152 LECTURE XII. 



late frost and snow should come after these are 

 consumed, the poor birds would probably be 

 starved, but for the seeds of the mistletoe, which 

 are then ripe, and afford a nourishing supply of 

 food : so tender are the mercies of God over all 

 His creatures. Not only are birds thus cared 

 for by a superintending Providence, but, when 

 food begins to fail them in one country, a strong 

 migratory instinct is implanted in them, and 

 which induces them to fly to some other, and 

 this over vast seas or extensive tracts of land, 

 till, like the swallows, they arrive in regions 

 adapted to their wants, and where they sing 

 their songs of joy and love, till the same mi- 

 gratory instinct returns, and they fly back to 

 their former abodes : thus enjoying perpetual 

 seasons of sunshine and happiness. 



It has always struck me as a beautiful arrange- 

 ment of Providence that the female of birds 

 should generally have less gorgeous colours than 

 the males. Take, for instance, the hen-phea- 

 sant. Had she the beautiful plumage of the 

 male, she would be a conspicuous object for 

 birds of prey while she sat on her nest. Her 

 very humility saves her life. The female eagle, 

 on the contrary, is larger, stronger, and 



