BIRDS IN GENERAL. 23 



for an egg, and sits upon it in the same manner ; 

 she is insensible of any increase or diminution in 

 the number of those she lays ; she does not dis- 

 tinguish between her own and those of another 

 species ; and when the birth appears of never so 

 different a bird, will cherish it for her own. A 

 hen, followed by a brood of ducks, shall stand af- 

 frighted at the edge of a pond, trembling for the 

 fate of her young, which she sees venturing into 

 so dangerous an element. As the different prin- 

 ciple which acts in these different animals cannot 

 be termed reason, so, when we call it instinct, we 

 mean something we have no knowledge of. It 

 appears to me the immediate direction of Provi- 

 dence ; and such an operation of the Supreme 

 Being as that which determines all the portions 

 of matter to their proper centres." 



The production of the young, as was said, 

 seems to be the great era of a bird's happiness. 

 Nothing can at that time exceed its spirit and in- 

 dustry; the most timid becomes courageous in 

 the defence of its young. Birds of the rapacious 

 kind, at this season, become more than usually 

 fierce and active. They carry their prey, yet 

 throbbing with life, to the nest, and early accus- 

 tom their young to habits of slaughter and cruelty. 

 Nor are those of milder natures less busily em- 

 ployed; the little birds then discontinue their 

 singing, taken up with more important pursuits 

 of common subsistence. 



While the young are yet unfledged, and con- 

 tinue in the nest, the old ones take care to pro- 

 vide them with a regular supply ; and, lest one 



