OMENS. 157 



of the ancients was a good deal founded 

 upon the observation of the instincts of 

 birds. There are many superstitions of the 

 vulgar owing to the same source. For 

 anglers, in spring, it is always unlucky to 

 see single magpies, — but two may be always 

 regarded as a favourable omen; and the 

 reason is, that in cold and stormy weather 

 one magpie alone leaves the nest in search 

 of food, the other remaining sitting upon 

 the eggs or the young ones ; but when two 

 go out together, it is only when the weather 

 is warm and mild, and favourable for fish- 

 ing. 



Poiet. — The singular connections of 

 causes and effects, to which you have just 

 referred, make superstition less to be won- 

 dered at, particularly amongst the vulgar; 

 and when two facts, naturally unconnected, 

 have been accidentally coincident, it is not 

 singular that this coincidence should have 

 been observed and registered, and that 

 omens of the most absurd kind should be 

 trusted in. In the west of England,. half a 

 century ago, a particular hollow noise on 



