208 FRIENDSHIP BETWEEN BIRDS. 



we see them, even when abundance of one sort is 

 to be obtained, frequently partaking of several : 

 cattle, in particular, will resort to hedges, brakes, 

 and pools, consuming the promiscuous herbage 

 found in such places. But most probably much of 

 this diet acts as a corrective to what has been eaten, 

 and, by certain medicinal properties, is assistant to 

 digestion ; and, as wild creatures have greater 

 facility of obtaining these alteratives than domesti- 

 cated ones have, the superior health they commonly 

 enjoy may, in part, be attributable to this preven- 

 tive diet. But fruit and insects are, with us, only for 

 a short season ; and their privations^ when these no 

 longer afford a supply, indicate that they possess the 

 power of abstinence, as well as that of consumption. 

 We observed this summer two common thrushes 

 frequenting the shrubs on the green in our garden. 

 From the slenderness of their forms, and the fresh- 

 ness of their plumage, we pronounced them to be 

 birds of the preceding summer. There was an 

 association and friendship between them, that called 

 our attention to their actions ; one of them seemed 

 ailing, or feeble from some [bodily accident ; for 

 though it hopped about, yet it appeared unable to 

 obtain sufficiency of food : its companion, an active 

 sprightly bird, would frequently bring it worms, 

 or bruised snails, when they mutually partook of 

 the banquet ; and the ailing bird would wait pa- 

 tiently, understand the actions, expect the assist- 

 ance of the other, and advance from his asylum 

 upon its approach. This procedure was continued 



