INTRODUCTION. 19 



be taken away, they sagaciously leave the premises without return. 

 The pious Storks, in Holland, protected by law for their usefulness 

 build their nests on the tops of houses and churches, often in the 

 midst of cities, in boxes prepared for them, like those for our Mar- 

 tins; and, walking about the streets and gardens, without apprehen- 

 sion of danger, perform the useful office of domestic scaveno-ers. 



That birds, like our more sedentary and domestic quadrupeds are 

 capable of exhibiting attachment to those who feed and attend them 

 is undeniable. Deprived of other society, some of our more intelli- 

 gent species, particularly the Thrushes, soon learn to seek out the 

 company of their friends or protectors of the human spe ies. The 

 Brown Thrush and Mocking-bird become, in this way, extremely 

 familiar, cheerful, and capriciously playful ; the former, in particular, 

 courts the attention of his master, follows his steps, complains when 

 neglected, flies to him when suffered to be at large, and sing-s and re- 

 poses gratefully perched on his hand ; in short, by all his actions he 

 appears capable of real and affectionate attachment; and is jealous 

 of every rival, particularly any other bird, which he persecutes from 

 his presence with unceasing hatred. His petulant dislike to par- 

 ticular objects of less moment is also displayed by various tones and 

 gestures, which soon become sufficiently intelligible to those who 

 are near him, as well as his notes of gratulation and satisfaction. 

 His language of fear and surprise could never be mistaken, and an 

 imitation of his guttural low tsherr tsherr, on these occasions, an- 

 swers as a premonitory warning when any danger awaits him 

 from the sly approach of cat or squirrel. As I have now descended 

 as I may say, to the actual biography of one of these birds, wliich 

 I raised and kept uncaged for some time, I may also add, that be- 

 sides a playful turn for mischief and interruption, in which he would 

 sometimes snatch off the paper on which I was writing, he had a 

 good degree of curiosity, and was much surprised one day by a 

 large springing beetle or Elater (E. ocellatus), which I had caught 

 and placed in a tumbler. On all such occasions, his looks of ca- 

 pricious surprise were very amusing ; he cautiously approached the 

 glass with fanning and closing wings, and in an under tone con- 

 fessed his surprise at the address and jumping motions of the huge 

 insect. At length he became bolder, and perceiving it had a relation 

 to his ordinary prey of beetles, he, with some hesitation, ventured to 

 snatch at the prisoner between temerity and playfulness. But when 

 really alarmed or offended, he instantly flew to his loftiest perch, 

 forbid all friendly approaches, and for some time kept up his low 



