GENERAL AND MISCELLANEOUS 409 



pelled to pass my Sunday in the house without the aid 

 of interesting books, I used to spend many an hour till 

 the wished-for sundown watching the martins soar, 

 from an attic window ; and fortunate indeed did I deem 

 myself when a hawk appeared in the heavens, though 1 

 far toward the horizon against a downy cloud, and I 

 searched for hours till I had found his mate. They, at 

 least, took my thoughts from earthly things. 



April 23, 1852. Vegetation starts when the earth's 

 axis is sufficiently inclined ; i. e., it follows the sun. In- 

 sects and all the smaller animals (as well as many 

 larger) follow vegetation. The fishes, the small fry, 

 start probably for this reason ; worms come out of the 

 trees ; buffaloes finally seek new pastures ; water-bugs 

 appear on the water, etc., etc. Next, the large fish and 

 fish hawks, etc., follow the small fry ; flycatchers follow 

 the insects and worms. (The granivorous birds, who 

 can depend on the supplies of dry seeds of last year, 

 are to some extent independent of the seasons, and can 

 remain through the winter or come early in the spring, 

 and they furnish food for a few birds of prey at that 

 season.) Indians follow the buffaloes; trout, suckers, 

 etc., follow the water-bugs, etc.; reptiles follow vege- 

 tation, insects, and worms ; birds of prey, the fly- 

 catchers, etc. Man follows all, and all follow the sun. 

 The greater or less abundance of food determines mi- 

 grations. If the buds are deceived and suffer from frost, 

 then are the birds. The great necessary of life for the 

 brute creation is food; next, perhaps, shelter, i. e. a 

 suitable climate ; thirdly, perhaps, security from foes. 



May 3, 1852. It requires so much closer attention to 



