THE LANGUAGE OF BIRDS. 
21 
bough, or projecting point, tells us that autumn is 
come, and brings matured fruits, chilly airs, and 
sober hours ; and he, the lonfely minstrel now that 
sings, is understood by all. These four birds thus 
indicate a separate season, have no interference with 
the intelligence of the others, nor could they be 
transposed without the loss of all the meaning they 
convey, which no contrivance of art could supply ; 
and, by long association, they have become identified 
with the period, and in peculiar accordance with the 
time. 
" We note birds in general more from their voices 
than their plumage, for the carols of spring may be 
heard involuntarily ; but to observe the form and 
decoration of these creatures requires an attention 
not always given. 
Yet we have some native birds beautifully and 
conspicuously feathered, — the goldfinch, the chaffinch, 
the v/agtails, are all eminently adorned, and the fine 
gradations of sober browns in several others are 
very pleasing. Those sweet sounds called the song 
of birds proceed only from the male, and, with a 
few exceptions, only during the season of incubation. 
Hence the comparative quietness of our summer 
