Periodic Activity. i 2 1 



varied and entertaining, it is among the birds that 

 one discovers the most pleasing expressions of 

 love. 



Love of beauty is a dominant characteristic of 

 the bird, and in its love life its exquisite and fine 

 nature reveals itself to the full. 



Beautiful color, graceful motion, engaging 

 sounds, unite to enhance its happiness. How har- 

 monious and delightful is the love-call of the bird ! 

 The shrill, intermittent chirp of the insect is re- 

 placed by a flood of melodious and varied song ; 

 instead of rasping or beating upon a rude shield, 

 it breathes forth sweet sounds from a delicate 

 throat perfected by love for the purpose. 



The love that animates the bird seems to us 

 finer, more subtle, more spiritual than any other 

 love in the lower life. It is not a passion of a 

 moment; the concentrated vitality of its brief life 

 is not exhausted in one final expression. Its love 

 mounts to culmination, and then instead of being 

 extinguished passes on to yet higher and finer 

 regions, — into the marvellous and powerful attrac- 

 tion known as parental love. 



Gleams of this love appear in creatures below 

 the bird in the scale of life ; some fishes, for in- 

 stance, know it. 



When the breeding season approaches, certain 

 of them, as the bass and stickleback, make for them- 

 selves nests and perform the office of householders 

 and of careful parents, rearing their progeny, 



