18 TIMES AND SEASONS. 



from the eastern quarter, and spreading, like an expanded 

 fan, across the whole arch of heaven, each ray dilating as 

 it advanced. The harsh screams of the clucking-hen 

 came up from a gloomy gorge, and from the summit of 

 the mountain were faintly heard the lengthened flute-like 

 notes, in measured cadence, of the solitaire. Then mock- 

 ing-birds all around broke into song, pouring forth their 

 rich gushes and powerful bursts of melody, with a pro- 

 fusion that filled the ear, and overpowered all the other 

 varied voices, which were by this time too numerous to 

 be separately distinguished, but which all helped to swell 

 the morning concert of woodland music. 



A traveller in the mountain-regions of Venezuela has 

 described in the following words his own experience of a 

 similar scene : 



" That morning's moonlight ride along the summits of 

 the Sierra of Las Cocuyzas, was certainly one of the most 

 enjoyable I ever remember. It was almost like magic, 

 when, as the sun began to approach the horizon, the per- 

 fect stillness of the forests beneath was gradually broken 

 by the occasional note of some early riser of the winged 

 tribe, till, at length, as the day itself began to break, the 

 whole forest seemed to be suddenly warmed into life, send- 

 ing forth choir after choir of gorgeous-plumaged songsters, 

 each after his own manner to swell the chorus of greeting 

 (a discordant one, I fear it must be owned) to the glorious 

 sun ; and when, as the increasing light enabled you to 

 see down into the misty valleys beneath, there were dis- 



