and mother could not leave them at the same time; and that if one went abroad to seek for food, the other must wait till it returns? Who has fixed in the calendar the express number of days this painful diligence is to last? Who has advertised them to assist the young, that are already formed, in coming out of the egg by first breaking the shell? And who has so exactly instructed them in the very moment before which they never come?

Lastly, who has given lessons to all the bird upon the care they ought to take of their young, till such time as they are grown up, and in a condition to provide for themselves? Who has made them distinguish such things as agree well with one species, but are prejudicial to another? And amongst such as are proper to the parents, and unfit for the young, who has made them distinguish such as are salutary? We know the tenderness of mothers, and the carefulness of nurses amongst mankind, but I question whether it ever came up to what we see in these little creatures.

Who has taught several among the birds that marvellous industry of retaining food or water in their gullet, without swallowing either the one or the other, and preserving them for their young, to whom this first preservation serves instead of milk?

Is it for the birds, O Lord, that thou hast joined together so many miracles, which they have no knowledge of? Is it for men, who give no attention to them? Is it for the curious, who are satisfied with admiring them, without raising their thoughts to thee? Or is it not rather visible, that thy design has been to call us to thyself by such a spectacle; to make us sensible of thy providence and infinite wisdom; and to fill us with confidence in thy bounty, who watchest with so much care and tenderness over the birds, [s] though two of them are sold but for a farthing?

But let us set bounds to our observations upon the industry of birds, for the subject is infinite, and hearken for a moment to the concert of their music, the first [s] Matt. x. 29.

praise which God received from nature, and the first song of thanksgiving which was offered to him before man was formed. All their sounds are different, but all harmonious, and all together compose a choir which men have but sorrily imitated. One voice however, more strong and melodious is distinguished among the rest, and I find upon inquiry, from whence it comes, that it is a very small bird, which is the organ of it. This leads me to consider all the rest of the singing tribe, and they also are all small; the great ones being either wholly ignorant of music, or having a disagreeable voice. Thus I every where find, that what seems weak and small has the best destination, and the most gratitude.

Some of these little birds are extremely beautiful, nor can any thing be more rich or variegated than their feathers; but it must be owned, that all ornament must give place to the finery of the peacock, upon which God has plentifully bestowed all the riches which set off the rest, and lavished upon it with gold and azure all the shades of every other colour. This bird seems sensible of its advantage, and looks as if designed to display all its beauties to our eyes, when it expands that splendid circumference which sets them all to view.

But this most pompous bird of all has a most disagreeable cry, and is a proof, that with a very shining outside there may be but a sorry substance within, little gratitude and a great deal of vanity.

In examining the feathers of the rest, I find one thing very singular in those of the swans and other river fowl, for they are proof against the water, and continue always dry, and yet our eyes do not discover either the artifice or difference of them.

I look upon the feet of the same birds, and observe webs there, which distinctly mark their destination. But I am much astonished to see these birds so sure, that they run no hazard by throwing themselves into the water, whereas others, to whom God has not given the like feathers or feet, are never so rash as to expose

them

themselves to it. Who has told the former that they run no danger, and who keeps back the others from following their example? It is not unusual to set duck eggs under a hen, which in this case is deceived by her affection, and takes a foreign brood for her natural offspring, that run to the water as soon as they come out of the shell, nor can their pretended mother prevent them by her repeated calls. She stands upon the brink in astonishment at their rashness, and still more at the success of it. She finds herself violently tempted to follow them, and warmly expresses her impatience, but nothing is capable of carrying her to an indiscretion which God has prohibited. The spectators are surprised at it, more or less in proportion to their understanding; for it is from the want of light and understanding, that such prodigies excite so little admiration. But it is rare that the spectators learn from this example, that it is necessary to be destined by providence to discharge the functions of a dangerous state, and to receive from it all that is requisite for our security; and that it is a fatal rashness for others to venture upon it, who have neither the same vocation nor the same talents.

I should never have done, should I undertake to consider many miracles of a like nature with those I have related. I shall content myself with one observation more, which takes in several others, and relates to birds of passage.

They have all their allotted times, which they do not exceed; but this time is not the same for every species; some wait for the winter, others the spring; some the summer, and others the autumn. There is amongst every sort a public and general rule of government, which guides and retains every single bird in its duty. Before the general edict, there is none thinks of departing. After its publication, there is no one tarries behind. A kind of council fixes the day, and grants a certain time to prepare for it, after which they all take their flight; and so exact is their discipline, that the next day there is not a straggler or

deserter

deserter to be found. Many people know no other bird but the swallow that acts thus, but it is certain that many other species do the same. Now I ask, though we had but the single instance of the swallow, what news have they received from the countries whither they go in great companies, to be assured that they shall find all things there prepared for their reception? I ask, why they do not keep like other birds to the country where they have brought up their young, which have been so kindly treated in it? By what disposition to travel does this new brood, which knows no other than its native country, conspire all at once to quit it? In what language is the ordinance published, which forbids all, both old and new subjects of the republic, to tarry beyond a certain day? And lastly, by what signs do the principal magistrates know, that they should run an extreme hazard in exposing themselves to be prevented by a rigorous season? What other answer can be given to these questions than that of the prophet, [t] O Lord, how manifold are thy works, in wisdom hast thou made them all!

Land Animals.

I am obliged to abridge this subject, to put an end to this small treatise, which has insensibly grown very long.

The single instance of the dog, shews us how capable God is of giving matter all the outward appearances of understanding, fidelity, friendship, and gratitude, without the principle of them. As this example is known to all the world, I shall not dwell upon it.

The actions of the bee are no less admirable. Instead of contenting itself with sucking the honey, which is better preserved in the cups of flowers than any where else, and feeding upon it day by day, it lays up a provision for the whole year, and principally for the winter. It loads the little hooks which adorn its legs with all the wax and gum that it can carry, and [t] Psal. civ. 24.

in sucking up the honey with the trunk fixed at the extremity of its head, it avoids the daubing of its wings, of which it stands in need to fly from place to place, and to carry it home.

If care is not taken to prepare a hive for it, it makes one itself in the hollow of some tree or rock; there its first care is to form the comb, which it composes of small equal cells, that they may be the better joined, and leave no interval or space between. Then it pours out the honey pure and unmixed into these small reservoirs, and how plentifully soever its magazines are filled, it takes no rest, till the time of labour and harvest is over. In this republic there is no idleness, no avarice or self-love, but all is in common. What is necessary is granted to all, a superfluity to none, and it is for the public good that their substance is preserved. New colonies, which would be a burthen to the state, are sent abroad. They know how to work, and are obliged to do so by being dismissed.

Amongst the best governed nations have we the copy of so perfect a model? Can such surprising wisdom be attributed to chance or a cause without a will? Or can we think these wonders explained by saying, that instinct, nature, and I know not what, is the principle from whence they proceed? And is it not under these images, on one side so perfect, and on the other so remote from matter, that God has taken a pleasure to manifest what he is, and to teach man what he should be?

Let us pass from the bee to the ant, which resembles it in many respects, except that a bee enriches man, and the ant strives all he can to impoverish him by stealing from him.

This little animal is informed, that the winter is long, and that the ripe corn is not a great while exposed in the field. Thus the ant never sleeps during harvest. It draws along with the little instruments which are fixed to its head grains of corn which are thrice as heavy as itself, and goes backward with them

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