136 FACULTIES OF BIRDS* 



CHAPTER VI. 



TASTE OF CARNIVOROUS BIRDS. 



IT was remarked by Plato, that when animals were 

 created, peculiar species of food were assigned to 

 each, " to one herbs, to another the fruits of trees ; 

 to some roots, and to a distinct race, it was permitted 

 to feed upon the flesh of other creatures*." The 

 Grecian philosopher, however, does not seem to have 

 had so clear a notion of the order in which this 

 assignment was made as our modern inquirers, 

 inasmuch as he appears to consider it subsequent to 

 the provisions of strength, swiftness, natural weapons 

 of defence, and means of protection from the in- 

 clemencies of the weather. Were we to follow out 

 Plato's views according to the interpretation which 

 they will justly bear, we must conclude that the 

 peculiar species of food was appointed to each animal 

 without reference to its organization, whereas there 

 cannot be a shadow of doubt of this being the very 

 reverse of the fact. A beautiful passage in Buffon 

 appears to us to place the matter in its true light. 



41 The mode of life," he says, " the habits, and 

 economy of animals, are not so free as might be 

 supposed. Their actions result not from inclination 

 and choice, but are the necessary effects of their 

 peculiar organization and structure. Nor do they 

 seek ever to infringe or evade the law of their 

 constitution ; the eag-le never abandons his rocks, nor 

 the heron her shores : the one shoots down from the 



* Protagoras, 57. 



