CHAP, ix.] INSTINCT OF BIRDS. 



CHAPTER IX. 



On the Peculiarities and Instinct of different Animals Eggs of Birds 

 Nests Feeding habits The Beaks of Birds Wings of Owl Instinct in 

 finding Food Ravens Knowledge of Change of Weather Fish. 



THERE are two birds, which although wild and unapproachable 

 at every other time, throw themselves during the breeding-season 

 on the mercy and protection of man : these are the wood-pigeon 

 and the missel-thrush. Scarcely any bird is more wary than 

 the wood-pigeon at other times, yet in the spring there are 

 generally half a dozen nests in the most exposed places close to 

 my house, while the old birds sit tamely, and apparently devoid 

 of all fear, close to the windows ; they seem to have an instinctive 

 knowledge of places where they are allowed to go through the 

 business of incubation without being molested. In like manner, 

 the missel-thrush, though during the rest of the year it is 

 nearly impossible to get within a hundred yards of it, forms 

 its nest in the apple-trees close to the house : they build at a 

 height of six or seven feet, in the fork of the tree where the main 

 limbs branch off; and although their nest is large, it is so care- 

 fully constructed of materials resembling in colour the bark of 

 the tree, and is made to blend itself so gradually with the branches 

 as to show no distinct outline of a nest, and to render it very 

 difficult to discover ; and this bird, at other times so shy and 

 timid, sits so close on her eggs that she will almost allow herself 

 to be taken by the hand. The missel-thrushes on the approach 

 of a hawk give a loud cry of alarm, and then collecting all their 

 neighbours, lead them on to attack the common enemy, swooping 

 and striking fearlessly at him, till lie Is driven out of the vicinity 

 of their nests. 



The observation of the different plans that birds adopt to avoid 

 the discovery and destruction of their egsjs, is by no means an 

 uninteresting study to the naturalist. There is far more of art 

 and cunning design in their manner of buililiuir. than the casual 



