clxxxiv 
LIFE OF WILSON. 
weather, when scarce a single chirp is heard from any other 
bird, the clear notes of the wood thrush thrill through the 
dropping woods, from morning to night; and it may truly be 
said that the sadder the day the sweeter is his song.” 
Perhaps my admiration of this passage may be dependent, 
in some measure, upon the association of ideas, having been 
accustomed to frequent the favourite haunts of this exquisite 
musician, which are “ low thick-shaded hollows, through which 
a small broolc or rill meanders, overhung with alder bushes 
that are mantled with vines.” But I can truly declare that I 
could never read it in an audible voice, the intenseness of my 
feelings always overpowering me. 
He thus delightfully introduces his history of the Barn Swal- 
low: “ There are but few persons in the United States unac- 
quainted with this gay, innocent, and active little bird. Indeed 
the whole tribe are so distinguished from the rest of small birds 
by their sweeping rapidity of flight, their peculiar aerial evolu- 
tions of wing over our fields and rivers, and through our very 
streets, frOm morning to night, that the light of heaven itself, 
the sky, the trees, or any other common objects of nature, are 
not better known than the swallows. We welcome their first 
appearance with delight, as the faithful harbingers and compa- 
nions of flowery spring, and ruddy summer; and when, after a 
long, frost-bound and boisterous winter, we hear it announced 
that the “ Swallows are come!” what a train of charming ideas 
are associated with the simple tidings!” 
The following remarks on the current doctrine of the hyber- 
nation of Swallows are worthy of note. My object in intro- 
ducing them into this place is twofold : to exemplify our author’s 
talent for copious and equable composition; and to afibrd my- 
self an opportunity of adding my feeble testimony to his, on a 
subject which one should suppose would have been long ago 
definitively ascertained. 
“ The wonderful activity displayed by these birds, forms a 
striking contrast to the slow habits of most other animals. It 
