16 HISTORY OF 



season would chill the principles of life, and destroy the young 

 one, she grows more assiduous in her attendance, and stays 

 away but half the time. When the birth approaches, with how 

 much nicety and attention does she help the chick to break 

 the prison ! not to take notice of her covering it from the injuries 

 of the weather, providing it with proper nourishment, and teach- 

 ing it to help itself; nor to mention her forsaking the nest, if, 

 after the usual time of reckoning, the young one does not make 

 its appearance. A chemical operation could not be followed 

 with greater art or diligence than is seen in the hatching a chick, 

 though there are many birds that show an infinitely greater 

 sagacity : yet at the same time the hen, that has all this seeming 

 ingenuity, (which is indeed absolutely necessary for the propa- 

 gation of the species,) considered in other respects, is without 

 the least glimmerings of thought or common sense ; she mistakes 

 a piece of chalk for an egg, and sits upon it in the same manner ; 

 she is insensible of any increase or diminution in the number of 

 those she lays ; she does not distinguish between her own, and 

 those of another species ; and when the birth appears of never 

 so different a bird, will cherish it for her own. A hen followed 

 by a brood of ducks, shall stand affrighted at the edge of the 

 pond, trembling for the fate of her young, which she sees ventur- 

 ing into so dangerous an element. As the different principle 

 which acts in these different animals cannot be termed reason, 

 so when we call it instinct, we mean something we have no 

 knowledge of. It appears to me the iinmediate direction of 

 Providence ; and such an operation of the Supreme Being, as 

 that which determines all the portions of matter to their proper 

 centres." 



The production of the young, as was said, seems to be the 

 great era of a bird's happiness. Nothing can at that time ex- 

 ceed its spirit and industry : the most timid becomes courageous 

 in the defence of its young. Birds of the rapacious kind, at this 

 season, become more than usually fierce and active. They carry 

 their prey, yet throbbing with life, to the nest, and early accus- 

 tom their young to habits of slaughter and crnelty. Nor are 

 those of milder natures less busily employed ; the little birds 

 then discontinue their singing, taken up with more important 

 pursuits of common subsistence. 



While the young are yet unfledged and continue in the nest, 



