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they must hatch their eggs by sitting upon them : that 

 this necessity is indispensible ; that the father and 

 mother could not leave them at the same time: and 

 that if one went abroad to seek for food, the other 

 must wait till it returns ? Who has told them the pre- 

 cise number of days this painful diligence is to cost? 

 Who has taught them to assist the young in coming 

 out of the egg, by breaking the shell for them ? Yea, 

 and advertised them of the very moment before which 

 they never come ? 



Who has taught several of the birds that marvellous 

 industry of retaining food and water in their gullet, 

 without swallowing either, and preserving them for 

 their young, to whom this preparation serves instead 

 of milk? 



Is it for the birds, O Lord, who have no knowledge 

 thereof, that thou hast joined together so many mi. 

 racles? Is it for the men who give no attention to 

 them ? Is it for those who admire them, without think- 

 ing of thee? Rather is it not thy design, by all these 

 wonders, to call us to thyself-' To make us sensible 

 of thy wisdom, and fill us with confidence in thy 

 bounty, who watches t so carefully over those incon- 

 siderable creatures, two of which are sold for a 

 farthing ? 



But pass we from the industry of birds to hearken 

 fora moment to their mulsic : 'the first so-,ig of thanks, 

 giving which was otle: i d on earth before man was form* 

 ed. All their sounds are different, but all harmonious, 

 and Altogether compose a choir which vre cannot imi- 

 tate. One voice however more strong and melodious 

 I distinguish above the rest. On enquiry, I find it 

 comes from a very small bird. This leads me to con- 

 sider the rest of tie singing birds: they likewise are 

 ail small; the great ones having a harsh and disagree- 

 able voice. Such an amends is made to these weak 

 little creatures for their defect of strength I 



