12 HISTORY or 



seasons, now begin to animate the fields ; every grove and bush 

 resounds with the challenge of anger, or the call of allurement. 

 This delightful concert of the grove, which is so much admired 

 by man, is no way studied for his amusement ; it is usually the 

 call of the male to the female, his efforts to soothe her during 

 the times of incubation ; or it is a challenge between two males, 

 for the affections of some common favourite. 



It is by this call that birds begin to pair at the approach of 

 spring, and provide for the support of a future progeny. The 

 loudest notes are usually from the male, while the hen sel- 

 dom expresses her consent but in a short interrupted twitter- 

 ing. This compact, at least for the season, holds with unbro- 

 ken faith ; many birds live with inviolable fidelity together for a 

 constancy ; and when one dies, the other is always seen to share 

 the same fate soon after. We must not take our idea of the 

 conjugal fidelity of birds from observing the poultry in our yards, 

 whose freedom is abridged, and whose manners are totally cor- 

 rupted by slavery. We must look for it in our fields and our 

 forests, where nature continues in unadulterated simplicity ; 

 where the number of males is generally equal to that of females ; 

 and where every little animal seems prouder of his progeny, 

 than pleased with his mate. Were it possible to compare sen- 

 sations, the male of aU wild birds seems as happy in the young 

 brood as the female; and all his former caresses, all his sooth- 

 ing melodies, seem only aimed at that important occasion, when 

 they are both to become parents, and to educate a progeny of 

 their own producing. The pleasures of love appear dull in 

 their effects, when compared to the interval immediately after 

 the exclusion of their young. They both seem at that seasott 

 transported with pleasure ; every action testifies their pride, 

 their importance, and tender solicitude. 



When the business of fecundation is performed, the female then 

 begins to lay. Such eggs as have been impregnated by the cock are 

 prolific ; and such as have not, for she lays often without any con. 

 gress whatsoever, continue barren and are only addledby incubation. 

 Previous, however, to laying, the work of nestling becomes the 

 common care ; and this is performed with no small assiduity and 

 appaient design. It has been asserted, that birds of one kind 

 always make their nests in the same manner, and of the same 

 materials ; but the truth is, that they vary this as the materials 



