^84 THE PHlLOSOPHt 



fupport of both parents, are endowed with the in{lin£^ of fe- 

 lection, or of pairing. With regard to the feathered tribes, 

 pairing is almoft univerfal. A diftinclion, however, as to 

 the duration and circumftances of their pairing is to be ob- 

 ferved. The young of all the fmall birds, as well as of mofk 

 of the larger kinds, continue for fome vv'eeks in a weak and 

 helplefs condition. The mother is not, like quadrupeds, 

 provided with organs fitted to fecrete milk -, of courfe, flie is 

 unable to nourifli them out of her own body. She is therefore 

 obliged to go r.broad in quefl: of food for them. But the proge- 

 ny are {o numerous, that all her induftry, if net affifted by 

 the father, would be ineffectual for their fupport and protec- 

 tion. In all birds whofe young are in this condition, the 

 males and females not only pair, but each of them is endow- 

 ed with the ftrongeft parental aifedlion. Both are et|ually 

 anxious and induflrious in procuring food for their mutual 

 offspring. This parental care and attachment uniformly con- 

 tinues till the young are fledged, and have acquired fufHcient 

 ftrength to provide for themfelves. Eagles, and fome other 

 birds of prey, continue faithfully in pairs for years,and perhaps 

 during life. Thefe fa£ls afford a ftrong argument in favouif 

 of marriage among mankind. No animal remains fo long 

 in the infant and helplefs ftate as the children of men ; and 

 iio mother could, with her own induflry, poffibly fuckle and 

 procure nouriihment for a numerous family. Here, as in 

 the feathered tribes, the afTiftance of the father becomes 

 indifpenfible. On this fubjefl:, a curious inftindl merits 

 attention. The male of moft birds not only feiecls a fe- 

 male, but, with great affiduity, brings food to her ^vhen 

 iitting on her eggs, and often relieves her, by fitting on them 

 himfelf. 



There are other fpecies of pairing birds, whofe young, as 

 foon as they are hatched, are capable of eating their food 

 Tr'hen prefented to them, and of eourfe, require lefs labour 



