xxxvi INTRODUCTION. 



however, the last nest, with its eggs and down, to the hning 

 of which the male is now obliged to contribute, be taken away, 

 they sagaciously leave the premises, without return. The pious 

 Storks, in Holland, protected by law for their usefulness, build 

 their nests on the tops of houses and churches, often in the 

 midst of cities, in boxes prepared for them, like those for our 

 Martins ; and, walking about the streets and gardens without 

 apprehension of danger, perform the usual office of domestic 

 scavengers. 



That birds, like our more sedentary and domestic quadru- 

 peds, are capable of exhibiting attachment to those who feed 

 and attend them, is undeniable. Deprived of other society, 

 some of our more intelligent species, particularly the Thrushes, 

 soon learn to seek out the company of their friends or protec- 

 tors of the human species. The Brown Thrush and Mocking 

 Bird become in this way extremely familiar, cheerful, and 

 capriciously playful ; the former, in particular, courts the atten- 

 tion of his master, follows his steps, complains when neglected, 

 flies to him when suffered to be at large, and sings and reposes 

 gratefully perched on his hand, — in short, by all his actions he 

 appears capable of real and affectionate attachment, and is 

 jealous of every rival, particularly any other bird, which he 

 persecutes from his presence with unceasing hatred. His pet- 

 ulant dislike to particular objects of less moment is also dis- 

 played by various tones and gestures, which soon become 

 sufficiently intelligible to those who are near him, as well as 

 his notes of gratulation and satisfaction. His language of 

 fear and surprise could never be mistaken, and an imitation of 

 his guttural low tsherr, tsherr, on these occasions, answers as 

 a premonitory warning when any danger awaits him from the 

 sly approach of cat or squirrel. As I have now descended, as 

 I may say, to the actual biography of one of these birds, which 

 I raised and kept uncaged for some time, I may also add, that 

 besides a playful turn for mischief and interruption, in which 

 he would sometimes snatch off the paper on which I was writ- 

 ing, he had a good degree of curiosity, and was much surprised 

 one day by a large springing beetle or Elater {E. ocellatus). 



