XX. INTRODUCTION. 



enemies by an arrangement of colours happily assimilated 

 to the places which they most frequent, and where they find 

 either food or repose: thus the Wryneck is scarcely to be 

 distinguished from the bark of the tree on which it feeds; or 

 the Snipe from the soft and mossy ground by the springs of 

 water which it frequents : the Great Plover finds its chief 

 security in stony places, to which its colours are so nicely 

 adapted, that the most exact observer may be very easily 

 deceived. The attentive ornithologist will not fail to dis- 

 cover numerous instances of this kind, such as the Partridge, 

 Plover, Quail, &c. 



Some are indebted to the brilliancy of their colours as 

 the means of alluring their prey; of this the King-fisher is a 

 remarkable instance, and deserves to be particularly noticed. 

 This beautiful bird has been observed, in some sequestered 

 place near the edge of a rivulet, exposing the vivid colours 

 of its breast to the full rays of the sun, and fluttering with 

 expanded wings over the smooth surface of the water; the 

 fish, attracted by the brightness and splendour of the ap- 

 pearance, are detained, whilst the wily bird darts down 

 upon them, with unerring aim. We do not say that the 

 mode of taking fish by torch-light has been derived from 

 this practised by the King-fisher, but every one must be 

 struck by the similarity of the means. Others, again, de- 

 rive the same advantage from the simplicity of their exterior 

 appearance; of this the Heron will serve for an example. 

 He may frequently be seen standing motionless by the 

 edge of a piece of water, waiting patiently the approach 

 of his prey, which he never fails to seize as soon as it 

 comes within reach of his long neck; he then re-assumes 

 his former position, and continues to wait with the same 

 patient attention as before. 



Most of the smaller birds are supported, especially when 

 young, by a profusion of caterpillars, small worms, and 

 insects; on these they feed, and thus they contribute to 

 preserve the vegetable world from destruction. This is 



