xil. INTRODUCTION. 



consists chiefly of the larvae of gnats and other insects, with 

 which the atmosphere must be loaded in that region, during 

 the summer months. The eggs of these insects being depo- 

 sited in the mud, and hatched by the influence of the 

 unsetting summer's sun, they arise like exhalations, in multi- 

 plied myriads, and, as we may conceive, afford a never-failing 

 supply of food to the feathered tribes. An equal abundance 

 of food is also provided for the young of those kinds of birds 

 which seek it from the waters, in the spawn of fishes, or the 

 small fry, which fearlessly sport in their native element, 

 undisturbed by the angler or the fisherman. In these retire- 

 ments they remain, or only change their haunts from one 

 lake or misty bog to another, to procure food, or to mix with 

 their kind; and thus they pass the long enlightened season. 

 As* soon as the sun begins, in shortened peeps, to quit his 

 horizontal course, the falling snows, and the hollow blasts 

 foretell the change, and are the signals for their departure: 

 then it is, that the widely-spreading winged host, having 

 gathered together, in separate tribes, their plump well- 

 fledged families, directed by instinctive knowledge, leave 

 their native wilds, the arctic regions, that prolific source, 

 whence these multiplied migrators, in flocks innumerable, and 

 in directions like radii from the centre of a circle, are poured 

 forth to replenish the more southern quarters of the globe. 

 In their route, they are impelled forwards, or stop short, in 

 greater or less numbers, according to the severity or mildness 

 of the season, and are thus more equally distributed over the 

 cultivated world; where man, habituated to consider every 

 thing in . the creation as subservient to his use, and ever 

 watchful to seize all within his grasp, makes them feel the 

 full force of his power. Wherever they settle under his 

 dominion, these pretty wanderers afford a supply to the 

 wants of some, pamper the luxury of others, and keep the 

 eager sportsman in constant employment. 



Leaving the lakes and inland watery wastes, to pursue his 

 researches by the brooks and the rivers, in their lengthened 



