302 
VOICES OF BIRDS. 
That peculiar call of the female cuckoo, which assert” 1 j 
so many contending lovers, and all the various aniaW 1 , 
and caressing language of others, excites no infl u . e ®jj, 
generally, that 1 am aware of: with all, hut the . 
vidual species, it is a dialect unknown. I kno" 
one note which animals make use of, that seen’ 8 ^ 
universal comprehension, and this is the signid 
danger. The instant that it is uttered, we heal' ^ 
whole flock, though composed of various species, ref . ( 
a separate moan, and away they all scuttle into . , 
hushes for safety. The reiterated twink twink of ;.,i 
hushes for safety. The reiterated twinli twink o’ 
chaffinch, is known liy every little bird as inform 1 ’* 1 ,| 
of some prowling cat or weasel. Some give the mat cf, l. 
hush to their young, and mount to inquire into ^ 
jeopardy announced. The wren, that tells of ^ 
from the hedge, soon collects about her all the vat’ if , 
inquisitivo species within hearing, to survey and 
tain the object, and add their separate fears. | ; 
swallow, that, shrieking, darts in devious flight thro'^y 
the air when a hawk appears, not only calls up . u 
hirundines of the village, hut is instantly understood ^ 
every liuch and sparrow, and its warning attend’' 1 ^ 
As Nature, in all her ordinations, had a fixed d<’ ! y 
and foreknowledge, it maybe that species had a sei l! "\j, 
voice assigned it, that each might continue as ere® i 
distinct and unmixed ; and the very few deviation® . 
admixtures that have taken place, considering the 
of time, association, and opportunity, united wi’’ 1 
prohibition of continuing accidental deviations, are * ' 
remarkable, and indicate a cause and original I 
That some of the notes of birds are as language, des'r, ,i 
to convey a meaning, is obvious, from the very din . .jj, 
sounds uttered by these creatures at particular p erI 
The spring voices become changed as summer adv® 1 ’ jj 
and the requirements of the early season have ce * #6 
the summer excitements, monitions, information®! x 
not needed in autumn, and the notes convey’ 11 ? 8 |], 
intelligences are no longer heard. The periodica 1 
of animals, croaking of frogs, &c. aft'ord the same re® 
for concluding, that the sound of their voices by 
