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VOICES OF BIRDS. 
That peculiar call of the female cuckoo, which assembles 
so many contending lovers, and all the various amatorial 
and caressing language of others, excites no influence 
generally, that I am aware of : with all, but the indi- 
vidual species, it is a dialect unknown. I know but 
one note which animals make use of, that seems of 
universal comprehension, and this is the signal of 
danger. The instant that it is uttered, we hear the 
whole flock, though composed of various species, repeat 
a separate moan, and away they all scuttle into the 
bushes for safety. The reiterated twink twink of the 
chaffinch, is known by every little bird as information 
of some prowling cat or weasel. 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 ascer- 
tain 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 Nature, in all her ordinations, had a fixed design 
and foreknowledge, it may be that 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 opportunity, united with the 
prohibition of continuing accidental deviations, are very 
remarkable, and indicate 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 ; 
the summer excitements, monitions, informations, are 
not needed in autumn, and the notes conveying such 
intelligences are no longer heard. The periodical calls 
of animals, croaking of frogs, &c. afford the same reasons 
for concluding, that the sound of their voices by ele- 
