234 THE LIFE OF A BIRD. 



pation which he undertakes. So much is this the 

 case, that he is frequently known even to sing with 

 great vigour while incubating, as though he would 

 show himself to be as happy as possible, or as if 

 he would wile away the dull hours of the female's 

 absence from his side. A writer in the Magazine 

 of Natural History says he has several times been 

 led to the discovery of a well-concealed nest, by 

 the male singing while on the eggs. Generally, 

 however, the male, being perhaps of rather a vol- 

 atile spirit, and growing weary soon of a duty 

 calling for so much patience as that of incubation, 

 sits neither so steadily nor so long as the female : 

 it is, however, to his credit, if we may so speak, 

 that he relieves his partner at all ; and, doubtless, 

 she is glad enough after a short freedom to resume 

 her duties with her accustomed patience. 



The raven, the incubation of whose eggs re- 

 quires a period of twenty days, is also among 

 those birds who are thus distinguished ; during 

 this time the male bird lightens the labours of his 

 partner by feeding her while on the nest with the 

 choicest pickings he can collect, and, when she is 

 weary, by taking her place upon the eggs. The 

 common rook is another instance of domestic affec- 



