314 THE FARMER AT HOME. 



inacesssible spots. They not only pair, but continue in pairs all the . 

 year round ; and the same pair procreates year after year. This 

 at least is the case with the eagles ; the male and female hunt 

 together, unless during incubation, at which time the female is fed by 

 the male. A greater number than a single pair are never seen in 

 company. Gregarious birds pair, probably to prevent discord in a 

 society confined to a narrow space. This is the case particularly 

 with pigeons and rooks. The male and female sit on the eggs alter- 

 nately, and divide the care of feeding their young. Eider ducks pair 

 like other birds that place their nests on the ground ; and the female 

 finishes her nest with down, plucked from her own breast. If the 

 nest is destroyed for the down, which is remarkably warm and elastic, 

 she makes another nest as before. If she is robbed a second time, she 

 makes a third nest ; but the male furnishes the down. The black 

 game never pair ; in spring, the cock, on an eminence, crows and 

 claps his wings ; and the females within hearing resort to him. 



Pairing birds, excepting those of prey, flock together in February 

 to choose their mates. They soon disperse ; and are not seen after- 

 wards but in pairs. Pairing is unknown to quadrupeds that feed on 

 grass. To such it would be useless ; as the female gives suck to her 

 young while she herself is feeding. Beasts of prey, such as lions, 

 tigers, wolves, pair not. The female is left to shift for herself and for 

 her young ; which is a laborious task, and often so unsuccessful as to 

 shorten the lives of many of them. Pairing is essential to birds of 

 prey, because incubation leaves the female no sufficient time to hunt 

 for food. Pairing is not necessary to beasts of prey, because their 

 young can bear a long fast. Among animals that pair not, males 

 fight desperately for a female. The beavers, with respect to pairing, 

 resemble birds that place their nests on the ground. As soon as the 

 young are produced, the males abandon their stock of food to their 

 mates and live at }arge ; but return frequently to visit them while 

 they are suckling their young. Hedgehogs pair, as well as several of 

 the monkey kind. We are not well acquainted with the natural his- 

 tory of these animals ; but it would appear that the young require 

 the nursing care of both parents. Seals have a singular economy. 

 Polygamy seems to be a law of nature among them, as a male asso- 

 ciates with several females. The sea turtles have no occasion to pair, 

 as the female performs her task at once, by laying her eggs in the 

 sand. The young are hatched by the sun, and immediately crawl to 

 the sea. 



PALMS. A natural family of plants, the pride of tropical cli- 

 mates, and which, more than any other, contributes to give a peculiar 

 and imposing character to the vegetation of those regions. Their 

 lofty, straight and un branching trunks, crowned at the summit by a 

 tuft of large radiating leaves, give them an aspect entirely unique, 

 and far surpassing that of other trees in majesty. Aside from the 



