140 A HISTORY OF 



is finished, nothing can exceed the cunning which the ma,e and fe- 

 male employ to conceal it. If it is built in bushes, the pliant branches 

 are so disposed as to hide it entirely from the view ; if it be built 

 among moss, nothing outwardly appears to show that there is a hab. 

 tation within. It is always built near those places where food is 

 found in greatest abundance ; and they take care never to go in or 

 out while there is any one in sight. The greater birds continue 

 from their nest for some time, as their eggs take no damage in their 

 absence ; but the little birds are assiduous while they sit, and the nest 

 is always occupied by the male when the female is obliged to seek for 

 sustenance. 



The first food of all birds of the sparrow kind is worms and insects. 

 Even the sparrow and the gold-finch, that when adult, feed only upon 

 grain, have both been fed upon insects while in the nest. The young 

 ones, for some time after their exclusion from the shell, require no 

 food ; but the parent soon finds, by their chirping and gaping, that 

 they begin to feel the approaches of hunger, and flies to provide them 

 a plentiful supply. In her absence they continue to lie close toge- 

 ther, and cherish each other by their mutual warmth. During this 

 interval, also, they preserve a perfect silence, uttering not the slight- 

 est note, till the parent returns. Her arrival is always announced by 

 a chirrup, which they perfectly understand, and which they answer 

 altogether, each petitioning for its portion. The parent distributes a 

 supply to each by turns, cautiously avoiding to gorge them, but to 

 give them often, though little at a time. The wren will in this man- 

 ner feed seventeen or eighteen young ones, without passing over one 

 of them. 



Such is the manner in which these birds bring forth and hatch their 

 young ; but it yet remains to usher them from the nest into life, and 

 this they very assiduously perform. When they are full-fledged, and 

 fitted for short flights, the old ones, if the weather be fair, lead them 

 a few yards from the nest, and then compel them to return. For two 

 or three succeeding days they are led out in the same manner, but 

 each day to seek more distant adventures. When it is perceived that 

 they can fly, and shift for themselves, then the parents forsake them 

 for ever, and pay them no more attention than they do to other birds 

 in the same flock. Indeed, it would seem among these little animals, 

 that from the moment their young are set out, all future connection 

 ceases between the male and female ; they go separate ways, each to 

 provide for itself during the rigours of winter, and at the approach ot 

 spring each seeks for a new associate. 



In general, birds, when they come to pair in spring, associate with 

 those of their own age and place of abode. Their strength or courage 

 is generally in proportion to their age ; the oldest females first feel 

 the accesses of desire, and the oldest males are the boldest to drive off 

 all younger pretenders. Those next in courage and desire, become 

 pretenders, till they are almost all provided in turn. The youngest 

 come last, as in fact they are the latest in their inclinations. But still 

 there are several, both males and females, that remain unprovided 

 for ; either not happening to meet with each other, or at least not 

 during the genial interval. Whether these mix with small birds of a 

 difteren species, is a doubt which naturalists have not been able tho 



