I^he Birds Migrating. 349 



" August 4. It is wonderful how quickly every living 

 thing in this region, whether animal or vegetable, attains 

 its growth. In six weeks I have seen the eggs laid, the 

 birds hatched, and their first moult half gone through ; 

 their association into flocks begun, and preparations for 

 leaving the country. 



" That the Creator should have ordered that millions 

 of diminutive, tender creatures, should cross spaces of 

 country, in all appearance a thousand times more con- 

 genial for all their purposes, to reach this poor, desolate, 

 and deserted land, to people it, as it were, for a time, and 

 to cause it to be enlivened with the songs of the sweetest 

 of the feathered musicians, for only two months at most, 

 and then, by the same extraordinary instinct, should 

 cause them all to suddenly abandon the country, is as won- 

 derful as it is beautiful and grand. 



" Six weeks ago this whole country was one sheet of 

 ice ; the land was covered with snow, the air was filled 

 with frost, and subject to incessant storms, and the whole 

 country a mere mass of apparently useless matter. Now 

 the grass is abundant, and of rich growth, the flowers are 

 met with at every step, insects fill the air^ and the fruits 

 are ripe. The sun shines, and its influence is as re- 

 markable as it is beautiful ; the snow-banks appear as if 

 about to melt, and here and there there is something 

 of a summerish look. But in thirty days ail is over ; the 

 dark northern clouds will come down on the mountains ; 

 the rivulets and pools, and the bays themselves, will begin 

 to freeze ; weeks of snow-storms will follow, and change 

 the whole covering of these shores and countr}^, and Na- 

 ture will assume not only a sleeping state, but one of des- 

 olation and death. Wonderful ! wonderful ! But it re- 

 quires an abler pen than mine to paint the picture of this 

 all-wonderful country. 



" August 5. This has been a fine day ! We have had 



