Song Birds and Water Fowl 
continents themselves, like fabled Venus, 
sprang from out the sea. We are very much 
misled by appearances when we speak of the 
firm land, and the inconstant deep. Like an 
army, successively advancing and retreating, 
has the solid earth been oscillating up and 
down, now out of water, now submerged, 
throughout the geologic ages—the very type of 
instability. But, before the mountains were 
brought forth, or ever a dawning continent 
emerged above the waves to challenge the do- 
minion of the sea, this hoariest of monarchs 
reigned in matchless solitude, his shoreless_bil- 
lowy realm encompassing the globe. All in- 
stability is of the land, the ocean is the only 
changeless thing. 
‘* Such as creation’s dawn beheld, thou rollest now.” 
The continents, before such ‘‘ chronicles of 
untold ancientness,'’ are younger and more 
fair ; and, as becomes their state, may revel in 
bright colors and glad tones, in forest and gar- 
den bloom, and the gay song of lark and night 
ingale. But the ocean, old and gray, is serious- 
minded, and its grave maturity is better 
matched by creatures in a quieter attire, of less 
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