Many a time shall I disturb them there， and feel as if I hadintruded among a company of silent worshippers， as theysit in sabbath-stillness among the tree-tops. Their voices，when they speak， are in admirable accordance with thetranquil solitude of a summer afternoon； and， resoundingso far above the head， their loud clamor increases thereligious quiet of the scene， instead of breaking it. A crow，however， has no real pretensions to religion， in spite of hisgravity of mien and black attire； he is certainly a thief， andprobably an infidel. The gulls are far more respectable， ina moral point of view. These denizens of sea-beaten rocks，and haunters of the lonely beach， come up our inlandriver， at this season， and soar high overhead， flapping theirbroad wings in the upper sunshine. They are among themost picturesque of birds， because they so float and restupon the air as to become almost stationary parts of thelandscape. The imagination has time to grow acquaintedwith them； they have not flitted away in a moment. You goup among the clouds， and greet these lofty-flighted gulls，and repose confidently with them upon the sustainingatmosphere. Ducks have their haunts along the solitaryplaces of the river， and alight in flocks upon the broadbosom of the overflowed meadows. Their flight is toorapid and determined for the eye to catch enjoymentfrom it， although it never fails to stir up the heart withthe sportsman’s ineradicable instinct. They have now gonefarther northward， but will visit us again in autumn.
