212 FACULTIES OF BIRDS. 



CHAPTER X. 



LOCOMOTIVE FACULTIES OF BIRDS. 



BIRDS, particularly small birds, appear to be the 

 most restless of all animals, a circumstance which 

 might lead us to conclude, that animals are restless 

 in proportion to their diminutive size, were this not 

 in opposition to many other facts. The bee, for 

 example, is equally noted for industry and bustling 

 activity with the ant, which is not one-fourth of its 

 size ; nay, the large wood ant (Formica rufa) is 

 greatly more active than the very small black ant 

 (Ponera contracta, LATREILLE). The gnat (Culex), 

 again, a comparatively small insect, seems to repose 

 during the greater part of its existence, remaining 

 fixed in one spot for whole days together, and only 

 moving about for an hour or two in the evening; 

 while we may observe on the same wall a still smaller 

 insect (Neiedes elegans ? CURTIS) seldom moving 

 quicker than the minute-hand of a clock, the motion 

 of which, by interrupted jerks, much resembles that 

 of the insect. 



There cannot, however, be a doubt that the wren 

 and the torn-tit are more active and restless than the 

 bustard, the ostrich, or even than the eagle; and the 

 activity moreover of such small birds is riot, like that 

 of the gnat, confined to an hour or two, but continues 

 almost uninterruptedly during sun-light, sleep being, 

 it would appear, less necessary than it is to larger 

 animals to restore vigour after exertions so long 

 continued. Motion of some kind indeed seems as 

 indispensable to life as food and air ; and even the 



