CHAPTER XVIII 

 SEED-CARRIERS 



The seed-carriers now to be considered are employed 

 for the most part with as httle reference to their own wills, 

 and often with as little knowledge on their parts, as the 

 winds and waves. The seeds simply make use of them 

 as carriers, whether they will or no, and that no matter 

 whether they be birds, animals, or even men; for all are 

 pressed into the service, and know, for the most part, 

 nothing of what they are doing. We are, of course, not 

 here speaking of man's voluntary importations, but of his 

 involuntary ones, which are probably almost as many. 



There are, however, some few voluntary carriers among 

 both birds and animals — carriers who, though in one sense 

 quite unaware of what they are doing, yet for purposes 

 of their own do carry seeds from one place to another, 

 not very far probably, but often the distance of a few 

 miles. 



Some birds, for instance, take a positive pleasure, as 

 it would seem, in carrying things about for the mere sake 

 of carrying them; and the propensity is especially strong 

 in the crow tribe, including not only crows, but rooks, 

 jays, magpies, and jackdaws, many of which also have a 

 great love of hiding as well as carrying. 



On one occasion a large number of fowls, destined for 

 New Orleans, had been collected at some spot up the river, 

 and as the boat which was to convey them was not ready, 



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