U HISTORY OF 



of birds has a peculiar architecture of its own ; 

 and this adapted to the number of eggs, the tem- 

 perature of the climate, or the respective heat of 

 the little animal's own body. Where the eggs 

 are numerous, it is then incumbent to make the 

 nest warm, that the animal heat may be equally 

 diffused to them all. Thus the wren, and all the 

 small birds, make the nest very warm ; for having 

 many eggs, it is requisite to distribute warmth to 

 them in common : on the contrary, the plover, 

 that has but two eggs, the eagle, and the crow, 

 are not so solicitous in this respect, as their bodies 

 are capable of being applied to the small number 

 upon which they sit. With regard to climate, 

 water-fowl, that with us make but a very slovenly 

 nest y are much more exact in this particular in 

 the colder regions of the north. They there take 

 every precaution to make it warm ; and some 

 kinds strip the down from their breasts to line 

 it with greater security. 



In general) however, every bird resorts to hatch 

 in those climates or places where its food is found 

 in greatest plenty, and always at that season 

 when provisions are in the greatest abundance. 

 The large birds, and those of the aquatic kinds, 

 choose places as remote from man as possible, as 

 their food is in general different from that which 

 is- cultivated by human labour. Some birds, 

 which have only the serpent to fear, build their 

 nests depending from the end of a small bough, 

 and form the entrance from below, being thus se- 

 cured either from the serpent or the monkey tribes. 

 Ikvt all the little birds which live upon fruits 



