32 MARCH. 



of the walls and fences. Many of the early birds, fol- 

 lowing the southerly winds that often prevail for a few 

 days, and tempted by the bright sunshine of the season, 

 have arrived from their winter haunts, and sing and chirp 

 alternately, as if they were debating whether to remain 

 here or return to a more genial clime. It is a remark- 

 able instinct that prompts so many species of birds to 

 leave their pleasant abiding-places at the south, where 

 every agreeable condition of climate, shelter, and pro- 

 vision for their wants is present, and press onward into 

 the northern regions, before the rigors of winter have 

 been subdued, and while they are still liable to perish 

 with cold or starvation. Often with anxiety have I 

 watched these little bewildered songsters who have so 

 unseasonably returned, when, after commencing their 

 morning lays as if they believed the vernal promises 

 of dawn, they were obliged to flee into the depths of 

 the woods to find shelter from a driving snow-storm. 



It may seem remarkable that before vegetation has 

 awakened there should be a revival of some of the in- 

 sect tribes ; but in warm, sheltered situations many small 

 flies may be seen, either newly hatched or revived by the 

 heat of the sun. They do not seek food, but crawl about 

 in dry places, sometimes rising into the air and drowsily 

 and awkwardly exercising their wings. So exposed are 

 these minute creatures to the mercy of the climate, that 

 Nature has made them insusceptible of injury from the 

 severest cold. Many species, though enclosed in a mass 

 of solid ice, may be revived by gradual heat and fly 

 abroad as gayly as if they had been refreshed by sleep. 

 But the period of life assigned to the insect race is very 

 short, and before the arrival of winter the brief and joy- 

 ous existence of nearly all the species is terminated, and 

 their offspring in an embryo state lie torpid until a new 

 spring awakes them into life. 



