Nature's Signal Service. 123 



when they hear the soft and melodious notes 

 of the bluebird, the robin, and the wood-thrush, 

 reminding them that " the Winter is past and gone, 

 and the time of the singing1)ird has come" 



Previous to a storm the birds give indications of 

 its approach. Our Vultures in great numbers rise 

 in circles till they are almost lost in the region of the 

 clouds, the stormy Petrels (Thlassidroma Wilsonii, 

 Bon.) crowd in great numbers around vessels, and 

 follow in their wake, as if seeking the protection of 

 man ; the Seagulls and Terns make the shores re-echo 

 with their hoarse, clamorous notes, and the Barred- 

 owl (Strix nebulosa) utters his funereal cries even in 

 the day. But when fine weather is about to return, 

 the whole scene is changed, and every hedge, copse, 

 and grove is rendered vocal, and the whole feath- 

 ered tribe seem to rejoice in the anticipation of 

 bright skies and sunny days. 



My subject is far from exhausted, but I am ad- 

 monished to bring these desultory remarks to a 

 close. If I have succeeded in throwing even a ray 

 of light upon that which has hitherto appeared 

 mysterious in nature ; or if I have been enabled to 

 awaken, in a single mind, a sentiment of admiration 

 .and gratitude to that superintending Providence 

 who teaches the stork in the heavens to know her 

 appointed time, and the turtle, and the crane, and 

 the swallow to know the time of their coming, I shall 

 feel doubly recompensed for those pleasing studies 

 of nature which have enabled me to offer these 

 remarks. 



The farther we pursue this subject, the more we 

 shall be convinced that in nature there is a wise 

 arrangement which governs instinct and action, and 

 which creates being, beauty, and happiness. The 

 laws by which the whole system of nature is gov- 

 erned, are equalty simple and majestic, and are 



