IX 



economy ; and it was not till the revival of letters, after 

 the disgusting period of the dark ages, that Gesnet, 

 Bacon, and other writers, roused the attention. of man- 

 kind again to objects of natural history. 



It is hoped that in time, by the modern arrange- 

 ments and divisions of natural history, and the number 

 of cooperators engaged in each department, it may 

 ultimately acquire the beauty of a perfect systein. 



The following pages relate to a small branch of the 

 said science, and contain some evidence on the ques- 

 tion, Whether or no the genus hirundo is migratory ? 



At first sight birds engage our attention. In the 

 beautiful tints of their plumage they exhibit a greater 

 diversity of lively colours than most other tribes of 

 animals. We are pleased with the different melodies 

 f their songs. In their manners and habits they 

 show a diversity of character correspondent to their 

 numerous dissimilar figures; and they are perpetually 

 before our eyes while in pursuit of their food. 



The pleasure arising from the study of natural his- 

 tory, has its source in the endless variety of forms 

 exhibited bj r living beings, and in the energies of our 

 minds exerted when we are engaged in discovering the 

 purposes to which each is adapted. Birds are particu- 

 larly calculated to afford this pleasure, from possessing 

 in a great degree that variety. And conformably we 

 find they have most engaged the attention of mankind 



