BIRDS. 17 



ibe old ones take care to provide tliem with a regular supply ; 

 and, lest one should take all nourishment from the rest, they 

 feed each of the young in their turn. If they perceive that man 

 has been busy with their nest, or has handled the little ones, they 

 abandon the place by night, and provide their brood a more se- 

 cnre, though less commodious, retreat. When the whole family 

 is completely plumed, and capable of avoiding danger by flight, 

 fhey are then led forth when the weather is line, and taught the 

 paternal art of providing for their subsistence. They are led to 

 the places where their food lies ; they are shown the method of 

 discovering or carrying it away ; and then led back to the nest, 

 for a day or two longer. At length, when they are completely 

 qualified to shift for themselves, the old ones take them abroad, 

 and leading them to the accustomed places, forsake them for the 

 last time ; and all future connection is ever at an end. 



Those birds which are hatched and sent out earliest in the 

 season, are the most strong and vigorous ; those on the other 

 hand, that have been delayed till the midst of summer, are more 

 feeble and tender, and sometimes incapable of sustaining the 

 rigours of the ensuing winter. Birds themselves seem sensible 

 of this difference, and endeavour to produce early in the spring. 

 If, however, their efforts are obstructed by having their nests 

 robbed, or some similar accident, they still persevere in their 

 efforts for a progeny ; and it often happens that some are thus 

 retarded till the midst of winter. What number of eg^s any 

 bird can lay in the course of a season, is not ascertained ; but this 

 is true, that such as would have laid but two or three at the 

 most, if their nests be robbed, or their eggs stolen, will lay above 

 ten or twelve. A common hen, if moderately fed, will lay above a 

 hundred from the beginning of spring to the latter end of autumn. 

 In general, however, it obtains, that the smallest and weakest 

 animals are the most prolific, while the strong and rapacious are 

 abridged by sterility. Thus, such kinds as are easily destroyed, 

 are as readily repaired ; and nature, where she has denied the 

 power of resistance, has compensated by the fertility attending 

 procreation. 



Birds in general, though they have so much to fear from man 

 and each other, are seldom scared away from their usual haunts. 

 Although they be so perfectly formed for a wandering life, and 

 iue supplied with powers to satisfy all their aopetites, though 



b3 



