Natures Signal Service. 123 



when they hear the soft and melodious notes 

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

 reminding them that " tJw Winter is '}>ast and gone, 

 and the time of tJte singing bird Juts corned 



Previous to a storm the birds give indications of 

 its approach. Our A^uhures 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 {Stric nebidosa) 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- 

 ]nonished to bring these desultory remarks to a 

 <?lose. If I have succeeded in throwing even a ray 

 of light upon that whicli 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 tlie 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 wliich have enabled me to offer tliese 

 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. Tlie 

 Ifiws by wdiich the whole system of nature is gov- 

 <erned, are e([ually simple and majestic, and are 



