336 THE LIFE OF A BIRD. 



to which they severally belong, is as easily under- 

 stood as that the disposition of a lion's whelp and of 

 a lamb should differ from each other, and resemble 

 that of their respective parents. The future lord 

 of the air is as well marked in his pinnacle nest 

 while yet a nestling, after he has attained a certain 

 degree of development, as the future lord of the 

 forest while yet a cub ; the early manifestation of 

 these characteristics in the nestlings occasionally 

 gives rise to curious circumstances, when the nest- 

 lings have been reared by a foster-parent. The 

 farm-yard is often the scene of the utmost anxiety 

 on the part of a hen who is set in an agony 

 of alarm by the conduct of her young brood. 

 Happening unfortunately for her own comfort and 

 peace of mind to wander with her newly-hatched 

 brood near to the muddy pool which 'forms one of 

 the ornaments of this locality, her astonishment 

 and horror may be conceived when she beheld her 

 whole brood without an exception rush into the 

 water and begin paddling about with consummate 

 delight. The poor foster-parent, ignorant that 

 such is the natural habit of her brood, which turns 

 out to be a brood of ducklings, awaits in painful 

 anxiety their return to land, the meanwhile in 



