174 HISTORY OF 



our habitations, and, rather with the spirit of pil- 

 ferers than of robbers, make free with the fruits 

 of human industry.- 



Of all the other classes, this seems to be that 

 which the least contributes to furnish out the 

 pleasures or supply the necessities of man. The 

 falcon hunts for him ; the poultry tribe supply him 

 with luxurious food ; and the little sparrow race 

 delight him with the melody of their warblings. 

 The crane kind make a studied variety in his en- 

 tertainments ; and the class of ducks are not only 

 many of them delicate in their flesh, but extremely 

 useful for their feathers. But in the class of the 

 pie kind there are few except the pigeon that are 

 any way useful. They serve rather to tease man 

 than to assist or amuse him. Like faithless ser- 

 vants, they are fond of his neighbourhood, because 

 they mostly live by his labour ; but their chief 

 study is what they can plunder in his absence, 

 while their deaths make no atonement for their 

 depredations. 



But though, with respect to man, this whole 

 class is rather noxious than beneficial ; though he 

 may consider them in this light, as false, noisy, 

 troublesome neighbours, yet, with respect to each 

 other, no class of birds are so ingenious, so active, 

 or so well fitted for society. Could we suppose 

 a kind of morality among birds, we should find 

 that these are by far the most industrious, the 

 most faithful, the most constant, and the most 

 connubial. The rapacious kinds drive out their 

 young before they are fit to struggle with adver- 

 sity ; but the pic kind cherish their young to the 



