Ill 



turbed for many years, the owners returning to the 

 cherished spot in their " appointed time;" and the joy 

 manifested on their taking possession again, and their 

 attachment to their compassionate hosts, is a very an- 

 them of joy and gratitude. The history of the female 

 stork which perished in the conflagration of Delft is a 

 trait of affection " strong as death:" repeated and un- 

 successful were her efforts to carry off her unfledged 

 young, and she chose to perish with them rather than 

 leave them to their fate alone a suttee worthy of 

 record. Nor is this an insulated luminous spot in their 

 remarkable lives, there are many other incontestable 

 proofs of similar affection and devotion. 



The parent birds are a model of excessive attach- 

 ment to their helpless offspring : as soon as they are 

 capable of exercising their pinions, their parents bear 

 them on their own wings, and then lead them gently in 

 circles round the nest. Hence the beautiful image of 

 the Scriptures, " HE shall bear them up as on eagle's 

 wings," thus literally true of the stork, personified 

 emblem of what is " lovely and of good report." 



The nightingale leaves us generally towards the end 

 of August or in September. The genus sylvia do not 

 linger at farthest beyond the middle of October. Ere 

 this the light of the glow-worm has waned and suffered 

 its annual eclipse. The nightingale sometimes con- 

 structs its nest of skeleton leaves. 



We were informed that a gentleman near Bridg- 

 north, who has particularly attended to the habits of 

 the nightingale for many years, has fully ascertained 

 that this bird commences its migratory flight in the 

 night, and have been told by those who have kept 

 nightingales for many years, that for a day or two 

 before their usual and fixed period of migration 

 they become restless, and beat themselves so violently 



