98 Dr. Jenner on the Migration of Birds. 



mony. The thrush is wisely placed on the summit of some 

 lofty tree, that its loud and piercing notes may be softened by 

 distance before they reach the ear, while the mellow black- 

 bird seeks the inferior branches. Should the sun, having 

 been eclipsed with a cloud, shine forth with fresh effulgence, 

 how frequently we see the goldfinch perch on some blossomed 

 bough, and hear his song poured forth in a strain peculiarly 

 energetic; much more sonorous and lively now than at any 

 other time; while the sun, full shining on his beautiful plumes, 

 displays his golden wings and crimson crest to charming ad- 

 vantage ! The notes of the cuckoo blend with this cheering 

 concert in a perfectly pleasing manner, and, for a short time, 

 are highly grateful to the ear; but, sweet as this singular song 

 is, it would tire by its uniformity, were it not given in so tran- 

 sient a manner. At length, evening advances — the performers 

 gradually retire, and the concert softly dies away. The sun 

 is seen no more. The robin again sets up his twilight song, 

 till the still more serene hour of night sends him to the bower 

 to rest. And now to close the scene in full and perfect har- 

 mony, no sooner is the voice of the robin hushed, and night 

 again spreads a gloom over the horizon, than the owl sends 

 forth his slow and solemn tones. They are more than plain- 

 tive, and less than melancholy, and tend to inspire the imagi- 

 nation with a train of contemplations well adapted to the se- 

 rious hour. Thus we see that birds, the subject of my pre- 

 sent inquiry, bear no inconsiderable share in harmonizing 

 some of the most beautiful and interesting scenes in nature. 



But let me here remark — how ill would the singing of birds 

 agree with the general appearance of winter — the leafless tree, 

 — the snowy mead, — the frozen rivulet ! Yet it must be no- 

 ticed here, that these rigors, in the midst of this dreary sea- 

 son, are sometimes suddenly softened, and a temperate state 

 of the air succeeds. We are then so enlivened by the transi- 

 tion from extreme cold to a temperature comparatively warm, 

 that we can listen with pleasure to the enfeebled notes of some 

 of the song birds. How admirable the contrivance! There 

 are several birds which have no continued flow of notes, but 

 a kind of chirp only, consisting of some variety of sounds. 

 During a long continued frost, the earth affords many of the 

 feathered tribe so scanty an allowance that they preserve 

 themselves with difficulty from perishing; a sudden thaw takes 

 place, — plenty at once appears, and every crop is filled. 'Tis 

 then we see the redwing and starling assemble in large flocks 

 among elms and apple trees, and, by uniting their voices, pro- 

 duce a song not in the least discordant, but, on the contrary, 

 extremelv harmonious. At this time the thrush, and even 



the 



