TENTATORES. PROBERS. 61 



own kind, which attack or annoy the intruders. It might 

 be supposed that the situation of the nest would in some 

 measure determine the mode of defence, and that the owners 

 of those placed on the ground would, if feeble, use stratagem 

 to decoy intruders away. Few of them, however, shew this 

 kind of instinct otherwise than, when very closely approached, 

 by flying off close to the ground, in a cowering or fluttering 

 manner, as if disabled. The Pipits, for example, act in this 

 way, which, however, seems the effect of fright, rather than 

 an attempt to draw attention to themselves, and thus save 

 their charge. I have seen a pole-cat eating the young ones 

 in a lark's nest, while the parent birds, and some others of 

 the same species, attracted by their cries, were hovering over 

 it and vociferating loudly, but without venturing to attack 

 it, or attempting to decoy it away. But, we know very little 

 of the defensive habits of birds except with reference to our- 

 selves ; and in most cases their courage and cunning are of 

 little avail in preserving either themselves or their progeny 

 from our tyranny. Although the Raven is the largest and 

 strongest bird of this group, and can protect himself from all 

 our native birds and quadrupeds, he sometimes employs dis- 

 simulation when man is the aggressor, and I have seen one, 

 after I had long been endeavouring to find a way to its nest 

 in a maritime cliff, and to shoot itself, fly to a distance, and 

 on an elevated place flutter and roll over, as if expiring in 

 agony. 



The Deglubitorial, or smaller thick-billed birds, seldom 

 employ either force or cunning in defence of their nests ; but 

 merely hover about, emitting cries, or stand silent in the 

 neighbourhood. 



Most of the Rasorial birds, however, evince great anxiety 

 for the safety of their eggs or young ; and many of them, 

 especially the Partridges, feign lameness, and use other 

 stratagems to withdraw from their charge the attention of 

 intruders, whether canine or human. They have, at the 

 same time, great boldness on such occasions, and will often 

 attack crows, weasels, or other destructive prowlers. The 

 Pigeons merely flit about at a safe distance, or even fly off 

 altos'ether. 



