On the Specific Constitution of the Brute Mind. 35 1 



well as the inferences drawn from those facts, by the acute ob- 

 server to whose sagacity we owe them ; such for instance as the 

 reserve of individuals to fill up the casualties of bereavement;* 

 and the remarkable circumstance, that " both the summer and 

 winter migrating birds are, on their arrival here, well received by 

 the domestic natives, and neither create quarrels nor excite fears. 

 The redstart builds its nest in the same tree with the titmouse, 

 and the redwing feeds peaceably in the same meadow with the 

 starling." To these may be added accidental or contingent mi- 

 gration, as in the case of the Fieldfare, so clearly established by 

 Dr. Jenner, who, after correcting a very generally adopted, but 

 erroneous opinion, of the Redwing's and the Fieldfare's feeding 

 upon the haw, or fruit of the whitethorn, proceeds to observe — 

 " The occasional departure of these and some other winter birds 

 during a long continued frost, must be very obvious. The greater 

 number disappear soon after its commencement, if it sets in very 

 severely : some few are always left behind and are soon starved, 

 if not fortunately relieved by a thaw. Those that are driven to 

 this necessitous migration, probably pursue a track that quickly 

 leads them out of the reach of frost. Of these flights I shall pro- 

 duce instances, which render it probable that they are able even 

 to outstrip its course. 



• " Should a fatal accident befal either the male or female bird after this 

 [the connubial] alliance is newly formed, no time is lost in unavailing sorrow, 

 nor any great nicety shown in forming a new connection, as the following 

 little history will evince. A pair of Magpies began to build their nest in a 

 gentleman's garden at Burbage, in Wiltshire. Disliking their familiarity, he 

 shot one of them from an ambush made for the purpose. The next day there 

 were again a pair going on with the work. One of these was also shot. The 

 loss was not long in repairing ; for the day following the pair were again com- 

 plete, when another fell a victim to the gun. Thus the gentleman went on 

 destroying one of them daily until he had killed seven ; but all to no purpose — 

 the remaining Magpie soon found another mate. The nest was finished, and 

 young ones were produced, which were suffered to fly. This is an extraordi- 

 nary fact. — It seems to show that nature has a reserve of birds in an uncon- 

 nected state, immediately ready to repair losses. Were the whole to pair at 

 once, the circumjacent country might be insufficient to furnish food for the 



immense number of young ones that must burst forth at the same time." 



Phil. Tram, for 1824. Part 1, p. 21. 



