WINGED VOYAGERS. 8 1 



dary of the Arctic Circle. My answer is, There is 

 some Power that has wisely arranged all these mat- 

 ters, either by gradual development or by an original 

 creative fiat. Every species is made to fit with nice 

 precision into its peculiar niche in the creation. 

 Perhaps Bryant suggests the true explanation in his 

 poem entitled "To a Waterfowl" : — 



" There is a Power whose care 

 Teaches thy way along that pathless coast, 



The desert and illimitable air. 

 Lone wandering, but not lost." 



This may seem like begging the question ; yet, to 

 my mind, it is impossible to develop a philosophy 

 of the universe without assuming an original crea- 

 tive Intelligence. True, the laws of evolution will 

 account for many of the details, and birds, like men, 

 are empowered in a large measure to work out their 

 own destiny ; but somewhere there must be a Power 

 that has infused into Nature all these wonderful po- 

 tentialities of development. Involution must pre- 

 cede evolution. 



But this is speculation. Account for them as we 

 may, the facts are evident. Within the circle of my 

 own observation there is abundant proof of this varied 

 but wise adaptation in Nature. There, for example, 

 is the tiny golden-crested kinglet, which remains here 

 all winter, no matter how severe the weather, and 

 seems to be the embodiment of good cheer ; whereas 

 the brown thrasher, a bird many times as large, 

 would be likely to perish in the first snow-squall. 

 Then, when spring arrives. Master Kinglet hies to 

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