14 BRITISH LAND BIRDS. 



events to the general and unscientific reader., 

 And if it be true (as Milton assures us it is) 

 that animals " know and reason not contemptibly," 

 how much must the observation of such powers 

 increase our estimate of the value of animal life ; 

 and how carefully should we preserve all the 

 proofs and instances that fall within our notice, of 

 such capabilities in the brute creation ! Those 

 who do so, assist in the good work of awakening 

 a due regard and kindly feeling for the lower 

 animals, and of obtaining for them the protection 

 and consideration they so justly merit. Although 

 it be beyond the province of the present book to 

 go at length into this subject, yet a few words on 

 it may be permitted, seeing that our British birds 

 share, with their congeners of other lands, the 

 traits and habits of which we speak ; and our 

 young readers may be induced, by having their 

 attention turned to such an attractive depart- 

 ment of the subject, to pursue with more interest 

 the study of ornithology in general. 



There are few persons who have it not in their 

 power occasionally to remark the habits of birds, 

 and they who do so will soon find that it is a 

 mistake to impute their peculiarities to instinct 

 alone. There is much carelessness in our usual 

 manner of observing the habits of the animal 

 world ; and we lose much by disregarding and 



