14 NATURALIST'S CABINET. 



Cruel experiments Birds' nests. 



needles were broken off close to the surface of 

 the ball, except two or three, of which the stumps 

 projected a little. Twelve small lancets, very 

 sharp both at the points and edges, were fixed 

 in a similar ball of lead, which was given in the 

 same manner to a turkey-cock, and left eight 

 hours in the stomach ,- at the expiration of which 

 time that organ was opened, but nothing ap- 

 peared except the naked ball ; the twelve lances 

 having been broken to pieces the stomach at 

 the same time remaining perfectly entire. From 

 these facts it was concluded, that the stones so 

 often found in the stomachs of many of the fea- 

 thered tribes, are highly useful in assisting the 

 gastric juices to grind down the grain and other 

 hard substances which constitute their food. The 

 stones themselves also, being ground down and 

 separated by the powerful action of the gizzard, 

 are mixed with the food, and indisputably con- 

 tribute to the health as well as to the nutriment 

 of the animals. 



The nests of birds are, in general, constructed 

 with surprising art ; and with a degree of arch- 

 itectural skill and propriety, that would foil all 

 the boasted ingenuity of man, the haughty lord, 

 of the creation. Hence the poet justly and 

 tifully exclaims 



Mark it well; within, without: 

 No tool had he that wrought ; no knife to cut, 

 No nail to fix, no bodkin to insert, 

 No g'u p to join; his little beak was all. 



