344 On natural Phccnomena, 



beasts, dindijish, from and to their native districts of 

 country, places of shelter from temporary inclemen- 

 cies, or rivers ; in the tributary streams whereof, the 

 latter cast their spawn ? To these they are directed by 

 natural impulses, which never fail them in pointing to 

 their objects, with more precision and certainty, than 

 astronomical observations, the auxiliary direction of 

 the needle, and all the aids, the deficient, though high- 

 ly boasted, reason of man, requires. None of the ani- 

 mals guided by instinct, regard the artificial divisions 

 of months, or years. They are regulated by the ri- 

 gour or mildness of seasons ; and are taught by the 

 author of nature, when to appear in, and when to de- 

 part from, the places of resort allotted to them. Plants 

 in their early stages of advance or decline, are operat- 

 ed upon by similar stimuli, or cautionary care ; and 

 vegetation begins and ends, under the like influences 

 of the state of season ; without regarding the artificial 

 designations which man has invented, for his guidance. 

 Seasons differing in their temperature so materially, 

 cannot furnish general rules, applicable to every quar- 

 ter of our globe. It is high time, therefore, that, pro- 

 fiting by the suggestions of the great naturalist, and 

 their evident reasonableness and utility, ive should 

 make and promulgate observations, from whence the 

 like corollaries may be drawn, for the practical uses of 

 our husbandmen ; whose labours must prosper, or fail, 

 according to the state of our climate and seasons ; and 

 cannot be governed by the rules established in confor- 

 mity with the climate and seasons, of other divisions 

 of the world. 



