222 HJSTOKY OF 



whether it be a challenge to combat, an invitation to food, or 

 a prelude to courtship. As the call-birds are all males, and as 

 the wild birds that attend to their voice are most frequently 

 males also, it does not seem that love can have any influence in 

 their assiduity. Perhaps the wild females, in these flights, at- 

 tend to and obey the call below, and their male companions of 

 the flight come down to bear them company. If this be the 

 case, and that the females have unfaithfully led their mates into 

 the nets, they are the first that are punished for their infidelity: 

 the males are only made captives for singing ; while the females 

 are iiidiscrimnately killed, and sold to be served up to the tables 

 of the delicate. 



Whatever be the motives that thus arrest a flock of birds in 

 their flight, whether they be of gallantry or of war, it is certain 

 that the small birds are equally remarkable for both. It is, per- 

 haps, the genial desire that inspires the courage of most animals ; 

 and that being greatest in the males, gives them a greater degree 

 of valour than the females. Small birds being extremely amo- 

 rous, are remarkably brave. However contemptible these little 

 warriors are to large creatures, they are often but too formidable 

 to each other ; and sometimes fight till one of them yields up 

 his life with the victory. But their contentions are sometimes 

 of a gentler nature. Two male birds shall strive in song till, after 

 a long struggle, the loudest shall entirely silence the other. Dur- 

 ing these contentions, the female sits an attentive silent auditor, 

 and often rewards the loudest songster with her company during 

 the season. 



Singing among birds is almost universally the prerogative of 

 the male. With them it is the reverse of what occurs in the 

 human kind. Among the feathered tribe, the hea\aest cares of life 

 fall to the lot of the female. Hers is the fatigue of incubation, 

 and to her devolves the principal fatigue of nursing the helpless 

 brood. To alleviate these fatigues, and to support her under 

 them. Nature has given the song to the male. This serves, as 

 a note of blandishment at first to attract her affections ; it serves 

 as a note to delight her during the time of her incubation ; but it 

 serves still farther as a note of security, to assure her that no 

 danger threatens to molest her. The male, while his mate is 

 hatching, sits upon some neighbouring tree, continuing at once 

 to viiitch and to t^iiig. AVi)ile his voice is heard, the liemale 



