128 AFFECTION IN BIRDS. 



This affection sublimes the passions, quickens the invention, 

 and sharpens the sagacity of the brute creation. Thus a hen, 

 just become a mother, is no longer that placid bird she used 

 to be ; but, with feathers standing on end, wings hovering, 

 and clucking note, she runs about like one possessed. Dams 

 will throw themselves in the way of the greatest danger in 

 order to avert it from their progeny. Thus a partridge will 

 tumble along before a sportsman, in order to draw away the 

 dogs from her helpless covey. In the time of nidification, the 

 most feeble birds will assault the most rapacious. All the 

 hirundines of a village are up in arms at the sight of a hawk, 

 whom they will persecute till he leaves that district.* A very 



directed one of his wagons to be packed with sundry hampers and 

 boxes, intending to send it to Worthing, where he was going himself. 

 For some time his going was delayed, and he therefore directed that the 

 wagon should be placed in a shed in his yard, packed as it was, till it 

 should be convenient for him to send it off. While it was in the shed, a 

 pair of robins built their nest among some straw in the wagon, and had 

 hatched their young just before it was sent away. One of the old birds, 

 instead of being frightened away by the motion of the wagon, enly left 

 its nest from time to time for the purpose of flying to the nearest hedge 

 for food for its young ; and thus, alternately affording warmth and nourish- 

 ment to them, it arrived at Worthing. The affection of this bird having 

 been observed by the wagoner, he took care in unloading not to disturb 

 the robin's nest, and my readers will, I am sure, be glad to hear, that the 

 robin and its young ones returned in safety to Walton Heath, being the 

 place from whence they had set out. The distance the wagon went in 

 going and returning could not have been less than one hundred miles." 

 ED. 



* A curious example of this was manifested by a wren in opposition 

 to martens. Mr Simpson mentions, that, during his residence at Welton, 

 North America, he one morning heard a loud noise from a pair of martens 

 that were flying from tree to tree near his dwelling. They made several 

 attempts to get into a box fixed against the house, which they had before 

 occupied as a breeding place ; but they always appeared to fly from it 

 again with the utmost dread, at the same time repeating their usual loud 

 cries. Curiosity led the gentleman to watch their motions. After some 

 time, a small wren came from the box, and perched on a tree near it, 

 when her shrill notes seemed to amaze her antagonists. Having remained 

 a short time, she flew away, when the martens took an opportunity 

 of returning to the box, but their stay was of short duration; for 

 their diminutive adversary returned, and made them retreat with the 

 greatest precipitation. They continued maneuvering in this way the 

 whole day ; but the following morning, on the wren quitting the box, 

 the martens immediately returned, took possession of their mansion, 

 broke up their own nest, went to work afresh with much diligence and 

 ingenuity, and soon barricaded their door. The wren returned, but 

 could not now re-eter. She made some bold efforts to storm the nest, 

 but was unsuccessful. The martens abstained from food for nearly two 

 4 



