163 



NATURE AND HAEMONY. 



BY GEORGE K. TWINN^ ESQ. 



There is something peculiarly indefinable as well as soothing in the rich 

 commingling melody of birds. Stand at a convenient distance from a sun-lit, 

 but bright green coppice, with its neat surrounding hedges, and you shall feel 

 your spirits all vitalized, your heart all palpitating with joy, and your thoughts 

 all heavenward, as you enrapturingly listen to the full concert of a hundred 

 bright-winged choristers. The soft sweet flood of gently dying cadences — soft 

 as the blush on childphood's brow — or the dear lull of moss-fringed runnels, 

 succeeded by the loud clear chorus of the blended songsters, in one burst of 

 love and gratitude, shall convince you of the inherent harmony pervading 

 nature's works, whether considered collectively, or in part. Does it not impress 

 you with real admiration of the one pervading principle of music? all-befitting 

 harmony, — no jarring discord — not one cry — not one note — not one stream 

 of song — not one full hymn of joy contradicts, or neutralizes, or infringes on 

 another, but gently do all the notes correspond, and the mutual end of every 

 bird is realized; each lets his mate or little ones know his peculiar cry or 

 song — each meets his wants; nor does the sound of one betray or mislead the 

 other; hence on the same tree, the Blackbird from the topmost bough trills 

 gaily out his note of rapture; high above him is the Lark, rending the air 

 with melodies to entrance the ploughman into the belief of angels hymning 

 in the midday air. Beneath the Merle's green perch, the Bullfinch with its 

 flute-like music sings unto his partner, all the dream of young love; whilst 

 in the holly bush beside, the Redbreast trills his ever-cherished lay. Around 

 and everywhere the Gnat and Bee, the Blue-fly and the Grasshopper make 

 their carols to join the concert of great Nature's ministers, that strive to 

 gladden man, and call his thoughts from plodding things of earth, to muse 

 on God and Heaven. 



Ye who confess the existence of this Harmony through Nature's realms, I 

 ask your kind indulgence in the coming season; spare the soft tribes, and let 

 them 



—"Range the air, 

 Or take their pastime in the spacious field; 

 There they are privileged. 



Reader, I would not wrong you in the least; but while science and knowledge 

 loudly call you to a persevering discharge of your allotted tasks, I ask you 

 not to be too severe, or too much of the exterminator; for, alas! alas! we 

 are losing many a Bird and Butterfly, from our overweening pursuit and 

 wholesale butchery. 



Bawhurgh Hill, near Nonoich, March 2>0th,, 1854. 



