ORDER ACCIPITRES. 113 



all its variations by a sort of instinctive observation. But on 

 the return of fine weather, we see a total change of all those 

 symptoms in animated nature. The birds which inhabit strands 

 and shores no longer come to dry their plumes in the sun ; the 

 screech-owl no longer utters his funereal cries in the evening ; 

 the hawk, on the contrary, circles in the pure azure sky ; the 

 smaller birds sport among the newly-budding leaves ; the raven 

 testifies his joy by sonorous croaking ; and the cattle bound on 

 the plains. One might even be led to imagine that birds pos- 

 sessed some knowledge of the future, and were gifted with a 

 foresight superior to that of other animals. It was doubtless 

 from this idea that the ancient augurs, destitute of our baro- 

 meters, observed them with so much care, and drew presages 

 from their movements. We are not yet, perhaps, acquainted 

 with the fullest extent in which the modifications of the atmos- 

 phere, the weight, density or rarefaction, the moisture, dryness, 

 or electric state of the air, can influence the organization and 

 sensibility of animals, and even the character of men. 



" Verum, ubi tempestas et cceli mobilis humor 

 Mutavere vias, et Jupiter uvidus austris 

 Denset, erant quae rara modo, et quae densa relaxat, 

 Vertuntur species animorum et pectora raotus 

 Nunc alios, alios dum uubila ventus agebat, 

 Concipiunt." 



Marine birds appear to be the most sensible to all these 

 atmospheric variations. Thus the petrel, the storm-bird, the 

 albatross, &c. indicate the approach of the hurricane by their 

 importunate cries and uncertain flutterings near the rocks. 

 We likewise find the majority of birds whose plumage is not as 

 much impregnated with oil as that of the palmipedes and other 

 birds inhabiting shores, sufler very much from rains, and en- 

 deavour to avoid them by seeking shelter. In fact, when the 

 water does penetrate their plumage, they remain a long time 

 wet, are retarded in their flight, and often made ill by obstructed 

 transpiration. On the contrary, all birds, the aquatic races 



Vol. VI. I 



