8o 
TRAVELS IN 
melody of the feathered fongfters gradually ceafes, 
and they betake themfelves to their leafy coverts 
for fecurity and repofe. 
Solemnly and flowly move onward, to the ri- 
ver's more, the ruffling clouds of the Ephemera, 
How awful the proceffion ! innumerable millions of 
winged beings, voluntarily verging on to deftruc- 
tion, to the brink of the grave, where they behold 
bands of their enemies with wide open jaws, ready 
to receive them. But as if infenfible of their dan- 
ger, gay and tranquil each meets his beloved mate 
in the ft ill air, inimitably bedecked in their new 
nuptial robes. What eye can trace them, in their 
varied wanton amorous chaces, bounding and flut* 
tering on the odoriferous air ! With what peace, 
love, and joy, do they end the lad moments of their 
exiftence ? 
I think we may afiert, without any fear of ex- 
aggeration, that there are annually of thefe beau- 
tiful winged beings, which rife into exiftence, and 
for a few moments take a tranfient view of the glory 
of the Creator's works, a number greater than the 
whole race of mankind that have ever exifted fmce 
the creation ; and that, only from the ftiores of this 
river. How many then muft have been produced 
fmce the creation, when we confider the number of 
large rivers in America, in comparifon with which, 
this river is but a brook or rivulet. 
The importance of the exiftence of thefe beau- 
tiful and delicately formed little creatures, whole 
frame and organization are equally wonderful, more 
delicate, and perhaps as complicated as thofe of 
the moft perfed human being, is well worth a 
few moments contemplation ; I mean particularly 
when 
