Mr Black wall 07i the Instincts of Birds. 243 



beautiful and harmless reptiles, the common snake and blind- 

 worm, are destroyed without pity, upon the groundless suppo- 

 sition that they are venomous. 



These are a few instances only, selected from many that have 

 fallen under my own observation, of the pernicious consequences 

 which result from an ignorance of that useful portion of natural 

 history, which at present engages our consideration. 



We will now proceed to notice, briefly, some of the numerous 

 advantages to be derived from a successful cultivation of this 

 delightful study ; and a correction of the above-mentioned errors 

 and abuses, with the needless waste of life which it would pre- 

 vent, is not among the least of them. For the preservation of 

 our persons and property from those creatures, by which they 

 are liable to be injured ; for the best methods of promoting the 

 increase, improving the condition, and effecting the subjection 

 of such as contribute to our benefit or amusement ; and for the 

 skilful management of our valuable reclaimed and domestic ani- 

 mals, which supply us with so many comforts and luxuries, we 

 must depend, in a great measure, upon our knowledge of their 

 habits, manners, and propensities. To this knowledge, also, the 

 practical physiologist is indebted for a means of enlarging his 

 acquaintance with the phenomena of life ; the scientific natural- 

 ist, and particularly the ornithologist, for an excellent mode of 

 distinguishing species, under circumstances in which the ordi- 

 nary rules for determining them are of little or no avail ; and the 

 physico-theologist, for a more comprehensive view of the power, 

 wisdom, and goodness of the Creator, as manifested in his living 

 works. 



Having thus succinctly adverted to the great importance of 

 accurate information in this extensive department of zoology, I 

 shall now limit my remarks exclusively to the feathered tribes ; 

 and whoever attentively considers the diversified operations of 

 the various active powers, with which the interesting beings that 

 compose this pleasing division of the animal kingdom are en^ 

 dowed, cannot fail to receive a high degree of mental gratifica- 

 tion. 



It frequently happens, that the experienced observer is ena- 

 bled to discriminate birds with the utmost certainty by their 

 notes, manner of flight, or some other peculiarity, when he has 



