29^ 



ON NATURAL OR INARTICULATE, AND 



Or the shrill howl her trembling bosom heaves, 



When, with slunk form, she waits the impending blow.* 



The language of the tiger, leopard, and cat, is not so rich or diversified 

 as that of the dog : but they have still a considerable variation in the scale 

 of their mewings, according to the predominant passion of fear or grief : 

 while these again differ from the accent of simple pleasure, which consists 

 in purring, and very considerably indeed from the loud and dissonant voice 

 of love. 



The language of birds is, in almost every instance, strikingly musical, 

 though not equally eloquent, whatever be the passion it describes. To 

 its variety in the dilTerent tribes of the osprey, hawk, sea-gull, rook, and 

 raven, and especially as aaguring, wet or dry, stormy or serene weather, 

 almost every naturalist has borne testimony : for each can say that 



Cawicg rooks and kites that swim sublime 

 In still repeated circles, screaming loud. 

 The jay, the pie, and e'en the boding owl 

 That hails the rising moon, have charms for me. 

 Sounds inharmonious in themselves, and harsh, 

 Yet heard in scenes where peace for ever reigns, 

 And only there, please highly for their sake.f 



Upon the exquisitely varied tones and modulations of the singing-birds 

 we descanted at some length in a former lecture.| But the subject is as 

 interesting as it is inexhaustible ; and in the summer season of praise, 

 when the heart of man overflows, or should overflow, with gratitude to his 

 beneficent Creator for the return of plenteousness that meets his eye in 

 every direction, with what animation do they join in the general carol'; 

 awakening us at the dawn, accompanying us through the day, and soften- 

 ing and harmonizing, and I fear not to add, spirituahzing our feelings at 

 night-fall. 



The robin, and not the lark, as commonly supposed, takes the lead,§ 

 and seems longing for the day to unclose. His gentle voice is in sweet 

 accordance with the feeble beams of the early twilight ; and as soon as 

 the glorious sun makes his appearance, then up mounts the lark, and pours 

 forth his more vigorous song ; a thousand warblers hear the call, and the 

 chorus is full and complete. The leaders vary, but the carol continues. 

 The nightingale yet protracts his nocturnal tones ; and the thrush, the 

 blackbird, and the goldfinch, from the lofty grove, the close thicket, or the 

 blossomed orchard, intermingle their rival pretensions : while the transient 

 but mellow burst of the cuckoo, adds a richness to the general harmony ; 

 and even the croak of the raven, and the chattering of the daw, only break 

 into the symphony, with an occasional discord that heightens the impres- 



* Inritata canum quom primum magna Molossum ' 

 MoUia ricta fremunt, duros nudantia denteis, 

 Longe alio sonitu rabies districta minatur, 

 Et quom jam latrant, et vocibus omnia conplent. 

 At catulos blande quom lingua larobere tentant, 

 Aut ubi eos lactant pedibus, morsuque potentes, 

 Subspensis teneros imitantur dentibus hauslns, 

 Longe alio pacto gannitu vocis adulant, 

 Et quom desertei baubantur in aedibus, aut quom 

 Plorantes fugiunt, submisso corpore, plagas. 



De Rer. Nat. v. 1063. 



t Task, book i. 



I Ser. II. Lect, I. On Zoological Systems ; and the distinetife characters of Aniinate, 

 $ S«e Jenner, Pfei!. Trans. 1824, p. 37. 



