162 SALMONIA. 



felt the warmth of her feathers agreeable, you 

 may consider, Physicus, their collecting under 

 her wings, and obeying her call, as an acquired 

 habit. But I will mention another circumstance, 

 where habit or education is entirely out of the 

 question. Does the mother see the shadow of 

 a kite on the ground, or hear his scream in 

 the air, she instantly utters a shrill suppressed 

 cry ; the chickens, though born that day, and 

 searching round her with glee and animation 

 for the food which her feet were providing for 

 them, instantly appear as if thunderstruck; 

 those close to her crouch down and hide them- 

 selves in the straw; those further off, without 

 moving from the place, remain prostrate, the 

 hen looks upward with a watchful eye ; nor 

 do they resume their feeding till they have 

 been called again by the cluck of their mother, 

 and warned that the danger is over. 



PHYS. I certainly cannot explain the ac- 

 quaintance of the little animals with the note 

 of alarm of the mother, except upon the 

 principle you have adopted ; and I fairly own, 

 that their selection of animal food appears 

 likewise instinctive : yet it is possible, that this 



