366 
GENERAL INFERENCES. 
On the whole therefore, we are called upon to 
conclude that weather has a decided effect on the 
animal spirits of birds ; * that while in summer 
plenty of food, rivalry, animal desire and the smiling 
face of nature conspire to produce melody as the 
evidence of the excitation of these spirits, and 
while in autumn, plenty of food and fine mild weather 
call forth a diminished quantity of and less power¬ 
ful kind of song in the generality of birds in whom 
it is then observed, winter with all its sternness and 
and -want, does still in its intervals of unusually 
fine weather present us with a return of song as if 
in anticipation of the future incubating season. We 
see also by the foregoing facts, that a forward spring 
will call forth songs otherwise not heard till later 
in the year, and that a backward spring on the 
other hand seemingly defers or impedes the more 
ordinary course of nature by preventing vernal 
songs, whereby the effect of weather on this matter 
is clearly indicated. Although some few birds as 
the Lark and Snipe are reported to become very fat 
in winter, yet in general, want prevails, and a sudden 
re-appearance of scanty supplies seems very unlikely 
to draw forth songs at this season. In the character 
of our winters above named should be peculiar, 
then there is still stronger evidence of the power of 
weather in elevating the spirits. Col. Montagu 
observes that the Missel Thrush “ begins to sing in 
“January if the weather is mild, but ceases so soon 
“ as the thermometer sinks below forty degrees.” 
White says that the Linnet “ re-assumes its note 
“ when they begin to congregate in October, and 
“ again early before the flocks separate,”—state- 
* There appears to be some truth in the vulgar belief that the 
crowing of the cock is louder and more frequent just prior to a 
favorable change of weather, thus acting as a prognostic. 
