STUDY XII. 421 



waters, and becaufe the human ear could not have 

 enjoyed it at the diftance which they are deftined 

 to live from the land. If there are fwans which fing, 

 as has been alleged by fome, their fong muft con- 

 fift of but very few modulations, with fome refem- 

 blance to the uncouth founds uttered by the duck 

 and the goofe. That of the wild fwans, which came 

 lately and fettled at Chantilly, has only four or 

 five notes. Aquatic birds have (hrill and piercing 

 cries, by means of which they can make themfelves 

 heard in the regions of wind and tempeft where 

 they inhabit, and are in perfect correfpondence 

 with their noify fituations, and their melancholy 

 folitudes. 



The melodies of fong-birds have fimilar rela- 

 tions to the fîtes which they occupy, and even to 

 the diftances at which they live from our habita- 

 tions. The lark, who neftles among our corn, and 

 delights in foaring perpendicularly till we lofe 

 fight of him, makes his voice to be heard in the 

 air, after he is no longer perceptible to the eye. 

 The fwallow, who grazes the walls of our houfes 

 as he flies, and repofes on our chimneys, has a 

 fmall gentle chirping voice, which does not ftun 

 the ear, as that of the fongfters of the grove would 

 do; but the folitary nightingale makes himfelf 

 heard at the diilance of more than half a league. 

 He miftruils the vicinity of man ; and, neverthe- 



e e 3 lefs, 



