THE PARADISE OF BIRDS

THE PARADISE OF BIRDS

AN

OLD EXTRAVAGANZA IN A MODERN DRESS

BY

WILLIAM JOHN COURTHOPE

AUTHOR OF LUDIBRIA LUNE'

"Rien n'est si joli que la fable, si triste que la vérité"

WILLIAM BLACKWOOD AND SONS

EDINBURGH AND LONDON

MDCCCLXX

280. j. 266.

The Right of Translation is reserved

I DEDICATE THESE PAGES TO

MY SISTER,

IN MEMORY OF THE BIRDS WHO SANG TO US BY

THE FIRST HOME OF OUR CHILDHOOD

THE SAME SONG THAT THEIR

CHILDREN'S CHILDREN ARE STILL REPEATING

IN THE BRANCHES.