80 COMBATS AND MAKRIAGE. [169I. 



times pretty long, because the Stranger only turns about, and 

 do's not fly directly from the Nest : However, the others do 

 not forsake it, till tliey have quite driv'n it out of their Limits. 

 After these Birds have rais'd their young One, and left it to 

 its self, they are always together, which the other Birds are 

 not, and tho' they happen to mingle with other Birds of the 

 same Species, these tw^o Companions never disunite.^ We 

 have often remark'd, that some days after the young one 

 leaves the Nest, a Company of thirty or forty brings another 

 young one to it ; and the new fledg'd Bird with its Father 

 and Mother joyning with the Band, march to some bye Place. 

 We frequently follow'd them, and found that afterwards the 

 old ones went each their way alone, or in Couples, and left 

 the two young ones together, which we call'd a Marriage. 



This Particularity has something in it which looks a little 

 Fabulous, nevertheless, what I say is sincere Truth, and what 

 I have more than once observM with Care and Pleasure: 

 neither cou'd I forbear to entertain my Mind with several 

 Pellections on this Occasion. I sent Mankind to learn of the 

 Beasts. I commended my SulUarics for marrying young (a 

 piece of Wisdom practis'd by our Jews) for satisfying Nature 

 in a proper time ; and when she wants to be satisfy 'd accord- 

 ing to the state of the same Nature, and conformable to the 

 intention of the Creator. I admir'd the Happiness of these 

 innocent and faithful Pairs, who liv'd so peaceably in con- 

 stant Love : I said to my self, if our Pride and Extravagance 

 were restrain'd, if Men were or had been as wise as these 

 Birds, to say all at once, they wou'd marry as these Birds do, 

 without any other Pomp or Ceremony, without Contracts or 

 Jointures, without Portions or Settlements,^ without subjec- 

 tion to any Laws, and without any Offence, with which 



1 " Mais ils demeureut toujours unis et compagnons quoiqu'ils aillent 

 quelquefois se meler parini d'autres de leur esp5ce," omitted in trans- 

 lation. 



2 In orig : " Sans Mien sans Tien." 



