INTRODUCTION. 17 



{Troglodytes ^'brevlrostris), and, with ready address, constructs its 

 globular nest wholly of the intertwined sedge-grass of the tussuck 

 on which it is built ; these two species never leave their subaquatic 

 retreats but for the purpose of distant migration, and avoid and 

 deprecate in angry tmtterings every sort of society but their own. 



Among the most extraordinary habitations of birds, illustrative of 

 their instinctive invention, may be mentioned that of the Bengal 

 Grosbeak, whose pensile nest, suspended from the lofty boughs of 

 the Indian fig-tree, is fabricated of grass, like cloth, in the form of a 

 large bottle, with the eutrance downwards; it consists also of two 

 or three chambers, supposed to be occasionally illuminated by the 

 fire-flies, which, however, only constitute a part of the food it proba- 

 bly conveys for the support of its young. But the most extraordi- 

 nary instinct of this kind known, is exhibited by the Sociable or 

 Republican Grosbeak {Floceus socius, Cuvier) of the Cape of Good 

 Hope. In one tree, according to Mr. Paterson, there could not be 

 fewer than from iSOO to 1000 of these nests, covered by one general 

 roof, resembling that of a thatched house, and projecting over the 

 entrance of the nest. Their common industry almost resembles 

 that of bees. Beneath this roof there are many entrances, each of 

 which forms, as it were, a regular street, with nests on either side, 

 about two inches distant from each other. The material which they 

 emplo}'^ in this building, is a kind of fine grass, whose seed, also, at 

 the same time, serves them for food. 



That birds, besides their predilection for the resorts of men, are 

 also capable of appreciating consequences to themselves and younor, 

 scarcely admits the shadow of a doubt : they are capable of commu- 

 nicating their fears, and nicely calculating the probability of danger, 

 or the immunities of favor. We talk of the cunning of the Fox, and 

 the. watchfulness of the Weasel ; but theEagle, Hawk, Raven, Crow, 

 Pye, and Blackbird, possess those traits of shrewdness and caution, 

 which would seem to arise from reflection and prudence. They 

 well know the powerful weapons and wiles of civilized man. With- 

 out being able to smell powder, a vulgar idea, the Crow and Black- 

 bird at once suspect the character of the fatal gun ; they will alight 

 on the backs of cattle without any show of apprehension, and the 

 Pye even hops upon them with insulting and garrulous playfulness ; 

 but he flies instantly from his human enemy, and seems, by his 

 deprecating airs, aware of the proscription that affects his existence. 

 A man on horseback, or in a carriage, is much less an object of sus- 

 picion to those wily birds, than when alone ; and I have been fre- 

 2* 



