FRIENDSHIP BETWEEN BIRDS. 209 



for some days, but after a time we missed the fos- 

 tered bird, which probably died, or by reason of 

 its weakness met with some fatal accident. We 

 have many relations of the natural affection of ani- 

 mals ; and whoever has attended to the actions of 

 the various creatures we are accustomed to domes- 

 ticate about us can probably add many other in- 

 stances from their own observation. Actions which 

 are in any way analogous to the above, when they 

 are performed by mankind, arise most commonly 

 from duty, affection, pity, interest, pride ; but we 

 are not generally disposed to allow the inferior 

 orders of creation the possession of any of these 

 feelings, except perhaps the last : yet when we have 

 so many instances of attachment existing between 

 creatures similar and dissimilar in their natures, 

 which are obvious to all, and where no interest 

 can possibly arise as a motive ; when we mark the 

 varieties of disposition which they manifest under 

 uniform treatment, their various aptitudes and 

 comprehensions, sensibility or inattention to sounds, 

 &c., it seems but reasonable to consider them as 

 gifted with latent passions ; though, being devoid 

 of mind to stimulate or call them into action by any 

 principle of volition or virtue, how excited to per- 

 formance we know no more than we do the motives 

 of many of their bodily actions ! The kindnesses 

 and attentions which the maternal creature mani- 

 fests in rearing its young, and the assistance occa- 

 sionally afforded by the paternal animal during 

 the same period, appear to be a natural inherent 



