594 APPENDIX. 



Reason and Instinct in Birds. 



" Tros Tyrusve mihi nullo discernam." 



I never lose my time in trying to decide the matter between 

 these two rival points. 



I well know that some foreign birds build their nests in extreme 

 ends of branches, witness the cassiques and the orioles, and other 

 birds in equally safe positions ; witness the wrens, in little pots pro- 

 vided for them, still I cannot bring my mind to imagine for one 

 moment, that they choose these situations to protect their pro- 

 geny from the attacks of serpents. Nature is ever solicitous for 

 the welfare of all her productions ; and if she saw the necessity for 

 some orders of birds building their nests, so as to escape the visits 

 of serpents, she would equally see the same necessity to provide 

 security against serpents in other orders of birds. But this is not 

 the case. All the species of tanager in the tropics, and innumerable 

 other species, make their nests in places where any serpent can 

 have access to them. 



Again it is preposterous to inquire for one moment, that the 

 Cape Cormorin birds light up their houses with fire -flies to scare 

 away the bats, lest the bats should kill the children in the nursery. 

 Firstly, bats do not prey upon young birds. Secondly, the light 

 emitted by the fire-fly, placed at the nursery-door, could not by 

 any chance scare away the bat, for the bat lives upon it, and is per- 

 fectly accustomed to the light, as it ranges all night long in the 

 midst of millions of fire-flies. Thirdly, the old bird would have 

 gone to roost before the fire-flies appear ; and if it by chance got a 

 few, it would have some trouble hi placing the fire-fly on the clay, in 

 order that its phosphoric light might have effect. With some few 

 exceptions, the light is on the back of the insect, and invisible 

 when the electra are closed. The bird would require a pin, or a 

 needle and thread, to keep them expanded. Again the inmates of 

 the nest itself are fond of fire-flies. Methinks I hear the following 

 dialogue : 



" Mammy, I'm still hungry, and have room in my stomach for two 



