INTRODUCTORY CHAPTER. 23 



The same spirit of rivalry is visible in many of 

 our domestic birds. What object can be more 

 pitiable than the defeated cock ? He is the very 

 picture of dejection, as, with drooping tail and 

 draggled feathers, he mopes, or slinks away, to 

 hide his fallen vanity, while his triumphant rival 

 plumes himself, and, with victorious crow, ruffles 

 his plumage, and displays its beauties, strutting 

 proudly, and suiting his actions to the dignity of 

 the moment. 



A curious vanity and self-love are evinced by 

 some birds, at sight of their own reflected image. 

 A gentleman had in his possession two brown 

 cranes. After some years one of them died, and 

 the survivor became disconsolate. He was ap- 

 parently following his companion, when his owner 

 introduced a large looking-glass into the aviary. 

 The bird no sooner saw his reflected image than 

 he placed himself close to the mirror, plumed his 

 feathers, and showed every sign of happiness. 

 The scheme completely answered; the crane 

 recovered his health and spirits, passed almost all 

 his time before the looking-glass, and lived many 

 years afterwards. The goldfinch appears to be a 

 vain bird, for, if a Booking-glass is placed before 

 it, the reflection of its own gay feathers seems 

 greatly to delight it. 



The sagacity of brutes is one of their most 



