concerning the Birds of Massachusetts. 105 
Greenland. I have, however, never met with it in Massachusetts. 
Is it known in the States to the north of this? 
Hirundo fulva, (Cliff Swallow.) Any particulars respecting 
the history of this species, now known as an inhabitant of the 
northern as well as western States, are desirable. 
Tetrao canadensis, (Black Grouse of Canada.) This species 
isnot uncommon about Halifax in Nova Scotia. A few pairs 
also breed probably on the White Mountains of New Hampshire. 
Any particulars respecting their habits, nest, eggs, time of breed- 
ing, call, &c., would prove interesting to the naturalist. 
It is only by attentive, careful, and diversified observations, 
that we can ever expect to arrive at any certain knowledge con- 
cerning the animals which live around us. To those severe and 
heartless economists, who accost every pursuit with inquiring for 
its udility, we may not have perhaps the most ready answer; but 
if the close contemplation of nature, sublime, innocently amusing, 
and often instructive, deserve the attention of the rational mind, 
we shall not fail to derive profit from the pursuit of Natural 
History. Nor need we doubt the discovery of connexions with 
our own wants and advantages in this pursuit, as well as others ; 
for the labyrinthine avenues of knowledge, as they are pursued, 
often lead to useful results, which could not have been antici- 
pated by their discoverers. 
It must be allowed, that natural history is but too often a 
dry detail of the external characters of objects; that, for exam- 
ple, if the plumage of a bird is once settled, so that it can 
be recognised by others, a principal object is supposed to be 
attained. The interesting phenomena of life and action, varied 
and modified with the subject, the ties of sympathy by which 
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