Cuckoo fmgs.* The amiable Mr. Stillingfleet remarked nearly the fame coincidence In England, Dr. Darwin ob- 
ferves, that the "" word Coccux in Greek fignifies both a young % and a cuckoo, which is fuppofed to have arifeii 
from the coincidence of their appearance in Greece.’^ Many inftances of a fimilar coincidence might be pointed 
out between the flowering of our Pennfylvanian vegetables and the arrival of certain birds. Thus it is obferved, 
that the Wood-Cock (Scolopax Gallinago) commonly vifits us when the American Elm (Ulmus amcricana) is in full 
blolTom: that is between the 8th and 18th of March. 
§. xxir. 
/ 
It is well known, that the ancients were of opinion, that the arrival of certain birds of paflage afforded one of 
the bed and fafefl diredions for the planting of different kinds of vegetables, and for other agricultural purpofes. 
Thus Virgil, who was at once a naturalifl: and poet, tells us, that the befl time for planting vineyards (in Italy) is 
when the White bird, or Storck, appears: . 
Optima vinetis fatio^ cum vere ruhenti 
Candida venit avis longis invifa colubris. 
Georgic. Lib. II. 319—320. 
I could point out, in the happy compofitions of this great poet, other inftances of a fimilar kind. The following 
is too beautiful to be omitted. The poet of Mantua is here defcribing the method and the time for killing a fteCr 
for the purpofe of obtaining from its putrid gore a flock of bees, as was pradifed by the ancient Egyptians. | He 
tells us this muft be done early in the fpring, before the meadows are painted with the colours of flowers, and be¬ 
fore the Swallow builds its neft upon the rafters. 
Hoc geritur^ zephyris primum impellentibus undaSy 
Ante novis rubcant quam prata colorihusy ante 
Garrula quam tigfiis nidum fufpejidat hirundo. 
Georgic. Lib. IV. 305—307, 
§. XXIII. 
•Although In Pennfylvania, and many other parts of the United-States, the arrival of our birds does not appear 
to be as uniform as it is in many of the countries of the old world ;§ the arrival of feveral fpecies is, neverthelefs, fo 
regular, that it may be confidered as the fignal for commencing certain agricultural operations. Thus, the Mufcicapa 
fufca, which we call Pewe, Is one of the earlieft Spring birds of paffage, vifiting the neighbourhood of Philadel¬ 
phia about the middle of March. We have feldom hard frofts after the arrival of this bird, which feems to give a 
pretty confident affurance to the farmer, that he may very foon begin to open the ground and plant. It is an old ob- 
fervation, in Pennfylvania, that when the Whip-poor-will fCaprimulgus virginianus) arrives, it is time to go bare¬ 
footed ; that is, the fpring feafon is pretty far advanced, and fufficiently warm to admit of laying afide the ufe of 
flioes, without much inconvenience. This adage originated in the days of gTeater fimplicity than the prefent. 
Some of our Indians believe, that this bird is a meflenger fent to call their attention to the planting of the ground. 
Accordingly upon the arrival of the Whip-poor-will, they fay to one another, the PVeeco/isH is come: it is planting 
* Anisnitates Academics. Vo L. IV. f Botanic Garden. Part II. Canto 1 . note. 
t It appears to have been a very general opinion among the ancients, that Bees were produced from the putrid bodies of animals. A very curious paffage In the 
14th chapter of the book of Judges fhows the high antiquity of this notion. After Sampfon had killed the young L.ion, “ he turned afide to fee the carcafe of the 
lion : and behold there was a fwarm of Bees and honey in the carcafe of the Hon.” The Greeks believed, that thefe infeiSls arofe from putrid bullocks, and hence they 
gave them a name expreffive of this fuppofed origin. According to Archelaus, bees proceed from bullocks, and wafps from horfes. So rude were the opinions of 
the ancients refpeding the origin of thefe infedls. It is certain, however, that putrid carcafes are often vifited by bees, and it is not unlikely that from thefe carcafes, 
they may be able to procure honey. It was, doubtlefs, from obferving, that fvvarms of bees frequent the dead bodies of animals, that the ancient Egyptians had rc- 
courfe to fuch bodies for the pupofe of repairing the total lofs of their honey-making infetfls. The manner of doing this is beautifully related by Virgil, who traces 
back the praiflice to its lirft lource. See Georgic. Lib, IV, beginning at line 281. 
§ See Page 10. 
i] This is the Delaware-Indian name for this bird. 
