LIFE OF THE AUTHOR. 109 



" Loretto stands upon a mountain of vineyards, surrounded by 

 other high mountains, also cultivated for the grape. The celebrated 

 Church of Our Lady is most magnificent : whilst the Santa Casa 

 within it surpasses all attempt at description. The inside of the 

 Santa Casa's walls are in their pristine state; but those outside are 

 entirely covered with sculptured marble, chiselled by the first artists 

 of the times. That Supreme Being, who can raise us all at the last 

 day, could surely order the Santa Casa, which was inhabited by the 

 Blessed Virgin, when she lived in Nazareth, to be transported from 

 Judea to the place where it now stands, if such were His will and 

 pleasure. There are authentic proofs of its miraculous transition ; 

 but the belief of it is optional with every Catholic, as the Church has 

 pronounced nothing on the subject. Millions upon millions of pil- 

 grims have already visited it, and millions in times to come will, no 

 doubt, follow their example. I believe in the miracle. 



" The road onwards, from Loretto to Rome, offered us very scanty 

 gleanings in ornithology. All that we saw was a few finches and 

 carrion crows. The pigs here are mostly black, and stand high on 

 their legs ; but not quite so high as those of Belgium. The mules 

 and asses seemed to be well taken care of, and the oxen are beauti- 

 ful. Although the day was deliciously warm, and although I cast 

 my eyes upon every sunny bank which presented itself, still I could 

 not observe a single lizard. These pretty little children of summer 

 were all in their winter's sleep, safe and secure from harm. But now 

 ornithology was certainly on the mending hand. Large flocks of 

 finches flitted on before us, whilst jays and magpies assured us, by their 

 harsh notes and their chatterings, that they were safe from the poison 

 and exterminating guns of such fell destroyers as our English game- 

 keepers. Still, this unexpected treat in animated nature could only 

 be considered as accidental at the best ; for from Calais to Rome, 

 the traveller may pronounce the country, on each side of the highway, 

 little better than a barren wilderness, so far as regards living wild 

 animals. It is clear, then, that the traveller, journeying on from town 

 to town in continental districts, will be sadly disappointed if he ex- 

 pects to find even a very moderate show of birds in the surrounding 

 country. But, that birds do frequent these regions in vast abund- 

 ance is beyond all doubt, by the ample supply to be found in every 



