INGENUITY OF CROWS. 267 



the time they suppose that his bag is full, these bar- 

 barians return to the place, and unmercifully rob him 

 of his treasure. 



The spirit of plunder that appears in the cormorant 

 and sea-gull was observed by Doctor Darwin in two 

 crows also, which followed a hawk till he had caught 

 his prey, and then compelled him to share his prize 

 with them. 



The same author relates a most ingenious arti- 

 fice, used by more than a hundred crows, on the 

 northern coast of Ireland, which marks contrivance 

 rather than mere instinct. These crows were prey- 

 ing upon muscles, a kind of food by no means 

 usual with them : each crow took up a muscle 

 into the air, twenty or forty yards high, and let 

 it fall on the stones with such force, that the shell 

 was broken, and the helpless fish became an easy 

 prey. 



In the superficial view of nature that falls to the 

 common lot, numberless are the instances of wisdom 

 and goodness that are found in the means with 

 which each creature is furnished for its own support 

 and preservation — I may say, for its gratification; 

 for there is nothing that has life, so minute or so 

 mean, that is not intended for a degree of happiness 

 adapted to its power of enjoyment. The poet says, 

 ^' To enjoy, is to obey." It seems to be a universal 



