BIRDS IN GENERAL. 17 



that nourishment over the whole frame. When, 

 however, the quill is come to its full growth, and 

 requires no further nourishment, the vein and 

 artery become less and less, till at last the little 

 opening by which they communicated with the 

 quill becomes wholly obliterated ; and the quill 

 thus deprived continues in its socket for some 

 months, till in the end it shrinks, and leaves room 

 for a repetition of the same process of nature as 

 before. 



The moulting season commonly obtains from 

 the end of summer to the middle of autumn. 

 The bird continues to struggle with this malady 

 during the winter; and nature has kindly pro- 

 vided, that when there are the fewest provisions, 

 that then the animal's appetite shall be least 

 craving. At the beginning of spring, when food 

 begins again to be plentiful, the animal's strength 

 and vigour return. It is then that the abundance 

 of provisions, aided by the mildness of the season, 

 incite it to love, and all nature seems teeming 

 with life, and disposed to continue it. 



CHAPTER II. 



OF THE GENERATION, NESTLING, AND INCUBATION 

 OF BIRDS. 



THE return of spring is the beginning of pleasure. 

 Those vital spirits which seemed locked up dur- 



VOL. IV. B 



