xxxni LETTERS TO MARCO 225 



kissing, as applied to the actions of the swans, 

 rather a sentimental one ; but I do not see 

 this : it is only the difference between lips and 

 bills ; the intention and satisfaction of the pro- 

 cess is the same, and equally promoted, in 

 either the case of man or bird, by feelings of 

 mutual love. I, for my own part, am not 

 ashamed of being sentimental. I think " the 

 one touch of nature that makes the whole 

 world kin " would not be much of a touch or 

 help towards kinship were it confined to 

 simple matter of fact, devoid of sentiment 

 and imagination. 



I know absolutely nothing about meteoro- 

 logical science ; but I watch the weather daily, 

 and am just now extremely puzzled why the 

 authorities on the subject go on predicting in 

 the papers, day after day, for this district, 

 "some rain, thunder locally," "rainy," etc., 

 for the last three weeks, whereas we have 

 been as dry as a lime-burner's wig the whole 

 time ; the wind blowing cold and dry all the 

 same, whether from north, west, or south. 



Q 



