BIRDS IN GENERAL. 3? 



Addison, " out of his instinct, and you find him wholly deprived ot 

 understanding. With what caution," continues he, " does the hen 

 provide herself a nest in places unfrequented, and free from noise and 

 disturbance ! When she has laid her eggs in such a manner that she 

 can cover them, what care does she take in turning them frequently, 

 ihat all parts may partake of the vital warmth ! When she leaves 

 them to provide for her necessary sustenance, how punctually does she 

 return before they have time to cool, and become incapable of pro- 

 ducing an animal ! In the summer you see her giving herself greater 

 freedoms, and quitting her care for above two hours together : but in 

 winter, when the rigour of the season would chill the principles of 

 life, and destroy the young one, she grows more assiduous in her at- 

 tendance, and stays away but half the time. When the birth approaches, 

 with how much nicety and attention does she help the chick to break 

 the prison ! not to take notice of her covering it from the injuries of 

 the weather, providing it with proper nourishment, and teaching it to 

 help itself; nor to mention her forsaking the nest, if, after the usual 

 time of reckoning, the young one does not make its appearance. A 

 chymical operation could not be followed with greater art or diligence 

 than is seen in hatching a chick, though there are many birds that 

 show an infinitely greater sagacity : yet at the salne time the hen, that 

 has all this seeming ingenuity, (which is indeed absolutely necessary 

 for the propagation of the species,) considered in other respects, is 

 without the least glimmerings of thought or common sense : she mis- 

 takes a piece of chalk for an egg, and sits upon it in the same manner ; 

 she is insensible of any increase or diminution in the number of those 

 she lays ; she does not distinguish between her own, and those of an- 

 other species ; and when the birth appears of never so different a bird, 

 will cherish it for her own. A hen followed by a brood of ducks, shall 

 stand affrighted at the edge of the pond, trembling for the fate of her 

 young, which she sees venturing into so dangerous an element. As 

 the different principle which acts in these different animals cannot be 

 termed reason, so when we call it instinct, we mean something we 

 have no knowledge of. It appears to me the immediate direction of 

 Providence ; and such an operation of the Supreme Being, as that 

 which determines all the portions of matter to their proper centres." 



The production of the young, as was said, seems to be the great 

 sera of a bird's happiness. Nothing can at that time exceed its spirit 

 and industry : the most timid becomes courageous in the defence of 

 its young. Birds of the rapacious kind, at this season, become more 

 than usually fierce and active. They carry their prey, yet throbbing 

 with life, to the nest, and early accustom their young to habits of 

 slaughter and cruelty. Nor are those of milder natures less busily 

 employed ; the little birds then discontinue their singing, taken up 

 with more important pursuits of common subsistence. 



W T hile the young are yet unfledged, and continue in the nest, the 

 old ones take care to provide them with a regular supply ; and. lest 

 *ne should take all nourishment from the rest, they feed each of the 

 young in their turn. If they perceive that man has been busy with 

 their nest ; or has handled the little ones, they abandon the place by 

 night, and provide their brood a more secure, though less commodious 



431 Til 



