LABOUR OF BIRDS 



pastures long into spring, and pining after compa- 

 nions they cannot associate with. 



These birds are very assiduous in their attentions 

 to their young, and in continual progress to collect 

 worms and insects for them. However strong pa- 

 rental affection may be in all creatures, yet the 

 care which birds manifest in providing for their 

 nestlings is more obvious than that of other animals. 

 The young of beasts sleep much ; some are hidden 

 in lairs and thickets nearly all the day, others take 

 food only at intervals or stated periods, the parent 

 ruminating, feeding, or reposing too: but birds, 

 the young of which remain in their nests, as most 

 of them do, excepting the gallinaceous and aquatic 

 tribes, have no cessation of labour from early 

 morning till the close of eve, till the brood can pro- 

 vide for themselves. What unceasing toil and 

 perseverance are manifest in the rooks, and what 

 distances do they travel to obtain nourishment for 

 their clamorous brood ! It is a very amusing oc- 

 cupation for a short time, to attend to the actions 

 of a pair of swallows, or martins, the family of 

 which have left the nest, and settled upon some 

 naked spray, or low bush in the field, the parents 

 cruising around, and then returning with their cap- 

 tures to their young : the constant supply which 

 they bring, the celerity with which it is given and 

 received, and the activity and evolutions of the 

 elder birds, present a pleasing example of industry 



