182 THE CHRISTIAN NATURALIST. 



taken up their residence with us during the summer 

 months. The woods are no longer enlivened with the 

 merry note of the Cuckoo, or the mellow strains of 

 the Black-cap. The Swallow has ceased his twittering 

 on the chimney- top, and the Martin has forsaken his 

 nest under the caves. All these, and many other of our 

 guests during the warmer months, have left us to seek 

 a happier climate. But in their places have arrived the 

 Woodcock, the Snipe, and various species of wildfowl, 

 which remind us that there are countries where winter 

 has already begun his reign. It would be in vain for 

 us to ask by what law these inhabitants of the air are 

 directed in their migrations. The subject is one of 

 the most obscure in natural history. Alluding to the 

 instinct of the Stork, which is remarkably displayed on 

 these occasions, well may the Poet ask. 



* Who bid the stork, Columbus like explore, 

 Heavens not his own, and worlds unknown before ; 

 Who calls the council, states the certain day. 

 Who forms the phalanx, and who points the way ?' 



The discoveries of modern science leave us in the dark 

 with respect to this wonderful faculty of instinct. The 

 countries to and from which our birds of passage mi- 



