224 HISTOKV OK 



Other by their mutual warmth. During this interval also thr-y 

 preserve a perfect silence, uttering not the slightest note, till the 

 ])arent returns. Her arrival is always announced by a chirrup, 

 which they perfectly understand, and which they answer all to- 

 gether, each petitioning for its portion. The parent distributes 

 a supply to each by turns, cautiously avoiding to gorge them, 

 but to give them often, though little at a time. The wren wilJ 

 in this manner feed seventeen or eighteen young ones without 

 passing over one of them. 



Such is the manner in which these birds bring forth and batch 

 their young ; but it remains to usher them from the nest into 

 life, and this they very assiduously perform. When they are 

 fully fledged, and fitted for short flights, the old ones, if the 

 weather be fair, lead them a few yards from the nest, and then 

 compel them to return. For two or three succeeding days they 

 are led out in the same manner, but each day to seek more dis- 

 tant adventures. When it is perceived that they can fly, and 

 shift for themselves, then the parents forsake them for ever, and 

 pay them no more attention than they do to other birds in the 

 same flock. Indeed, it would seem among these little animals 

 that, from the moment their young are set out, all future con- 

 nexion ceases between the male and female; they go separate 

 ways, each to provide for itself during the rigours of winter ; 

 and, at the approach of spring, each seeks for a new associate. 



In general, birds, when they come to pair in the spring, as- 

 sociate with those of their own age and place of abode. Their 

 strength or courage is generally in proportion to their age : the 

 oldest females first feel the accesses of desire, and the oldest 

 males are the boldest to drive off all younger pretenders. Those 

 next in courage and desire become pretenders, till they are al- 

 most all provided in turn. The youngest come last ; as, in fact, 

 they are the latest in then- inclinations. But still there are 

 several, both males and females, that remain unprovided for; 

 either not happening to meet with each other, or at least not 

 during the genial interval. Whether these mix with small birds 

 of a different species, is a doubt which naturalists have not been 

 able thoroughly to resolve. Addison, in some beautiful Latin 

 lines, inserted in the Spectator, is entirely of opinion that birds 

 observe a strict chastity of manners, and never admit the caresses 

 of a diflferent tribe. 



