PBOGBESS OF THE SEASONS. 35 



eftects upon the eartlx and most of its inhabitants. Sickness in every form, 

 and death in its ruthless ravages, have been ever before our eyes. Seldom, 

 indeed, has there been a greater mortality known, in a given time, amongst 

 mankind and the lower animals. Even the very nature of the latter appears 

 to have undergone a temporary change ; for, up to December, the voices of 

 most of our autumnal and winter songsters (in all quarters, I hear) have 

 been ail-but silent. I have noticed their genei-al depression of spirit, times 

 out of number. I felt that they, like ourselves, wei'e suffering from some 

 hidden cause common to us. all. 



The first magical change in this matter, in my vicinity, and for many miles 

 around, was on the 5th of January, instant. On that morning, the moon 

 lingered much longer than usual, — daring even to face the sun, and lovingly 

 to dispute with him the sovereignty of the day.* The feathered tribe, to 

 my amazement and delight, took a part in this unusual phenomenon. 

 Robins, thrushes, blackbirds, hedge-sparrows, and wrens, for the first time 

 became really " vocal," and poured forth strains hy moonlight that indeed 

 "waked the groves." I had, before, imagined them diminished in numbers, 

 — wondered whither they had fled, (if alive,) — deemed our lovely parkf 

 deserted by the choir ; and now all Heaven resounded with their music ! I 

 had risen at six, a. m., (my usual hour,) and Avas therefore present at the 

 birds' " early matins." 



I will not dwell upon this, beyond remarking, that the extraordinary effect 

 I have mentioned, produced on the physique of the birds, — gifting them at 

 once with a pure vocal melody, appears to have been general on this identical 

 day. The same genial weather ruled from January 5th to Januaiy 8th, on 

 which day, as I shall presently tell you, I too undei-went a similar organic 

 change. 



I believe few persons can say, with truth, that they are in the habit of 

 hearing the blackbird in musical voice, so early as the day I have named. 

 There however he sat, perched up aloft, and might be heard discoursing 

 music most melodious. I should note, too, that on and after this day our 

 little birds exhibited all tlie amorous dalliance so pleasingly noticed by 

 Thomson, in his " Spring." They seemed to become mated as if by magic ; 

 to have wooed, courted, won, and espoused their hearts' idols, without many 

 of the formal "protestations" usually resorted to on these "interesting 

 occasions." Early incubation is evidently the order of the day. 



Here I must leave the lover of nature to his vivid imagination, which can 

 easily fill up the details of what I merely shadow in outline. Such a change 

 in so short a time, from a state of apathy and sickness to one of Nature's 



* This phenomenon was yet more apparent on January 0th. The moon was visibly rejoicing in the high 

 Heaven until nearly a quarter to nine, a. m., her glorious rival good-temperedly suppressing liis more power- 

 ful beams, until she had bade the day Adieu : 



+ Eavenscourt Paii, 



