BIRDS 
17 
advised me of his proximity, as he went 
by on his mincing flight; and the Chim¬ 
ney-Swallows have been crying the child's 
riddle of “Chippy, chippy, cherryo,” 
about the house-top. 
With these angels and ministers of 
grace thus to attend me, even in the seclu¬ 
sion of my closet, 1 am led more than 
ever to expressions of love and admira¬ 
tion. 1 understand the enthusiasm of 
Wilson and Audubon, and see how one 
might forsake house and home and go 
and live with them the free life of the 
woods. 
To the dissecting, classifying scientist 
a bird may be no more perfect or lovable 
than a squirrel or a fish; yet to me it 
seems that all the excellences of the 
animal creation converge and centre in 
this nymph of the air; a warbler seems 
to be the finishing stroke. 
First, there is its light, delicate, aerial 
organization,—consequently, its vivacity, 
its high temperature, the depth and 
rapidity of its inspirations, and likewise 
the intense, gushing, lyrical character of 
its life. How hot he is! how fast he lives! 
