?0 HABITS OF BIRDS. 



Buzareingues *, who found, that with respect to 

 the ages of the individuals paired, and the propor- 

 tion of the sexes produced, nearly the same prin- 

 ciples held good among fowls as among quadrupeds, 

 at least when both were domesticated. 



The males of quadrupeds seldom lend any assist- 

 ance whatever in taking care of the young. The 

 assistance of the 'male indeed in most animals which 

 suckle their young is not at all wanted, and hence 

 he seldom takes any notice, or even knows of the 

 existence, of his offspring. Amongst insects there 

 is still less need of the aid of the male, so far at least 

 as food is concerned ; for very few insect parents live 

 to see their offspring. Insects, in most cases, finding 

 their own food as soon as they are hatched, it is the 

 chief care of the mother to deposit her eggs where 

 appropriate food may be readily obtained by her 

 progeny. Food indeed is in some instances collected 

 by the mother arid brought to the place where her 

 eggs are deposited f; but the male parent never 

 shares either in the labour of procuring it or in the 

 construction of the nest for its reception J ; while in 

 the singular exceptions furnished by ants and other 

 insects living in communities, neither the males nor 

 the females, but a peculiar race of nurse insects pro- 

 vide the necessary food for the young . Amongst 

 birds, on the other hand, food for the young has 

 in most instances to be brought from a distance, 

 and much assiduity is required to collect it in suffi- 

 cient quantity, the voracity of nestlings being almost 

 insatiable. Among them, therefore, the assistance 

 of the ipale in this work is in most species almost 

 indispensable. When the brood is numerous, it 

 would be extremely difficult if not impossible for 



* Experiences sur la General. 8vo. Paris, 1828. 



f Insect Architecture, p. 32. J Ibid. p.45. 



Insect Miscellanies, p. 242, 



