201 



female. They both seem, at this season, transported 

 with pleasure ; every action testifies their tender so- 

 licitude. 



But previous to laying, the work of nestling be. 

 comes the common care, and this is performed with no 

 small degree of assiduity. It has been asserted that 

 birds of one kind always make their nests in the same 

 manner, and of the same materials ; but the truth is, 

 they vary this as the materials, places, or climates 

 differ. The red-breast, in some parts of England, 

 makes its nest with oak leaves, where they are in 

 plenty, and in other parts with moss and hair. Same 

 birds that with us make a very warm nest, are less so* 

 licitous in the warm climates. In general, however, 

 every species of birds has a peculiar architecture of its 

 own, and this adapted to the number of eggs, the tern. 

 ' perature of the climate, or the heat of the animal's 

 body. \Vhcre the eggs arc numerous, the nest is warm, 

 that the animal's heat may be equally diffused to them 

 all. Thus the wren, and all the small birds, make 

 their nests very warm, for having many eggs, it is re- 

 quisite to distribute warmth to them all ; on the con- 

 trary, the plover, that has bat two eggs, the eagle, 

 and the crow, are not so solicitous in this respect as 

 their bodies are capable of being applied to the small 

 number upon which th.ry sit. 



Nothing can exceed the patience of birds while 

 hatching; neither hunger nor danger can drive thera 

 from the nest. They are fat upon beginning to sit, 

 yet before incubation is over, are usually wasted to 

 skin and bone. Indeed ravens and crows, while the 

 females are silting, take care to provide them with 

 food in abundance. But it is different with most of the 

 smaller kinds; during the whole *ime the male sits 

 near his mate upon some tree, and sooths her by his 

 singing ; and often when she is tired takes her 

 place, and patiently continues on the nest till she 

 returns. 



So great is the power of instinct in these animals, 

 that they continue almost passive under its influence, 

 K 5 



