ON THE 



INSTINCTS OF BIRDS 



BY JOHN BLACKWALL, F.L. S. 



(Read Janaary 23rd, 1829.) 



A HE manners and economy of the inferior 

 orders of animals form one of the most interesting 

 subjects of investigation which can engage the 

 attention of the philosophic naturaUst. An 

 acquaintance with this important but greatly 

 neglected branch of zoology, conduces to the 

 correction of numerous erroneous opinions and 

 groundless prejudices, and opens an inexhaus- 

 tible source of valuable information and rational 

 amusement. It throws also much light on the 

 operations of that mysterious agency, which 

 regulates those actions of animated beings that, 

 although attended with consciousness, do not 

 result from observation, instruction, experience, 

 or reflection, and have, therefore, generally been 

 termed instinctive actions. 



When we consider how many creatures are 



