VOICES OF BIRDS. 



language of others, excites no influence generally, 

 that I am aware of; with all but the individual 

 species, it is a dialect unknown. I know but one 

 note, which animals make use of, that seems of 

 universal comprehension, and this is the signal of 

 danger. The instant that it is uttered, we hear 

 the whole flock, though composed of various spe- 

 cies, repeat a separate moan, and away they all 

 scuttle into the bushes for safety. The reiterated 

 " twink, twink 1 ' of the chaffinch, is known by 

 every little bird as information of some prowling 

 cat or weasel. Some give the maternal hush to 

 their young, and mount to enquire into the jeo- 

 pardy announced. The wren, that tells of perils 

 from the hedge, soon collects about her all the 

 various inquisitive species within hearing, to survey 

 and ascertain the object, and add their separate 

 fears. The swallow, that shrieking darts in de- 

 vious flight through the air when a hawk ap- 

 pears, not only calls up all the hir undines of the 

 village, but is instantly understood by every finch 

 and sparrow, and its warning attended to. As 

 nature, in all her ordinations, had a fixed design 

 and foreknowledge, it may be that each species 

 had a separate voice assigned it, that each might 

 continue as created, distinct and unmixed: and 

 the very few deviations and admixtures that have 

 taken place, considering the lapse of time, asso- 

 ciation, and opportunity, united with the prohibi- 



