26 
THE LANGUAGE OF BIRDS. 
Some give the maternal hush to their young, and 
mount to inquire into the jeopardy announced. The 
wren, that tells of perils from the hedge, soon collects 
about her all the various inquisitive species within 
hearing, to survey and ascertain the object, and add 
their separate fears. The swallow, that, shrieking, 
darts in devious flight through the air when a hawk 
appears, not only calls up all the hirundines of the 
village, but is instantly understood by every finch 
and sparrow, and its warning attended to. As Na- 
ture, in all her ordinations, had a fixed design and 
foreknowledge, it may be that each species had a 
separate voice assigned it, that each might continue 
as created, distinct and unmixed ; and the very few 
deviations and admixtures that have taken place, 
considering the lapse of time, association, and oppor- 
tunity, united with the prohibition of continuing 
accidental deviations, are very remarkable, and indi- 
cate a cause and original motive. That some of the 
notes of birds are, as language, designed to convey a 
meaning, is obvious, from the very different sounds 
uttered by these creatures at particular periods. The 
spring voices become changed as summer advances, 
and the requirements of the early season have ceased ; 
