ORDER ACCIPITRES. 141 



nation of the instinct and character which must determine its 

 future life. The eaglet soon exhibits traits of the fierce and 

 sanguinary disposition of its sire ; while the humble chick, 

 in issuing from the shell, knows already how to scratch the 

 earth and pick up the grain. The young swallow soon com- 

 mences to essay its rapid wings, and prepare itself by small 

 excursions for its future long and unwearied migrations. The 

 cygnet aready delights to bathe itself in the crystal wave, and 

 glide along with that instinctive grace which is so amply de- 

 veloped in maturity. 



Every species chooses at once its own proper domain, fol- 

 lows the impulse of instinct, puts its little organs into play, 

 and exhibits in its infant efforts all the rudiments of ^•igour and 

 address. Thus each successive race, among the wild species, 

 is the exact representative of the energy, strength, courage, in 

 fine, of all the qualities of the preceding. Degeneration and 

 change are unknown, except among those favoured species 

 which experience the fostering care of man. 



Whether the birds are naturally more precocious, or that the 

 Author of nature, in consequence of the wants and dangers to 

 which their peculiar destiny of existence exposes them, has 

 thought proper to diminish the period of their infancy — certain it 

 is that they acquire their full perfection sooner than quadrupeds. 

 Their short sojourn with their parents does not permit them to 

 receive that developement of intelligence which depends on 

 the association of individuals. The flights of cranes, flocks of 

 partridges, of geese, &c., in fine, all the general assemblages 

 of birds do not constitute societies in which there are sufficient 

 mutual relations for the developement of the internal sense. 

 Birds, accordingly, except in the construction of their nests, 

 do not exhibit the industry and intelligence observable amono- 

 some quadrupeds, either because they are less happily orga- 

 nized, or have less natural aptitude for instruction. Still, as 

 we before obser\'ed, many other birds, as well as the psittacidse, 

 possess a capacity and a considerable power of imitation. 



