310 HOMING WITH THE BIRDS 



of them aroused by the curiosity of one, see a 

 whole nock take wing at the warning of one, see 

 them fight over food, see them exhibit the very 

 human attributes of love, anger, greed, suspicion, 

 curiosity, pride, et cetera. 



We know that they have a spine, on the top of 

 which sits a skull, enclosing a brain, also provided 

 with fine eyes and a beak for taking food and to 

 be used in self-defense. To what extent a bird 

 uses its brain, it is impossible for a human being 

 to state. Whether we believe that birds act solely 

 upon "instinct" or exercise the brain, as they do 

 the eyes, feet, wings, and the remainder of their 

 anatomy, we are all forced to concede one thing: 

 no matter by what name we call it, the birds know. 

 Exactly how much they know, and exactly how 

 they know it, we can only surmise. This thing is 

 sure: as the ages go by, they are gradually improv- 

 ing, even as man progresses. Since the birds* 

 ancestors crawled from the water and took up 

 life upon the land, they have fallen into divisions, 

 based upon the locations in which they remained. 

 These divisions have now become so distinct that 

 the form and habil of each bird are suited to life 

 upon the water, on shore, or mountain, or in the 

 cave, hollow tree, or field. They have learned 

 to migrate, to build their nests, and what to feed 

 I heir young, each after its kind. They are not 

 the same creatures thai crept from the original 

 slime of things to begin life that had flight as 



