214 HABITS OF BIRDS. 



CHAPTER XVII. 



LONGEVITY OF BIRDS. 



IT is, as well remarked by Mr. Knapp, " difficult, 

 from many circumstances, to form an accurate state- 

 ment of the natural duration of animal life, the wild 

 creatures being, in great measure, removed from 

 observation, and those in a condition of domestica- 

 tion being seldom permitted to live as long as their 

 bodily strength would allow. It was formerly sup- 

 posed that the length of animal life was in propor- 

 tion to the space it remained in the parent, from 

 conception to birth, and the length "of time it re- 

 quired to obtain maturity. This notion might have 

 some support in reason and fact occasionally, but in 

 many cases was incorrect ; and, in regard to birds, 

 had no foundation. Herbivorous animals probably 

 live longer than carnivorous ones, vegetable food 

 being most easily obtainable in all seasons, in a 

 regular and requisite supply ; whereas animals that 

 subsist on flesh, or by the capture of prey, are ne- 

 cessitated at one period to pine without food, and at 

 another gorged with superfluity : and, when the bod- 

 ily powers of rapacious creatures become impaired, 

 existence is difficult to support, and gradually cea- 

 ses ; but with herbivorous animals in the same con- 

 dition, supply is not equally precarious or wholly 

 denied. Yet it is probable that few animals, in a 

 perfectly wild state, live to a natural extinction of 

 life. In a state of domestication, the small number 

 of carnivorous creatures about us are sheltered and 

 fed with care, seldom are in want of proper food, 

 and at times are permitted to await a gradual de- 

 cay, continuing as long as nature permits, and by 



