130 SCRIPTURE NATURAL HISTORY. 



piercing the air. Their ears stand not out from their head to re- 

 tard their flight ; and their eyes are placed in such situations as to 

 take in nearly a hemisphere on either side. 



Birds have no teeth to chew their food ; but those of the graniv- 

 orous kind are provided with two stomachs, in one of which the' 

 victuals is softened and macerated before it enters the other to be 

 completely digested. Being often employed in traversing the upper 

 regions, where they would be much incommoded did they bring 

 forth their young in the manner of quadrupeds, their mode of gen- 

 erating is wisely made to differ, and their oifspring are produced 

 by means of eggs. In the speedy growth of young birds, by which 

 they acquire a degree of strength and size, so as to be able so soon 

 to provide for themselves, we have also an instance of the tender 

 care of Providence. 



What unseen power inspires these little creatures with * the pas- 

 sion of the groves,' at the most fit season for forming their alliances! 

 that is, when the genial temper of the weather covers the trees with 

 leaves, the fields with grass, and produces such swarms of insects 

 for the support of their future progeny. And how comes it to pass, 

 that no sooner is the connubial league formed, than the little warb- 

 lers immediately set about building their nests, and making prepara- 

 tion for their tender oifspring ? In the building of their nests, what 

 art and ingenuity are displayed ! Whether they are constructed 

 from the collected portions of clay and mortar, or from the more 

 light materials of moss and straw, they contrive to mould them into 

 the most convenient forms, and to give them a durability propor- 

 tionate to their wants. Nor is the wonder less, that birds of the 

 same kind, however widely separated, should all follow the same 

 order of architecture, in the construction of their habitations ; that 

 each should make choice of the situation most suitable to its kind ; 

 and that all should agree in laying as many eggs as to be sufficient 

 to keep up their species, yet no more than they can conveniently 

 hatch and bring up. 



In the incubation, with what patience do these little creatures sit 

 on their eggs when necessary, till the young are ready to be hatch- 

 ed, and then how officious in assisting the little prisoners to escape ! 

 With what inimitable care do they afterwards watch over and pro- 

 vide for their brood, until it is capable of doing so for itself; and 

 with what scrupulous exactness, durin gthis period, do they distri- 

 bute to each its allotted portion of food ! 



The observations w r e have made are applicable to the feathery 

 tribe in general ; but when we turn to the peculiarities of a few of 

 the different species, we shall observe that the wisdom and the 

 goodness of God are no less conspicuous. How wonderful is the 

 migration of some birds; or that surprising instinct by which 'the 

 stork in the heavens knoweth her appointed times,' and * the crane 

 and the swallow observe the time of their coming!' Jeremiah 

 viii. 7. 



These are a few of the proofs of the wisdom and goodness of 



