36 
The late Dr. Jenner 
bird, I have said, is directed to this island at a certain season 
of the year to produce and rear its young. This appears to 
be the grand intention which nature has in view ; but in 
consequence of the observation just made, its presence here 
may answer many secondary purposes ; among these I shall 
notice the following. The beneficent Author of nature seems 
to spare no pains in cheering the heart of man with every 
thing that is delightful in the summer season. We may be 
indulged with the company of these visitors, perhaps, to 
heighten, by the novelty of their appearance, and pleasing 
variety of their notes, the native scenes. How sweetly, at 
the return of spring, do the notes of the cuckoo first burst 
upon the ear ; and what apathy must that soul possess, that 
does not feel a soft emotion at the song of the nightingale, 
(surely it must be “ fit for treasons, stratagems, and spoils” ) 
and how wisely is it contrived that a general stillness should 
prevail while this heavenly bird is pouring forth its plaintive 
and melodious strains, — strains that so sweetly accord with 
the evening hour ! — Some of our foreign visitors, it may be 
said, are inharmonious minstrels, and rather disturb than aid 
the general concert. In the midst of a soft warm summer's 
day, when the martin is gently floating on the air, not only 
pleasing us with the peculiar delicacy of its note, but with 
the elegance of its meandering ; when the blackcap is vying 
with the goldfinch, and the linnet with the woodlark, a dozen 
swifts rush from some neighbouring battlement, and set up a 
most discordant screaming. Yet all is perfect. The inter- 
ruption is of short duration, and without it, the long con- 
tinued warbling of the softer singing birds would pall and 
tire the listening ear with excess of melody, as the exhila- 
