218 Animals. 



cover the whole of thrm ; but the Crow and 

 Eagle are less solicitous in the warmth of 

 their nest, as the small number of eggs 

 they lay, and largeness and heat of their 

 bodies, afford the eggs sufficient warmth. 

 The same Bird also, when in a cold cli- 

 mate, lines its nest with more care and 

 warmer materials than in a warmer cli- 

 mate. The male likewise of most birds, 

 during the season of incubation, supplies 

 th' j place of the female, in her absence 

 from the eggs ; and supplies her with 

 food during the time of her sitting. 



Those birds which are hatched early 

 in the season, always prove more vigo- 

 rous and strong, than such as have been 

 delayed till the middle of summer. The 

 number of eggs, which a bird will lay, 

 is not exactly ascertained ; but it is well 

 known, that a female Bird, which would 

 have lain but two or three eggs at most, 

 will, on her eggs being removed, lay above 

 ten or a dozen. A common Hen, if pro- 

 perly fed, will produce above a hundred 

 eggs, from the beginning of spring to the 

 end of Autumn. Nature has wisely or- 

 dered it, that the smallest and weakest 

 birds ; and in general, all those which are 



