Chap. XV.] IMAfUNATIOX AND VOLITION. 219 



posiiifms, which were a little apart the one from the other, they 

 resolved, it appearsj, to give the matter another trial. Lowering 

 themselves npon their breasts close to the sand, they managed to 

 push their bills underneath the fish, which they made to rise to 

 about the same height as before; afterwards, withdrawing their 

 bills, but without losing the advantage they had gained, they 

 applied their breasts to the object. This they did with such force, 

 and to such purpose, that at length it went over and rolled several 

 yards down a slight declivity. It was followed to some distance 

 by the birds themselves before they could recover their bearing. 

 They returned eagerly to the spot whence they had dislodged the 

 obstacle which had so long opposed them, and they gave unmis- 

 takable proof, by their rapid and continued movements, that they 

 were enj(iying an ample repast as the reward of theii industrious 

 and praiseworthy labour." 



Again, a writer in *' Nature"* describes an incident 

 witnessed by himself outside an Inn near Richmond, 

 where some ' Pouter ' pigeons were feeding. The actions 

 of one of them were of a very unusual character, and 

 had in all probability been learned by the individual 

 bird itself. It would seem, moreover, that they must 

 have been undertaken with a pretty distinct notion of the 

 end to be obtained. The writer says : — 



"A number of them were feeding on a few oats that had been 

 accidentally let fall while fixing the nose-bag on a horse standing 

 at bait. Having finished all the grain at hand, a large ' Pouter ' 

 rose, and, flapping its wings furiously, flew directly at the horse's 

 eyes, causing that animal to toss his head, and in doing so, of 

 course, shake out more corn. I saw this several times repeated ; 

 in fact, whenever the supply on hand had been exhausted." The 

 writer may well ask whether this was not " something more than 

 mere instinct." 



The maternal affection of the Bird for its young is well 

 known ; but no less remarkable is the Reason which they 

 sometimes display under the promptings of this Emotion. 

 A few examples will illustrate this. 



» Aug. 21, 1873, p. 325. 



