114 CLASS AVES. 



excepted, are never better than in dry countries and seasons. 

 They then multiply astonishingly, as we always find they do in 

 the ardent climates of the tropics. 



The arrival of the ortolan in our climates marks the presence 

 of severe cold ; whence the French term this bird Ortolan de 

 neige. The Ampelis garrulus of Latham, which comes from 

 Bohemia, announces the first frosts : when the cuckow sings, 

 the leaves begin to germinate. But, in fact, it would be end- 

 less to enumerate all the indications which man derives from 

 the feathered race. 



The aerial sojourn of birds, and their constant habits of flight, 

 isolates them in some measure from the earth, and in part 

 withdraws them from the influence of climate. The annual 

 migration of many species, rendering them, as it were, cos- 

 mopolites, gives them a character totally different from that of 

 terrestrial animals. Less circumscribed in their dwelling, they 

 have more liberty, audacity, and independence. Respiring a 

 purer air, less surcharged with aqueous vapours and terrestrial 

 exhalations, their natural constitution is more fine and subtile, 

 and their sensations more delicate. As men and animals 

 which inhabit low and humid countries have soft fibres, flabby 

 flesh, dull nerves, obtuse sensations, and heavy intellects : and 

 as we see in species inhabiting dry and elevated localities, such 

 dispositions replaced by more active qualities — by tensity of 

 fibre, firm flesh, irritable nerves, a lively sensibility, and acuter 

 intellect, — so the birds inhabiting the Avide expanse of air are 

 provided with such qualities in a degree still more eminent. 

 In fact, the muscular fibres of birds are, in general, arid, hard, 

 and very much distended, which contributes in no small degree 

 to the vigour and rapidity of their motions. Do we not observe 

 that slender and even meagre men are much more lively, 

 mobile, and excitable, nay, much more endowed with mental 

 acuteness than the generality of those heavy human masses, 

 which are moved with difficulty, and whose spirit is as heavy 

 and benumbed as their bodily organs ? the first partake of the 



