CH. XXVII. AGE OF WILD BIRDS. 119 



but it is difficult to form an accurate opinion on 

 this point ; inasmuch as any deductions founded on 

 canaries or goldfinches in a state of confinement 

 must be fallacious, as all caged birds are subject to 

 numerous diseases, from over eating, from improper 

 and too little varied food, and a thousand other 

 causes, which do not affect those who live in a state 

 of natural and healthful liberty. 



It is a curious fact, that one scarcely ever finds 

 the dead body of a wild bird or animal whose 

 death appears to have been caused by old age or 

 any other natural cause.* Nor can this result from 

 the fact of their being consumed immediately by 

 animals of prey, as we constantly meet with the 

 bodies of birds who have been killed by wounds 

 from shot, &c. Either (as donkeys and postboys 

 are said to do) the wild animals on the approach of 

 death creep into hidden corners of the earth, or 

 nearly all of them, before they reach extreme old 

 age, are cut off by their common enemy, mankind, 

 or serve as food to birds and beasts of prey. 



I have, however, killed both eagles and foxes 

 who bore unmistakeable marks of extreme old age ; 

 the plumage of the former being light coloured, 

 thin, and worn ; so worn, indeed, as to lead one to 

 suppose that the bird could not have moulted for 

 several seasons, and the faces of the latter being 



