252 HISTORY OF 



then the parents forsake them for ever, and pay 

 them no more attention than they do to other 

 birds in the same flock. Indeed it would seem, 

 among these little animals, that from the moment 

 their young are set out, all future connexion 

 ceases between the male and female ; they go 

 separate ways, each to provide for itself during 

 the rigours of winter, and, at the approach of 

 spring, each seeks for a new associate. 



In general, birds, when they come to pair in 

 spring, associate with those of their own age and 

 place of abode. Their strength or courage is 

 generally in proportion to their age : the oldest 

 females first feel the accesses of desire, and the 

 oldest males are the boldest to drive off all 

 younger pretenders. Those next in courage and 

 desire become pretenders, till they are almost all 

 provided in turn. The youngest come last, as, 

 in fact, they are the latest in their inclinations. 

 But still there are several, both males and fe- 

 males, that remain unprovided for, either not 

 happening to meet with each other, or at least 

 not during the genial interval. Whether these 

 mix with small birds of a different species, is a 

 doubt which naturalists have not been able tho- 

 roughly to resolve. Addison, in some beautiful 

 Latin lines inserted in the Spectator, is entirely 

 of opinion that birds observe a strict chastity of 

 manners, and never admit caresses of a different 

 tribe. 



Chaste are their instincts, faithful is their fire, 

 No foreign beauty tempts to false desire ; 



