48 



IvATUIiAL HISTORY 



Say, what impels, amidst surrounding snow 

 Congeal'd the crocus* flamy hud to glow ? 

 Say, what retards, amidst the Summer's blaze, 

 Th* autumnal bulb, till pale, declining days ? 

 The God of Seasons ; whose pervading power 

 Controls the sun, or sheds the fleecy shower : 

 He bids each flower his quick'ning word obey ; 

 Or to each lingering bloom enjoins delay. 



LETTER XLII. 



TO THE SAME. 



" Omnibus animalibus reliquis certus et uniusmodi, et 

 in suo cuique genere incessus est : aves solas vario 

 " Tneatu feruntur, et in terra, et in aere." 



Plin. Hist. Nat. lib. x. cap. 38. 



DEAR SIR; Selborne, Aug. 7, 1778. 



A Good ornithologist should be able to 

 distinguish birds by their air as well as by 

 their colours and shape ; on the ground as 

 well as on the wing, and in the bush as 

 well as in the hand. For, though it must 

 not be said that every species of birds has a 



