THE PIE KIND. 1?5 



last. The poultry class are faithless and promis- 

 cuous in their courtship ; but these live in pairs, 

 and their attachments are wholly confined to each 

 other. The sparrow kind frequently overleap the 

 bounds of nature, and make illicit varieties ; but 

 these never. They live in harmony with each 

 other ; every species is true to its kind, and trans* 

 mits an unpolluted race to posterity. 



As other kinds build in rocks or upon the 

 ground, the chief place where these build is in 

 trees or bushes ; the male takes his share in the 

 labours of building the nest, and often relieves 

 his mate in the duties of incubation. Both take 

 this office by turns j and when the young are ex- 

 cluded, both are equally active in making them 

 an ample provision. 



They sometimes live in societies ; and in these 

 there are general laws observed, and a kind of re- 

 publican form of government established among 

 them. They watch not only for the general 

 safety, but for that of every other bird of the 

 grove. How often have we seen a fowler, steal- 

 ing in upon a flock of ducks or wild geese, dis- 

 turbed by the alarming note of a crow or a mag- 

 pie ! its single voice gave the whole thoughtless 

 tribe warning, and taught them in good time to 

 look to their safety. 



Nor are these birds less remarkable for their 

 instincts than their capacity for instruction. 

 There is an apparent cunning or archness in the 

 look of the whole tribe ; and I have seen crows 

 and ravens taught to fetch and carry with the 

 docility of a spaniel. Indeed it is often an exer- 



58 



