Miscellanies. 179 
for them a heartier welcome the present season than they have ever 
experienced before among the hills and vales of New England. 
His introductory chapter, which consists of thirty closely printed 
pages, describes the anatomy of birds—their food, and the modes of 
obtaining it—their senses and instincts—vocal powers, and skill in 
imitating sounds—their conjugal affection—nidification and geo- 
graphical limits ; and is rich with instruction and interest to the gen- 
eral reader. We cannot refrain from quoting the opening remarks 
of this essay. 
“Of all the classes of animals by which we are surrounded in the 
ample field of nature, there are none more remarkable in their ap- 
pearance and habits than the feathered inhabitants of the air. They 
play around us like fairy spirits, elude approach in an element which 
defies our pursuit, soar out of sight in the yielding sky, journey over 
our heads in marshalled ranks, dart like meteors in the sunshine of 
summer, or seeking the solitary recesses of the forest and the waters, 
they glide before us like beings of fancy. They diversify the still 
landscape with the most lively motion and beautiful association; they 
come and go with the change of the season, and as their actions are 
directed by an uncontrollable instinct of provident nature, they may 
be considered as concomitant with the beauty of the surrounding 
scene. With what grateful sensations do we involuntarily hail the 
arrival of these faithful messengers of spring and summer, after the 
lapse of the dreary winter, which compelled them to forsake us for 
more favored climes. Their songs now heard from the leafy groves and 
shadowy forests, inspire delight, or recollections of the pleasing past, 
in every breast. How volatile, how playfully capricious, how musi- 
eal and happy, are these roving sylphs of nature, to whom the air, the 
earth, and the waters, are almost alike habitable. Their lives are 
spent in boundless action; and nature, with an omniscient benevo- 
lence, has assisted and formed them for this wonderful display of per- 
petual life and vigor, in an element almost their own.” 
The descriptions of the birds are replete with interesting informa- 
tion, conveyed in the most animating and naive manner; and the 
work is illustrated by a large number of very beautiful wood cuts. 
We think that it will prove to be a favorite treatise, since we are sat- 
isfied that it possesses strong claims to public approbation. 
11. Statistics of Iron in the United States—The author of the 
article Iron in the Encyclopedia Americana, desires to correct his 
statement therein made, respecting the annual produce of bar iron 
