind of long, tough grass, and this grass is knit or sewed through and through in a thousand directions, just as if done with a needle. This little creature does it with its feet and bill. 4. Mr. Wilson says, that he one day showed one of these nests to an old lady, and she was so much struck with the work, that she asked him, half in earnest, if he did not think these birds could be taught to darn stockings. 5. He took the pains too, to draw out one of these grass threads, and found that it measured thirteen inches; in that distance, the bird that used it had passed it in and out thirty-four times. 6. "Why, this was sewing, sure enough." But there is another more beautiful Utile bird, which is called the tailor bird, because it sews so well. 7. It first picks out a plant with large leaves, then it gathers cotton from the shrub, and with the help of its fine long bill and slender little feet, it spins this cotton into a thread; and then, using its bill for a needle, it will sew these large leaves together to hide its nest, and sew them very neatly, too. 8. "Why, this is the most wonderful tailor of them all." 9. He is, indeed; but, children, what do we learn f...