( xi ) 
Cuckoo sings * The amiable Mr. Stillingfleet remarked nearly the same coincidence in England. Dr. Darwin ob- 
serves, that the " word Coccux in Greek signifies both a young fig and a cuckoo, which is supposed to have arisen 
from the coincidence of their appearance in Greece." f Many instances of a similar coincidence might be pointed 
out between the flowering of om- Pennsylvanian vegetables and the arrival of certain birds. Thus it is observed, 
that the Wood-Cock (Scolopax Gallinago) commonly visits us when the American Elm (Ulmus americana) is in full 
blossom : that is between the 8th and i8th of March. 
§. XXII. 
It is well known, that the ancients were of opinion, that the arrival of certain birds of passage afforded one of 
the best and safest directions for the planting of different kinds of vegetables, and for other agricultural purposes. 
Thus Virgil, who was at once a naturalist and poet, tells us, that the best time for planting vineyards (in Italy) is 
when the White bird, or Storck, appears : 
Optima vinetis satio, ctim vere rubenti 
Candida venit avis longis invisa colubris. 
Georgic. Lib. II. 319 — 320. 
I could point out, in the happy compositions of this great poet, other instances of a similar kind. The following 
is too beautiful to be omitted. The poet of Mantua is here describing the method and the time for killing a steer 
for the purpose of obtaining from its putrid gore a stock of bees, as was practised by the ancient Egyptians. | He 
tells us this must be done early in the spring, before the meadows are painted with the colours of flowers, and be- 
fore the Swallow builds its nest upon the rafters. 
Hoc geritur, zephyris primum impellentihus undas, 
Ante novis ruheant quam prata coloribiis, ante 
Garrula qiiam tignis nidum suspendat hirundo. 
Georgic. Lib. IV. 305 — 307. 
§. XXIII. 
Although in Pennsylvania, and many other parts of the United-States, the arrival of our birds does not appear 
;o be as uniform as it is in many of the countries of the old world ; § the arrival of several species is, nevertheless, so 
•egular, that it may be considered as the signal for commencing certain agricultural operations. Thus, the Muscicapa 
usca, which we call Pewe, is one of the earliest Spring birds of passage, visiting the neighbourhood of Philadel- 
)hia about the middle of March. We have seldom hard frosts after the arrival of this bird, which seems to give a 
•retty confident assurance to the farmer, that he may very soon begin to open the ground and plant. It is an old ob- 
ervation, in Pennsylvania, that when the Whip-poor-will (Caprimulgus virginianus) arrives, it is time to go bare- 
ooted ; that is, the spring season is pretty far advanced, and sufficiently warm to admit of laying aside the use of 
hoes, without much inconvenience. This adage originated in the days of greater simplicity than the present, 
iome of our Indians believe, that this bird is a messenger sent to call their attention to the planting of the gi-ound. 
i-ccordingly upon the arrival of the Whip-poor-will, they say to one another, " the WeecoUs \\ is come : it is planting 
* Amffinitates Academicse. Vol. IV. t Botanic Garden. Part II. Canto I. note. 
I It appears to have been a very general opinion among the ancients, that Bees vrere produced from the putrid bodies of animals. A very curious 
wsage in the 14th chapter of the book of Judges shows the high antiquity of this notion. After Sampson had killed the young Lion, " he turned aside 
see the carcase of the lion : and behold there was a swarm of Bees and honey in the carcase of the lion." The Greeks believed, that these insects 
ose from putrid bullocks, and hence they gave them a name ex^^ressive of this supposed origin. According to Archelaus, bees proceed from bullocks, 
id wasps from horses. So rude were the opinions of the ancients respecting the origin of these insects. It is certain, however, that putrid carcases 
e often visited by bees, and it is not unlikely that from these carcases, they may be able to procure honey. It was, doubtless, from observing, that 
•arms of bees frequent the dead bodies of animals, that the ancient Egyptians had recourse to such bodies for the purpose of repairing the total loss 
their honey-making insects. The manner of doing this is beautifully related by Virgil, who traces back the practice to its first source. See Georgic. 
h. IV. heginnivg at line 281. 
'y Hee Page 10. || This is the Delaware-Indian name for this bird. 
B 2 
