INTRODUCTORY CHAPTER. 33 



pieces; which done, they immediately dispersed 

 and the nest was entirely abandoned. After 

 these instances, which might be multiplied almost 

 at pleasure, our readers will agree with us that 

 there is no need to inquire 



- If birds confabulate or no." 



Perhaps this Introductory Chapter may be most 

 suitably concluded by a few observations 

 on the social impulse in birds, which I will i2p^ L SE . 

 endeavour to illustrate by a few anecdotes. 



The wisdom and beneficial effects of the law, 

 by which animals are impelled to form themselves 

 into families or larger societies, for mutual benefit 

 and protection, is very evident; and nothing in 

 the wide field of natural history is more remark- 

 able and interesting than the economy of the gre- 

 garious animals and the association, in some cases, 

 of thousands of individuals in one republic, occu- 

 pying one habitation, and combining their labours 

 for the common good. These combinations are 

 chiefly seen in the insect races ; but the social im- 

 pulse is shared in common by animals generally. 



With the exception of birds of prey and a few 

 others, all the feathered tribes seem to have a 

 general tendency towards association into flocks 

 or family parties and pairs. The woodlark does 

 not unite in company, but it associates in its own 



D 



